My brother-in-law invited me to join him in one of his regular swimming sessions at the Makati Aqua…read moreSports Arena (MASA). It was an impromptu invitation so I was not prepared. In fact, I just brought basketball shorts with me. I was thinking that since it's a public pool, the regulations would be flexible. I was wrong. The regulations here are strictly observed. One must wear proper swimming attire when using the facilities. I could understand the puritanical rules because the swimming pool is well-maintained and everyone present that day appeared to be serious swimmers. MASA looks very much like the big swimming pool at ULTRA. But a smaller pool for children is also available. Makati residents need to pay PHP 50.00, while non-residents are charged PHP 150.00 for the use of the facilities. MASA is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 8:00am to 12:00 noon and then from 1:00pm to 8:00pm. They have clean changing rooms and lockers you can use for a fee. It was a cloudy day when we went for a swim. At first, my brother-in-law was allowed into the pool. But when lightning started to appear in the skies, everyone was instructed by the lifeguards to get out of the water. I was impressed that the guys at MASA were not only strict with the swimming attire, but with the safety of the swimmers, too.

YMCA Binondo is possibly one of the best places you can get your swim on if you're into exercising…read morewithout the sweat, like me (I'm not a swimmer though, but I can probably swim 500 meters or so, with coffee breaks in between lol--kidding!) Anyway, the first time I went here was when a humble triathlete had a swimming fundraising to help out street animals. Being slightly involved in the event, I found out that YMCA allows these kinds of things to be held there, provided that there are proper arrangements (permits, letters, etc) made like two months or so in advanced. It's a plus, because when they know it's for a cause, they will allow you to use the pool! The 25-meter pool is located at the ground floor, which is the only area I've actually explored in the place. It's the perfect place to do your laps though, especially on a Sunday morning when the pool is almost vacant, or at least during the Sundays that I've been there. The catch though--the water is super cold! For people whose bodies are not used to swimming in these waters, you'd end up shivering after a bit--like me!

I've been swimming in these pools since I was a young girl and the only reason I haven't been as of…read morelate is that I much prefer to walk/hike outdoors as a workout. Nevertheless, I recall swimming here with much fondness and excitement. There are three pools to choose from here. The first is the kiddie pool which I do not recommend to anyone over the age of 11 or 12. You'll barely get wet. The second is the 12-feet deep pool which is for those who want to feel the challenge of diving deep and just getting lost in the water. Finally, there's the Olympic-sized swimming pool that's meant for swimming laps and going the distance. Swimming lessons and training for swimming competitions are held here.

Going to this place is such a treat. The facilities are great and well-maintained. I used to go…read morehere quite a bit when I was in my "triathlon" phase. Yeah, I never really did that triathlon *shrugs* but I still keep coming back to Ace to swim, enjoy their spa and relax my stress away. This place has a real sense of class to it. When you enter the locker room, they remove your shoes and give you a locker to store all your things. You can choose to swim laps in their lap pool, soak in one of their hot/cold baths, or even try out a sauna or steam room. But the main attraction here is the "hydrotherapy massage". As their website claims, it is the first in the Philippines to offer such a service. It's really a trip if you've never experienced it before. Imagine getting a massage but instead of hands, it's water. RIGHT? Little tip, bring a towel with you since it's probably the only thing they don't provide free of charge. Pros -Awesome facilities. Cons -Can get really crowded on the weekends. -A bit pricey. Especially if you forget to bring something.

I didn'tknow what to expect coming here but it is worth the experience! When coming in they have…read moreyou pay at the front and you go upstairs to go towards the lockers but before going in the workers give you a tray for your shoes, a key for the lock and a head cap. Shoes not allowed inside locker area and going towards the pool area too and no phones allowed inside locker or pool which makes sense cause no one will watch your stuff. I didnt know what the head cap was for until I tried everything at the water spa. I didn't understand it at first when I went to the hot tub area(s) but going in the lazy river and trying out their water massages, ya it was a definate need to wear the cap cause theres an area for head massage and the water is pretty rough on your head so its to protect your hair from the rough water and from chemicals. The way to use each water location for a massage is with a push of a button. Theres literally a designated places for everything from head to feet. I will come back here again when I go back home and visit the PI!

My friend Kim has a membership here and it makes me wish I lived in Makati (wish lang a) and had a…read moremembership as well, because this club just puts me in a state of bliss when we beg her to bring us here for a swim. From outside the place looks a little like a cold block of cement, but when you see the pools it just fills you with positive vibrations. Their lap pool is quite big and can fit five people doing laps, but what I really adore about it is that it's deep, reaching about maybe nine feet at the end. I'm an okay swimmer, but what I really like doing is diving deep into the water and just enjoying the moment of calm I feel surrounded by it, before I have to come up for air. And the Metro Club pool allows me this weirdo luxury. They also have a smaller pool for kids, which they can actually do laps in, as well as a tennis court, a gym, and bowling alley, which I've never experienced but don't really care for anyway. The bathrooms for the pool are astoundingly small with only two showers and one toilet in the men's room--I can't complain though, the pool is enough to cover that. I'd have to give a special mention for their food too, though, which is amazing and affordable too. After an exhausting three and a half laps we're usually too lazy to look for another place to eat and we just end up doing it here. It's a great, fattening ending to a taxing afternoon.