PASIG FERRY-San Joaquin: At the Heart of a Busy Sub-urban Town

San Joaquin is easily one of the busiest districts of the geographically sprawling Pasig City. Located just along the banks of the historical Pasig River, in what is essentially a suburban part of town, it is a section of the metropolis that connects residential areas with business and commercial quarters—hence the daily chaos of people and vehicles. During morning and evening rush hour (from 6am to 8am, and from 6pm to 8pm), a hodge-podge assortment of tricycles, jeepneys and cars can be seen in a tangled line that stretches on all the intersecting streets. But on less busier hours, however, a visit to San Joaquin can actually be a good glimpse of a thriving sub-urban town in Manila. After all, without the heavy traffic to cloud your vision, you can explore this modest area at your own pace.

The ferry station is situated at a quieter section of San Joaquin, but you can easily head for the town center by walking for a few minutes to get to the main intersection. Your landmark is the San Joaquin Bridge, so you should find it very easy to find your way around. The collection of little shops that sit almost next to each other should definitely clue you in. There are the usual fast food chain stores like McDonald’s and Jollibee, as well as branches of famous salons such as F and Reyes Haircutters. But if you want something a bit more local, then a visit to the Ice Cream Store is definitely recommended. As the name clearly states, this quaint little establishment offers a wide selection of the frozen dessert. Though the brand (Creamline) is not as famous as Magnolia or Selecta, the taste is pretty good, and the price is definitely affordable. From popsicles and mini cups to drumsticks and pint containers, the list of variation is quite surprisingly long for a shop that is only a few square meters in size. My favorite is the chocolate mini cup (approximately less than Php 20 or USD 0.43); it’s delightfully simple, sweet, and just enough to cool me off on a hot day.

If you’re looking to have a hearty lunch, then cross the street and take one of the open-air tables at Andok’s. Originally just a modest stall offering roasted chicken, this specialty dish became so popular all over the country that Andok’s has considerably expanded its operations over the recent years, including Filipino dishes in its menu. You may want to sample sisig (minced pork mixed with seasonings to flavor). A meal for one person is about Php 100 or USD 2 there. For those who want to opt for a local snack, the nearby Lugaw Queen should be a good bet. A plain bowl of their invigoratingly savory rice porridge is priced at only Php 15 or USD 0.32.

San Joaquin station may not be the most animated stopover in Pasig Ferry, but it certainly has a quaint charm to it. If you want to check out more activities, you can opt to head to downtown Pasig, or better yet, Ortigas Center. 

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