I swung by Ayala Triangle Gardens after a long day at the office last week, and man, it was exactly…read morewhat I needed. Grabbed a spot on one of the benches under the big trees, cracked open a book, and just let the city noise fade into the background while kids ran around laughing and joggers zipped by. The air actually felt fresher in there compared to the rest of Makati--huge green escape right in the middle of all the concrete. Ended up staying longer than planned, got an iced latte from one of the cafes, and watched the sunset hit those colorful "Make it Happen, Make it Makati" letters. Felt so peaceful and alive at the same time. Five stars, no question--I'll be back whenever I need to recharge without leaving the CBD.

Just got back from a quick evening stroll through Ayala Triangle Gardens and honestly, it never…read moredisappoints. After being stuck in back-to-back meetings all day, I needed somewhere to clear my head without fighting traffic out of the CBD. Found a quiet corner near the fountain, plugged in my favorite playlist, and just watched the lights start twinkling as the sun went down. The place was alive but not chaotic--couples walking hand in hand, groups of friends laughing over takeout, a few serious runners circling the paths. Grabbed a cold calamansi drink from one of the stalls and sat there longer than I meant to, feeling the stress literally melt away. That big colorful "Make it Happen, Make it Makati" sign glowing against the skyline is such a vibe too. It's the perfect little pocket of calm in the middle of all the hustle. Easily five stars--can't wait to swing by again soon.

Whenever my friend, Mica, and I get bored of the Belvedere Park, we end up in Merville's…read moreContinental Park. This park is more secluded and there are fewer cars that pass by this place. It's also a great place to just hang out and talk because the airplanes don't really pass overhead. Yes, the noise of the airplanes can be heard but not as bad or as loud as the sound you'll hear when you visit the Belvedere Park. When the airplanes pass, you don't have to stop telling your story to your friend. During the rainy months when Mica and I visit the park, we end up here because there's a little gazebo that has a roof. There are no tables or chairs, so we just sit around on the floor and have a little picnic. At night, children don't really visit the park. There are times when people come to play basketball or practice some dance they need to perfect. Another thing, you can smoke in this park and they won't tell you to stop. Bad for your lungs. But, oh well.

Mahagony Park is the type of place I'd go to when I want peace and quiet, no need for spending,…read moreunlimited fresh air; who doesn't like hanging around a play ground? It's the type of place you can hang around on late nights without fear of shady people or getting mugged. Their playground isn't only built for kids, there's even a section where you can "gym", they built makeshift exercise contraptions for those up for a workout or if you're too ashamed to be seen in the kiddie area. In the center is a beautiful Gazebo filled with benches where a big group can hangout and have picnics, play games, or do nothing together; it's the perfect place to just space out. The only problem is that mosquitoes seem to like hanging out there as well, so be sure to spray yourself thoroughly with insect repellant before you decide to visit.

Something about parks that always excite me. Even when I was a kid, I enjoy going to parks even…read morethough I don't really know I'm going to do there. I think it's more because of the ambiance that lures me to go the park multiple times. It's relaxing to be in an area that's full of greenery. Sometimes my friends and I would prepare snacks and create picnics at the park! I remember once when one of my photographer friends wanted to have a shoot in Mahogany because of the nice scenery! It's actually fun there. One side, kids (and not kids at heart) can play with the sand while the bigger kids can swing and slide. Every time I'm here I remember times when life was just so carefree. Oh how it's nice reminisce those good old days. Nowadays I see a lot more kids with her helpers in the Park. I'm glad that kids are not bound to their iPads and they're actually running around open field enjoying nature.

Early this summer, my best friend and I planned a hang out at Fort Bonifacio. We were both tight on…read morecash so we were brain storming on how we can save money on food and drinks but still hang out somewhere nice. We were joking around when my best friend said, "Why don't we have a picnic at Sky Park at SM Aura?" We started laughing but then stopped, looked at each other and smiled. It was actually a great idea! Now, we didn't think actual, full-fledged picnics were allowed, so we just brought some homemade cupcakes and lemonade to share. Sky Park is a little space of an oasis in the desert of the city. Where in a city, it's a concrete jungle, here there's pretty greenery, a nice fountain and fresher air. We spent literally hours their, having snacks, catching up, having fun and taking pictures. We ended up staying until night time and it's really pretty up there at night. You see a great view of the Fort with all the pretty city lights.

