Kids today are more indoors than ever before. Pollution, crime and the heat are making parents…read morerethink their child rearing ways. Tablets and other gadgets are being freely given to these kids and in turn, they become perfectly content with staying in their rooms all day. Our outdoor culture is already diminishing and what better way to bring it back than to take children to the farm? Holding baby pigs, fishing, riding carabaos, feeding rabbits- these are just some of the things that your kids can experience at the Sta. Elena Fun Farm. I see this place as a quick retreat from the city, a breather from the traffic, buildings and all the asphalt that has enveloped Manila. It doesn't take so long to get there and once you reach the place, you'll fall in love with it. Tips: 1. Take the kids here on a weekend complete with a picnic basket. 2. Entrance is P300 for kids and adults. Any kid below 2 years old is free. 3. Lolos and lolas get discounts too!

One of my best friends had her son celebrate his second birthday at The Fun farm at Sta. Elena for…read moreseveral reasons: 1. the little boy loves animals 2. the weather during that time of the year was suitable for an outdoor/al fresco party She had decided on a theme reminiscent of barns, the countryside, and good old fashioned country living. The Fun Farm was perfect with it's main hall made of wood exuding an earthy feel, wooden tables and benches perfect for picnic set-ups, and of course, the venue was surrounded by horseback riding trails, rabbit houses, a pond where kids and their daddies can take a swing at fishing, and other animals that kids and adults can enjoy seeing up close. She was also allowed to bring in her own caterer which was very convenient as they preferred all sorts of food and got a few suppliers for several kinds of items they wanted to serve, like grilled chicken, lechon, pansit, chicken drumsticks and other food everyone gets to enjoy at kiddie parties. It turned out to be a simple but very memorable afternoon, not just for the kids but for adults like me, too.

The place is just an hour and half away from manila. You just neeed to take the South Express way,…read moreexit on Santa Rosa tollway, keep right as you exit turn right, then follow the National Road going to Tagaytay. After Vista Mall, you will see Nuvali on your left. What I like about Nuvali is that, even though it is an hour away, the environment is completely different from Manila. Apart from the malls and outlet stores, there are so many activities you and your family can enjoy while in Nuvali. You can bring your bike and ride their trails. You can jog with your family and have a picnic. Seda Hotel is also nearby so you and your family can stay over for a weekend gateaway from the hustle of the city. Right beside Nuvali is another mall called Solenad. Just walk over there and there's more to see and do especially during weekends. A day or two is good enough if you want to explore that area. Also, there is a huge pond beside the restaurants where you can sit, relax, and people watch. If you are with your kids, buy some fish food and see hundreds pack together when you feed them!

A few years back, my cousins and I decided to go on a road trip to Tagaytay on a weekend. Nuvali,…read morethen newly opened, was part of the itinerary. Since we left very early in the morning, we arrived there around the opening time. We had many other places to visit but we stayed in Nuvali for an hour or two. After having light snacks, we tried some lake activities - riding a boat and feeding fish in the pond. The school of fish in the pond were amusing to watch. Like a mob, they huddled in the area where fish feeds fall. The victor would then open its mouth - yes, you could actually see their mouths open - and eat the prize. But, the more exciting one of the two activities was riding the boats. Since it was very early in the morning, the wind was cool and fresh; I enjoyed how the wind touched my face as the boat transported us from one end to the next. After one roundtrip, we left Nuvali for we had to visit other places too. Our stay was only short but it was definitely fun.

You know how Superman has his Fortress of Solitude he retreats to every now and then? Well, I have…read moremy own, too. Granted, it's not made of ice and doesn't have a statue of Jor-El and Lara holding a globe of Krypton, it is my place of solace. Post-class hours, pre-class hours, and sometimes even during class hours, you'll find college me here. To say that this park is beautiful is an understatement. Seriously, it's almost offensive! Freedom Park (aka F-park) is beyond beautiful, it's ineffable. Anyone who's ever been, can attest to this. But hey, you don't have to take our word for it, go on a roadtrip to Elbi this weekend. Bring a blanket and a telescope. You're welcome.

I lovr this place. You can bring your own food then enjoy the scenery of the campus. There are also…read morelots of people around so it is easyto meet new friends

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.

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.

People's Park in the Sky in Tagaytay had some really nice views. It was originally a partly-built…read moremansion called Palace in the Sky (from the Marcos era) but was converted into a hilltop park at the highest point in Cavite. It has panoramic views of Tagaytay, Taal Volcano, & Taal Lake. It was super windy the day I came but beautiful views. It can get foggy here. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for all the walking.

