MRT Ride - The Amazon Region
By tryxiness
@tryxiness (4544)
Philippines
May 20, 2008 6:43am CST
When you're in Manila, and your workplace is somewhere in Makati, Ortigas or Quezon, Pasay, Pasig or wherever in Metro Manila, most likely, you will be one of those individuals taking up the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-- hehe I am not really sure if I got the acronym right!)...
Anyways, as you can see, there's a gender segregation scheme, and the first cart is purely for women, pregnant women who may tag their husbands with them, children with their dads, and senior citizens. Ahmmm, I need to retract back the purely adjective. The next two carts are androgynous, women are not discriminated, infact they are most welcome, but they are mainly male dominated carts.
I have the benefit of riding the female cart (since I am first class citizen there). I have tried riding the male carts, the thing is there are times when it's full, you kind of feel uncomfy being the lone female, hehehe!So, every morning there is this station which I call the Amazon Region, and that's the Cubao-Araneta Station. From North Edsa, Cubao is the 4 station, so, while it is being filled by 3 stations, competition on getting accomodated in the Cubao station is quite stiff, thus, recognizing the fact that it's like a one of a hell station.
Anyways, when you are riding the women's cart you could sense like as if all the women are wearing one of Xena's warrior clothes, and do the shouting stuff. The thing is, they would curse and push people even if there's like a little space or no space at all, claiming that there is more. Horror. On the other hand, as long as you are somewhere in the middle, the male carts tend to have more patient clients, they may act as if Jaworski doing his favorite move, but, hey, there's room for "gentleness" among these men. Hahaha!
Have you been to my so-called Amazon Region in MRTlandia? What have you experienced? Care to share. :)
2 people like this
12 responses
@kg_gurl (220)
• United States
20 May 08
Hey tryxiness! I totally agree to calling the Cubao station the Amazon Region. I regularly take the MRT during class days and on eof my stops is Cubao. It's such a hassle especially during rush hour. Ladies are not ladies during that time. They push and push even when there's no space left. I try to avoid rush hour but most times it's just not possible. Would be an improvement if people would just give way. ~
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
20 May 08
Hahaha! This is so true. I guess, the MRT management should try a scheme like in every two other trains, a skip train going to cubao should be delegated. Or something like that. Cubao is really a crazy place. :)
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
23 May 08
hi try.
i've always liked riding the mrt. i live in makati before and my work is in quezon city so my daily commute involves riding the mrt. i always took my ride at the guadalupe station. it's always a pleasure riding the mrt. you get to your destination on time and you don't get sweaty. when i moved to paranaque, my commute still included the mrt but this time i was boarding it at the magallanes station.
i've never gone down at the cubao-araneta station except when i shop at the ukay shops there. i think the mrt is really a big help to us commuters. imagine all the traffic that we're all avoiding by riding these trains. now that i work at makati again i don't get to ride the mrt as often but i'll always have good memories of my trips on the mrt.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
26 May 08
Hahaha! I guess, we all have different MRT ride experiences. Thank you for replying. 
@rsa101 (40946)
• Philippines
21 May 08
Though I belong to the male species I had my own share of experiences with MRT. Being the swiftest means of transpo to my workplace I chose and risk myself riding there. Yes I have seen and witnessed so many things in there especially during rush hours. Luckily I ride the first station in the North but riding it is as chaotic as in other station the only difference is that you ride in an empty train. The aim there is that you should be in the first lane of the unruly crowd and when the door opens you must get the nearest empty seat you have in sight or else you remain standing until you get to the station you are to drop. You'll have to endure that crowd, the smell of perfume, sweat and many other odors you cannot imagine what it is.
It's been sometime that I haven't rode it since we transferred residence that is quite near my workplace where only a jeepney ride is needed to reach my workplace. I am more contented with this mode than the MRT trips.
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
25 May 08
I have tried the North station as an entry point, the thing is usually gotta also endure the long and crowded line. You have to endure lots of things while in the MRT. Lucky for you you found a place near ur workplace. I guess, thats ideal. :D Thanks for sharing.
@aseretdd (13729)
• Philippines
21 May 08
I experience the MRT Amazon region everytime i go to Manila... i prefer that rather than the smog, congested traffic, and hot climate... even if some women can be very nasty at times... the overall experience is not at all that bad... i am just glad that they thought of this gender segragation thing... some women had very bad experience riding with the guys...
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
25 May 08
The women's cart is a nice innovation. But the behaviour of women riding in Cubao is shocking. Thanks for your reply. :)
@wrangel15 (1443)
• Philippines
21 May 08
I already experienced that though not in a regular basis. What I can say is that in order to avoid heavy traffic, you have to experience being bumped and pushed by other passengers of MRT. Good thing there's the segregation scheme so that senior citizens and women can ride safely. One disadvantage in riding with a very dense amount of people is being a victim of pickpockets. Anyway, I haven't experienced having a mobile phone or any of my valuables being lost while riding MRT.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
26 May 08
This is so true, thus, while you are enduring the amount of individuals, you have to be aware of your stuff too.
