Category Archive: Travel Tips

Mar
03
2010

Learning the Art of Combat Commuting in Manila’s MRT

An Epic Struggle: Inside Manila's MRT on a rush hour

Saturday, 28 February 2010. 5:45PM Manila Time. Ayala MRT Station – It was rush hour (on a Saturday ha!) and the northbound MRT was late for more than 5 minutes. Obviously, if the train is late, passengers-in-waiting increase. I was running out of time, so I forced myself to get into a jam-packed MRT and went to Ortigas. A lot of foul words are hurling inside the MRT as people still struggle to push themselves in already full MRT. Kulang na lang sarsa, we are packed and smelled like sardines!

6PM Manila Time, Shaw MRT Station – I thought there would be many passengers that would go out of Shaw Boulevard Station. I was wrong. Instead, it went towards the extreme of kissing your fellow passenger beside you or the door. The driver may have lost patience because of so many people forcing themselves to come in. He then said in a firm tone, “sa susunod na lang po na tren ang iba. Next train na lang po ang iba!” But his plea fell on deaf (and stupid) ears. The train closed its door and moved towards Ortigas. Bueno, viva sardinas!

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Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2010/03/03/learning-the-art-of-combat-commuting-in-manilas-mrt/

Nov
30
2009

An Ode to Bonifacio: Monumento of Caloocan City

Monumento

Monumento, one of the few places in Metro Manila that earned its name as a hub and a bustling commercial center. Lagi nating dinadaanan ang Monumento ni Gat Andres Bonifacio pero di natin napapansin na isa ito sa mga pinakadakilang monumento sa ating republika. For most of us, Monumento in the northern Metro Manila city of Caloocan serves as a landmark for shopping and for those who would like to go up in Central and Northern Luzon since buses and jeepneys pass by this busy thoroughfare at the intersection of Rizal Avenue Extension, MacArthur Highway, Letre and the historical EDSA. This is Caloocan’s most famous landmark.

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Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/11/30/an-ode-to-bonifacio-monumento-of-caloocan-city/

Nov
16
2009

EDSA 102: Keep Your Ticket for Inspection!

EDSA Traffic

EDSA Traffic

A lot of us are taking for granted the sign “Keep Ticket for Inspection” in the buses or even in its tickets. Let’s not be hypocrites here, sinisiksik natin yung tiket kung saan saan o di kaya itatapon na lang kasi parang basura ang mga ito. It’s a hassle but given the nature of buses in Metro Manila which of “come and go situation,” most of them don’t issue those very detailed tickets unlike those who serve on provincial routes. That recycled ticket is the most important thing that you posses upon riding a bus…so keep your tickets until you’ve reached your destination. Here are some of the tips and consequences on keeping or not keeping your bus tickets. It’s in Filipino.

EDSA 102: Keep Your Tickets for Inspection tips and consequences, or else bahala ka sa buhay mo:

  1. Laging mapagmasid. Pinapa-alahanan ko po sa mga kababayan ko pong komyuter, na laging maging mapagmasid…hindi lang sa mga walang-hiyang magnanakaw at iswitik sa tabi nyo, pati na rin sa mga kundoktor ng bus na sinasakyan nyo. Sa Kamaynilaan, di nag-iisyu ang mga bus ng mga detalyadong ticket nang tulad sa mga provincial buses, barko o eroplano. Come and go operation kasi sila at ito’y naaangkop sa mando na nasa EDSA. Read the rest of this entry »

Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/11/16/edsa-102-keep-your-ticket-for-inspection/

Aug
22
2009

How to Get In and Out of Manila’s NAIA Terminal 1 & 2 On Tight Budget?

NAIA Terminal 2

NAIA Terminal 2

If NAIA Terminal 3 was difficult to access through public transportation, NAIA’s Terminal 2 (also known as the Centennial Airport) and Terminal 1 (old NAIA International Airport) are otherwise, very very accessible…in fact, it is s0 intertwined directly with Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare…EDSA! In spirit of helping the Filipino people and foreigners alike, I would like to share my knowledge (limited though) on how to get in and out of NAIA Terminals 1 & 2 without taking the cab or making hatid-sundo (bring-fetch) with your friends or loved ones. Read the rest of this entry »

Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/08/22/how-to-get-in-and-out-of-manila%e2%80%99s-naia-terminal-1-2-on-tight-budget/

Jul
29
2009

Bewitching Roxas City Capiz!

Old Capiz Bridge over Pan-ay River

Old Capiz Bridge over Pan-ay River

It may be the notion of generally most of the Filipinos. Saying Capiz is generalizing to poltergeists and “aswangs” and more carnivores, no thanks to media who brought stereotyping to this laidback beauty in northern Panay. Roxas City, the capital of the northern Panay province of Capiz, its the main agro-industrial hub of the province. Dubbed as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines”, it is blessed by bountiful harvests from both the sea, rivers and the land.

The city of more than a hundred thousand souls, it has a swampy area in the northern area and a hilly section in the southern area. Panay River runs through the downtown, giving a romantic scene in the city. Daw wala man kahaladlukan man di! Media! (There’s nothing to fear here! Media!)

I took Ivan Henares (of Ivan Around Town [www.ivanhenares.com]) and his friend JQ Quesada for a quick trip to Capiz for a heritage tour. This city was formerly known as Capiz, known for its shell industry of Capiz and the hometown of the former President Manuel Roxas. Just a few kilometers away east is the largest church bell in the country. Read the rest of this entry »

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Permanent link to this article: http://habagatcentral.com/2009/07/29/bewitching-roxas-city-capiz/

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