This Week in Metro Manila (April 30 to May 6, 2018)

The week might not be fully dry as there is a possible chance of rain and thunderstorms in certain areas in Metro Manila. Despite a consistent temperature ranging from 33 °C to 35 °C, it’s forecasted that there would be cloudy skies accompanied by light to heavy showers during the latter part of the week [1]. To prepare for this shifting weather, always bring an umbrella since it is useful for both sunshine and rain.

As a Labor Day treat for Filipino workers, they are entitled to free rides at the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT) on May 1. To avail, simply present a company ID at the MRT station. The free rides can be redeemed during “rush hours,” i.e., from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM according to the management [2].

Those traveling to or from Antipolo now have an easier option when travelling to Makati City. Public vehicles to Antipolo usually use the Marcos Highway, but the major road is often plagued with heavy traffic due to its proximity to malls, and currently this traffic is aggravated by the construction of the LRT-2 extension. The new Point-to-Point (P2P) route aims to ease the traffic. The two endpoints consist of SM Masinag in Antipolo and Greenbelt 5 Makati City. The regular schedule for the trips are released in P2P’s Facebook page. The fare is PhP60 [3].

Since Labor Day is centered on workers, the holiday is often used to hold rallies and protests for worker’s rights and various related causes. While there has been no announcement yet regarding protest actions that might occur on this day, it can be expected especially since there’s an issue regarding ‘endo’ or contractualization among employees, among many others [4].

If you have plans on the holiday and cannot let traffic hold you back, avoid areas where usual rallies take place, such as Mendiola. If it’s necessary to access the area, pack a huge amount of patience and watch out for possible re-routing tips from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Budget airline AirAsia recently established its first Manila to Bangkok route and it offers flights every day. On Tuesdays to Thursdays and Saturdays, flights leave Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at 6:25 PM. Meanwhile on Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays, the plane departs at 6:35 PM.