Every single workday, if I am not driven by my stress and exhaustion to take a cab home, I go here…read moreat the UV FX Terminal in SM Megamall to line up and catch a ride back home. I live in the (almost) outskirts of Pasig and I always pass by Ortigas Avenue Extension. If you didn't know, it's always hella traffic in that area so getting a ride going home can be tough. Thanfully, this terminal has been a friend to me every day after work. While lines may be crazy long, I am always guaranteed that an FX will come to pick us up. Unlike before, I would stand along the streets, wait for an FX to pass by and when they do, have to struggle my way into getting a seat amongst several people who are also dying to get home. While this terminal isn't the best terminal in the entire world, I appreciate it for the convenience it lends me. I can choose to line up between two destinations - Taytay or Antipolo. While Taytay would only cost me 40 bucks, I prefer lining up in Antipolo (which set me back for 50 pesos) because for some reason, more vans are routed to end up there. There are also lines for Binangonan and Angono, Rizal. If you line up at around 7pm, it's going to be a blockbuster. I usually wait until 8pm to 9pm since that's when the lines start to die down a bit.

All us South commuters would be so doomed without these shuttles. Really…read more If there weren't shuttles transporting us back and forth to Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Cavite, we would all be taking several buses, jeeps, trikes, cabs--It's difficult, inconvenient, time-consuming and may not even be affordable. You probably won't see us ever again. These shuttles that travel to and from Makati make commuting so much more convenient. Fares are reasonably priced and relatively cheap, if you consider the time and energy you'll be saving, as well as convenience. There are a lot of specific routes to certain neighborhoods and other central locations, and from the drop off points for some people their homes are just a walk or a trike away. On a good time of the day (not rush hour) it takes me just around 15-20 minutes to arrive Makati and vice versa, thanks to Skyway. Queues can get really long during rush hour (as expected), or when there's a sudden downpour, as Metro Manila traffic does not tolerate rain too well. This station is newly built for more than a year or so already. It used to be so cramped at that station underneath the Ayala MRT (it was HELL), but this station is more spacious and even has a nice selection of food kiosks, vending machines, and a clean toilet.

I'm not really from south but I love that they turned this place into a UV Express Terminal. UV…read moreExpress is one solution to EDSA Traffic because one van can cater up to 15 commuters inside. This place is a five minute walk from Ayala MRT station, and is near Greenbelt, SM Makati, Landmark and Glorietta. In North, we don't have much shuttle services or I am not really familiar that's why when I learned that my boyfriend rides here to his place, I got excited and we scheduled one day for me to experience being in a shuttle. From the Terminal, we just waited a few minutes until the van makes his way on the street. In less than thirty minutes, we reached parañaque without hassle. The thing is, when it reaches 6pm, this place gets really crowded and the lines are crazy. You can opt to eat your dinner first while waiting because there are food stalls and vending machine available in the place. I checked their toilet and it's still new and clean.

They say that the province of Bulacan is the gateway to the north since you have to pass by this…read moreprovince if you want to get to the northern part of the country from Metro Manila. Since I am from Bulacan, this is one of the two bus companies I frequently use whenever I go back to my hometown. They have trips not only to Baliuag, Bulacan but to other destinations like Nueva Ecija, Tuguegarao and Isabela. The company have hundreds of bus units at their disposal but there are still days when I have to wait for hours just to board a bus. My personal record is 6 hours on one unforgettable All Saints Day. The facilities are a bit old and the restrooms are begging for some soap and water so I usually visit the restroom before heading to their terminal. To their credit, there has been improvements in their services. The personnel ensures that passengers line up in an orderly fashion. Although it can get confusing during peak season when the lines snake around the terminal and passengers can no longer determine for which destination the lines are and where the end is. They also strictly implement the use of courtesy lanes for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, no need to queue for passengers who are physically challenged. Although there are only a few choices for those who want to travel to Bulacan or other northern provinces, this company doesn't renege on its duty of still making sure that passengers get to their destinations safely and comfortably.

Having friends all the way in Vigan, Ilocos Sur has never been too much of a problem with me. Aside…read morefrom the numerous trips via air or private transport, there's always Partas. I have always felt that taking public transport for long rides is way better than bringing your own car because you let someone else do the drivng for you. This is what attracted me to taking buses in the first place. The overall experience with Partas has been pleasureable. Despite not following strictly their timetable, it somewhat makes sense from a business point of view - trips are merged if there are not enough passengers for a certain trip. However, during times when there are far too many passengers, they in turn add trips to accommodate passengers. Though the regular bus is fine, I like taking evening trips in the deluxe bus as it has recliner seats that are a bit wider and softer cushioning, plus leg raisers to ensure a comfortable ride. At only PhP805, it's surely a great way to travel. Just hop on, sleep, and wake up 400 kilometers away from Manila and in the heritage city of Vigan.

