Money's too valuable to go grab-ing everywhere.
Something that comes with being a college student is that you’re gonna have to go places—no one’s stopping you from leaving your campus and you’re probably gonna go crazy if you restrict yourself to your campus. With that being said, that train along that avenue is going to be your best friend, so it's best if you get acquainted with them as soon as now.
Get a BEEP CARD
First things first, unless you don’t mind lining up every time you’re going somewhere, you’re gonna need a BEEP card. A BEEP card is a stored-value contactless smart card that you can use on the LRT and MRT lines, as opposed to the use of single-journey tickets. It’s fast, convenient, and might shave a few minutes from when you’re already running late to class.
You can get a BEEP card at any LRT or MRT station, usually at the ticket vending machines or BEEP card kiosks. More often than not though, stations likely are out of them. In that very common case, you can also buy them online, just keep in mind the high price difference between that and buying on-site at stations.
LRT-1
The LRT-1 line runs from Roosevelt in Quezon City all the way to Dr. Santos in Paranaque, passing through central Manila and many major access points. Get used to this diva, you’re going to ride this line a lot. Vito Cruz station—the one this website is named after—is the one you’re going to wanna keep in mind if you study either at DLSU, DLS-CSB, or St. Scholastica; that one runs through LRT-1.
Starting from Dr. Santos station in Paranaque, among many, many others, this line passes through PITX, a major terminal providing convenient access to many provincial busses, EDSA, which provides access to MRT-3, Gil Puyat, which houses a variety of different bus terminals, filling the gaps that PITX isn’t providing, Vito Cruz station, and Doroteo Jose, which provides access to LRT-2.
LRT-1’s frequency is pretty reliable, so you won’t have to wait too long for a train. Just remember to avoid the rush hour madness (basically 7-9 AM and 5-7 PM) unless you’re a masochist I guess??? The line operates from 4:30 AM – 10:00 PM on weekdays, and 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM on weekends and holidays.
MRT-3
MRT-3 is another major line for commuters. This one runs along EDSA and connects North Avenue (Quezon City) to Taft Avenue (Pasay), which is especially handy if you're looking to jump from one side of the city to another. It also makes it super easy to go to major shopping malls and entertainment areas. Coming from Vito Cruz, take the southbound LRT and go down at EDSA station, which then you can transfer to Taft Ave. Station in MRT.
You can catch the MRT-3 at Ayala Station, which puts you right near Glorietta and Greenbelt in Makati. MRT-3 connects major business hubs like Makati, Ortigas, and Quezon City, making it easy to zip across different areas of the city without dealing with traffic. Plus, it’s especially useful for going to malls like SM Megamall, Shangri-La Plaza, or the big ones in Quezon City like Trinoma and SM North Edsa.
MRT-3 can get quite packed during peak hours, so if you want a smoother ride, it’s best to avoid those times unless you're okay with being a part of the human wave. But when you catch it during off-peak hours, it’s an efficient way to move around the city. The line operates from 4:30 AM – 10:00 PM on weekdays, and 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM on weekends and holidays.
LRT-2
The LRT-2 might not be as well-known as LRT-1 or MRT-3, but it’s still an essential line for navigating the city. LRT-2 travels east-to-west, from Antipolo (up in Rizal) to Recto in Manila. You’ll mostly use this line if you're headed to parts of the city like Cubao, Katipunan, or even Quezon City, where you might have friends or just want to pretend like your education was paid for by taxes. The Recto Station is also near Divisoria, which is great if you're into bargain shopping (or just need supplies for cheap).
With your BEEP card in hand and the different train lines at your disposal, you’ll be able to get around the city with ease. Whether you're heading to class, grabbing a bite with friends, or just exploring the city, these trains will become second nature to you. Just remember to load your beep card, watch your bags, and stay safe.