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.

After seeing the Binangonan-Angono Petroglyphs, my travel companions and I hastily went down to…read morecatch the Laguna de Bay sunset from Angono Lakeside Park. The park was definitely a happening place, and a popular place among locals. When we arrived we saw a lot of people sitting and talking, and many children running around or playing in the playground. We also saw a row of restaurants which I later found out serve fresh catch from Laguna de Bay. Even here you will find an artwork, particularly of a sculpture of two mermaids. These are said to be the goddesses of the lake. We walked farther out, away from the crowds, and found a tranquil spot with boats and water hyacinths, though no flowers were in bloom then. From here we watched the sunset and took photos. All was calm, and it was the perfect ending to our day of Angono art tripping.

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!

We took a bus trip from El Nido to the Underground River. The trip there was a little scary because…read morewe had to switch buses in a small area where there was only a bus stop. We weren't sure that we were in the right place. Once we got on the correct bus, we felt better. The bus ride was bumpy with a lot of turns. My son even got car sick. The town where you get the boats to the Underground River was packed with people. We had to wait in line for quite a while to get tickets. The tour included a lunch which was served in an outdoor tent like area. I even saw a rat! It wasn't very good food. The boat ride to the Underground River we really rough that day. Luckily it wasn't a very long ride. The actual tour of the Underground River was fabulous! My pictures speak for themselves.

When in Palawan, the Underground River is a must! I've toured this river in 2009 (without kids) and…read morein 2018 (with a 1- and 3-year-old) and it was effing amazing both times. It starts at a dock by Sambang Beach where you board a motorized (loud) outrigger boat with about 5 other people. Staff hands out hardhats and life vests. My hubs and I were the only folks who brought kids of any age and while they had childrens' life vests, they were too big for my kids. Yet, we made them work while holding adult hardhats on their heads. We were lucky that child protective services weren't watching. It's about a 20-minute ride to this other spot where you walk a little and switch to a simpler paddle boat you share with about 11 other people. Staff gives you an earpiece to listen to a recorded narration while your tour guide tells you more. It's a short and beautiful ride into a underground/cave part of the river. I don't have good pictures inside the cave because it was too dark, but there are lots of beautiful formations thousands of years old that your tour guide will illuminate with a flashlight within an incredibly peaceful ambiance. This part lasts about 45 minutes. My family really enjoyed it and I super recommend it! TIPS: **Wear rugged clothing (or stuff you don't mind getting f*cked) and waterproof/resistant footwear. **Expect to get your crotch wet. You have to wade at certain parts of the tour. **Try to bring a dry bag (brands like Earth Pak, Marchway, etc. which are also sold at stores along the way there) for your personal belongings. **Your tour guide will offer to take your picture with your own camera/phone. It's a good chance for a full family/group photo. **Life is simple around these parts including the toilet. Bring your own toilet paper for rest stops along the way. Hand sanitizer's also a good idea. **Bring cash to tip your boat crews and tour guide.

I returned to the Philippines after sometime bringing both my adult daughters visiting the…read morePhilippines for the first time. My lovely family decided to bring us to Las Casas de Acuzar. The journey to this place is abt a 3hr drive from Manila. We had advance reservations made and when we arrived we were greeted very warmly with amazing hospitality from the staff. The surroundings is beautiful and breathtaking. The property itself is massive. I love how it is rich in history, culture and architectures that has been preserved through the years and very well maintained. They have put so much thought and planning to this place and it is impressive. We enjoyed our tour, stay and dinning to the fullest! I cannot even explain how wonderful our experience here enough. Please see my attached photos. I highly recommend for everyone to visit. You won't regret it!

