EMONG'S JOURNALS

Sadly, the cost of driving a car is choking our wallets to coma. While we stand helpless amid the never-ending surge of gasoline prices, we can only devise practical ways to save on fuel to make our hard earned pesos last longer. Or we can switch to a motorcycle! Not everybody rides a motorcycle specifically for enjoyment. A lot of people in the Philippines are realizing motorcycles make incredibly practical transportation, especially in crowded cities. Not only do they cost astronomically cheaper than regular-sized sedans, their fuel consumptions are insanely lower than cars. The price of a regular brand new 125cc motorcycle costs around P70,000 and can take you to a long stretch of 44 kilometers in just a liter of gasoline! The savings on parking are also incredible. You can always find all kinds of places to park for free. Pull them up on the sidewalk or park them under trees. Motorcycle parking is almost always available close by. Keep in mind, though, that when decidi...

Driving on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is a serious business - it's your supreme responsibility to be cognizant of the rules. In these territories, the NLEX/SCTEX traffic enforcers rule. We’ve all seen them on these expressways, but what exactly is their role and do they have any powers to stop and fine drivers? Here’s what you need to know right here. Are NLEX/SCTEX traffic enforcers part of the Philippine National Police? With big, powerful pick-ups sporting high-visibility decals and flashing lights, it’s easy to see why NLEX/SCTEX traffic enforcers could be confused with police officers. However, they are employed by the Manila North Tollways Corporation and not affiliated with the PNP in any way. What is their job? The primary job of NLEX/SCTEX traffic enforcers is to patrol these expressways and help keep traffic flowing smoothly. Traffic enforcers help the process of managing incidents on these expressway...

Navigating Metro Manila is incredibly easy. Commuting around it, as well as its traffic conditions, is predictable as any Asian city. Public transport is relatively affordable, and traffic are always heavy during rush hours. The best thing about Manila? There's always a shopping mall near you, and great food abounds! THE BASICS Make sure you have Google Maps on your smartphone for easy reference. Avoid bringing big physical maps as it will only attract scammers, opportunists and thieves. Get a local SIM card (Smart or Globe network) to support your data needs. Install a Grab or Uber app (Uber is expected to merge with Grab soon, but as of this writing, Uber app is still online). Purchase Beep Cards for your MRT and LRT train fares. Keep lots of loose change for jeepney and bus rides. Always carry your bags or backpacks in your front. Don't wear excessive, flashy, and expensive jewelries. MODES OF TRANSPORT Jeepneys. I was born in Manila and I have ...

With the announcement of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) officially opening more than 45,000 franchise slots for the registration of transport network vehicle services (TNVS) on Monday, February 5, you may be thinking about driving for Uber. You might also be wondering what the requirements are and whether you’ll get accepted if you apply. The thing is, Uber doesn’t give you too much information about the requirements before you apply, so it might feel like you don’t have enough information to move forward with your application to become a partner driver. Fear not. In this post you’ll learn the Uber requirements so you can find out right now if you can apply and qualify. Most of the requirements are straightforward, but some aren’t. Other than the self-explanatory age requirement, there are a few extra details you need to know about each of the driver requirements. Uber Driver Requirements. These requirements apply to UberX, UberXL, UberPOO...

Many of the younger millennial generation have heard of locations mentioned in old books, articles and documents relating to the city of Manila that are no longer on the map. This is because several names of streets in Manila had since underwent a name change in the past, following nearly four centuries of colonial occupation. Take for example the Raon Street, that famous road that houses gazillions of electronic gadgets, speakers and TV sets which is now called Gonzalo Puyat Street and Divisoria that is now called Salas Street. Dakota is now Adriatico Street and Herran is now Pedro Gil Street. Find below the list of renamed streets in Manila. Original name New name District Calle Aceiteros M. de Santos Street San Nicolas Calle Aduana/Calle Claveria A. Soriano Avenue Intramuros - Port Area Calle Agno Fidel A. Reyes Street Malate Calle Albuquerque Raja Matanda  Street Tondo Calle Alejandro IV (Calle del Gral. Camba) M. V. Delos Santos Street Sampaloc Calle Alix Le...