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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.

Bonifacio Monument, Monumento, Caloocan City, Metro Manila

The statues made of bronze was made by Guillermo Tolentino, a renowned artist who also created the Oblation of University of the Philippines. It was erected in 1933 and served as a colossal yet majestic  I wonder, how would Bonifacio feels seeing his monument in the middle of a bustling roundabout?

Aside that right now that the country is celebrating his birthday (ironically not his day of martyrdom unlike other Filipino heroes, thoughts later), this is one way of commemorating Lolo Andres Bonifacio and the Katipuneros, the supremo of the revolutionary group Katipunan (a secret society that initiated a massive rebellion during the Philippine war for independence against the Spaniards) which eventually lead to the country’s independence from the three centuries of Don Quixote’s rule from 1896 to 1898.

Hub

This certain place in Caloocan is so called because of the imposing monument dedicated to the Supremo of the Katipunan. It is indeed Caloocan’s most well-known landmark which greets visitors from the north bound for Metro Manila.

The LRT Yellow Line at Monumento Station bound for Baclaran

And because the monument greets the visitors and people coming from the north, it became a hub for virtually almost anything to Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela area), and Northern and Central Luzon. A transport hub that is.

Victory Liner Caloocan Bus Terminal

Here are some of the public transport terminals that are located in Monumento, Caloocan area:

1. LRT Monumento Station – the northern end of the classic Light Railway Transit Yellow Line (Line 1) which runs from Baclaran in Parañaque, passing through the heart of Manila and towards Monumento. This station indeed is the terminus for those who live in northern Metro Manila and beyond. And just below it are the jeepneys and buses…
2. Bus stations – Most predominant of the provincial bus stations would be Victory Liner. This is one of their terminals where you can ride a bus going to Malolos, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Olongapo and Baguio. There are other bus stations surrounding the Monumento area…pero wala akong time para libutin ang buong Monumento, hehe!
3. Bus stop – Buses that ply EDSA to Malanday, Letre/Sangandaan pass by here. You can also catch up Pacita-Laguna and Dasmariñas-Cavite bound buses here too in rare occasions. Monumento is the bus hub for those who are bound for Caloocan City proper in Sangangdaan/Dagat-Dagatan and Malanday.
4. Jeepney hub – Like any other hubs in Metro Manila, this is the main hub for CAMANAVA (or CAloocan, MAlabon, NAvotas and VAlenzuela Cities) area. Jeepneys bound for Malabon Bayan pass by Letre and Puregold while those who are bound to the pilgrimage site of Our Lady of Salambao in Obando can take a jeepney just behind the Victory Lines bus terminal in Caloocan.
5. Soon to be Northrail – when the controversial Northrail would be finished, Caloocan would serve as its main dropping point (not Tutuban in EDSA) just a few meters from Monumento…The question is, when will it be finished and are there any more anomalies left?

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EDSA-Pasay Rotunda

by Jeannette Andrade of Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—The top official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday said that he would ban passenger jeepneys from plying Edsa with the completion of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 North Extension Project next year.

At the Balitaan sa Tinapayan forum in Manila, LTFRB chairman Alberto Suansing also said that he would reduce the number of passenger buses plying one of the busiest thoroughfares in the metropolis.

The north extension project, which is expected to be completed by January 2010, will connect LRT 1’s Monumento Station to the Metro Rail Transit 3 North Avenue Station.

Suansing explained that since the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, passenger jeepneys have been banned from plying Edsa.

He added that with the completion of the MRT loop all the way to Caloocan City, there would be no need for passenger jeepneys and a reduced demand for passenger buses.

A test-run of the LRT 1 north extension project was expected to be conducted this December, he said.

Meanwhile, a jeepney transport group on Sunday pushed for a 50-centavo hike due to the series of price increases implemented by oil companies.

Pasang Masda president Roberto Martin, who also attended the forum, said his group has already filed a petition with the LTFRB. He asked the public for understanding, citing the refusal of the “Big 3” oil firms—Pilipinas Shell, Chevron Philippines Inc., and Petron Corp.—to allow government agencies to examine their books of account.

Suansing, meanwhile, assured the transport group that he would hold a hearing next month to hear their petition.

News from Inquirer.net, written by Jeannette Andrade of Philippine Daily Inquirer

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The oldest among the rail transits in the metro, it was constructed in early 1980′s by the Marcos Administration to drastically reduce the travel time from Paranaque City to Caloocan City, passing through the heart of downtown Manila. The said line runs from Baclaran to Monumento. Light Railway Transit was inspired by the tramvias of pre-war Manila (similar to cable cars of San Francisco) but on an elevated railway and with specific stations. It runs 15 kilometers with 18 stations north to south, traversing the roads of Taft Avenue, Avenida Rizal and Arroceros Street. So, here we start our joyride from south to north and get to know the destinations. The station guides at the next page

