Communicate Even When Cellular Networks are Down

In the aftermath of any major disaster, one of the biggest concerns is how to communicate with your loved ones because any disaster big enough to cause widespread damage would likely knock out cellular networks as well.

During the June 22 Shake Drill, the MMDA introduced FireChat, a free app that let's you communicate with your contacts even if cellular networks are down. It's available on Android and iOS so pretty much anyone who owns a smartphone can use it.

FireChat works by something called a peer-to-peer mesh network. Any phone within 200 feet of each other can serve as a relay to pass on messages to the next phone within range. The messages are encrypted, so privacy is assured. For this to work, you need to activate both the Bluetooth and WiFi functions on your cellphone.

Of course, if there is no electricity to recharge your cellphone this can be an issue because Bluetooth and WiFi can drain battery charge pretty quickly. However, the peace of mind of letting your loved ones know that you're okay, and finding out that they're okay, can be worth the faster battery discharge.

It's estimated that about 5% of a city's population needs to have FireChat activated in order to have coverage over the whole city. So download FireChat now!

If you want to know more about FireChat, you can watch the following videos.

How FireChat works:

A short review of FireChat:

How to Commute to The Venice Piazza (McKinley Hill) from EDSA-Ayala

Start Point: The corner of EDSA and McKinley Road
Go to Route Index
List of PUV Terminals

There are several ways to commute to The Venice Piazza but the one starting from EDSA-Ayala will be featured here since the area is a high traffic point and can be used as a jump off point whatever your point of origin may be.

1. Go to the jeepney terminal behind Shell station and ride the jeep going to Market! Market!
2. Get down at the corner of McKinley Road and 5th Ave. This is the corner where the jeep makes the left turn into BGC proper. If you get down after the jeep makes the left turn, just cross 5th Ave. to the other side.
3. Get on the jeep headed to FTI / Gate 3 and tell the driver you're going to McKinley Hill.
4. PUVs are not allowed inside McKinley Hill, so you will be set down at the corner of Chateau Road and McWest Blvd. Click here for Google Map location.
5. From here, you will need to walk towards McKinley Hill (almost 300 meters away). You can just follow the line of people going to work at McKinley Hill to easily mark your way.
6. From the main entrance of McKinley Hill, keep walking towards The Venice Piazza (it's about 500 meters or about half a kilometer away). In total, The Venice Piazza is about 800 meters away from where the jeepney will set you down.
7. In case you get winded from your walk, there's an elevated walkway connecting Intellectual Property Center Building and The Venice Piazza. There's a small food court on the same level of the walkway where you can rest or grab a quick snack or drink before proceeding.

Note: If you're coming from the north, there are several locations where you could ride Megaworld's Citylink Bus. It's a bus service that links several Megaworld properties within Metro Manila. You can click here for details.

Citylink Bus (Business Class)

The Citylink bus service links various Megaworld developments within Metro Manila. There are bus schedules and designated drop off/pick up points (similar to the Premium P2P scheme). You can call 812-7472 for more details about the schedules.

This can be convenient if you happen to be near one of the pick up points and you need to go to a Megaworld destination anyway (especially since some Megaworld developments do not allow PUVs inside, e.g. McKinley Hill).

Here are details on the current route:

Eastwood
Greenmeadows
Ortigas
Julia Vargas
Valle Verde
Shaw
Kalayaan
Global City
Fort Bonifacio-Petron
McKinley Hill
Heritage
FTI-Commando
South Expressway
East Point
Villamor
NAIA 3
Newport

Source: The Fort City

RRCG Pink Bus

Source: DZRH

The RRCG Pink Bus is a joint project of RRCG Transport and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to cater to a special category of commuters such as senior citizens, females, students and women with children. It was launched in March 2015 and the buses being used are painted pink and driven by a driver wearing a pink shirt for easy identification on the road.

Who may ride the bus?

• Females
• Minors (18 years old and below)
• Senior Citizens (male and female)
• Persons With Disability (male and female)

What is the bus schedule?

Daily, morning rush hour from 4am to 10pm and afternoon/evening rush hour from 4pm to 10pm.

What route is serviced?

The RRCG Pink Bus services the Quiapo-Cainta route.

Sources: The Philippine Star, RRCG Transport