Another fun story I have encounter in one of my LRT ride.

I believe everyone is aware that the LRT line 1 (even MRT) has separate boarding areas for males and females. There are visible indicators posted in each stations but still, there are guys kept on riding in the designated trains for females.

One morning while on my way to school, still wearing a sleepy head the train stopped at Blumentritt station where people are running to make it inside the train (trains usually closes immediately in this station) however, one male “unconsciously” entered the female boarding area (yes, he looked unconscious…LOL!) that is why the security guard entered inside to ask the guy to transfer to the other train. He said “Sir, Lipat lang po tayo sa kabila, sa mga babae lang po ito.” the man had no reactions. So he said again “Sir, pakibilisan lang po, masasarhan po tayo ng train…” with a fast tone. And so, without a doubt, the train buzzes and slowly closes its door. The security guard tried to wave his neon colored glove for signal but he failed. He just scratched his head and smiled.

Poor security guard, he was brought to the next station for just doing his job. Imagine what caused him for some “pretend-you-don’t-know acts”.

That scenario drove away my sleepiness for I laughed within me (Bad me…LOL!)

Then, I don’t know now what had happened next.

The main landmark of the Caloocan City is the Bonifacio Monument. It is also the last stop of the LRT line 1 Monumento station. It is located at the intersection of Rizal Avenue & Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. Actually it is the merging point of the two long avenues EDSA and Rizal Ave.

EDSA (traversing the cities of Caloocan , Quezon , Mandaluyong , San Juan, Makati and Pasay) ,was named after Epifanio de los Santos (July 7, 1871–April 28, 1928) was distuinguished Filipino who is a historian, collector of Filipiniana books, literary critic, jurist, antiquitarian and patriot. He was known as “First Filipino Academican”; “Great among the Great Filipino Scholars”; “The Librarian”; A Man of so many Talents.He served as director of the Philippine National Museum and Library in 1925.

Rizal Ave (traversing the cities of Caloocan, Manila and Pasay), was named after our great national hero Jose Rizal.His famous works are Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

The monument commemorates the most proletarian of all Filipino heroes, Gat Andres Bonifacio. He is the father of the Revolution in 1896 at Balintawak and the founder of the Katipunan.( Philippine revolutionary organization founded in 1892, against the Spaniards)

A great Filipino national artist for sculpture, Guillermo Tolentino, immortalized the monument. He was named National Artist in Sculpture in 1973. A National Artist of the Philippines is the highest recognition given to Filipinos for excellence in the filed of Philippine arts.

The Bonifacio monument is considered the masterpiece of Guillermo Tolentino. It was completed in 1933 and represents the first encounter between Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan.

That intersection at the foot of the LRT station and will be the merging point if the MRT and LRT loop will be completed in 2010 speaks of so much history and greatness of Filipinos. They have started soil testing along EDSA and soon diggings will start to give way to construction of a mass transport system. I do hope the place will never lost its glory because its represents our sense of pride and history as Filipinos.

photo by http://philippines-archipelago.com/author/visited/metro_manila_2.html

The LRT consists of the 15 km elevated railway system servicing the route Monumento to the end station Baclaran in Pasay City. It is air-conditioned and the end-to-end route last for 30 minutes. It is convenient except during rush hours (6:30 Am to 8:00 AM) when most of its trains are jam-packed.

It has 18 stations and they can serve as drop off points if you want to go visit some places in Metro- Manila. The first station is Monumento (Filipino word for monument. A grand monument of our heroes Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio stands at the foot of the station).

If you are coming from south of Manila the end station is Monumento. From here you can go to the northern part of Metro Manila. As a drop off point for different places such as:

• Bonifacio Monument ( Caloocan City) statue of one of the great heroes of the Philippines Andres Bonifacio)
• Schools (Colleges/Universities)
  • Manila Central University and Hospital ( Caloocan City) one of the oldest universities in Metro Manila offering health sciences courses
  • University of the East (Caloocan Campus)
  • De La Salle-Araneta University (Potrero, Malabon)
  • Our Lady of Fatima University (Valenzuela)
  • World Citi College
• Bus stations going to northern Luzon, Victory Liner Bus, Baliwag Bus stations. Buses bound to the North Luzon expressway (walking distance from the station)
• Jeepney terminals going to Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela
• Kabayan Hotel (three star hotel)
• Grand Central Department Store
• Our Lady Grace Church (Oblates of Mary Immaculate)
• Malabon Zoo
• Post Office
• St Mary’s School Caloocan
• Notre Dame of Greater Manila
• Caloocan City Hall
• Caloocan High School
• Sacred Heart Dental Clinic (Morning Breeze Subdivision)