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).

You can't really call this a terminal for UV Express. The shuttles are only here from 5AM to 8AM…read more They're not always here on the weekends. And the shuttles here only go to Ayala. If you need to get on the shuttle, line up early. Many people take these shuttles and they get full right away. The line here gets pretty long and some people might try to cut your line. So be alert and don't let them fool you. There is no guard to keep you safe, but there is one guy who collects the payment and if you have any questions, ask him. Also, there are other vans that park near this place but don't have UV Express' logo. Do not get on these vans.

Haranah Tours is a local travel agency that provides provincial tours (Bohol, Cebu, Coron, Ilocos,…read morePuerto Princesa, Sagada, etc.), educational tours, transportation (bus/coasters) services, and soon: International tours to Asia! I remember my elementary and high school out-of-the-classroom field trips: most of the time, the buses we ride in are owned by Haranah Tours Corporation. And why not? They have great service! The drivers are reliable, well-trained, polite and generally kind. So far, we never had an accident or even a minor glitch in our many out-of-school tours (Outbound trips, educational field trips, retreats, recollections, etc.), which says a lot about how great their service is. From the same name, an eco park in Tanay, Rizal, is also open for everyone. Haranah Eco Park is the real feel of what Mother Nature is: from its picturesque green landscape, giant ferns, unusual flowers, to the mesmerizing night sky! They also have quality facilities for seminars, events, educational tours, or just camping with family and friends! Now you know where to head out for your next team building, knowledge-seeking session, family-bonding and when you want to get lost in Mother Nature's beauty...and of course, how to get there: through Haranah Tours!

If you find yourself in need of a taxi and you're in SM Makati, first know where you're going. If…read moreyou have to go to Pasay or Paranaque, do not go to this taxi stand. If you have to go to Makati or Ortigas or anywhere North, then, line up here. I always use the Southbound taxi stand and whenever I need to use this one, I get pretty jealous. There are more taxis that stop here and the waiting time isn't that bad. There are times when there is a guard who gives you a slip of paper with the taxi's plate number. If the guard isn't here, just snap a picture of the plate number. Again, senior citizens and pregnant women do not have to endure the long lines. They get to cut the line.

It's pretty tricky to find a hotel/hostel/pension house that offers good value for your money. If…read moreyou go too cheap, you often get what you pay for, but you also don't want to pay an arm and a leg for a room either. Finding a hotel that strokes the fine line between these two divides is challenging. That's why I was so happy when I tried out Pension Natividad in Malate last weekend. While I heard good things about it, I was only able to appreciate it when I first stepped in. The place has an old-world energy to it, it was clean and pleasant, and they had the most wonderful covered canopy where I would see guests hang out all day. Considering that Malate is as noisy as they get, Pension Natividad was wonderfully quiet and serene. I can imagine myself hanging out there all day, finishing a book or writing one. Pension Natividad has a quaint cafe that serves a decent breakfast and some sandwiches. There used to be a pizzeria in here, but it has been closed down. That's a shame, as this would be a lovely place to have a pizza in. I do hope they bring it back. The rooms are spartan and simple, and devoid of amenities. Then again, this is a Pension House, not a Hotel, and as such I was not looking for these amenities anyway. I stayed in their most expensive room, (Single room aircon), which cost P1,500. There are fan rooms and dorm types, for those who want to save a bit more money. The front desk people were as pleasant as possible, and they did have a nice selection of supplies and food you could buy from them directly, at non-inflated prices. Their location is also ideal if you want to jump into the thick of things at Malate, or if you want to go to Manila's attractions. The baywalk is a short walk away, Intramuros and Luneta are pretty close by, and between all that, there are places waiting to be discovered in the streets and side streets. I finally found my Malate home, and it is Pension Natividad.

My family and I stumbled upon Pension Natividad after the Pork Barrel rally in Luneta Park. We were…read morestarving, since we'd been stumbling around Manila looking for wherever we had parked the car & by some fortunate chance of fate, we came across this lovely establishment. I'm not sure how the rooms are since we didn't stay there for the night (the place did seem very clean, and it gave off an old-world kind of atmosphere), but the restaurant at the ground floor was spectacular. It had a very homey vibe, red checkered tablecloth over small wooden tables and sunlight streaming through the large windows. The food was amazing, absolutely amazing, and at a decent price too! They serve a sort of noveau pizza, on a thin crust with a fistful of ricotta splattered onto the middle. It was heavenly. And only around P250. The coffee was great too - P30 for a huge, piping hot mug. They also have sandwiches and rice meals on the menu (although I don't know why you'd want to eat those when you can have their amazing pizza), and there's a fridge full of drinks and jars of pastries you can get from. I'm also a huge sucker for nice staff members, and the staff was so chirpy and polite, it was wonderful. When you visit I suggest you sit outside on the wrought-iron tables, the breeze from Manila bay passes through the vines hanging from the trees and everything is quiet save for the occasional car passing through the street. A beautiful place to have a quiet lunch with friends or family.

Years ago, I joined your Egypt Tour, it was a great and memorable experience. The price is right…read moretoo. I'd like to know if you have any Cherry Blossom tours in 2026.

Sea Residences is a good place to stay, overall clean, convenient, and close to malls and…read morerestaurants. However, since it's near the airport, the airplane noise can be quite disturbing at times, especially at night. Also, the pool isn't available overnight, which was a bit disappointing. Still, it's a decent option if you're looking for an accessible place in the area.

why I give this residence one rating because I can't give a zero…read more This is the place for you IF: If you like the squealing and screaming of small children in the pool at 7 am If you like the sound of jet engines flying over you from 7am until 10pm If you like the sound of clanging metal and hammering from 7am until 10pm (one morning we were awakened at 3am) If you like mingling with thousands of people in enclosed spaces at a mall (there wasn't much else to do) This had to be one the the worst experiences I have ever had on a vacation

Public transportation in Metro Manila can be a headache. That claim would actually be an…read moreunderstatement to many. Given that reality, you get to appreciate the smaller and simpler things when they come your way. As student from back in the day who hailed from Quezon City that had to go all the way to Manila for classes, the Project 6 FX terminal was a slight breath of fresh air. It had your usual FXs (mostly Revo or Crosswind units) that had to traverse through Espana and Taft Avenue traffic daily (50 pesos gets you all the way to Buendia); however, it's the good people in the neighborhood feel that makes me appreciate it the local terminal. I always felt safe and in good hands when in an FX operated by "The Sixers." One example: there was an instance when I left important documents after a morning trip. I returned to the terminal in the afternoon and told them what happened, and voila, I had my important brown envelope back. I more frequently use Uber and other ride sharing/booking apps nowadays, but taking the FX to Manila once in a while and seeing the old waiting shed still puts a smile on my face.