Destination - National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Better Living Subd

Just wanted to share directions to the Church we reguarlarly go to :)

Starting Point:  SM Bicutan Bldg A
South Super Highway (South Luzon Expressway) - Southbound

Directions - Commute:
- Proceed to the Tricycle Terminal
  (Facing SSH/SLEx, terminal is to the left side of the building under the Skyway ramp)
- Take tricycle. There are 2 options:
  Special trip line -> Tell driver you are going to "Simbahan" / "Don Bosco na Simbahan"
  Ordinary trip line -> Look for the overhead sign "Russia" and fall in line (6 people = 1 tricycle)
- Alight at:
  Special trip -> Church
  Ordinary trip -> Dona Soledad corner Peru St. (Landmark:  7-Eleve-n in front of Puregold Jr)
  (Look for the next 7-11 store once you pass by Goodah -> Julie's Bakeshop)

(Succeeding steps applicable to Ordinary Trip option)
- Cross the street to get to the side of Puregold Jr.
- Walk to the Church (with Pedestrian guide):
   Along the other side of Peru in-between Puregold Jr and a Spa place -> (Will pass by the guard house) -> dead-end -> right at Don Bosco -> left at Portugal -> dead-end -> right at Chemistry
   (The Church perimeter should be visible when walking along Chemistry St.)

To go back to SM Bicutan:
Again two options:  Special trip or Ordinary trip

Special trip:
- Take tricycle usually waiting outside the Church perimeter

Ordinary trip:
- Walk back to Dona Soledad
- Take tricycle in front of Puregold Jr.
  (Again, two options but no separate lines for Special and Ordinary trips. For special trips, just tell driver "Special - SM Bicutan".  For ordinary trips, just take a seat and wait until 6 people are in the tricycle.)

Fare:
- Tricycle (to or from Church): Ordinary trip = P8.50 (but usually rounded off to P9)
  (No info on the special trip. Sorry.)

Directions - Private Vehicle:
- Drive along Dona Soledad Avenue (in-between SM Bicutan Bldg A & B)
  (Main road with landmarks (R):  Sun Valley gate, BPI Family Bank, Mercury Drugstore, Jollibee, PNB, Pizza Hut, Aling Idang's, Goodah)
- Turn left to Puregold Jr, Peru St (Left side)
- Turn right when you get to the T-intersection
- Turn left after 2 blocks to Portugal St.
- Go straight to the entrance gate of the Church

Destination - LTO DLRC SM Super Center, Pasig City

Thinking its relatively inconvenient location meant lesser number of applicants, I decided to have my license renewed at the Drivers License Renewal Center inside SM Super Center in Pasig City. And  boy, were the blogs I read right :)

The turnaround time may not be lightning fast (mine was 2.5 hrs) but I did appreciate the overall experience. Location was less stressful, speed was acceptable, co-applicants were courteous, and, most importantly, service was great.

The LTO staff were very accommodating and polite. They seemed to try their best not to show impatience toward those who just found it hard to follow the instructions, some of whom I really pitied. So, hats off to the staff for uplifting the agency's image!

The LTO branch is inside SM Super Center, which is along C5 beside Tiendesitas, between Dona Julia Vargas and Ortigas Avenues. Office hours are from 9am - 6pm.

Starting point:  South Super Highway (Northbound)

Directions:
- Take northbound side of SSH
- After Bicutan exit, stay at the rightmost lane
- Take the C5 flyover exit
   Landmarks: You will pass by Market!Market! -> Kalayaan -> Pasig flyover (where the huge billboards are) -> Motels (left) -> Valle Verde (left) -> Dona Julia Vargas -> Shell -> SM Supercenter
- Make a U-turn under the Ortigas flyover
- Turn right either before SM or after Shell (Dona Julia Vargas)*

Parking*:
- Before 9am: Parking area outside SM
   Turn right at Dona Julia Vargas Ave. (after Shell fuelling station)
   Turn right after the first corner, landmark: McDonald's
- After 9am: Parking area inside SM
   Turn right before SM Supercenter (where a guard station is)
   Turn left toward parking basement

Destination: Furniture Shops in Betis, Pampanga

My mom and I had to check out the infamous furniture shops in Betis.  She has heard people in this place made quality wooden furniture while I have read a lot of good reviews in blogs.  Problem is (or maybe I just don't know how to query with the right keywords), I did not find anything on the net about directions.

But we found our way simply by asking good-hearted people (God bless them) -- the man at the furniture shop in Better Living, a crew at Robinson's San Fernando, Pampanga, and a guard stationed at the parking area.

Below are the directions when bringing your own car.  I tried hard to get directions via commute but the only information I got was to ride provincial buses bound to Guagua (not Olongapo nor Angeles).

Starting Point:  SM Bicutan
South Super Highway going to North Luzon

Directions:
- Take northbound side of South Super Highway
- Use Magallanes flyover
- Drive northbound EDSA up to Balintawak
- Enter North Luzon Expressway
- Exit at San Fernando, Pampanga
- Turn right at Jose Abad Santos Ave (JASA) - Olongapo-bound
   (After about 15 minutes, you'll find big and small furniture shops on both sides of the road.  Happy canvassing!)

Destination - Caloocan City Hall

Aubs and I had to go to the Caloocan City Hall.  Personally, I prefer going there via commute rather than bringing your own car.  Less stress for everything - traffic, parking and directions.


Starting Point:  LRT - Gil Puyat Station
LRT Line:  Baclaran going to Monumento


Directions:
- Alight at 5th Ave. Station
- Cross Rizal Avenue
- Take tricycle ride to A. Mabini Ave. (tell driver to drop you off at "Mabini - Stoplight")
  Typical route:  will turn right at J. Teodoro -> left at 6th Ave. -> left at Baltazar (i think) -> right at 5th Ave.
  (right before the railway and bridge) -> Traffic light (intersection of 5th and A. Mabini Avenues)
- Alight at the intersection (right before the traffic light)
  (Landmark:  Ambassador Funeral Homes)
- Walk around the corner along A. Mabini Ave. (no need to cross the street)
- Take jeepney with sign board "Sangdaan - Pajo" (tell driver to drop you off at "Caloocan City Hall")
- Alight in front of the Caloocan City Hall Commercial Center (left side) and San Roque Parish Church (right side)
- Cross the street to the Caloocan City Hall Commercial Center.  You will find the City Hall at the back of the commercial center.


To go back to LRT - 5th Ave. Station:
- Ride a jeepney in front of the Commercial Center (sign board:  "Ilaya - Divisoria") back to 5th Ave.  
  The jeepney will turn right at the intersection of A. Mabini and 5th Avenues and make a U-turn.  
- You may alight as soon as the jeepney gets to the other side or a little bit further (just make sure you get off before the jeepney makes a right turn).  
- You may ride a bus (sign board: FTI or Cubao) and ask the driver to drop you off at the LRT - 5th Ave. station.


Fare:
- LRT from Gil Puyat to 5th Ave. (and vice-versa):  Php15
- Tricycle ride from Rizal Ave. to A. Mabini Ave. (stoplight):  Php7 (non-special)
- Jeepney ride from stoplight to City Hall (and vice-versa):  Php7
- Bus ride from 5th Ave. to Rizal Ave.:  Php11 (air-con)