From North to South: Train ride Stops

The Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA or C-4) is the busiest highway in Metro Manila. When the Metro Rail Transit was built on this busy highway, it only added more inflows of transports and increased the number of commuters traversing along C-4. More than that, you'd see the leading businessmen in real estate positioning themselves along this highway because it is a lofty source of human traffic.

This blog has been long overdue. I planned on writing one that captures the various stops as you travel EDSA via the MRT. When I was still thinking about this blog, so  many developments have already taken place. This blog captures some of those places I've been to after traveling extensively for several months along EDSA via MRT. The next time you travel via MRT and feel the need to have a different stop each time, hopefully this blog will give you some ideas on where to go and/or what to do next.

North Avenue Station -- Trinoma Mall and SM City North EDSA

Activity Center, Trinoma Mall

The Landmark, department store at Trinoma

Relax and take a stroll along sculptured gardens just outside Trinoma Mall

If you miss the SM Malls, just cross the street and head towards SM City North EDSA

Quezon Avenue Station - Eton Centris

This place is new to me. The place is being developed by Eton Properties Philippines.

Quick bites as you exit Quezon Avenue Station

Shop at bargain boutiques in Centris Quezon Avenue Station

Need groceries? SM Hypermart is here.

Overview of Centris Walk

Centris Walk at night: many families would come a relax here on a weekend

 Araneta Center Station - Araneta Center Cubao

Smart - Araneta Coliseum: still a premier events, sports, and concert venue

Exterior of Gateway Mall, notice the nice row of trees along the road?

From the bridgeway that connects SM Cubao and Shopwise

Ortigas Avenue Station - Robinsons Galleria and SM Megamall

The interior of Robinsons Galleria

Escalators at Robinsons Galleria

More restaurants outside the mall proper

Activity Center of Robinsons Galleria

Free Wifi: if you're early enough, you could easily connect to their Wifi service. So far, Galleria is the only Robinsons mall I've been to in which the Wifi service is reliable.

Atrium at SM Megamall, the Chinese New Year Motif

Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord celebrates Holy Mass everyday. The smaller chapel is a good place for quiet time. (SM Megamall)

Event Center, SM Megamall: this is different from the Atrium. This is beside the foodcourt, basement area. This pix shows a Disneyland Hongkong Christmas presentation.

SM Megamall's Wifi service is the most reliable I've tried so far. This seating area located on all floors of the Atrium wing is the most convenient place to access their free Wifi service.

Shaw Boulevard Station - Shangrila Plaza, Greenfield District

Shangrila Plaza: Six floors of various boutiques and eating places. 

Greenfield District Park: where EDSA Central used to be

The Hub at Greenfield District

Boni Avenue Station - Robinsons Pioneer

Also known as Robinsons Pioneer

Center of the mall, fountain area

Department Store on the 2nd Floor

Cinemas on the 3rd floor

Ayala Avenue Station - Makati CBD

SM Makati with a special signage of Forever 21

Glorietta 5

Glorietta 4

Activity Center at the New Glorietta Mall

Interior of the New Glorietta Mall

Magallanes Station - Alphaland Southgate Mall

Early Morning Along EDSA,  to the left is Alphaland Southgate Mall

Taft Station - SM Mall of Asia (MOA)

Before reaching SM MOA, you'd have to take a jeep going there. They are conveniently located just below the MRT station. You won't miss the barkers calling out to pedestrians and pointing them to jeeps that head towards MOA.

View from the Bayside Area

MOA Eye (Ferris Wheel at the back of MOA)

Bayside Park, nice and refreshing view of Manila Bay

Interior view of the activity center of MOA

Activity Center MOA

You can tell which stop is my favorite. Well, this is meant to give just a rough idea of what you'll see along EDSA MRT. Till the next adventure!

Christmas around the Metro

It's December! But as early as November, the various malls and commercial establishments around the Metro have put up Christmas decorations and set up Pre-Christmas sales. I've been to some of these malls and I've been taking shots of the mall's Christmas motifs this year. Let's visit some of them today.

SM City Masinag

At the entrance to the mall, you'll be greeted with a giant air-filled Santa Clause. Unfortunately, it doesn't stay up all the time.

At the atrium, the theme of their Christmas decoration is Santa's Toy House--fitting the welcoming presence of Santa at the entrance.

Robinsons Magnolia

Just recently opened, Robinsons is a new mall along Aurora Boulevard where the Magnolia ice cream factory used to be located--hence, the name Robinsons Magnolia. The entrance at the corner of the street welcomes guests with a huge Christmas tree.

While we're at it, let's explore the usual mall features.

Located on the 2nd floor, kinda small for a big mall

Entrance of the Mall

For moviegoers, located on the 3rd floor

Food court at the basement, you can also come here to just sit and relax after going around

SM Megamall

Megamall's Christmas theme is Disneyland. Last November, in cooperation with Hongkong Disneyland, the mall had a three-day presentation as a way of promoting Hongkong Disneyland. The highlight of this show is the appearance of Mickey and Minnie mouse. After the show, guests had the rare privilege of having their pictures taken with Mickey and Minnie.

Performers from Disneyland Hongkong

Mickey and Minnie Mouse performing

Until now, the castle-designed stage still stands. But another main attraction is this huge Christmas tree at the SM Atrium, ornamented with lots of Mickey and Minnie stuff dolls! This is a nice place to have family pictures taken.

Disneyland Christmas tree

Mickey Mouse stuff toys on the tree

Minnie Mouse stuff toys on the tree

Araneta Center Cubao

Speaking of huge Christmas trees, such a set up has been a long-time tradition at the Araneta Center Cubao. With all the changes happening in this commercial center, it is good to know that they've continued the tradition of setting up a huge Christmas tree. This time, it's a musical Christmas tree.

A closer look at the lights, the base has speakers and it plays music

Additionally, at the base of the Christmas tree are beautiful Christmas lights decorated and shaped into various forms of flowers and animals.

Shangrila Plaza Mall

Shangrila has had a nice Christmas tradition of featuring various Filipino choirs to perform on all weekends of December. Keeping up with its commercial neighbors, it also has its own elaborate Christmas motif consisting of the usual huge Christmas tree. Their theme is sort of like featuring International figures.

At the base of the tree, you'll find life-size figures wearing costumes of different countries

Ceiling decorations

But what's really attractive in this mall now is the White Christmas tree that greets its customers at the entrance of Rustan's on the 2nd floor, in front of the Atrium.

Christmas is really close now. Tune in next time for other motifs and light shows around the metro.