Manila, Philippines | My Commute by Taking the Metro Rail Transit

Happy Wednesday! 🚊

Hello, everyone! 🥳 Happy humpday!

In today's blog, I want to share my journey about my commute to SM Megamall located in Mandaluyong, Philippines.

For daily commuters or people who want to cut expenses in transportation, there are several options to go around the metro like the MRT, LRT, FX, buses, and jeepneys.

I will input some helpful tips, and if you happen to be visiting Metro Manila, this will come in handy. 😊

I have to take the footbridge to catch the jeepney on the other side. Footbridges are quite a hike for me, but hey! I will just take it as a little exercise. 😊

This footbridge is connected to the food court of the mall. Also, this is near to the university and establishments, so it is very convenient for students and workers.

I took a picture of the university at the top. This university is so big that security guards ride bikes to reach points A to B. It has a hospital, football field, and the lover's lane.

This is the Espanya Boulevard. Looks like no traffic, yes? But I tell you, this boulevard has a lot of stoplights. So when it is green, for sure these lanes will be filled up with cars.

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I rode a jeepney from Espanya Boulevard to Cubao specifically to Gateway Mall. Sorry, I do not have a photo of the jeepney because I am extra careful with my phone.

Tip, if going to the metro, be careful of your belongings. We cannot avoid instances of pickpockets and snatchings. It happens everywhere not just in Metro Manila. Now that everything is getting expensive, people will clutch to the blade.

The ride costs PHP 13 or USD 0.23. It took me 45 minutes to get to Gateway Mall.

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This is the escalator going to the LRT ticketing office. It is easy to get confused with the train stations here. Gateway Mall has two, the LRT and the MRT. They have different stations and common stations.

This is an automated ticketing machine. Regular train commuters have a Beep card, a reloadable smart card for faster transactions.

It can be loaded through e-wallets, convenience stores, etc. For this blog, I opted to go with the hard way, which is buying a single journey card.

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Now, I am going to the MRT Line. I needed to walk a little bit through the mall to get to the ticketing office.

There is a mini garden and a restaurant in the middle of the mall. Also, taking advantage of the light. I appreciate malls with big window glasses. It just makes the place open and spacious. 😊

Different restaurants and different cuisines. We eat here when we watch a basketball game at the Araneta Coliseum. It is where the biggest concerts and ball games happen. It is already an iconic coliseum so when an artist performs here, there is a saying that they truly made it in the industry.

Hey, @bananzell, I remember you when I saw BLK 513! But, alas, I was in a hurry so I had to pass at that moment. Hmm, maybe next time! 😊

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After a 5-minute walk, I finally reached the ticketing station. Not a lot of people today, thank God!

It would be a surge of people during rush hour. Also, a chance of not getting to the train. A single journey from Cubao to Ortigas is PHP 13 or USD 0.23.

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This is the train going to North EDSA Station. A guard is always on patrol to ensure safety. The train will honk to warn people to step outside of the yellow lane.

This is the train going to Ortigas Station. There's a separate compartment for women, men, and mixed. I lined up for the women-exclusive compartment.

Typically during rush hour, it is hard to find a seat let alone ride the train. Took a quick snap because I am shy about putting my phone up. 😆 Everyone has their world, passing the time inside the train.

Some are on their phone, reading a book, or just daydreaming until they take off the train. People still wear masks for extra precaution of what virus could be in the air.

I too always have masks on. I think I will never leave the house without it. The pandemic taught me a lot, especially about health and hygiene.

I got to Megamall in less than 10 minutes. Compared to riding a bus, it might take at least 30 minutes. I was just waiting for my meet up friend by the corner.

To be frank, our rail transit system needs a LOT of improvements. Sometimes, they get broken which delays the schedules of commuters. It is not common to have daily reports of repairs such as the air conditioning, doors, etc.

Still hoping for the betterment of transportation in the Philippines.

Thanks for reading!😊

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That is it for this blog. I will see you at the next one!
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