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.

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!

Marikina has many small parks featuring benches and some greenery. One of the many is the Marikina…read moreFreedom Park located across the city hall and the post office. Here, benches outnumber the trees and the ground has been covered with concrete. Yet these features allow the park to host activities people won't normally do on a soil-covered ground. In fact, this park is often always busy. Groups of students come here to practice dances and other kinds of presentations. It makes sense because in the Freedom Park they can sit on the benches when they get tired practicing. The solid ground allows them to jump and move around. The Freedom Park is also the venue for the yearly Sapatos Festival, a tiangge where various Marikina shoe brands are sold. Recently, it made the news for hosting a free viewing of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.

I always pass by the Marikina Freedom Park (almost everyday) pero lately ko lang napansin na may…read morepangalan pala siya. Kaloka! Hahaha! Kapag park kasi ang naiimagine ko medyo grassy tapos may playground kahit maliit lang siya at may mga naglalampungan sa gilid. SIGE, MABUNTIS KA NIYAN ATE. But the Marikina Freedom Park is different, it's a small "park" na aakalain mong daanan lang sa una pero may mga benches naman na pwede pa rin tambayan. (Marami pa rin naglalandian dito. Choz!) Very useful yung park na 'to lalo sa mga students kasi madalas siyang gawing venue for practices ng sayaw, etc. Para sa mga may kumikitang kabuhayan naman, alive na alive rin kayo dito kasi maya't maya nagkakaroon ng bazaar/ tiangge sa area! Although the park is small, I think malaking tulong siya kasi malapit sa palengke, Sports Center, schools at maraming tindahan kaya may place para makapahinga yung mga tao kapag pagod na sila kakaikot at pwede rin gawing venue for meet-ups, why not diyan tayo mag-date diba! The best part ng park? MAY Wi-Fi!!! ANSABE NG PHONE MONG WALANG LOAD PANG-NET GIRL.

Early Morning jog or night jog…read more Are the two decisions I have to make when going for a run at track 30 Beware sometimes can be over crowded if going at peak times. So I suggest a 5am run or a 10pm run perfect cool temperature so not many runners will distract your Also at these times you can avoid pollution from the traffic. Happy running!

Like what someone has mentioned before me, Track 30th is the older version of Terra 28th. The Kuya…read moreand the one upfront about his weight training to make pa-pogi to the chicas. Track 30th is part of my running routine as well. It doesn't have the quirkiness that Terra 28th has, but it has areas wherein you could do your free-weights training. I like how there were two structures there were assembled for pull-ups, sit-ups and stretching. There are labels on the wood installations, so don't fret! There's also a running track on another side of Track 30th. However, I don't think would deem suitable for anyone. Maybe for a kid, yes. There are also groups who do training sessions here. I've seen some who do arnis and dance trainings as well. But mostly free-weights training are ideal here. There's just so much space and you could bring your equipment, too!

Last time I was surrounded by a huge volume of people was back in 2014 during the big game parade…read morein downtown Seattle for the Seahawks. Rizal Park wasn't as crowded as that event but it sure felt like it. We visited on a Sunday. We started at the Statue of the Sentinel of Freedom (Lapu-Lapu monument), stopped by the José Rizal monument, then walked to the Kilometer 0 Landmark. I liked seeing the Philippine National Flagpole. It was very powerful watching the flag waving in the light wind. This is a nice park with plenty of historical markers. It's definitely worth visiting if you want to know more about Filipino history. I'm glad it's free for the public as well. As a visitor, it was a mistake coming on a Sunday. We didn't know there was an event going on in the Burnham Green area. For an open space it was extremely crowded. It was difficult getting picked up by rideshare too because of the heavy traffic. We didn't get to experience the entirety of the park since we came in the afternoon and the heat was unbearable. If I were to return in the future, I'd plan it out better. I would go early in the morning on a weekday while kids are in school and people are at work. I'd definitely bring a portable fan, a full water bottle, and a UV umbrella too.

