1. It is a good place. Very organized and very clean . 2…read more You wont believe that they have a great forest in the middle of the town 3. Lot of birds 4. They could have made it better, by putting some bird feeders and other attractions.

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.

Lots and lots of people in Manila are getting into biking nowadays which is always good. It lessens…read morecars on the road, harmful emissions are minimized, and people get healthier! Mountain bikes however, are called as such for a reason. They aren't made just to circle around the UP Academic Oval for its whole lifespan. Once you're confident enough with your biking skills, you can taste trail riding in Timberland, San Mateo. If you see cars carrying muddy bikes in Commonwealth, Timberland is where they came from. There are plenty of bike trails for different skill levels. There's the Basic Trail for the newbies and the Blue Zone and the Green Zone for more advanced riders. I wouldn't recommend coming here all by your lonesome. It's safer to go with a companion and infinitely more fun. Don't get too cocky on the descents, too as this is where accidents usually happen. Don't become part of the statistic!

Ang sabi nila, hindi ka isang ganap na seklista kung hindi mo pa napapadyakan ang Timberland…read more Kung ikaw ay isang nagsisimulang mountain/road cyclist, tiyak nabanggit na ito sa'yo ng mga mas matatanda at mas matatagal mo nang kakilalang seklista. Isa kasi ang bundok ng Timberland sa may pinakamatatatarik na kalsada sa buong Metro Manila. Pwede itong akayatin ng sasakyan pero syempre, ang akyatin ito ng naka bisikleta ay hamon para sa lahat ng pumapadyak. Pinakamagandang pumunta dito ng umaga, tipong alas-6, para pagdating ng alas-9, ay nagsisimula ka nang pumadyak pababa. Sasalubingin ka ng magandang tanawin sa paanan pa lang ng bundok, habang tumataas ay lalo mo rin nalalanghap ang sariwang hangin dahil sa hinahapo mong paghinga. Hindi biro ang pumadyak dito pataas, talagang nakakapagod at nakakahingal, lalo na sa mga baguhan. Kadalasang pinag-eensayuhan ng mga matatagal nang seklista itong Timberland. Madalas kang makakakita ng mga road at mountain bikers na bilog at panatag na ang padyak, mga sanay na sanay nang magbisikleta sa paahon. May mga kainan ding makikita sa ilang bahagi ng bundok tulad ng Biker's Cafe at isa pa sa bandang itaas malapit sa gate ng Timberland Subdivision.

A good friend asked me to accompany him to buy his very first folding bike. I personally do not…read moreknow anything about folding bikes, but only mostly about mountain bikes because I used to ride one. Braving the trip to Quezon City, we left early, hoping to have lunch at nearby Maginhawa. We got there and we were amazed to see that even if it was relatively early, the shop was already packed with customers, staff busy tuning and attending to customers who came before us. Our turn came and one of the staff keenly listened to my friend's specifications and concerns. After about 10 minutes, the boxes arrived and despite asking for a certain color, he brought another color as option. Good thing he did so because my friend chose the second bike. Haha! We could have assembled it ourselves if we knew how, but they gladly did it for us. We were so giddy while waiting for the bike to be finished that the gentleman in charge gave us a generous discount. We felt so accomplished after with the newly bought bike, and had extra cash from the discount enough to buy both of us a full meal.

Glorious Ride Bikeshop in Sikatuna is the best all-purpose bike shop in Quezon City. They…read morespecialize a bit more on mountain and trail bikes, but they carry road gear and accessories as well. The store looks deceptively small from the outside. Once you step inside however, you'll be left speechless as you're greeted with a visual feast of bike parts and accessories. The staff are courteous and will immediately greet and assist you. What I like about them is that they are genuinely helpful. They don't follow you around making you feel like a criminal. The store has three floors. The ground is dedicated to small parts and accessories like saddles, action cams, cranksets and others. This is where they service and assemble bikes too. The second floor acts as the stock room for built bikes, while the last floor is dedicated to a wide array of bike helmets and shoes. Check them out!