• Baclaran Station – It is the southern terminal of LRT-1. Famous for being a crowd and traffic drawer pilgrimage site every Wednesday which is at the Redemptorist Church. The area is also known as a giant marketplace of everything affordable, from apparel to cellphones to television. It is Divisioria’s competitor in the south.
• EDSA (Pasay Rotunda) Station – It is simply the big hub of passengers who are either going to QC, Pasig or Makati or Manila and Caloocan. It is where you disembark if you want to travel the Metro by EDSA either by bus (which will take you, heaven knows when hours before you reach the area) or by MRT, the blue line. The Taft Avenue Station of MRT is just a walking distance away. Also, the place is a large transit area for provincial buses mostly bound south of Manila.
• Libertad Station – This is where you disembark if you want to go to Pasay City’s market or watch a basketball game at the Cuneta Astrodome.
• Buendia Station – The station in which you can either infiltrate the Central Business District of Makati or the expanse of the World Trade Centre or even knock your doors at the Senate of the Philippines.
• Vito Cruz Station – Animo La Salle! The station where the De La Salle schools are within its reaches. Also, this is the most convenient disembarking location for those bound for CCP, Aliw Theatre and the Rizal Stadium. And oh, Harisson Plaza Shopping Centre.
• Quirino Avenue Station – Sightseeing at Manila Zoo or having a courtesy call with Malacanang? Or bound to Santa Mesa? It’s the place to drop yourself off to these destinations.
• Pedro Gil Station – Sick and needs check-up, PGH (Philippine General Hospital) is near, and same with the first UP (University of the Philippines) campus. You may also want to shop or go bar hopping at nearby Malate or have your judicial cases be solved at the Supreme Court.
• United Nations Avenue – The gateway to the most famous landmark in Manila, Luneta or Rizal Park. Also for those who wanted to have the American Dream, the US Embassy is just at the western end of UN Avenue. NBI clearances and wanting for investigation? NBI is here. And to our fellow mariners seeking for a job, this is where TM Kalaw is.
• Central Terminal – At the heart of the Capital is the Central Terminal or known as Lawton. SM City Manila is nearby and so is the the old walled city of Intramuros, a standing reminder of Manila living with Spain for three centuries. Fort Santiago and the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Agustin Church is here and so are the schools of Mapua, PLM, Lyceum and Letran and the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila.
• Carriedo Station – This is the gateway to the old soul commercial hub of Manila. The famed Avenida Rizal and the old commercial strip of Escolta, the Church of Santa Cruz and of course Chinatown Binondo where those Chinese delicacies, restaurants and that imposing church is located. Pilgrims of the Black Nazarene can disembark here as Quiapo Church is just several blocks away. This is also another bargain hunter’s paradise.
• Doroteo Jose Station – Going to Divisoria, the famed “THE BARGAIN PLACE” of Manila? Or going to Sampaloc and head yourself to the University Belt or have a rally staged at Mendiola? Heading for Cubao QC and Marikina, it is the transit station for the Purple Line or LRT-2.
• Bambang Station – Going north Luzon? Some terminals are located here or searching for bargain goods.
• Blumentritt Station – The street is named after one of Rizal’s supporters. This is the transit station for those who want to ride the old PNR (Philippine National Railways) for Alabang or its main station at Tutuban.
• Tayuman Station – Once the gateway to the world of jockeys and horse racing of San Lazaro, it is now the station for those who want to go to Tondo or Sampaloc or shop at SM City.
• Abad Santos Station – Visiting some departed loved ones at the Chinese Cemetery or bound again for Divisioria, it is here where you disembark.
• R.Papa Station – One of the gateways to Manila’s largest cemeteries, the North Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery. Also within the vicinity is the lechon district of La Loma in Quezon City.
• 5^th Avenue Station – Station for the residents and people bound to the residential areas of Grace Park and also Dagat-Dagatan of CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas & Valenzuela).
• Monumento Station – The last station up north. So called because of the monument done by the National Artist Guillermo Tolentino dedicated to Andres Bonifacio, a Philippine revolucionario and a hero. This is where you transit for Navotas’ fish port, the zoo and antique places of Malabon, the industrial Valenzuela and all the way to Bulacan and beyond. It is also where Yellow Line meets EDSA once more, bound for Balintawak Interchange and Munoz market, the “bagsakan” of Benguet vegetables.

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It would be my first ranting here at my new blog. It is also the first of the series for how to survive the mass rail transport here in Manila, the capital of the Philippine Islands. Well, what’s the ranting all about? Pathetic maintenance of course.

In 2003, it was my first time riding the new LRT Megatren Line 2 which spans from Manila’s Recto to Pasig’s suburbian Santolan, passing through San Juan and the ever busy business hub of Cubao in Quezon City. It was a relief from the cramped MRT of EDSA as it boasts wider and more comfortable trains. Enough to contain the students (the main market) of U-Belt and other commuters as well.

Boasting modern facilities, they’ve introduced finally (even though MRT planned it first) the vending machine for tickets. More like your favorite softdrinks vendo machine but issues tickets. A relief for the long queues and manpower for LRT. This is the most convenient way (so far) for issuing tickets for the said mass transit. But the first problem though was it was only accepting barya (coins) to purchase tickets. Worse, if your P20 or P50 bills are dilapidated, then like any other vendo machine, it will just spit it out…Kelangan mong magpapalit ng barya sa Passenger Assistance Office booth.Just a tip: If you are to give P50 to purchase ticket into vendo machines, the change may be in denominations of P5 or the heavier P1! Talk about public slot machines!

But because of the growing number of commuters using the new train line, the vendo machines are of pose of high maintenance. Some have broken down and was moved to a corner,  not to be used. Other vendo machines lost their bills receiver. So expect that there are vendo machines that will only accept coins! There are even stations that all vendo machines doesn’t accept bills! What an inconvenience. And because of this, big stations such as Recto and Cubao already established man-powered ticket booths…talk about going back to the age of the dinosaurs! In fairness, they give you bills as for change.

I heard people say, “In the Philippines, is there a thing called maintenance in public property?” The statement raises doubts of maintaining the infrastructure work like it was spanking brand new. Like the vendo machines left in the cold corners of Cubao station, where do our taxes and fares go? I hope our taxes should serve the people of this growing metropolis. Calling LRTA, hope you fix the vendo machines in the LRT stations.