Very big and beautiful park. Enjoyed walking through it with very spacious road and plenty of…read moregreen and shade. This park is connected to a lot of places for tourist to visit (short cut) if decided to walk instead. At night time, it is well lit up, especially during the holidays.

Finding a resort close to Manila is becoming a challenge these days. For when the hot springs,…read moreprivate pools and resorts of Laguna seem too far, one can always go to Rizal. Good thing a friend of mine discovered Punta De Fabian in Baras, Rizal, accessible via a less-than-two-hour-drive from the heart of Manila. For a "swimming pool collector" like me (and "mamaji" from the Life of Pi), the two swimming pools (one is an infinity pool) of the resort are heaven on earth. Sadly, one was undergoing repair the last time we went there, but that's probably longer a concern now. What I like about these pools (and the resort in general) is that it is not at all crowded. They seem to be doing a good job managing the booking schedules and venues, as the pools and dining areas are never overcrowded, at least in the three times we were there. One additional reason for me to come back again and again is the size of their rooms. You and your friends can literally do cartwheels inside. In one room we stayed at, the bathroom was the size of a studio apartment, no kidding! If you want a tranquil place for your R&R, this is highly recommended!

The Quezon Memorial Circle is a National Park and Shrine right smack in the middle of a traffic…read morecenter. The most arresting sight in this park is the Quezon Memorial Shrine, which is the rocketship/Mordor-like structure at the center of the whole place. The park is what we can generously call "gloriously chaotic", as this is a favorite hangout of the residents of Quezon City (When they're not malling). The Circle (As the locals call it) is definitely the sum of its parts. Individually, nothing really stands out. The restaurant and food booths are just okay, the various shopping bazaars that dot the park are just okay, the leisure attractions are just okay, and the various nature reserves are just okay. But, when you consider that all of these elements and attractions are packed together in one area, that's where the Circle becomes awesome. This place was built with local tourism in mind, and foreigners may find the place confusing and unwieldy to navigate, especially during weekends. However, you will get the hang of it and you will find something to enjoy. Whether it's the various food choices inside the park, or the bike lanes, or scoping out the rather impressive memorial, or simply finding a quiet pocket of nature to chill out in, the Quezon Memorial Circle has something for everybody.

Despite (and sometimes because of) its location, I actually admire the Quezon Memorial Circle (aka…read moreCircle). It's like an oasis in the traffic desert consisting of the major roads to and from every corner of Quezon City. The QMC houses the Pres. Manuel L. Quezon mausoleum, a sixty-three meter pointy structure that looks a lot like Mordor. Also, much like Mordor, one does not simply walk into the Circle--you have to use to the underpass. Don't worry though, it's very safe and doesn't reek of hobo piss! On Sundays, the QMC is filled with joggers (although the terrain is not really that jogger-friendly, IMO), health buffs using the free improvised gym equipments (I don't know how else to put it-- those metal thingies that help you do pull-ups and stuff), and families enjoying mid-morning picnics.

Compact, well maintained park with restrooms, good seating areas, well manicured grass, trimmed…read moretrees and shrubbery. But best of all, the residents of the neighborhood come here to exercise, socialize and walk their dogs. Great vibes

This park is way smaller than the other huge ones in Makati but the vibe here is very different…read morefrom the one in Salcedo and Ayala Triangle. It's called an active park and you'll actually see different sorts of fitness enthusiasts. There are several people jogging around the rather small path others are starting to sprint and still more in full run. By the big old acacia trees, you'll usually see some people practicing parkour moves. I love it when I see them free running and jumping around steps and tree trunks, hanging and climbing from a branch or two. There are groups of students and sometimes even office workers practicing dance moves or song numbers which I'm assuming are for some party program for their office or school. And this is happening all at around 6pm, right after office hours. In the early morning or late afternoon, there are usually small groups of kids dotting grassy areas -- some learning how to walk, others pushing and pulling each other on the slide and bubbling laughter fills the air. Its really just different types of people doing their own thing. Oh by the way, the carpark to one side is where they do the Sunday Legazpi Market. During Holy Week, they do film showing at the park. On both occasions, you'll be a witness to the thriving community spirit of the Legazpi Village residents.