There's a lot of places you can get to from Vito Cruz Station of LRT-1 the Yellow Line. First off, surrounding this station are landmarks and institutions that are so important in Philippine history and culture. Aside from De La Salle University, one ride away is CCP Complex with its terminal located just outside Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Second, you can get to a back door of Makati Financial District by jeep from Vito Cruz Station. Pablo Ocampo Senior Street formerly Vito Cruz from which the name of this station was derived extends up to northeast part of Makati, intersecting a main thoroughfare there - Chino Roces formerly Pasong Tamo. Here are important places, in alphabetical order, you can get to from Vito Cruz Station either on foot or by shuttle and jeep:
CCP Complex Shuttle Terminal is located along Pablo Ocampo Senior Street formerly Vito Cruz near main gate of Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. From Vito Cruz Station, walk toward corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo, turn right, walk on until you see the terminal. These shuttles take passengers to the following: CCP, Harbor Square, Aliw Theater, Star City, Folk Arts Theater, PICC, PCSO, Coconut Palace, Gloriamaris, Sofitel Hotel Philippine Plaza, Amazing Show at Manila Film Center, Senate of the Philippines at GSIS Building.
Central Bank of the Philippines' entrance is located along Harrison Street. You can ride the shuttle of CCP, get off at corner of Pablo Ocampo and Harrison Street and walk to the gate. Or you can take a taxi and get off at the exact gate of Central Bank.
Century Park Hotel is next to Rizal Memorial Sports Complex along Pablo Ocampo Street, opposite corner of M. Adriatico Sreet and Pablo Ocampo. You can either ride a taxi or a CCP shuttle. But you know what? It's a walking distance, around 500 meters.
Friedenshaus Residence Hall is located at the corner of Estrada and Leon Guinto streets. From Vito Cruz Station walk toward Dela Salle University, which is northward along Taft Avenue. First Street from Vito Cruz Station to the right is Estrada Street. Walk along Estrada up to the next street which is Leon Guinto Street. Friendenshaus is visible momentarily.
Harrison Plaza Shopping Mall is located along M. Adriatico Street opposite Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. From Vito Cruz Station, walk toward corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo. You can ride a pedicab to get there. Before you board a pedicab make sure you and the driver agree on the fare. If you decide to walk, from the corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street, walk toward Rizal Memorial Sports Complex until you reach M. Adriatico. Turn right on Adriatico, walk on until you see SM to the left of Adriatico. Walk across Adriatico toward SM. Next to SM is the entrance of Harrison Plaza or you can pass through inside SM and head toward Harrison Plaza.
Jeepney Terminal of jeeps going to Zobel Roxas, Makati. These jeepneys pass by Zobel Roxas cor Osmena Highway or South Luzon Expressway. The terminal is located at the corner of Pablo Ocampo Sr and Leon Guinto streets. From Vito Cruz Station walk southward along Taft Avenue, walk across Taft toward Jollibee Taft. Walk pass Jollibee, next street from Taft is Leon Guinto, and right there is the terminal of these jeepneys. Their sign read "Zobel Roxas - Dulo".
La Salle - Dela Salle School of Design and Arts Campus. This is along Pablo Ocampo Street, 100 meters away from the terminal of "Zobel Roxas-Dulo" jeepneys.
La Salle - De La Salle University Taft is next to McDonald's which is very visible from Vito Cruz Station.
Legazpi Towers is located at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and Pablo Ocampo Street. Ride a CCP shuttle and ask the driver to drop you off right there.
Manila Yacht Club - located in Manila Bay next to Philippine Navy Headquarters, approximately 200 meters from CCP Complex. How to commute to Manila Yacht Club? You can ride a shuttle bound to CCP Complex and get off at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and CCP Complex or Pedro Bukaneg, then walk northward along Roxas Boulevard pass Philippine Navy Headquarters, until you see Manila Yacht Club entrance.
Ninoy Aquino Stadium is located at the northwest tip of Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. By walking its 650 meters from Taft. Walk toward Pablo Ocampo from Vito Cruz Station, turn right on Pablo Ocampo, walk pass terminal of CCP Complex shuttles, turn right on Adriatico Street, walk along Adriatico Street pass Wushu Federation and Rizal Memorial Stadium until you get to the next gate of Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Right there is the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Orchids Garden Suites is located along Pablo Ocampo Street opposite Century Park Hotel, approximately 450 meters from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street.
Philippine Sports Commission is located along Pablo Ocampo Street next to the main gate of Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, approximately 217 meters from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street formerly Vito Cruz.
Philippine Taekwondo Headquarters is located along Pablo Ocampo Street next to Philippine Sports Commission and approximately 240 meters from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Sr Street.
PSC Badminton Hall is the first Sport Facility you get to see along Pablo Ocampo Street, 70 meters walk from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street.
Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium - located at the corner of Pablo Ocampo and Adriatico streets, next to Philippine Taekwondo Headquarters, approximately 300 meters away from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street.
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Gate along Pablo Ocampo Street, approximately 170 meters from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street.
Rizal Memorial Stadium Track & Football - located along Adriatico Street, opposite Harrison Plaza, approximately 580 meters from Taft Avenue.
