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It didn’t strike me until my ex recently told me bluntly about it. Cubao really seems to be my favorite place, because I also happened to live here around 20 years ago this year.

Back then, it was still Araneta Center and the LRT-2 (then called MetroTren) was still brand new. The original Gateway Mall was a few months away from being opened.

I’ve been back in Cubao for close to two years now, and it is not difficult to find out why.

Thanks to the bars, restaurants, BPO offices, motels, hotels, and transport terminals and bus stations, Cubao is a district that never sleeps.

You could find food at any time, whether fastfood or street food. Aside from the many convenience stores, there’s also a 24/7 supermarket nearby. Farm-fresh produce could be found at Farmers Market. Arayat Public Market is located at the other side of the MRT Cubao station

The Cubao nightlife is excellent: While TxF may be gone, there’s Rapture, SpectRoom and Starlites. If one needs a proper introduction to drag, please go to Rapture. There are many bars that cater to every class, budget or preference. Those who are used to spending a small fortune in BGC or Poblacion are always pleasantly surprised by Cubao prices and may suddenly become generous with drinks.

Cubao Expo is a musical and creative epicenter, anchored by Bellini’s, Fred’s Revolucion, Habanero Kitchen Bar, and a couple of enduring thrift shops. Families of EJK victims operate the Silingan Coffee place there.

The smart ones may point at Ortigas or San Juan as the geographical center of the metropolis. But Cubao is the undisputed center of major public mass transport.

From Cubao, you could commute to Monumento or Fairview to the north, Makati and Alabang to the south, Quiapo and Taft to the west, and Marikina and Rizal to the east. And vice versa, of course.

The Quezon City government operates a QCBus line offering free rides between QC City Hall and Cubao. If one goes from Cubao to City Hall, one could travel to any of the other seven QCBus routes also for free.

Cubao is also where the LRT2 and MRT3 lines meet. Both could connect you to LRT1.

As many people will tell you, you can always find your way to and from Cubao.

From Cubao, you could go to provinces north or south of Manila, including those that would use the “Ro-Ro” to cross to the Visayas and Mindanao.
Quite oddly, transport authorities didn’t put a Cubao station along the EDSA Busway. It is a most glaring, anti-commuter omission. The Cubao Busway stations could have been placed on Arayat and Farmers Plaza Mall, just off the MRT3 Cubao station. Right now, bus commuters are forced to walk to Cubao to or from either Nepa Q Mart or Main Avenue, the two “nearest” EDSA Busway stations.

The hustle and bustle of Cubao normally reach a fever pitch during rush hour

But Cubao goes extra around long-weekends, with passengers swamping bus stations. Then, there are the big events at the Araneta Coliseum: the ball games, concerts, and other international events. In the last FIBA event, folks from all over the metro descended on Cubao via LRT2 and MRT3. Foreign athletes could be seen shopping and dining around what’s now called Araneta City.

What’s lacking in Cubao are free, open, and green public spaces. The nearest one is Bernardo Park across Nepa Q Mart. Perhaps the Aranetas could devote the space once occupied by the Cubao Bus Station – it burned down last year and has since been demolished – not to parking for cars. I hope that as a public service, they turn that area into a public space with grass, plants and trees. A mini-city like Araneta City should have such a free, open and green public place.

In many cities abroad, there have been regulations on the mandatory provision of free and open spaces for recreation, relaxation, and socialization even within private spaces, especially in highly-urbanized areas.

Another possible improvement is to make Araneta City car-free, starting on weekends. This would reduce pollution, noise and accidents, while increasing foot traffic, opening possibilities for the reuse of the roads for commerce and community.

Whenever I feel the need to cool off from the hustle and bustle  of Cubao, I could just walk to a nearby train or bus station, and go to a place that’s different. Going back is just as easy.