One of the New SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD?!?! I'm down with that! Let's go! Found in the…read morePhilippines, on the island of Palawan, it's one of the many beautiful sites to see in this country. First thing you MUST to do is secure an ENTRY permit to ensure your 1.5hr winding road journey doesn't end up as just shopping for souvenirs. Rather than use a group tour, we went through Joracs Transport Service (owners: Jonel & Evelyn Racuya... Maraming salamat po for AWESOME service!) with a nominal service fee per permit, on top of the cost of permit per person. Joracs took care of this a few weeks BEFORE our arrival. AND, by using Joracs for our visit, our group of 7 could adjust to what the pace of day was, without the pressure of being in a big group. This worked to our advantage, because jet lag made our California boys struggle to stay awake past 5pm local time. So, off we went, 7:30am departure time from the hotel that day. Beautiful countryside journey got us there in 1 1/2 - 2 hours from Puerto Princesa City. First, once you exit the bus doors you are bombarded by local merchant sellers. We actually purchased water proof phone & cargo bags from them at a good price for peace of mind during the boat rides. Hats too, because of concerns of bat guano in the cave. Our guide Jonel left to get our passes at the time. We then waited around for the boat ride to the Cave site, which was roughly an hour in open shaded waiting areas. IT IS STILL HUMID in the cooler months of November, so lots of sweating while waiting. There are local merchants serving fresh fruits & smoothies USING PURIFIED WATER, so delicious & refreshing way of killing time without worry of "nag tataé (tah-tah-éh)" from the other end ;) Our number is called & off we go. Only life jackets are provided. Max people per boat is 8 plus captain & mate. It's about 15 minutes to get to the cave location. Engine is loud, trip is windy. We exit by walking off the boat onto the beach so prepared to get wet. Look for Macaque monkeys and bayawak lizards, they are around! Audio tours provided, then short walk to launch bay, where construction hats with a small front brim are given before boarding cave boats (seats 10 including guide). It is AWESOME inside! Leisure pace inside with skillful boat maneuvering by our guide. Light is provided by the guide's headgear which is ample enough to view & take pictures & video of this natural wonder. Bat are NUMEROUS & you hear lots of "water" drops so not sure what's falling on us lol! A lil tip... Don't look up with your mouth open. ;) All smiles by everyone as we leave the cave boat! We did tip our transport driver, captain, mate, and cave guide. REALLY COOL excursion! REALLY EASY RECOMMENDATION! ENJOY KAYO! :)

We took a bus trip from El Nido to the Underground River. The trip there was a little scary because…read morewe had to switch buses in a small area where there was only a bus stop. We weren't sure that we were in the right place. Once we got on the correct bus, we felt better. The bus ride was bumpy with a lot of turns. My son even got car sick. The town where you get the boats to the Underground River was packed with people. We had to wait in line for quite a while to get tickets. The tour included a lunch which was served in an outdoor tent like area. I even saw a rat! It wasn't very good food. The boat ride to the Underground River we really rough that day. Luckily it wasn't a very long ride. The actual tour of the Underground River was fabulous! My pictures speak for themselves.

This is one of my favorite parks in Makati. While they are more strict than other public parks…read more(like Legaspi Active beside it or Salcedo Park), it is really well maintained. They have areas where you can quietly sit and draw or listen to music (with a headset, of course), grassy areas where kids can run around or appreciate the artsy structures, there's also a gazebo on top of a man-made pond with koi. This park closes at certain hours of the night and has a guard roaming around (so it's pretty safe), it has three entrance doors and piped in music when it is open. Smoking is not allowed inside the park as are pets. This is a great stress-reliever when you feel like taking a walk in a peaceful setting in the middle of the work day.

I'm a big fan of parks. I grew up in the province, and there are days when I miss seeing green…read more This verdant oasis in the middle of Makati was a welcome sight, I tell you. I used to work in the Asian Institute of Management, and I used to take long walks during my lunch break because I didn't have any friends and I didn't want to spend an hour alone in the office. Eventually I stumbled into Washington Sycip Park, and started going there everyday, with my lunchbox and drink, to sit on a bench and enjoy another great day to be alive. It didn't matter if it was sunny, there were great big trees forming a leafy canopy over the park that kept things fresh and breezy.

This is a safe place for children to play in. There are a handful of major parks in the Makati area…read morethat are great for children, among my favorites is Salcedo Park. On Saturdays, they hold the weekend market right beside it so you can spend a little time shopping and a few hours playing with your kid. I love their playground area because they use high-quality materials - none of those dangerous stainless steel slides that rust over time. They use fiberglass and plastic materials for most of their play areas. The flooring along the play area also uses cork material so even if kids fall or tumble, they are relatively safe. Then there's the wide area for grass and lush trees where you could have a nice little family picnic with your Salcedo Market purchases, just bring a blanket and you can have a great family weekend.

