A Probinsyano Student's Guide to Living in Manila - Tips
If you are an incoming college freshman in Metro Manila and you have never been here all your life, the thought of living alone in a busy city and away from your family might scare you. Do not fret, however, for this article was made just for you.
Tips on how to live in Manila for freshies:
1. SECURE YOUR FINANCES.
Money is the most important necessity that you need in order to move around the metro. You need this for paying for your transportation, food, clothing, rent, etc. It is, therefore, essential that you have money with you at all times.
As a college freshie, I assume your finances are still being provided by your parents. In this case, your parents may send you money through Pera Padala or through Bank Transfer. If through Pera Padala, make sure that you know where the nearest Cebuana or M Lhuillier branch is. If through bank transfer, it might be convenient to enroll yourself a savings account in a bank that has an ATM near you.
Compute your total weekly expenses so that your parents need to send you money every weekend only. Make sure to inform them how much you need beforehand so that they’ll have ample time to save up.
2. FIND A SAFE PLACE TO STAY.
There’s quite a lot of options here depending on your budget. The safest and most convenient (but probably most expensive) is to stay in a condo unit. Condominiums have security guards as well as amenities like pool, gym, and study area. Most of them also have convenience stores located at the ground floor so most of your daily needs are really accessible if you’re staying in a condo. If your parents cannot afford to buy you a unit (around 3M is the cheapest), you may opt to rent one. Better if you have companions so that you can share the rent which costs around 15K to 30K monthly.
If you are running on a tight budget, you may want to consider living in a boarding house or in a dormitory. Dormitories are generally a bit safer than boarding houses since most of them have security guards as well; however, most dormitories have curfews which can be annoying if you are the type who likes to go out at night. If you’ll be enrolling in a big university (like UP Diliman), it is practical and cheap to stay in a dormitory inside the campus.
You may look for available places to stay at OLX Philippines or in Facebook groups like the ones linked below:
3. LEARN TO EAT IN CARINDERIAS.
As someone who originated from a rural province myself, I used to be amused by fast-food chains and fancy restaurants because it’s not so common where I came from. So during my first months of living here, I would almost always eat at Jollibee, Mcdo, or KFC. After a year or so, however, I have outgrown this delight because I realized that aside from the fact that it is not good for my body, there’s a lot of cheaper options out there that are healthier, cheaper, and varied, aka CARINDERIAS.
Most college / university belts have carinderias nearby so finding one would surely not be a problem. Just make sure to assess if what they are serving is clean and fresh.
4. PREPARE YOUR EMERGENCY ESSENTIALS
Floods are common here, especially around some major universities located near España Boulevard and Mendiola like UST, FEU, UE, UP-Manila, CEU, etc. When I say floods, I mean major floods that can reach waist-deep. It is, therefore, important to always have your essentials with you in case of calamities.
Pack some canned and ready-to-eat food, first aid kit, flashlight, raincoats, boots, and whatever you think you cannot live without. Floods usually take around 2-4 days to subside so worst case scenario is you being trapped in your unit for 4 days straight.
5. LEARN TO COMMUTE
If your place is a walking distance away from your school, then you do not have to commute on a daily basis. Nevertheless, if you do not have a car, it is always an advantage if you know how to move around the metro if you ever need to visit the mall or even just to tour around. There’s quite a lot of options here as listed below:
- Ride-hailing Mobile Apps (Grab, Angkas, Hype) – These have been popular these days. Just download the app in your mobile phone and you’re ready to go. Although they are more convenient, they are also generally pricier than public utility vehicles (PUVs) so I recommend to only use these if your drop-off or pick-up point is far away from the usual routes of PUVs.
- Taxis – Just like ride-hailing apps, they are also pricier than PUVs, especially if there is heavy traffic along your route. If you ever have no choice but to ride a taxi, just beware of taxi drivers who offer fixed price that are more expensive than the rate of their meters. There have also been reports of (fake) taxi drivers taking advantage of their passengers so if you ever need to ride late at night, just be extra cautious or better if you have company.
- MRT / LRT 1 & 2 / PNR – Currently, these are the 4 major train routes that operate in Metro Manila. MRT travels along EDSA, LRT 1 from EDSA-Roosevelt to Baclaran, LRT 2 from Santolan to Legarda, and PNR from Alabang to Valenzuela. If your drop-off point is near one of the stations, I suggest you take the train. Aside from the fact that the fare is cheap (around 15-40 PHP), they are also faster because they are not affected by the heavy traffic. The only disadvantage is that their passenger cars could get a bit too crowded during rush hour and you would have to fall in a very long line before getting in.
- FX – This is what we call commercial vans (like Toyota Hiace and Nissan Urvan) that are being used as PUVs. Their pick-up points are usually located in the transport terminals of some of the major malls. They are more expensive than jeeps, but are generally more comfortable because they are airconditioned.
- Bus – Buses only travel along major roads like EDSA, Quezon Ave, Commonwealth Ave, Ortigas Ave, España Blvd, Quirino Highway, etc. so their reach is quite limited. But if you’re travelling far, then they are probably the best choice. There are 2 types of buses that are available: air-conditioned and regular. Air-conditioned buses are obviously more expensive, with a minimum fare of 13 PHP compared to regular buses with a minimum fare of 10 PHP only.
- Jeepney – They are almost everywhere in Metro Manila. They have the cheapest fares (minimum fare is 9 PHP) so they are the best option if you are running on low budget. However, they might be inconvenient for long rides so I recommend to use them only if your destination is near.
6. LOOK FOR A PART-TIME JOB
As someone who is dependent to his parents, it can be quite fulfilling to have your own source of income while studying. Aside from the money you get, a part-time job would also help you discover and improve various skills. However, I recommend that you get a part-time job once you are more stable and more comfortable living in the metro—probably during your second year already.
There’s a ton of available jobs on Jobstreet but tutoring is probably the most popular among working students.
7. FIND A GO-TO STUDY PLACE
If you want to excel in your studies, it would be easier if you find yourself a go-to study place where you can feel motivated and energized to finish your readings, make your homework, and collaborate with classmates. School libraries are the most conducive, however, the disadvantage is that most of them close early. Beyond school hours, most students who fail to be productive at home choose to study at coffee shops or fast-food stores instead. This is strategic because caffeine helps to release excitatory chemical frolickers that help your brain stay active. If you cannot afford expensive shops like Starbucks and Coffee Bean, then another option is to stay at Mcdo and order their famous iced coffee.
8. ENJOY ONCE IN A WHILE
Once you enter college, which is like the stage in your life right before ‘adulting,’ you will be susceptible to a lot more stressors than when you were still in high school. Exams, homework, love life, issues with friends, and a lot more… It is, therefore, important that you take a breather once in a while to keep you sane. It is totally okay to drink alcohol or do some exciting activities with friends once in a while. Just make sure to do this in moderation.
There is usually a string of inuman places near every university in Manila. If you’ll be studying in UP or Ateneo, the nearest inuman places are located along Katipunan. You can also visit Timog and Tomas Morato areas if you are willing to go a bit far. For universities in Manila, the inuman places are scattered along Taft Ave and along streets adjacent to or parallel to it. If you are looking for places that are a bit high-end, then you may visit Bonifacio Global City in Taguig or Poblacion in Makati.
Your life in Manila can be both exciting and treacherous. But whatever you go through during your stay here, just don’t forget your main purpose why you went here in the first place. Go get that diploma!
Post a Comment