Shifting Perspectives

This is about driving and getting lost, but I don’t mind the blunder as it is a learning experience for me, and now for my readers.

I had earlier been to the Meralco conference center in Antipolo, but I drove from Quezon City. Yesterday I had to drive from UA&P in Ortigas. So I got into Ortigas Avenue and just followed the road. It is a long stretch and it converts to Ortigas Avenue extension up the hills. I went past Cainta and Taytay.

I asked once only and the traffic man by the foot of the Antipolo Hills did not know Ynares so I drove on and stopped in front of the Antipolo Municipal hall where I could see the dome of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage shrine. I called Neris but perhaps she thought I was coming out from the church and gave the directions from the McDonald’s. Hence I drove on and got into the long way through the Sumulong circumferential. On the spot where I called Neris, I could have made a U-turn and turn right.
I arrived 10 minutes late for the lecture. But my female entrepreneurial students were gracious to forgive me immediately.

This is probably the third time I have driven to Tagaytay and I think I already know how to get to Tagaytay Conference Center in Mendez, Cavite.

First of all, there is a route from the Southwoods exit that will take you to Emilio Aguinaldo Highway (see my red marking), but I could never memorize the little turns and streets that my friend Libai would take, so I would not venture to write about it.

The other way is quite easy (as my friends would say “dire-diretso lang”). Exit SLEX in Santa Rosa and turn right and drive along Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, then the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway. If you don’t see any street name, you know you are on the right track if the lake is at your left. You will see McDonald’s across Tagaytay Vista Lodge. Go past that landmark until you reach a Mercury Drug which means you are near to turning right in Mendez crossing. Follow the road until you see Junil’s bakery and Rural bank of Mendez. Turn left to the street between those two landmarks.

Surely there is a shortcut if you take the right fork by the Petron gas station, a few kilometers after the Rotonda. Drive along until you see Mater Dei Academy at your right, and then a traffic light. Street that turns to the right is called Mayor’s Drive. You will see the blue building of the Tagaytay National High School at your right. Drive a little further and you will see Mendez Road. Turn right there and you will see a sign You are now leaving Tagaytay. Then look for the Junil’s and Rural Bank.

Until here…travel safe.

As this would be the first time I would drive from Quezon Avenue to Sumulong Highway (to give a lecture in the Goldman Sachs 10000 Women program), I searched the internet for directions. The Meralco site provides a map and directions but I was looking for more precise ones (like where do I turn when I step out of my house…well, not that detailed though). I did not find much help in the internet so here I am with the google satellite map and Snagit trial software.

From Quezon Avenue take the underpass (below EDSA) follow the road to Elliptical circle, take the second main exit (Philcoa), follow the road to UP. The first traffic light is CP Garcia, turn right there. Follow the road until you see the sign Katipunan Avenue.

When you turn right from CP Garcia to Katipunan, you will see a flyover. DON’T take that, get into the side road which goes to Aurora Blvd, turn right there, and you have to find the first U-turn to Marcos Highway. From there, it’s easy driving to Marikina City. Then hopefully you will see the welcome sign to Antipolo, see the Masinag market at the left side of a major intersection. Make a right turn to Sumulong Highway, follow the road.

If the MMLDC map says Padi’s point as a landmark, don’t expect that in 5 minutes. It’s quite a long drive up the hill.