The best time to visit the Salcedo Park (which is actually the Jaime C. Velasquez Park) is at…read morearound 2 p.m. because it's not too hot anymore. This is also the time the Salcedo Market ends, so there are less people around the place. I like to take my daughter on play dates to the playground during the weekend, and she tires herself on the numerous slides before we head out once the 4 p.m. crowd comes pouring in. When my daughter is busy with her jungle gym session, I like to take a walk across the park to grab some Starbucks or catch up on some work on one of the benches. I like the sense of security and community that the Salcedo Park has, so time spent there makes for leisurely and productive afternoons. Maybe next time I'll bring some rubber shoes and do a little jog around the park, though!

After seeing the Binangonan-Angono Petroglyphs, my travel companions and I hastily went down to…read morecatch the Laguna de Bay sunset from Angono Lakeside Park. The park was definitely a happening place, and a popular place among locals. When we arrived we saw a lot of people sitting and talking, and many children running around or playing in the playground. We also saw a row of restaurants which I later found out serve fresh catch from Laguna de Bay. Even here you will find an artwork, particularly of a sculpture of two mermaids. These are said to be the goddesses of the lake. We walked farther out, away from the crowds, and found a tranquil spot with boats and water hyacinths, though no flowers were in bloom then. From here we watched the sunset and took photos. All was calm, and it was the perfect ending to our day of Angono art tripping.

My daughter and I have been spending a lot of time in Valle Verde 1 since my boyfriend moved into…read morethe neighborhood. The park is one of the things my daughter and I love about the move because of the playground. Situated in the middle of greenery, the playground features padded flooring and a nice jungle gym set. My daughter loves the slides and the rope bridge. At first, she was hesitant to cross it because the spaces between the ropes were too big for her little toddler feet. She started out by crawling across, then she got more confident and started walking on it. Me and my mommy milestones! *tear* There are a number of parent-child or yaya-child tandems that hang out here, too. It usually doesn't fill up until around 2 or 3 pm, but coming by earlier isn't too hot as well because of all the trees that shade the playground. Aside from that, there are jogging and biking paths around the park. The main function hall, which can be split into two smaller areas or opened up to become one big room, is located by the driveway. It seems like there's a birthday that happens there every weekend so if you plan to rent the place out, make a reservation well ahead of time. Sunday masses are also held here. There's a basketball, tennis, and badminton court on the premises as well. There's a convenience store, a tutorial center, laundry service, and a Metrobank ATM, too. The convenience store closes at around 8 pm, from my observation.

My 2 and a half year old daughter calls this the My Little Pony playground because it's vast enough…read morefor her to pretend she's Apple Jack or Rainbow Dash. There is a large green space with trees lined about so she can pretend there's a forest. The playground features a kiddie gym with slides and a bridge. She can play on it for hours thinking it's a castle. There are also a few other playground sets surrounding the gym and feature seesaws, rocking horses/trucks, smaller slide sets and a pair of swings. The place also has a basketball court in the back, clean bathrooms because of the rentable clubhouse and well yeah, a clubhouse you can rent for parties. The park is also fairly empty except in the late afternoons but it's never as chaotic as the one in Salcedo. There's a mini grocery nearby and a branch of Becky's Kitchen so you can grab juice and brownies after a tiring afternoon of playing.

Having transformed several times over the past few years, Baywalk is once again in the midst of…read morechange. This time around, the plan seems to be to add a small road nearly in the middle, big enough to fit a car. This does, needless to say, look like it will definitely be far from attractive when all the work is done. Some things, however, have stayed the same. There are still numerous people hanging out (although the number of fishermen seems to have decreased significantly; perhaps they migrated to the area beside Harbor Square). The various stalls selling a plethora of items to eat, drink and wear are still present. The ubiquitous dogs are also still very much around as are the many cats (a personal favorite) that seem to make their home in the area beside the Manila Yacht Club. Come at the right time of day (early morning or late afternoon, to be precise) and you'll encounter swarms of joggers and dog walkers. Their presence is testimony of the area's appeal for those ambulant by choice. Be warned, the smell of Manila Bay varies in intensity but never really goes away.

My girlfriend will hate me for this, since she prefers the UP Academic Oval (Isko at heart, what…read morecan I say) but this is my favorite jogging route. All throughout college, I jogged from the Taft entrance of Luneta, all the way to Kilometer Zero, hard left to Roxas Boulevard and straight to CCP. 80% of this route is along Baywalk, and when done at the right time, it offers the most gorgeous views. I've lived by the sea all my life, and I find sitting on the breakwater with the sea breeze in my face relaxes me. Try not to get too much of the sea spray on you though. That's Manila Bay. You can get a third eye or an extra arm if you swim in that muck.