• Roamer's Roundup

    A Glimpse of Public Transportation’s Future

    Let’s admit it. Public transportation in Metro Manila, and in the country in general, needs to be improved, which some may consider a total understatement. Not taking into consideration the problems with mass rail transportation (looking at you, Line 3), we are all too familiar the sight of people hanging by the entry rear of the jeepney, especially during rush hour, or the packed buses where passengers don’t have any space to wiggle. Then there is also the problem of pollution some of these vehicles emit thanks to poor fuel consumption, vehicles visibly suffering wear and tear but are still plying the roads. All these things compound the already very,…

  • City of Manila

    The Understated Elegance of San Beda’s Abbey Church

    Not many people know that the San Beda University Manila campus grounds in Mendiola Street houses not only the academic institution that is San Beda University. It is also the site of a monastery. To be specific, it is a monastery of the Benedictine monks who happen to be the ones administering the university. Nevertheless, both the monastery and the school share a common spiritual center: the church known as the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, more popularly known as the Abbey Church in San Beda.

  • Parañaque

    Roaming the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1

    The Urban Roamer hit a bit of a delay for this piece (with jetlag and work in the way) but as promised, today’s entry shall take a closer look at the storied structure and the primary terminal of the metropolis’ primary hub. Of course, we are referring here to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. And what else is there to say about NAIA Terminal 1? After all, it is the one structure almost every traveler between Manila and the rest of the world is very much familiar with. As the primary terminal of a primary gateway, it has provided travelers a first and last impression of Manila and…

  • Parañaque,  Pasay

    The Challenge of NAIA Commuting

    The Urban Roamer has been quite busy these past few days. Partly because of a personal/work trip coming up later this week. Along with so much work coming in these past few days and some new things coming up, it’s been quite hectic. In any case, this trip is something this roamer looks forward to. For one, this will mark the first time to finally get inside the Leandro Locsin-designed Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). So yes, expect some photos of the terminal soon. Despite the excitement, the Urban Roamer is not looking forward to two things: the traffic going to NAIA Terminal 1 and the…