Back in the day, this place is a must go to tourist destination. We were here about 15 years ago…read moreand the place was already poorly kept then. It was much worse with our current visit. With only 2 nights in Tagaytay, our itinerary was limited to what we decided to see - one of them was this. Although the view remains spectacular, that was pretty much it. The place was obviously poorly kept and under maintained. The structures were dilapidated. It was sad to see that this was once a beautiful place of interest and now seemed no longer taken cared of. I wish the tourism governing body of this city would spend money to rehabilitate this it's former glory. This would have great potential for tourists here and abroad. Not recommendable.

If only for their staunch belief in establishing a sustainable community that both contributes and…read moregives back, Nuvali Evoliving has captured my heart from day one. I love coming here as it's only about an hour's drive from the city and when the weather is just right, what you get is wide, open, GREEN spaces that are rarely seen and experienced in Manila, unless you are fortunate enough to be located in the Fort or Makati. There are numerous restaurants here to choose from no matter what you have a taste for. There's also a nail spa, massage spa, hair salon if that's what you're in the mood to do. Alternately, you can also opt to feed the fish or go for a boat ride on the "lake". Fun, fun, fun. That's what Nuvali Evoliving offers and in a responsible fashion at that.

This is a must see in the tourist city of tagaytay. Tagaytay is a very common day or weekend trip…read morefor people who live in Manila - it's a great escape from the warm weather as it is a bit cooler with a great breeze! This picnic grove offers a beautiful view of the Taal volcano, which resides in a lake which is essentially its own caldera. There are multiple restrooms on the premises and there is a restaurant indoor which offers a great view with wonderful large windows. There are of course, multiple places to picnic that are shaded and there are prices based on how larger the place is that you want to rent. There are also many souvenir shops as well as candy/snack shops in the area. You can also come here without renting a place to picnic and spend some time enjoying the view, flying a kite, or walking around. You will need to pay a small fee to enter and a small fee to park! There is also zip lining here as well as horseback riding, but I just came to walk around, enjoy the views. I would absolute come here as a day trip from Manila or even if you are just passing by!

How do you give his place anything less then 5 stars? We were here 5 years ago before I started…read moreYelping and we revisited it again 02/14/18. Tagaytay is a volcanic crater that has filled with water over the years. Inside of the lake is a small cone near the center of the lake, basically a cone inside the lake which is the crater of the volcanic. This is an incredible natural wonder that definitely warrants a visit. I went here with my wife and some of her High School classmates from her reunion this time. The last time I was here 5 years ago I flew across the park on a zip line taking pictures and videos of Tagaytay which is still an active volcano, but fortunately dormant at this time. I had some great shots, but the next day I ended up in the pool in a Batangas Resort and lost all of my pictures. Here's some new ones. Ever see an elephant fly?

The park at Phil-Am Village (PVHA Park to some) is wonderful. Why? Let us count the ways…read more 1. Lots of trees means lots of shade so you can actually lay a banig, rest under trees and enjoy the breeze. 2. There's a jogging patch along the perimeter of the park. Then there's one inside as well, which the trees hover upon so the path is quite shaded. 3. Aside from the jogging path, there are also benches under the trees where those who don't have their banigs can rest. 4. Free massage! The baranggay of Pamplona Dos gives free reflexology training and the dedicated are for the masseuse to put these skills to practice and gain customers is at the PVHA Park. 5. There's a well-maintained children's playground with the standards like swing sets, a slide, see-saw, monkey bars and more. 6. The full-sized basketball court at the PVHA Park is of such good quality that it is even rented by companies for their sportsfests. 7. There's also a tennis court which the PVHA Tennis Club calls home. 8. An open area serves as a small soccer field where villagers and non-villagers play in the afternoons. 9. Another structure serves as a badminton and volleyball court, plus a venue for zumba classes at least twice a week. 10. Every Sunday, there are several food stalls selling an assortment of snacks and other delicacies for villagers and church-goers alike. Would I dare say it's the best park in our area? Why not visit then you be the judge.

On our way to the South Supermarket, a small but colorfully lit fountain on Spectrum Center caught…read moremy eye. I look further in its direction and saw plenty of people sitting by the concrete perimeter surrounding the central landscape. Some were taking an early evening stroll. This could be a new park in Alabang! I was so happy to have discovered that little park for I always dream that there would be more parks and playgrounds here in our beloved South kind of like what they have in BGC. It would be nice to go somewhere where my toddler can ride his bike or run around until Mommy and Daddy get tired. The Spectrum Center Park, as I want to call it for Google and I don't know what its official name is, would be ideal for skaters as well because of the smooth road surface. Kids can play around or stand by the colorfully lit fountain. I'm sure that they won't just stand there for the little ones are always eager to touch the water and feel giddy each time water spurt from the outdoor floor fountain. I can't wait to bring my child to this little park the next time we go do our errands along Commerce Avenue. I'm sure that he's going to have a good time.