@meiji15 (664)
• Philippines
21 May 08
your post made me smile. i used to work in ortigas and fortunately, i don't have to experience being crammed and 'sardined' in the MRT during mornings. but my friends an i call the cubao station as an 'exodus'. my shift ends 6:30 and my route is due north so there's not much pushing. however, few seats a re available, SRO (standing room only). so after santolan, i used to move inwards going to the isles because i know that plenty of patrons will be 'exodusing' when the train stops at the cubao station. and they do. and more often than not, you can lie down on the seats. (yes, it's that spacious). one of the ups of being nocturnal and having a GY shift
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
26 May 08
Hahaha! This is so true. Cubao is the THE STATION. Thanks for your reply.
@juliefaye (1214)
• Philippines
20 May 08
Wow! I would like to experience that Amazon Region in Cubao - a one of a kind only in the philippines state of the art region. he he he... I don't ride in MRT but i've experienced it. I ride in LRT during my college days and I can still remember my unforgettable experience with the LRT. It was my due date to give birth for my 2nd child, I feel the labor pains and after packing my things we walk to look for a taxi though the pain is tolerable. I decided to take the LRT instead to get to the Jose Reyes Hospital which is 20 mins ride via LRT and an hour or more if by taxi.
It was in the middle of the morning so the cabins are not jampacked but there's no seat available so hubby and i decided to just stand after assuring him that i can still manage. No one as in no one ever gave me a seat and those male passengers even pretended sleeping. A young boy i presumed to be 9-10 years old offered me a seat after a few stations, maybe GRMC is still fresh from his mind so i take his seat. I arrived at the hospital at 11:00am and gave birth past 12:00nn.
I can't forget that experience, these taught me a lesson to be a good samaritan at all times and i even gave my seat to a male carrying a child standing in the bus.
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
25 May 08
Wow. I like what the boy did, nowadays, you will seldom see guys who will offer their seats to pregnant ladies or old ladies. Thank you for sharing!
@drakesuyat (1063)
• Philippines
21 May 08
oh be careful my dear.. i had this experience one time in MRT (male section) wherein one passenger lost his mobile phone. it happened in Shaw blvd station where people going out almost kissed those going in. then a group of male from the middle rushing while pushing everyone to make it on their way out before the door closed. then as the train is moving towards ortigas station, he suddenly cried out as he learned that his mobile phone is gone. it's really a jungle in there.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
25 May 08
Shux. That's one thing I make sure of. :) I remember last year, I taught my American foster brother to take care of his stuff while in the MRT by putting infront of him his backpack and stuff inside the backpack. :)
@katbalu102 (377)
• Philippines
20 May 08
amazon region in the mrt land... lol. thats good. im from cebu and ive been to manila a couple of times before but i have never experienced riding the trains. grrr... i really do want to experience riding it even if its only once! lol. i recently chatted with an old college friend who is now living in makati i think with his brother and has to work in quezon. i actually did ask him how he gets to his work place and etc and he said he rides the train. he said its uncomfortable because theres a lot of people. well you just confirmed it. lol... so it must be like that everyday? it could be uncomfortable. and he said he rides it like an hour or so. going to work and another hour going home. poor guy..
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
25 May 08
MRT and LRT are the fastest means of getting to your work place here. It's just that, it really is tough and challenging, but a lot of fun riding these trains. :)
@jannijanni (866)
•
27 May 08
i must agree with you on this. i live near cubao station and i take the train to work. :p
EVERY SINGLE DAY, i have to endure that ride that i already found humor on everyone's behavior in the MRT.
people rushing as soon as the train doors open...
people elbowing each other...
EVERYTHING!
it's just like what you said: everyone's an AMAZON
@neildc (17238)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
20 May 08
I am from the Visayas region so I can't give you more of my experiences in the light rail trains. But I was a regular passenger of LRT, the one that runs from Baclaran to Monumento. I studied in Taguig when I was still a Bulakeño. I say "was", because I am a true-blooded Tagalog but now living here in Cebu for 15 years. It's my daily school bus from Monumento to EDSA at that time. MRT doesn't exist at that time...
Anyway, I took the MRT ride a couple of times. I came to visit my mother in the province. And MRT is the fastest way from Taft to SM North if you are coming from the airport, right? And vice versa...
I almost didn't noticed the separation of the women carts and the male carts. But I tell you, the Amazon region of the MRT exist in almost all the cabins. I really pity the women passengers, especially the elders...
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
25 May 08
During the late 90s, my parents would use LRT 1, and yes, the whole length of the said rail line was one hell of an Amazon Continent! Haha! Thanks for your reply. :)
@baleleng2008 (917)
• United States
29 May 08
actually i rode once in MRT but i rode a lot LRT bfore.It was terrible especially in the morning and rush hour.im glad i don't experienced that here anymore:-)
1 person likes this
