What is the most underrated hack to beat Manila traffic? It’s not the MRT/LRT
Our public transport system is unquestionably in bad shape. Trains, buses, and jeeps are unable to accommodate the number of commuters in the metro. Not to mention, conditions faced during rush hour are so severe that they force many to invest in private vehicles, making the Philippines even more car-centric, thus contributing to further congestion on our streets.
To circumvent this, ride-hailing apps and services have gained popularity, offering additional commute options for those unable or unwilling to join the public transportation crowd. Unfortunately, this doesn’t make our roads any less congested than they already are.
So how do you beat Manila traffic? While others may opt to leave early in the morning, before anyone else—a content creator recently went viral for sharing their approach: riding the MRT/LRT. Unfortunately, not many were too excited about this hack, and rightfully so.
The most underrated hack? Really?
JV Wanderer, a travel content creator based in Caloocan, recently came under fire for a post many deemed insensitive and reeking of privilege. The video posted on Instagram showed him riding an empty MRT—a far cry from the crowded rides most commuters experience daily. He calls it: “The most underrated hack to beat Manila’s traffic.”
“When I moved to Manila two years ago, I had only tried it twice since I usually used motorcycle ride-hailing apps, thinking they were the cheapest option,” he explained in the post’s caption. “I also saw a lot of complaints online saying the payment lines were too long and that trains could get extremely crowded, especially during rush hours.”
He added, “Recently, I moved to a new place in North Caloocan, and MRT really saved me. Imagine traveling from North Ave to Taft in just 30 minutes?!”
The reception was unkind to say the least. Netizens called out the content creator, flagging his video for romanticizing the dreadful commute experience. After all, while it remains a cheaper alternative to navigate the metro, it often entails squishing yourself between other commuters like sardines in a can.
And if it’s not broken air conditioning units or delays due to the condition of its dated train cars, it’s the state of their terminals that could even harm commuters physically.
Just this Jan. 6, a video showing severe crowding in the MRT-3 Cubao station circulated the internet. While the guards and staff typically manage the number of passengers allowed to go up to the platform, the video showed that it was clearly not staggered, allowing people to continue to go up despite there not being enough room. Had it gone any other way, it could’ve been a stampede. There could have been injuries.
Meanwhile, in March last year, the escalator in MRT-3 Taft Station malfunctioned, resulting in 10 injured passengers. Well, what would you expect from a train line built in 1991 that’s barely received any renovations?
“Your ‘hack’ is someone’s nightmare, especially during rush hour, so check your privilege because it tells how out of touch you are,” said TikTok user @juliemaryapegumpay.
Meanwhile, @hansgaleriaaa added, “Hindi underrated ang isang necessity. ‘Yun ay isang need—need ng isang Pilipino ang magandang public transpo.”
JV Wanderer issued an apology shortly after. He explained that he wasn’t a regular commuter who instead relied mostly on ride-hailing apps. His positive experience with the MRT stemmed from its adoption of contactless payment, which made boarding the train an easier and much more streamlined process for him. He also noted that going from point A to point B was much quicker than slugging for hours on end on the road.
“From North Avenue to Taft Avenue, it took me 30 minutes only, umuulan pa nung time na ‘yun,” said JV Wanderer on a TikTok post. “Yung underrated hack to beat traffic was my POV. ‘Di ko talaga intention na invalidate yung feelings niyo. I’m sorry if it came out insensitive, out of touch, pero really it was my POV.”
“Privilege affects perspectives. What feels underrated for someone like me, na hindi nag co-commute talaga ng ganito, is not the same reality for people who rely on it,” he added.
The option to pick is a privilege in and of itself
As a commuter myself, I cannot claim to have the same experiences as other commuters. While I occasionally ride the MRT/LRT and the jeep to save money, I typically allow myself to use ride-hailing apps whenever I don’t feel like going through a rush-hour commute. In fact, my usual practice includes riding the LRT-2 line near my place, cutting my travel distance, then taking a Grab or InDrive at a lower price to my actual destination.
It isn’t the same as someone needing to line up on the streets to ride the jeep, only to board a crowded MRT, and later another jeepney ride to the office—oh, and we’re only talking about the morning commute.
To view our trains as “commuting hacks” not only invalidates the experiences of most commuters, but it also paints our shoddy transportation system as something better than it actually is.
Because who cares if it only takes around 30 minutes to get from North Avenue to Taft Avenue (not everything revolves around EDSA) when that’s only one part of your commute?
The Filipino people deserve better than to spend hours on the road daily, on top of the time they spend at their jobs. The Filipino people deserve better than dated train cars and stations that haven’t been touched since the ‘90s. The Filipino people deserve better than seeing the billions of pesos that should be going to improving these services go into other pockets.
