Ever since I was a kid, I was really into sports; I was part of the track and field team, a table…read moretennis player, a chess champion and a volleyball varsity player during high school and college.The energy and strength that I get from sports is fulfilling and makes my life a little interesting.Now that I have kids and busy at work, I can't seem to find time to play volleyball or sit on a game of chess,but now that Playground opened near our residence, my friends were able to persuade me to try a new sport, badminton I was impressed of the huge building with a provision for eight badminton courts coated with a top of the line non slip vinyl, cool atmosphere and it was well ventilated. The fee for an hour was just right if your splitting it with friends. They also have badminton sports wear, shuttlecocks and even rackets that you can purchase there, you can also get water for free and take a bath after the game. If you really want to know how to play badminton,their affiliated school WWGNA Badminton Camp and Clinic offers affordable summerclasses for beginners, intermediate and elite level training.

Isagani C. Cordero, fondly called Mang Ani by his apprentices, is not your typical badminton…read moreinstructor. If you pass him by on the street, you won't have an inkling that this small and fragile-looking man is a fast and agile athlete. Mang Ani is a mainstay at The Zone, a paid badminton court located in Malugay Street, Makati City. In my three years as a badminton enthusiast, I have tried other badminton coaches. But I decided to stick with Mang Ani the longest (even if he's already in his senior years) because he's such an easy person to deal with. You can hire him to be your coach or just a practice opponent for as little as 30 minutes. For my part, I usually get his services for at least an hour or even up to a whole day. Playing time doesn't matter to him. For as long as he's available, he will accommodate players under his coaching and training. Another reason I like about Mang Ani, who comes from a family of national team players of the sport, is his flexible style of teaching. He tailor fits his instructions depending on the needs and goals of his students. For instance, I'm not an aggressive player so he teaches me to hone my defensive skills on the court. So far, I'm pleased with my progress. Once you have achieved your objectives and still want to continue with his coaching, he would eventually focus on polishing your form and stance. I especially recommend Mang Ani for beginners and intermediate players who don't want a one-style-fits-all type of badminton training.

Since I learned how to play badminton, I say yes to every play that I can attend and I just bring…read morethe kids and my helper with me so they can run around unoccuoied courts and get their exercie too. My colleagues invited me to stretch some muscle at Las Piñas Badminton Center which is one tricycle ride from my house. The place was ok, they have 6 courts with good non slip vinyl flooring and there are several shower rooms to use after he game. You can take advantage of their promotion of unlimited play from 10am to 3pm for an affordable price. The place is cool in the morning, but since the insulation is not intact and some are already torn off from the roof, at around 12pm I can already feel the heat even there were industrial fans situated per court. The staffs were nice and they also teach badminton basics for a minimal fee and you can get more discounts if you train per group. Food, drinks and shuttlecock as are available for sale and water is free. They also have 2 showers and changing rooms that you can use after the game.

I swear by this gym. It's run by army guys so, expect to be trained just like how they are trained-…read morerough but helpful, demanding but effective. You can't train here and act like a sissy. These men wake up at the break of dawn and train for 3 hours doing exercises that would leave anyone dying of pain. I came here years ago because it was near my office in BGC and it was the only gym that closes at 10pm. I was a flabby girl who never exercised, drank too much and ate the wrong food. I came there to box and within 3 months I lost 10 points by my sheer determination and my trainer's rigid commands. I loved all my trainers. Where else will you meet burly, muscular army guys with names like Tata and Zambales? More than the training they gave me it was their simplistic kindness that awed me. They were honest, rightfully loyal and dedicated. So, if you want to lose weight and at the same time meet men who live to REALLY serve the country (unlike others) try boxing at the Army Gym. Tips: There are other things you can do here too. You can play badminton, basketball, swim and run around the track. Entrance fee is just P70.

There was a time in my life when I was super into badminton. I didn't have any sport (as I've said…read morein a previous review) and badminton was the closest thing I could do without hurting myself. Hahaha. I liked bowling but it was such an expensive sport and to be honest, hindi naman talaga ako papayat kababato ng bowling ball. So I urged myself to try playing badminton instead and to my surprise, I didn't hate it. Woohoo! Finding badminton courts in the Metro though was a bit of a challenge for me. I Googled courts that were near my place or where I worked but I just couldn't find one, until I discovered Aerodrome Badminton Center in Taytay, Rizal. The court is pretty big and has about 10 or 12 playing fields, I couldn't remember exactly. There are three special courts - one that has special green flooring while the larger part of the center has cement flooring. To be honest, I didn't feel any difference when it came to the floor. But then again I'm just an amateur anyway, so what do I know?! The place, to my surprise, fills up really fast especially when you go from 4pm onwards. Understandable since it's too hot to play in the early afternoon, even if it is covered. Their bathrooms aren't very nice though I see a number of people taking showers there. Medyo maarte ako when it comes to bathrooms and shower rooms so I just change my shirt and take a bath nalang at home. An hour of playing depends on what time you go. But to be safe, 150 per head should cover you for two hours of playing.

This is the 2nd time that we had an event held at Valle Verde Country Club. This past Sunday,…read moreafter 2 years of planning, our family reunion was realized. I'd like to do this review and share our experiences from planning and the actual event. First of all, I give Anne, the Sales Reservation Officer 5 stars for her assistance through the process. I am based abroad and I did everything remotely and it was not easy. She was very attentive and truly cares in giving us a great experience at this club. We encountered some mishap on the function room set up and she facilitated the set up changes we requested and still able to meet our timeframe. The event was a family reunion which entails a lot of bonding and therefore this Agono & Barras rooms should not be recommended to cater for this purpose because the divider cannot be opened fully to have 1 big function room . The food was delicious from the main to the desserts but the best part are the service staff. They were attentive and catered to everything we needed. Lastly, this club has a very old and dull looking facade. The club sign is an eye sore and truly needs some serious refurbishing. It matters because that's the first thing you see and the club sign would be nice to be featured on the video of the event. That takes out 1 star for this my review. Thank you Anne and to your wonderful service staff.

Note: This is a 4.5 Stars Review!…read more My parents have been going here even before I was born. This Country Club was one of the first clubs in Manila. Though the facilities are not as new or "flashy" as the other clubs in the Makati area, Valle Verde Country Club or VVCC feels like a second home for me and my family. I spent my summers here with my friends and cousins. This is where we would have Sunday lunches with family and friends. My dad and brother still go here on weekdays to play tennis. I go here to eat! :) Like any club, you need to be a member to get into VVCC. I only get to eat here because of my dad's membership and he's been a member since the 70's. Some of the waiters here have been working for VVCC since the 80's and know the members like they were family. They know my dad so well that, once they see him, they will have his regular order prepared! The food here is top-notch and they also make a point to add new dishes every month. My favorite dishes are the Pork Chops (two thick pork chops + rice and unli-gravy), Corned Beef, Lengua con Champignon (ox tongue with mushroom butter sauce), and Roast Beef. All their dishes are delicious. I haven't ordered anything I did not like. On Sundays, they have their lunch buffet which includes made-to-order Mongolian rice and barbecue/grilled meats. The lunch sets are "super sulit" and the desserts/pastries are very good too! Did I mention that their dishes each cost about Php250-350 only? Nice! :D Lastly, they also have a "Party Pack" or "Christmas Specials" menu! Available for Take-out and Pick-up, their big orders are perfect for special occasions or get-togethers with family and friends. My dad ALWAYS orders their Paella and Chicken Galantina! I also recommend their Roast Beef. Super delicious dishes! Saves you time and energy come Noche Buena! :D