This Week in Metro Manila (February 26 to March 4, 2018)

The weather hasn’t been kind to Manilenos during the last few weeks because of its unpredictability. The first week of the month was still a bit cold but it got hotter during the latter weeks. For this week, the weather will remain a bit humid with the temperature ranging from 31 to 33 °C [1]. Despite the hot temperature, occasional thunderstorms in particular areas should be anticipated.

Keep an umbrella in your bag because rain or shine, it will be useful. Wearing clothes made from light materials is also advised, as is bringing an extra layer of clothing as protection from the cool thunderstorm winds.

With Manila’s worsening traffic condition, along with the always-malfunctioning Metro Railway Transit (MRT), commuters fight their way to get to their destination. In response to this, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) increased the number of P2P buses along the Epifanio Delos Santos Ave (EDSA) to cater to passengers [2].

If you want to avoid the long queues at MRT stations, you can opt for this alternative mode of transportation. The buses will also have night runs. Fares and schedules can be checked online.

Local food to try: Menudo

If you’re a tourist, the first thing that must have come to your mind when you heard the word “menudo” was the Latin boyband that featured the young Ricky Martin. But for Filipinos, the word is also synonymous to a tomato-based pork stew which is particularly popular during fiestas (village celebrations in honor of a saint). Don’t worry, even if there’s no fiesta nearby, there are various eateries all over the Metro that serve this dish with piping hot rice. Yum!

Local activity: Visit a nature park

There’s more to Manila than just tall buildings and shopping malls; the city also has botanical gardens such as the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Diliman, Quezon City. The park contains a playground, an aquarium, lagoon, botanical garden, and shelters for abandoned, rescued, donated, confiscated, and sick wild animals.

Rates for Filipinos are PhP15 for students and PhP30 for adults. Foreign tourists would have to pay PhP100. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and children under seven years old have free entrance.