Biking has become an exercise de rigueur in Metro Manila. The countryside is just 2 hrs (plus…read moretraffic) away, and finding a nice slice of road and rural views is a great way to relax the body and the mind. Over the past couple of years, San Mateo in Rizal has become the biking capital of the region. Due to its proximity to mountains and rivers, there is a great variety in landscapes on offer, and it is close enough to the Metro to be convenient. Although the city is being developed more and more--a SM mall is opening here soon--there are areas that remains largely pastoral. The area near Timberland is one of the most popular areas, and as I pass by there every day on the way to work, I have to wonder why recreational bikers have the time to pedal up the steep hills on a weekday.

Biking in Manila is a scary proposition. When you're in a car the jeepneys and buses already drive…read morelike maniacs and make you wonder if you'll live another day, what more if you're on a bike? I find that one of the safer routes to have a relaxing bike ride in Manila is the whole stretch of Macapagal Avenue. The whole length of the road is 22 km. That's more than enough ground to cover while biking. There's a speed limit in place as well, so you have a wee bit of assurance that no buses will go careening towards your direction. The usual starting route is to meet up at Mall of Asia then ride out towards Solaire and City of Dreams up until the Uniwide Coastal Mall. You can head back towards MoA, but you can go straight towards CCP. The road is wide enough to take a whole lane for yourself and not make do with the shoulder which is dangerous for you and drivers as well.

S.P.R.A.W.L. has been around for decades and if not for its obscure location, I bet this gym would…read morebe full all times of the day because it normally is in the afternoon. The first time I looked for this gym I got lost for an hour around Cubao on the verge of tears. Then I found it nearby Mang Inasal on the Southbound lane of EDSA. It's in front of a bus station and a bit of a walk from the MRT so you practically get your warm-up from the walk. And the sights are fun. Ukay ukay shops, hardware stores and other places with various knick knacks line the sidewalk towards the gym. But anyway, the gym is pretty run-down but you aren't paying fo the facilities really. I still get a decent bath in their de-tabo bathroom. You pay for the training which is one on one with the coaches. I find this a lot more effective than classes because the coach really focuses on your weaknesses. I asked him once how to get abs like his and he snorted and told me, "If you train to get abs, you lose the soul of the art." Well, idol niya si Bruce Lee and I never did get my abs but I got my crappy kicks to improve like a mofo. Also they have the lowest rates at Php200 or Php180 per session which can last as long as you want hahahaha.

As obvious from most of my reviews, I could stand to lose a lot of pounds. All that eating does not…read moredo me good. I tried a lot of exercise too, from gyms, where the cheap ones are deficient and the better ones are too expensive, to walking, where I was out of breath not from effort but rather the smoke from all the vehicles. In short, none of them are fun. You know what's fun though? Boxing. You're constantly moving, constantly sweating, and it's more or less a full-body workout. And thanks to a certain someone, I went ahead and joined a boxing gym. Elorde, in Makati Ave. and I was right, this place is fun. Pumping loud music from big speakers (at this time, unfortunately, a mix of Jason Derulo and house music, I don't know why), this gym boasts of shower rooms (segregated, and a unisex one), a boxing ring (duh) and competent boxing trainers, whose approach to your goals of fitness, though varied and unique to each trainer, all center around how well you can throw punches AND not get hit. While not as fancy as, say, more upscale boxing and fitness gyms, this gym does give you that unique taste of how boxing REALLY is. It even comes with a resident old timer, a trainer affectionately called "Tatay". If ever you go there, look for Vic.

Five years ago, I started boxing, and I haven't stopped since. It's a great exercise and it also…read morehelps your self-defense. Unlike team sports where you need to gather a group, which can be very difficult as you get older, you can just go alone and train/spar with your trainer. I've tried many gyms through the years, but the longest I've stuck with, the one I currently go to, is Elorde at Makati Ave. Admittedly, it's not the newest or most advanced boxing gym out there. One could even describe it as gritty. But if you're like me who doesn't really care about how sleek a gym and its facilities should be, then you'd like it here too. For me, it adds to the testosterone of the place. As long as they have working equipment and good trainers, I'll be alright. The music there changes from day to day. You've got hip-hop, pop, house, pop, and sometimes, OPM ballads... Someday, I will play my iPod there (they allow). The training is rigorous and thorough. The trainers are professionals who can adjust to what kind of training style you want or need. While some want to improve their fighting skills, others just want to lose weight. If you're a fan of no-nonsense boxing, this might be the right place for you.