Tourist spot in Luzon located in Bataan Philippines. A place…read morewhere you can find a lot of ancestral house around the Philippines bought by the owner named Mr Acuzar and put them all in one place some were as it was and some were renovated. Inside transpo are jeepneys,horses,carjuaje,boats,,atv,tramvia etc by night when sun is out a lot of expectators walk around to see the grandeour of the place. Entrance is about $75Cnd per head on week ends and a bit cheaper for week days for a day tour that includes your meal for lunch,the meal is just okay dont expect a lot.The fee also includes unlimited used of all the transpo.overnight and more stay is different rates. 4 or 5 selected houses are included in the tour,group tour with tourist guide with knowledge of history and all those house better than an encyclopedia. Surrounded by ocean,manmade lake and near mountains this place is indeed breath taking. Day tour and overnight stay is available those old houses some of them were converted to a hotel. Most ground floor of most houses are air conditioned and you never run out of things to do,billiard etc body masaage is available as well. Washroom were all immaculately clean. There's souvenir shops,bar etc . Designated smoking area as well,pet friendly except some spots.Catholic church can be found inside the premises. Highly recommended to all Filipinos and tourist this is a pride to showcase history,culture and everthing about the Philippines/ A one stop history class to all: Kidos and mabuhay

Pandin Lake, although tricky to find, is a great place to have a picnic lunch, lake tour, and swim…read more If you're visiting during the high season it's best to have a reservation as there are only 12 boats available and the activity can take 3-4 hours, depending on your group. Around 8 people can fit comfortably on each raft. The parking area for the lake is on the right side of Werner Schetelig Ave, just past Barangay San Lorenzo Road, marked with hand painted signs with red lettering. From there it is a half mile walk on a dirt road through a neighborhood, past a horse farm, and up a hill. We were able to hire a tricycle for the afternoon (for 300 pesos) for the round trip. Once you arrive, you'll be greeted and asked if you'd like an optional lunch with your tour. Lunch and tour costs between 400-500 pesos per person (based probably on how much they'll think you'll pay). Lunch includes water, a whole grilled tilapia, pork, salad, and rice. It's fun to add fruit (priced per item), like a coconut for 25 pesos. You'll load your group onto a bamboo raft and set off for the opposite side of the lake where you'll stop to eat and swing on a tire swing in the shade and swim. As Filipino hospitality dictates, your guides will depend on you to tell them when it's time to end the lake excision.

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.

As a San Pableño, i sometimes spend time in Sampaloc Lake. It's a great place to jog! Many people…read moregoes jogging in there and you can even rent an e-bike, a bike and other things you can rent! There's many food stands and places you can explore near Sampaloc Lake. The greatest thing is there isn't any fee, the fee you need is just for the amazing delicacies and vehicles you can ride.

Sampaloc Lake is a great place to spend an afternoon in San Pablo City. At the park entrance there…read moreare many restos and sari-sari stands serving packaged and barbecued snacks. The lake is entirely encircled by a 3.7km multi-use two lane road which is great for walking, jogging, or renting a bike. As you walk the circle you'll encounter homes, locals playing basketball and going about their daily business, dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, and roosters. The path is near the water so you'll also enjoy great views of the lake, tilapia farms, Mt Banahao, and San Pablo Cathedral. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour to complete the loop.

This place is a great getaway by the ocean. Shuttle service to get you to the water less than 2 min…read moreaway. Breakfast is top tier. Service is exceptional and will go above and beyond. Nice beds that were clean. Even had a bowling alley that the family loved. Super peaceful and would go again!

Love the exclusivity of the place, clean beach, excellent service from their staff (very polite and…read morehelpful). Food and drinks inside are reasonably priced. Big plus that they serve alcohol by the beach. Only issue I have against the place is that we were only getting LTE speeds on our (SMART) devices. Our AirBNB who uses Globe Wi-Fi only had internet at night (in time for the evening news). I would suggest that you bring snacks/drinks before going here as there are no convenience stores (and Petrol stations) near by. They have an excellent (free) gym, billiards, bowling, basketball, badminton and padel courts - bring proper shoes as its annoying to play on running shoes!

A classic place for a retreat, immersion, or field trip, the Seven Lakes in San Pablo Laguna…read moreprovide a wonderful experience to those who want to experience nature from the perspective of the locals. Each of the seven lakes has its own character and story that one can already be amused with the tales of the local folklore (and occasional campfire horror story) that the local tour guides and residents will tell you. Being prepared for anything is a good idea, especially if you intend to hike, trek, or otherwise swim, wade or paddle all throughout your journey covering this massive area, which is composed not just of the lakes, but the forests and the hills, or even the nearby mountains. A trip, of course, best shared with a group of friends you can rely on and depend on. Truly another adventure that is more fun in the Philippines!