How To Commute to Talisay, Batangas from Alabang

Start Point: Alabang
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The town of Talisay, Batangas hosts many resorts (such as Club Balai Isabel) by the shores of scenic Taal Lake. It's an alternative destination to crowded and traffic-snarled Tagaytay since it's only a short hop away via the zigzag road from Talisay to the Tagaytay rotunda.

1. At Alabang South Station, ride the N. Delarosa Liner bus going to Tanauan.
2. In front of Tanauan public market, there are jeeps bound for Talisay.

How To Commute to Evia Mall (Daang Hari) from Alabang

Start Point: Alabang
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Evia Mall aka Evia Lifestyle Center is another one of those so-called "lifestyle malls" that exude a more upscale ambiance. It's situated in the midst of several exclusive subdivisions not far from Ayala Alabang, hence its positioning as a lifestyle mall.

If you want to try this experience, especially the cinema, here's how you can get there.

1. From Alabang South Station, ride any jeep or FX going to SM Molino.
2. These will use Daang Hari Road so they will pass by Evia Mall and you can already get down in front of the mall.

Note: If you're coming from Makati, at Park Square you can just ride any FX headed to SM Molino because these will also use Daang Hari Road and will already pass by Evia Mall.

How to Commute to SM Center Muntinlupa from Alabang

Start Point: Alabang
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1. In front of the Muntinlupa Police and Fire Station along Alabang-Zapote Road, you can ride a any jeep headed to Binan or San Pedro. Either will pass by SM Muntinlupa.
2. Some jeeps will pass by SLEX while others will pass by the National Road. The SLEX route is faster and will exit at Susanna Heights before getting on the National Road again towards SM Muntinlupa. You can ask the driver beforehand which route he will take.

Pasig River Ferry Service

Source: Inquirer Online 

Although the Pasig River has historically been used as a transport artery, the passenger ferry service as it exists today started in 2007, although it was suspended in 2011. Citing the need to decongest the steadily worsening Metro Manila traffic, the MMDA took the lead to revive the ferry service in 2014.

The service spans Pasig River from Pinagbuhatan, Pasig to Intramuros, Manila with several terminals in-between. With the steady increase in passenger volume, more terminals are also being planned.

Be advised of the following updated schedules (as of February 2017) and trip planners for the Pasig River ferry service:

Guadalupe-Maybunga route and vice versa

Guadalupe-Mexico route and vice versa

Pinagbuhatan-Guadalupe route and vice versa

In line with the improved Pasig River ferry service, Megaworld Corporation has agreed to provide free bus shuttle services starting January 2017 for the following locations:

Guadalupe station to Uptown (Taguig) and vice versa (30-seater coasters)

Escolata station to Lucky Chinatown Mall and Divisoria area and vice versa (15-seater vans)

The MMDA assures the public that regular cleaning and dredging of the Pasig River has removed any smells. The service will still be dependent on the weather though, since strong rainfall will result in rising water levels that may submerge the terminals.

Still, as an alternate commuter service, the ferry holds much promise. Supposedly, the trip from Pinagbuhatan to Intramuros takes 45 minutes, so it does present an attractive alternative if traffic snarls are making your regular commute unbearable.

Sources: Wikipedia, Inquirer Online, MMDA, Manila Bulletin

Managing Road Rage: Not Just For Drivers

Source: Pixabay under Creative Commons

By now, almost everyone in the country has heard about the road rage killing of a cyclist last July 25. Luckily, the perpetrator was caught a few days later. Based on initial interrogation, it seems the victim's actions and attitude provoked the fistfight which eventually led to the suspect shooting the victim dead.

This incident brings to mind how easily road rage can get out of hand and how one can take steps to make sure you don't become either the victim or the perpetrator of a road rage crime. Top Gear Philippines has some useful tips for vehicle drivers but even commuters are not immune to feeling road rage.

When someone cuts the line while you're queuing for that train ticket or elbows you aside as you're trying to fit into that crowded MRT coach, these are just some of the incidents that can bring out your inner volcano. Facebook is filled with videos of commuters engaged in fistfights over some perceived insult during the train ride.

If you don't want to end up on video, or worse in the hospital or morgue, take note of these tips to manage your temper when commuting:

1. It's easy to get pissed off at the slightest offense when you're tired or hungry, especially if you're in a rush. So before heading out, try to eat a light snack and be a little rested or have short rest stops when changing rides. Make sure you also empty your bladder (and your bowels) first.

2. Budget enough time to get to your destination. Every little infraction screams at you when you know the clock is ticking and you're already late.

3. If something happens that really ticks you off, try to take several deep and measured breaths before reacting (hard to do, I know). An example of a measured breath is to inhale for 7 counts, pause for one count, exhale for 7 counts then pause again before inhaling again. Do this several times until you feel yourself calming down.

Often when we're angry our breathing becomes ragged sometimes to the point of panting. When you control your breath, more often than not your emotions also get controlled.

4. This sounds a bit cheesy, but think that even if you feel slighted over what another commuter may have done to you, be thankful that you can move, still have a home to go home to, have loved ones waiting for you, etc. and that love for you will not change no matter what passing remark or provocation someone else would have thrown your way.

5. Be the type of person you would want to meet. So follow the pedestrian rules, be respectful of fellow commuters and basically don't be the type of person someone would want to beat down "because he had it coming."

These are just simple tips but hopefully they will help you to safely navigate the chaos that is Metro Manila commuting.