Tag: manila

Metro Rail Transit crisis gripping Manila a result of long-term failure in thinking

April 11, 2014March 24, 2022 benign0 16 Comments

The “increase in population” that has been made the excuse du jour of Malacanang to wash its hands off the appalling mass transport crisis paralysing Metro Manila today is something that the government cannot absolve itself of any responsibility for. Facing mounting calls for the head of Al Vitangcol General Manager of the Metro Rail…

Crime, Development, Government, Lifestyle, Politics, Society

Skyway roadkill: Cats seemingly dropping from the sky onto Manila elevated highway

April 3, 2014April 3, 2014 benign0 6 Comments

Motorists who use the Philippines’ Skyway, an elevated express tollway linking Manila’s southern suburbs to the central business district of Makati City have for some time observed flattened carcasses of cats littering the pavement. The baffling roadkill has raised the question of how the animals had somehow made their way onto the elevated structure. A…

Civics, Lifestyle, Tech Talk

Manila’s Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations: Disasters waiting to happen?

February 27, 2014 benign0 27 Comments

It seems MRT-3 stations are becoming potential death traps as dangerous crowd control practices are now being used to “manage” the increasing volumes of passengers using the line. As seen in the following photo, passengers are made to queue on stairs leading to the train platforms packed like sardines. The photo was posted by a…

Development, Government, Lifestyle

Facing Manila’s traffic hell: Access to public transport is a right, owning a car is but a privilege

February 21, 2014 Kate Natividad 50 Comments

And so here we are, helplessly facing a future of traffic hell as all these road constructions start. To think we all raised a royal tantrum over Dan Brown’s describing Manila as the “gates of hell” in his book Inferno. What have Metro Manila’s residents done to deserve this? Well, quite simply nothing. They did…

Development, Government, Lifestyle

Skyway Stage 3 construction: Filipinos to ‘sacrifice’ yet again as Metro Manila braces for years of standstill traffic

February 17, 2014 benign0 53 Comments

True to form, Filipinos are abuzz again with half-assed ideas on how best to cope with the heavier-than-heavy traffic that will snarl Metro Manila as construction on the long-overdue “Skyway Stage 3” project which will link the South Luzon Tollway (SLT) to the North Luzon Expressway (NLE) via an elevated six-lane 15-kilometre elevated highway through…

Civics, Development, Government, Lifestyle

Iglesia ni Cristo ‘charity walk’ for Haiyan victims: Was its impact on Metro Manila’s economy worth it?

February 15, 2014 benign0 287 Comments

So what exactly does clogging an entire major thoroughfare for hours in a megalopolis already choked by normal traffic volume supposed to achieve? According to the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), it organised a “charity walk” along Manila’s Roxas Boulevard (formerly known as Dewey Boulevard) to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (a.k.a. Yolanda)….

Civics, Environment, Lifestyle, Politics, Religion

If only Manila had a cold climate all year round, Pinoys wouldn’t be so lazy!

January 13, 2014January 13, 2014 Kate Natividad 44 Comments

Sarap the weather in Manila nowadays! I always appreciate how cold weather works wonders for the psyche — it makes you feel more energetic, gives you a more pleasant disposition, and you not only feel more productive, you actually are more productive. If only the Philippines had a climate like this all year round. Siguro…

Culture, Development, Lifestyle

The Parasites of the City of Manila

December 26, 2013January 1, 2014 Virtual Vigilante 28 Comments

“I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.” Thomas Jefferson “Government is the only parasite stupid enough to kill its host.” Universal Truth “NO!!!” to Manila City Hall’s Oppression and Enslavement! “NO!!!” to the Increase in Property Taxes and Business Permit Fees!…

Civics, Development, Government