I am not an animal rights activist, and my being vegetarian is purely out of health reasons and not…read moreat all about compassion to animals (though I am more and more leaning towards that the more I read about cruelty to farmed animals). It does not take an animal rights activist to tell you that the animals in this place are poorly taken care of. I was appalled with the conditions of the animals in their small zoo, and I just couldn't help but feel sad for the wild animals that are being kept here in small cages and really well-worn enclosures. There is a crocodile in one of the enclosures that couldn't even shift around because his little pool is too small. I just felt like the animals weren't look after really well, and they should do something about that. The entrance fee is very minimal, and I would gladly pay more if it meant better conditions for the animals. Anyway, aside from the zoo part which was really depressing, I'm glad that there are plenty of trees in the park. I am big advocate of green spaces, and I'm glad that the trees and the diverse flora of the place is well and alive that there are some animals that I wouldn't imagine seeing in this little pocket of green near my neighborhood: colorful birds, squirrels and small rodents just hopping merrily from one branch to another. I also love the lake, which is very pretty and photogenic. Lots of couples get their pre-nup photos taken here, and I hope the fees from those photo shoots are being put into good use for the maintenance of the park.

La Mesa Eco Park has been on my activity list for quite awhile and I've finally decided to go with…read moreMr. V for a Sunday outing. We were really excited to go there (although the drive is a little far from Makati) after reading quite a few reviews. We were looking forward to doing some outdoor activities on a beautiful summer day. The Park is smaller than expected but I must say the flora is beautiful. But what a disappointment for the activities. I agree it was a Sunday, but boy the place was crowded and noisy! It was packed with people gathering over food, loud music and screams at the picnic area. And there was only one food stall in the whole park. We were looking forward to rent a bike so we could ride around but you are actually not allowed and the track is basically a circle around a tree. How many rounds can one do for an hour around a tree! The zipline, boating in a lagoon, wall climbing were nowhere to be found (I assume they closed those activities). And the pool was so crowded it would be impossible to swim in it. As for fishing... Well it's in a small pond full of garbage and I doubt anything can be caught. It's definitely not a park where one can enjoy walking around and relax. There is a small trail in the forest but it's really small and takes not more than 10 minutes to walk around. We were really disappointed because we expected a park with nice activities and it really wasn't so. And definitely not a place to have a relaxing and peaceful day.

What elements are essential to make a paradise?…read more Different people would have different lists, but surely a constant feature would be flowers and trees, available food or meals, and fun activities. La Mesa Ecopark has all those three things together. First, flowers and trees. The Ecopark is a forest garden, meaning it's not a garden planted and arranged by a hired gardener but a garden growing out of a natural forest. The land area is quite vast, accommodating various species of plants and flowers such as Ipil-Ipil, Narra, Waling-Waling, Dancing Lady, Dendrobium, Birds of Paradise, and many other indigenous flowers. Second, you wouldn't go hungry walking around the vast space that is La Mesa Ecopark. No, you don't have to eat the flowers. There are many concessionaires stationed in strategic spots, offering to the hungry visitor foods that are close to the Filipino's heart such as inihaw, halo-halo and ice cream. Lastly, since every person is a child at heart, there must be fun activities. The Ecopark features zip lining, target shooting, paintball, bungee jumping, and trampoline. These activities would surely leave you breathless or shrieking from mixed excitement and fear. So come to Ecopark if you wish to recapture the wonderland of youth!

You know how Superman has his Fortress of Solitude he retreats to every now and then? Well, I have…read moremy own, too. Granted, it's not made of ice and doesn't have a statue of Jor-El and Lara holding a globe of Krypton, it is my place of solace. Post-class hours, pre-class hours, and sometimes even during class hours, you'll find college me here. To say that this park is beautiful is an understatement. Seriously, it's almost offensive! Freedom Park (aka F-park) is beyond beautiful, it's ineffable. Anyone who's ever been, can attest to this. But hey, you don't have to take our word for it, go on a roadtrip to Elbi this weekend. Bring a blanket and a telescope. You're welcome.

I lovr this place. You can bring your own food then enjoy the scenery of the campus. There are also…read morelots of people around so it is easyto meet new friends

I used to run a lot, and then life happened, and now I'm a bum. Luckily, I live near UP and I could…read morewalk there, which can serve as my warm up before I do a round or two around Sunken Garden. PROS: It's not a garden at all, but it is a sunken field. UP legend says it sinks a few inches every year because of the mosh pit and rocking and jumping that occurs during the UP Fair; Traffic's one way so it makes it safer for pedestrians crossing the road. Also, there's a bike lane and jogging path which people who attempt to get fit like me (and those who are legitimately fit already. WEYW.) can frequently use; Start at the Oblation in front of Quezon Hall as your inspiration to look better naked as you begin your run. Then, you see the breathtaking acacia trees lining Sunken and it does look like a leafy tunnel. CONS: Pets and skateboards are not allowed, according to the signs. But I still see the occasional pooches which I am always tempted to pet; I'M SORRY I COUNTERFLOW WHEN I RUN! Yes, I even make eye contact with those coming past me. It's just that if I run in the same direction as the cars and jeeps like everyone, the smoke from the vehicles hit me smack on the face. By the time you reach Vinzons where all the jeepneys are, it gets hard to breathe so I'd rather run against the tide of people and vehicles. If you happen to see me, and you have to run around me as I pummel towards you, I apologize in advance. TL;DR: I can exercise without having to pay anything! Also a good place with relatively clean air for general tambay and walks.

