Expats’ Guide: MRT Stations
Updated on May 21, 2019.
Light rail transits are quite popular in other countries. They are, more often than not, the easiest and fastest way to go from one place to the other. It’s the same here in the Philippines, though there are fewer options to go for.
THE EVER-POPULAR MRT, officially called the Yellow Line.
The second of the three light rails, the Metro Rail Transit is the most utilized of the three lines. Also known as the Yellow Line or MRT, its signature blue ploughs daily through the stretch of EDSA. It’s always packed with passengers regardless of the time of the day.
LATEST MAP. Three lines, three colors. Let’s look at the Yellow Line for now. / IMAGE Lrta Dotc Line II Facebook page)
Even with its woes, it’s still the fastest way of traversing EDSA, especially during rush hour. People depend on the MRT so much that if it so much as stops for a few minutes, it’s immediately placed on local news. Here’s the list of stations for those still new to the Yellow Line:
YELLOW LINE FARES. It’s standardized so people won’t get confused about how much they’ll pay, regardless if they’re using beep® or not.
North Avenue
Home of the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) office, it’s the first station and is closest to SM City North EDSA, TriNoma Mall, and the Veteran’s Memorial Center.
Quezon Avenue
If you work for ABS-CBN, then you should be familiar with this station. It’s the closest to their studios and ELJ Building, along with rising hub Eton Centris, the Philippine Lung Center, Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center, the Quezon Memorial Circle, and the University of the Philippines – Diliman.
GMA-Kamuning
If Quezon Avenue is for ABS-CBN, then Kamuning is for GMA. The GMA Network Center is located beside the station itself. It’s also close to the Land Transportation Office in Quezon City, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Heart Center.
Araneta Center-Cubao
Same with the Araneta Center-Cubao of Blue Line, it’s the station you get off of when you want to take a trip up north or down south because of its proximity to Cubao. It’s a lot more packed compared to its Blue Line counterpart, though, because it’s along EDSA.
Santolan-Annapolis
The closest station to Camp Aguinaldo (Armed Forces of the Philippines Headquarters) and Camp Crame (Philippine National Police Headquarters), but a lesser-known fact is that it is also close to the Greenhills Shopping Center.
Ortigas
If you’re looking to visit Robinsons Galleria, the EDSA Shrine, or the office of the Department of Transportation, then this is the station to get off of.
Shaw Boulevard
The second transport hub stop for the Yellow Line, Shaw Boulevard station, sometimes called EDSA Shaw, is where you can find buses, UV Express vans, and jeeps headed for Antipolo as well as being a stop for buses north or south of Metro Manila. It’s also the closest station to SM Megamall as well as being connected to Shangri-La Plaza Mall.
Boni Avenue
Boni Avenue is known for its row of condominiums (GA Towers, SM Light Residences), and those who stay there yet work elsewhere choose to take the MRT through this station more than the bus. It’s also close to Robinsons Pioneer and the TV5 Media Center.
Guadalupe
Not a transport hub, but it’s just as packed as Cubao or Shaw Blvd. It’s the station closest to the Guadalupe Church, San Carlos Seminary, and the Rockwell Business Center, home of the Power Plant Mall. It’s also the drop-off point for MRT passengers looking to get on the Pasig River Ferry via the Guadalupe Port.
Buendia
One of two depressed (read: underground) stations, this one is preferred by people whose offices are located along Buendia Avenue in Makati City. It’s also close to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) office, so if you have anything to settle there, this is the station to get off of.
Ayala
The Yellow Line’s third transport hub, it’s where people working in BGC often get off so they can take the BGC Bus to work. It’s also packed as much as Cubao, since this is the stop for a lot of people who work in Makati. It’s also connected to SM Makati.
Magallanes
A station that’s close to Alphaland Southgate Mall, most people might get the impression that this is the first station for the Yellow Line if you’re coming from the south. It’s also close to the Magallanes PNR Station.
Taft Avenue
Last stop for the Yellow Line, Taft Avenue Station is connected to the Green Line EDSA Station, thus closing the loop. Like the EDSA Station, it’s a pick-up and drop-off point for people looking to go to NAIA or SM Mall of Asia.
