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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!

6:05PM Manila Time, Ortigas MRT Station – Time for me to alight the train…but goodness, it was a struggle! Passengers who are alighting the train find themselves in a verbal tussle of “excuse me’s, paraan po, lalabas, and pu**** i**s” Some maintained their courteous stance. Others lost their patience—and I was about to lose mine as well. For crying out loud, why are the incoming passengers not allowing the outgoing passengers to alight first! Paraanin mo muna ang bababa bago sumakay! But no, they insisted in staying in their places and not budge till kingdom come! I shouted “makikiraan lang po, may lalabas, pwede ba?” But like the driver, it fell on deaf (and stupid) ears. I have no other choice but to force myself out. I don’t care whether someone from these people would be hurt. Wala na akong paki-alam kung may masaktan pa. I need to get out of the train before the door closes. I shouted ‘excuse me, makikiraan po’ while struggling myself to get out. In a jiffy, I got out! Fresh air…FINALLY! Sorry na lang sa mga nabangga. Alangan na magbayad pa ako ng panibagong ticket galing Santolan! It’s just a matter of survival—this is just one example of an art that any city dweller in Manila should practise and memorize by heart—the art of combat commuting.

MRT Taft Avenue Station Platform

While most of us blame the government of the commuters’ struggle, this is not unique in Manila or in the Philippines. Have you seen the train passenger pushers in rush hour Tokyo subway? How about in Mexico City and the rest of megalopolises in this planet? That is really indeed a facet of life living in a metropolis of 12 million (urgh…almost 20 million including suburbia.) Nagkataon lang talaga na hindi maayos ang urban planning sa Metro Manila, lalo na sa public transport sector.

If you indeed would like to live in Manila, you have to learn the art of combat commuting. Nope, this is not about turning yourself into Jason Ivler…but impose your right as a commuter, maintain your controlled aggressiveness (take note: controlled…huwag maging Jason Ivler ng mga komyuter!) and assert your right to get out of the train…or loading a bus. Living in a big metro makes the competitiveness within us. After all, this is a “jungle of concrete trees and asphalt trails.”

MRT Taft Avenue Station Crowd

Combat commuting is not all about getting into a brawl or being rude with your fellow commuter, this also incorporate changing of the mindset. Yes, the government lacked foresight in urban planning (alas Manila and Ondoy), we can complain to the authorities, but reality bites—it takes time for a bloody government project to move ahead! Since that is the case, the only thing we can do is TO DEAL WITH IT.

MRT at EDSA-North Avenue

In the case of the MRT, if you are really maarte, then taking a taxi is not an option either—especially during rush hours. For women, good for them because they have their own coach…but if they opted to go in the unisex coaches, like a soldier preparing for war…they have to prepare for the worse, and better watch out for pick-pockers and animals called Maniacis Hubris!

Courteous?

Commuting in Metro Manila is like a battlefield. A lot of soldiers…umm commuters, are out there–competing with “prime seats” and “managing to go home.” But unlike the real battlefield where soldiers have alliances, in commuting, you are the General of the Army…and the army is yourself!

The only tips that I can give you are these:

• Watch out for orcs called magnanakaw. They don’t worship anyone. That’s why, secure your belongings like an OC.
• Observe. Try to observe the attitude of the commuters and formulate a solution. Parang problem solving lang yan.
• Assert your right as always, but try to manage your aggressiveness as well. Delikado na kung sumobra, di ba Marlene?
• Eat a light snack before going on a long ride home (heavy meal if going to work). Kahit yung Hong Kong-style fried noodles with siomai, oks na yun!
• Lastly and most importantly, patience. It pays off. Bawal mainitin ang ulo sa Maynila, or else…

MRT on a rush - Araneta Center Cubao Station

Living in a megalopolis is already a challenge, and one of its aspects is traveling within the city. Metro Manila is one giant battlefield that we all have to deal with. While our policymakers are making “improvements” in our public transport (and their pockets), we have to make a way in order to survive this concrete jungle. I suggest you have to learn “The Art of Combat Commuting.”

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Manila’s MRT (EDSA Metro Rail Transit/Blue Line) will be rocked from December 6 to December 8 every 2PM as Rock Ed Philippines presents Rock the Riles 2009. 8 MRT stations would join this activity in order to raise and create awareness among the Filipinos of the United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and for commemorating and seeking justice for the “Maguindanao Martyrs.”

MRT Taft Avenue Station - One of the venues for Rock the Riles 2009

The gigs would simultaneously be held at 8 stations of the MRT representing the 8 MDGs of UN. The stages are at:

• Taft Station – Eradication of Poverty and Hunger
• Quezon Avenue – Universal Primary Education
• Shaw Boulevard Station – Gender Equality
• North Station – Child Mortality
• Boni Station – Maternal Health
• Buendia Station – Combat and prevention of AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
• Cubao Station – Sustainable Environment
• Ayala Station – Global Relation

Performing artists would be Up Dharma Down, Sandwich, Paramita, Radioactive Sago Project, The Ambassadors, Cambio, Imago, Noel Cabangon, Paolo Santos and so much more. There is also a cinemafest dedicated to the late Alexis Tiuseco, one of Philippines’ film critic at Quezon Avenue Station. And visual art exhibit at the North Avenue Station.

It’s also a gathering of artists who would dedicate their performances to the slain media men and innocent lives of the recent Maguindanao massacre. RockEd 2009 seek for justice for those who were slain in one of the worst election-related violence in Philippine history. Donations would be accepted and would be given to the grieving families.

So from Sunday to Wednesday afternoons, the MRT and its stations would be filled with music…for achieving the goals for the Filipino and fighting for justice for the slain innocents. Justice we beg! Rock the Riles!

For more information, log on to their website at: http://www.rockedphilippines.org/

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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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MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Rail Transit or MRT-3 on EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) is going on 24-hour operations starting June 1, a transportation official said.

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Source: Inquirer.net