You can take the probinsyana dog out of the province, but you can't take the province out of the…read moreprobinsyana dog. Born and raised in the boondocks of Misamis Oriental, I had to take my poor Storm to the big city so she can see a proper vet. She was literally fresh off the boat and was missing the green, green grass of home terribly so we decided to take her to UP Sunken Garden. After a gruelling two-hour cab ride where Storm was literally shaking in fear (so many metal beasts!), we finally got to UP, where there were free-range grass and tall trees for miles around. I could see my little doggy tear up at the sight of all the green, and she wasted no time running around and taking it all in (translation: she started peeing all over the place, claiming the entire garden as her territory). It took a lot of coaxing and passionate promises of regular trips to her new kingdom to get her into a cab and back to the concrete jungle of Makati, but at least she had her day of fun. Here's to more days of fun in her doggy future.

This is one of the nice but not-so-well-known places in UP - I'm not even sure all UP students know…read morethis place. I found out about this through a friend, and we went there when, on a whim, we walked from the Acad Oval to Sarah's, the popular drinking place in UP. When my friend mentioned "bonsai," I imagined tiny, delicate, and perfectly sculpted plants. But when we went there I was pleasantly surprised to see that the bonsai here was huge (well, compared with the image I had in mind, at least - you know, the tiny tree with statues and other ornaments beneath it), as they are usually waist-length in height or taller. But yes, the bonsais here are perfectly trimmed and look like small trees. Yes, the place is open to the public and the people there are nice, but it might be tricky to find, so ask the people in the neighborhood in case. Last I went there, they also had other kinds of plants for sale.

I've recently been playing this game called Cities: Skylines, and one of the most interesting parts…read moreof its gameplay is the crazy high requirement for parks and gardens in the city. Without a park on every other block, the land value and happiness of my citizens drops, making it less desireable to tourists and new residents. It's a toll on my budget, but I wish that things were like that in real life as well. You won't find a garden or park on every other block in Metro Manila; in fact, really nice public gardens are deemed notworthy given their rarity. One of the best gardens in the city is the UP Bonsai Garden, which displays all sorts of beautiful miniature trees from Mr. Modesto Manglicmot. The garden is open to anyone, and it's quite unique due to the number and quality of the bonsai on display. Anyone with a green thumb--or just an appreciation for plants or art--should make this a stop if you're ever in the area.

As a student of Ateneo, I barely have the time to chill and relax because of how requirements keep…read morepiling up on me. Most of the time I just stay in the library to study for an exam or to finish a presentation for one of my classes. With all the responsibilities I have to deal with, there are times that I just wish I could relax in one of the really nice places in campus to temporarily relieve myself of stress. One of those places is the Zen Garden. Ateneo Zen Garden is based on the Japanese rock garden. It is a stylized landscape that uses small rocks, bushes, gravel, and sand to recreate an image of a peaceful and calming symbolic garden. At first, I didn't really appreciate it because a lot of students stay there during lunch time and sometimes, organizations would use it for their activities. But when I was finally able to view it without the people and the noise, I realized that the Zen Garden can actually make you feel a sense of inner peace (WOW DEEP).

The Zen Garden of the Loyola Schools will always have a special place in my heart. Being a graduate…read moreof Ateneo, i have some fond memories of this place where i would walk everyday to get from one class to the next. It is also where some of my toughest days in college took place as i joined group study sessions with my classmates. The Zen Garden, for me, is a trademark of Ateneo's dedication to molding their students and giving them the utopian society that taught us how to value rules and policies which keep our surroundings clean and green. It is also meant for their students to value reflection and discernment when facing challenges or simply contemplating your existence and purpose. Zen Garden is one of the many places in Ateneo where students seek refuge as they face daily challenges. This is where they get to spend time with their friends and have conversations with some of the brightest minds of today's youth.

My best friend got married here. I thought he proposed too early but I guess I just acted like a…read morejealous friend. I didn't want the fun times to end, not when I was still single and "out there". He and I would always surf together and the reality was it was not going to be like that any longer. Marriages destroy friendships because it's supposed to, especially if the friendship is between a man and a woman. So on the day of his wedding, I made my way to Paco Church and watched as their union came to be and in an instant, my negativity turned into pure happiness for the two. There was something about the church - the trees, the cobblestone steps, the mossy walls, the aged pathways, it somehow had an effect on me and by the time I had left the church, I was already imagining being a ninang to their future child and the 4 of us surfing together in our homebreak.

