I love to run for exercise, but I get bored running on treadmills (also too cheap to have a gym membership) and it doesn't make sense to me to have to travel somewhere (like to UP Diliman, which would be a nice, proper example) to go running. I suppose I've been blessed to be living in a greener, less dense part of the city, which is why I love to just put on running shoes and go all over New Manila every chance I get.
I know it's a little strange to be making a review on a general area, but I love New Manila because it's really easy to run in. It's almost a grid so it's easy to navigate, the only traffic is during rush hour on the major roads going from Aurora to E. Rod, and most of those are one-way--cars may be going a little faster than they should on a residential area, but at least you know they'll only be coming from one direction (unless some a-hole decides to go otherwise).
I see people sometimes running in the Makati CBD or in the Fort, which I find a little sad since they're running in a dreary concrete jungle. New Manila has a lot of trees to take shade in and a lot of pretty houses and places to look at, like the Mt. Carmel Church. Sometimes you even get to visit places you wouldn't think twice about, like Art Camp Bezalel along Hemady or Connie's Kitchen Deli along Broadway. You might be sweaty and winded coming in, but at least you're there. read more