SM Department Store at Harrison Plaza - along Adriatico Street, opposite Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, around 550-meter walk from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street. You can ride a pedicab to get there, just make sure you and the driver of pedicab are in agreement on the fare before you board.
SM Hypermart Harrison Plaza - along Adriatico Street, next to the main building of Harrison Plaza, opposite Ninoy Aquino Stadium and approximately 680 meters from Taft Avenue.
St. Scholastica's Church - located in St. Scholastica's College Campus along Leon Guinto Street near terminal of jeepneys going to Zobel Roxas Makati. From Jollibee Taft, walk along Pablo Ocampo Street up to Leon Guinto, until you see the church from the corner of Pablo Ocampo and Leon Guinto. Approximately 130 meters from Jollibee Taft.
St. Scholastica's Archives-Museum - located along Pablo Ocampo Street opposite the terminal of jeepneys going to Zobel Roxas Makati. From Vito Cruz Station, walk toward Jollibee Taft at the corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo formerly Vito Cruz. From Jollibee Taft walk along Pablo Ocampo eastward up to Leon Guinto Street. The museum is to the right of Pablo Ocampo, approximately 90 meters from Taft Avenue.
Student's Place - it's a students' need oriented commercial building with fast food restaurants like Tropical Hut, internet cafes like I.T. Log P@rk, book shops and many others. It's located at the corner of Taft Avenue and Estrada Street exactly opposite Dela Salle University. From Vito Cruz Station, walk northward until you see the building, approximately 100 meters from LRT Vito Cruz Station.
The Buoy Cafe Bar Grill & Restaurant - located along Pablo Ocampo Street formerly Vito Cruz just ouside Orchids Garden Suites and approximately 400 meters from Taft. Practical way to get there is to ride a shuttle going to CCP Complex. Or, just walk!
The Grand Towers and Pacific Regency - two condominium buildings standing side by side along Pablo Ocampo Sr Street formerly Vito Cruz opposite Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and approximately 120 meters from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo. Walking distance to DLSU or Dela Salle University.
The Providence Tower Condominium - located along Leon Guinto Street near corner Estrada. From Vito Cruz Station walk northward up to Estrada Street, walk along Estrada and turn left on Leon Guinto. Approximately 218 meters from Vito Cruz Station of LRT-1.
De La Salle College of Saint Benilde - located just around 20 meters from Vito Cruz Station of LRT-1 along north bound side of Taft Avenue.
Torre Lorenzo Residences - located at the corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Sr. Street. Most of the occupants are De La Salle students. Starbucks Cafe occupies a portion of the ground floor facing the corner of the intersection. Approximately 73 meters from Vito Cruz Station.
United Evangelical Church of Manila - along Leon Guinto Street. From Vito Cruz station walk northward, turn right onto Estrada Street then left on Leon Guinto Street. Walk to the left side of Leon Guinto, passing by The Providence tower, until you see this building, standing approximately 130 meters from the corner of Estrada and Leon Guinto streets.
University Mall - is connected to Vito Cruz Station of LRT-1 but only passengers from the north can pass through the crossway connecting the two buildings. Passengers from south need to get on the ground and walk across Taft Avenue to get to the University Mall.
Vietnam Embassy - located alongside The Buoy and Orchids Garden Suites. It's visible from the corner of Pablo Ocampo Street formerly Vito Cruz and Adriatico Street. The most practical way to get there is by riding a shuttle going to CCP or you can just walk. Approximate distance from Taft Avenue is 390 meters.
HP Village Square - a mini mall with fast food as well as fine dining restaurants, bank and atm machines around it, located at the corner of Pablo Ocampo Street formerly Vito Cruz and Harrison Street. This one is a bit far for you to walk so the best way is to ride a shuttle going to CCP Complex and ask the driver to drop you off the location.
Vito Cruz Towers - Condominiums owned by Citiland Groups, located alongside Pacific Regency but a little bit far. Approximately 250 meters from corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street formerly Vito Cruz.
Wushu Federation Philippines - located along Adriatico Street, approximately 140 meters from corner of Adriatico and Pablo Ocampo streets where the Baseball Stadium is located and around 450 meters from Taft Avenue. Pedicabs can take you there if you don't feel like walking. Just make sure you and the pedicab driver agree on the amount of fare before you board the pedicab.
The tricycle is a motorbike with a rather big sidecar mounted to it in which up to 6 or 7 people can sit, plus their luggage. This is how one looks like from the back of, in the picture above.
This is a tricycle in action! Besides the driver, two people are sitting on the outside next to the driver, a couple of people are sitting inside the covered side mountain and seemingly at least person is hanging outside of the tricycle. Truly an amazing way of getting around for medium sized distances of in my estimate a couple of kilometers max. For longer distances the jeepneys will be a more convenient option, I assume.
Than there's the option for even shorter distances, the pedicab, a push bike with a side mountain that holds two passengers There are two seats) and luggage. Amazing PI!
In the meantime, I will keep the updates for Samui going as good as I can, with daily updates 'fresh from the farm or source'!