This one is another famous biker's spot to eat in San Mateo, Rizal, a not so distant area from…read moreMetro Manila. It is located right after you pass the mountain bike trails of Timberland Heights. I used to hear this place from my dad and brother before, when they were still active in mountain biking and I never thought that I would also be able to park a bike here with my fellow bike friends. It was only 2013 when I started biking, the same year when my friends and I had a bike trip through Timberland Heights. Our goal was simply to reach Giant Cycling Station and Eatery and have some 'breakfast of the champions' kind of breakfast. It was not really easy to reach there because we literally had to go through a mountain and a really muddy bike trail. We were all stingy, dirty and hungry when we reached Giant. It is just a small sari-sari store with a dining area on the side, their order system is much like of the "ituro mo, iluluto ko" in Dampa, only that you can only choose from different selections of canned goods; and when I say selection, I mean from local to imported canned goods. I was actually surprised to see Delimondo and Libby's Corned Beef, Spam and other imported canned goods along with the local ones. I think it is the only sari-sari store in San Mateo that offer such imported goods. Biker's spots and eateries are usually just about foods like these. Nothing really special, but made special because of the trip that a biker endures before he reaches a good place to stop over. It's rare that you will see a group of bikers eating in fancy restaurants, they would normally go for the cowboy style of eating in karinderya and other hole in the wall spots within an area.

I've started joining my husband with his weekend morning run and just last Saturday, while running…read moreat the trail in Vista City, we saw a big gathering of cyclists at the side of the street near Fernbrook Gardens. I thought there was a big biker's competition happening there, but there was no sign or any event marshall to indicate such a thing. I got really curious so I decided to check it out. It turns out that the tented venue was a mini Divisoria for bikers and cycling enthusiasts. Inside were little stalls that sell all kinds of biking paraphernalia such as shirts and cycling shorts, helmets and shades (don't expect too much, most of the Oakleys are only replicas), bicycle parts and accessories. I'm no bike enthusiast but I suddenly wanted to be one because of the cute outfits and accessories. I asked one of the vendors what this place was called, and he said everybody calls it Evia Bikers' Station and it happens every Saturday at that same spot. I later on found out that it's sponsored by Evia, the community of Vista Land. Outside the tent, there's a corner selling food (Batangas Goto for breakfast, anyone?) and drinks, and cyclists can have their breakfast or brunch there on the plastic chairs and tables set up nearby. Evia also sponsors free water refill, coffee and bike tune-up. Cool, right? A few steps away, there is a wide vacant lot where bikers can practice their exhibitions or just a place for beginners to practice biking.

Ayala Alabang is really a good housing option for you if you're one who likes open spaces and fresh…read moreair. I love this village because the roads are wide, the houses are large, and there is less congestion. Although it isn't what it used to be (it has gotten quite crowded as well) it is still a good place to live. The village is somewhat like Forbes, but at a cheaper price. If you're working in the city, commutes will normally take one hour by car. Which isn't so bad if you think that it takes just as long (if not longer) to get to Makati form Quezon City. Only thing is, you've got to pay tolls. Nature lovers will enjoy the parks in this village and the easy access to Nuvali and Tagaytay.

If you're from the south, one of the best villages to bike in is Ayala Alabang Village. The nice…read morething about this village is that there are wide roads with bike lanes. Aside from the bike lanes on the main roads, this village has much more to offer. It can be a challenge to some, and a pleasant leisurely bike ride to others. Ayala Alabang Village has an area with lots of slopes and hills for those that want to train and lots of parks and empty streets for beginners that would like to learn and practice their biking. The village is huge so most tri-athletes bike around here to train for their next event. For those that are more into mountain biking, there are trails as well. Some of the empty lots in the village have beginner trails and you can also cross bridges that cross canals. There is this one trail where you can go through a park that leads to a bridge to go to the other side of the canal which then leads you to a trail that passes along that canal and reaches the other side of the village. Since you'll be passing along a trail beside the canal, make sure you don't fall into it. Ayala Alabang Village is a place for every kind of biker and is a generally great place to bike. Make sure you know someone from the village or are a resident if you're going to go biking here. If in case you can't bike around Ayala Alabang, there's always Daang Hari road and the Filinvest area to bike around. Don't forget to wear your helmets and bike responsibly. It's a great place to bike, but that doesn't mean you can be reckless.

If you're from Quezon City and don't feel like making the trek to Makati for your fixed gear…read morebicycle needs, a trip to Built Cycles in Commonwealth is in order. While they don't have an inventory as varied as Tryon, they have more than enough accessories to take care of your random needs. The friendly staff immediately talks to you the moment you come inside the store. They'll ask you what you need and how they can help you out. The are the official distributor of Araya, a Japanese brand that specializes on bike rims. Built Araya bikes are also available with high end parts included such as Brooks saddles. For your fixie needs, they sell a combination of brand new and used Nitto accessories like handlebars and seatposts. They aren't just selling fixed gear bicycles. Mountain bikes of different shapes and sizes for every budget are readily available in-store.

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.