Over crowed, hard to get your change back. Unprofessional staff. Over all a bad experience.read more

Poor management Poor response of guard on duty…read morePoor treatment to stored value card holder I really experience today how they response to a bulk of commuters... Pinapasok nila ang dagsa ng tao n wlang stored value ..sa sobrang daming tao..ying mga may stored value pinapila din nila in same manner.. Madaming dumaang bagol at iilan lang ang sumsasakay kasi nkapila lahat sa pagbili ng ticket ... Ngsuggest ako to give convenient dun sa may stored value n ibahin ang pila at ng makausad at mkasakay n sa mga dumadaang bagol..hindi naniwla nagkibit balikat na lang... Kung kelan malalaa n sitwasyon saka lang aaksyon ang nakauniform na head ng guard ng LRT... POOR RESPONSE.. NAKAKASUKA

One of the more popular Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations and one of my most visited LRT terminals,…read morethe Vito Cruz Station takes you straight in front of De La Salle University, which is one of the top universities in the country and the one which is famous for its competition with the Ateneo de Manila University. Approaching this station, you will see right away the new developments and facilities which cater to the DLSU students - new buildings, a university mall right beside it. The station also leaves one in the same area as the university belt, leaving such other prominent institutions of learning like the University of Sto. Tomas and the Philippine Women's University as not too far away; just a few stations more, or a taxi or a pedicab, and you'll surely make it there from the Vito Cruz Station. But, just to be clear, the reason why I frequently get off at this station is not to visit other universities, but to go to see the CCP. From Vito Cruz Station, you only need to turn right to the street nearest to your right and walk until you reach the Rizal Memorial Stadium, outside of which orange shuttles going to the CCP Complex are located.

There are a lot of places in Makati where you can catch a ride home. Park Square is just one of…read morethose places. It was the first day of my internship and I had little to no clue where I could get a ride. My sister mentioned something about a UV express and I had thought that the only one I could go to was the one mentioned to me by co-intern. What I saw that night must be a regular sight for most people, but it wasn't for me. After walking several blocks I found myself stuck in what appeared to be a very busy parking lot. Usually, parking lots are full of cars and not people. This scenario to my mind just goes to show just how bad commuting has become in Metro Manila. How most people find work in Makati, but eventually have to go home to the other parts of the Metro. Waiting in lines for God knows how long just so they can get home as soon as they can.

Have you seen those green and white multicabs roaming certain streets in Makati? In case you're…read moreunfamiliar with it, this is the B-Jeep. It was launched in 2008 as a green alternative to public transport within the busy business district of Makati. It used to run the two routes for free but now that it has been franchised, the cost to ride one is the same as a regular jeep. What makes it different (and personally my preferred mode of transport) is that it is environment-friendly. It runs a bit slow, usually between 40 to 50 kph, but since it runs on a rechargeable battery, it does not pollute and does not generate noise so the ride is a more pleasant one compared to the usual diesel PUJs. Even more unique is the way they run this franchise. You may notice that drivers are a mix of men and women, this is not something you would commonly see in our other public transport options in Manila. They also do not have to fully load the BJeep per stop since drivers are paid to ply the routes -- whether or not it is full. Meaning, they don't contribute to the already congested streets of Makati. The first route (the green B-Jeep) runs along the different streets of Legazpi Village: Salcedo Street - VA Rufino Street - Adelantado - Gamboa - Salcedo - Benavidez, Paseo De Roxas - Legaspi Street - Dela Rosa - Salcedo. The second route (the white B-Jeep) runs along the different streets of Salcedo Village: Dela Costa Street - Makati Avenue - Paseo De Roxas - Villar Street - Leviste St - Rufino Street - Ayala Avenue - Dela Costa Street. The routes intersect in Landmark so you can hop on from one route to the other from there. This really is a great movement by the Makati local government and I hope more cities adopt it soon so even if you're a public transport user, you know you're contributing to helping improve the environment.

When heading for the other business center in the Philippines that is not the one in Makati, the…read moreMetro Rail Transit (MRT) makes a stop in Ortigas through the (aptly named) Ortigas Station. One of the busier stations in the line, this is a favorite not just among shoppers (who can also take this to go to the other end of the malls that are accessible through the neighboring Shaw Boulevard Station) but also for those who want to commute further through the FX terminal that can take them as far as Marikina if you look closely, as well as the nearby Robinson's Mall, too. However, for many, it's also the portal to the working day, as many major offices and corporations are in Ortigas as well. This busy place is certainly one of the major places that commuters go to when they want to take up their options in the MRT line, and it also helps that it is near the EDSA Shrine and ESDA Monument, which are both influencial and important parts of the nation's history (not to mention the station looks over the EDSA road itself, which is very busy on regular days, indeed).

I could be wrong, but this is probably the biggest MRT station, and probably the busiest…read moreconsidering its location in the Metro. This station is practically one of the biggest hub of commuters in the Metro. I can't even begin to imagine just how many commuters go through this place. I think the government knew this which is probabl;y why they designed this place to be huge. In fact, this place probably has the most number of food stalls and restaurants along the MRT line. Heck, there's a KFC and Mang Inasal. Most MRT stations only have a wide variety of food stalls. It's a nice place if it's a empty, but a bit of a troublesome spot to be in during rush hours. I sometimes pass by here during rush hours and I swear the line gets so long that sometimes I can imagine that walking would be a better option than riding the train. This is especially true after they've cut down on the number of working trains.

MRT Ayala Station is a tricky place to be in. It's not exactly perfect especially when it's rush…read morehour and there are hoards of people in the place. The lines can drive anyone insane and the heat is sometimes unbearable. The place houses many little shops where one can buy a meal or a snack to help you stay sane in this place. Though many people hate the MRT Ayala Station, I enjoy it. It's always an experience and I never know what to expect. I appreciate the effort that the guards put in when it's rush hour and they have to make sure that the commuters stay in their line and follow the rules. The commuters are also used to the unofficial rules of this place and make life easier for everyone by preparing the exact amount needed for a ticket, standing in the right lines and not bring in items that are not allowed on the train. The people also know that they must give way to those getting off the train and try their best not to push (unless you're going too slow). Getting on a train will get you to your destination in less than an hour. If you're a girl, you're lucky. You get your own section on the train. Sometimes, I walk all the way to the end of the train 'cause there's fewer people there. Other times, when I'm really desperate, I just push myself in with the guys in their section.