RIDING THROUGH HISTORY
At 10 a.m. on a Saturday, the festive sound of drums joined in with the clatter of the approaching train at the LRT-1 Central station. Eleven teams of four members — made up of an LRT-1 driver, an LRT-1 teller, a blogger, and a reporter — hurriedly lined up at the ticketing booth to load their Beep cards, catch the next train, and explore specific cultural and historical landmarks on a list. All were determined to arrive first at the finish line — and in the process, the teams explored Manila, despite the continuous rains.
EXPLORING MANILA BY TRAIN
Exploring Manila and seeing what the nearly 450-year-old city has to offer need not be a hassle as anyone may enjoy it, rain or shine. The Light Rail Manila Corp., (LRMC) in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DoT), Tralulu, Walk This Way, Old Manila Walks, and Kapitbahayan sa Kalye Bautista, launched IkotMNL, a tourism campaign which aims to help people rediscover Manila with the LRT-1 as the main mode of transportation. The project hopes to “maximize the tourism potential with LRT-1 and drive more riders on weekends when people have time [for] sightseeing,” LRMC president and CEO Juan F. Alfonso told the press during the launch — and race — on Aug. 11. Mr. Alfonso noted that on weekdays, the LRT-1 has an estimated 500,000 riders while about 400,000 and 280,000 people go for a ride on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively. “Along with LRT-1’s accelerated rehabilitation, continuous operational improvements efforts, and stations that are strategically located, LRMC is steadfast in its commitment not just to accommodate more passengers, but also to draw more foreign and local tourists to Metro Manila’s rich and diverse attractions and cultural experiences through ikotMNL,” Mr. Alfonso was quoted as saying in a press release. “Tourism is inevitably linked to transport. As the LRT-1 operator, we are in a unique position to connect local and foreign tourists to the city’s most important and historic places in the quickest land travel possible,” he added.
TOURING THE CITY
IkotMNL offers special guided day tours and unguided tours which can tackle everything from architecture and art, to shopping and dining.