This is a perfect place for budding photographers who want to explore their creativity. This old…read morecemetery where Dr. Jose Rizal was once buried has a lot of good spots for portrait photography. Some photographers actually use this vintage place for prenuptial photography. If you are a photographer and you consider this place for your next location for your client, make sure to have the right permit for your purpose. The permit can be requested at their office that can be found near the entrance. I cannot remember how much is the permit to do pictorial there right now. However if you're only taking photos of your friends and anything that is not profitable, you only need to pay for the minimum entrance fee.

Great place to work and dine at. Lots of restos to choose from. There are even parts where they…read morepreserved the greens even at the middle of the busy corporate life. Security is strict too that's why you will feel safe walking from one building to another even at night!

I often take for granted how many great restaurants are in my immediate area. I live in Maginhawa,…read moreso I don't have to look very far if I were hunting for good places to eat. However, as much as I love the individual restaurants in Maginhawa, they could get a bit repetitive so when I crave a meal from a chain restaurant, like Razon's or Army Navy, for example, a great place nearby is UP Ayala Technohub. It is very much like an open-air shopping mall and restaurant complex, only it doesn't have much in terms of shopping. Well, there are restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores and a few service centers (an Apple store, a Globe service center and a bank) but that's about it. It also has a CDR-King and a boxing gym upstairs. What I love about this place is the great collection of restaurants that serve a wide array of cuisines. There is Le Ching if you want Chinese, Kanin Club if you want classic home-cooked Filipino meals, Mister Kebab if you want Middle Eastern and a bunch of other fast food chains like Bon Chon and KFC. What I love about this open courtyard is that there is always a nice breeze going around, and I can also take a short walk in the garden area towards the back of the restaurants. The coffee shops are always full of office people from the nearby buildings, so don't expect to find a spot for lounging for long hours.

I have too many good memories here at Worlds of Fun. From the haunted train ride to the bump cars,…read moreeverything was magical specially because it was a time I spent with friends and I was at a point where the biggest problem I had was my first crush, it was indeed a good time. Looking back I was thankful that they've put up small amusement parks like these in malls where kids can easily go to, not just this one in particular but also in other malls too. As a child, we couldn't afford to go to big ones on our own because: 1. we didn't know how to drive and 2. our baons weren't enough to cover the expenses to go there. Unlike most kids nowadays! Worlds of Fun though, they're really budget friendly. Give a kid a couple of hundred and he'd be all set for the day. I also loved playing arcade games there though that wasn't my main focus. It was the haunted train ride that still haunts me to this day (scaredy cat!).

When the baby boomers of the previous generation had children of their own, the demand for places…read moreto take the little toddlers rose considerably, leading to some malls and supermarkets or other major shopping establishments to create mini-carnivals which catered to the young and the young at heart. I don't know if this is something unique to the Philippines, but when you're not up to travel all the way to Star City or Enchanted Kingdom, Worlds of Fun may be a very viable option for you. Boasting mini roller coasters and smaller scale carousels, as well as a plethora of modern, digital arcade games, this area provides children with multiple worlds of fun to go to! Designed in a grandiose fashion that I still find impressive (the entrance gateway is in Egyptian style, for example), the area manages to make something affordable and reasonable look like a lot of fun, even to a young adult like myself, who may be secretly wishing to have the ability to go back to those carefree times.

While we always go to Tagaytay - both planned and unplanned. We would pass Nuvali on our way up and…read moresometimes stop over when we're hungry. I've seen the 'Wakepark' signs but didn't really know where it is, maybe because I wasn't looking hard enough. Or I just have just looked it up online to see the map. My friends took me to go Republic Wakepark because it's their recreational activity, to get away from the stress that living in the Metro brings, well, also school. And it's something that's fun to experience together as a group (individually if we're being specific but you get what I'm saying). I love these types of things because I know everyone gets tired of doing the same old thing and with Nuvali being about an hour or less drive away from Metro Manila, it's the perfect thing to do. If you don't think it's for you and you're being invited to come along then you can always go and stay at the bar or at the pool, take pictures and hang out.

This is the main hangout space for my friends whenever we come back to Manila from studying abroad…read more The employees are very accommodating and are very helpful in teaching you how to wakeboard. It is in a great location and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves water sports within the South area. However, the rentals for boards are quite expensive and are very limited to only a couple of boards if you have grown out of the slip-on boards. The food service takes quite awhile for you to get your food. Putting that aside, this is a place that I would highly recommend anyone to come to for a day mainly just for the awesome facility to wakeboard. It's also best to go during the weekdays early in the morning so that you can get the most out of your buck, or else you would be in line for quite awhile as that takes up your riding time. Night boarding on the weekends are also enjoyable and are less crowded than during the day based on my experience from going.