Elderly woman dies at end of bus ride from Bicol

The long bus ride from Bicol to Metro Manila became the final journey of an elderly woman, who collapsed and died just as the bus she was riding reached its terminal in Pasay City. Elena Rivera managed to give bystanders her name and address before losing consciousness at the terminal of Arandia Bus at EDSA in Pasay City at 1 a.m. Wednesday. "She gave her name and address before collapsing. She was rushed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital but she died before doctors could treat her," dzRH radio quoted police officer (PO) 2 Allan Valdez of the Pasay City police as saying. Citing initial reports, Valdez described Rivera as 60 to 65 years old. He said Rivera may have joined the rush to the provinces – and back – this week. Malacañang earlier declared that only Wednesday would be considered a holiday. All Souls' Day, November 2, was deemed a regular working day. Rivera was one of the early "arrivals" who returned from the provinces Wednesday morning. Radio station dzBB reported that in Pasay City, bus terminals of major bus firms Victory Liner, Partas Transit and Five Star started to get crowded at 5 a.m. Buses of Victory Liner carried mostly passengers from Baguio City and La Union, while those of Partas transported most of its commuters from Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. Buses from Five Star, meanwhile, carried passengers mostly from Pangasinan. Elsewhere in Metro Manila, coaches of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) systems were packed with employees on their way to work even before 6 a.m. Students in uniforms were seen going to public elementary and high schools early Thursday morning. However, police continued to keep watch over cemeteries as many people were still expected to visit their dearly departed on All Souls' Day.-GMANews.TV