Wanna reduce your carbon footprint and feel a little less guilty? Then go visit the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City. What used to be a forest around the perimeter of the La Mesa dam has been converted into a nature park for those who long to see lush greenery and foliage within the concrete jungle of Manila. It's now managed by the Lopez Group of Companies, the same people behind the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. The Lopezes wanted to increase the environmental awareness of the Filipino youth and they felt that the best way is to immerse them in the real jungle.
The Eco-park has plenty of sights and locations to cater the needs of the whole family. Near the park entrance is the boating lagoon. For 80 pesos per boat, a family of four can enjoy an hour's worth of boat ride around the former spill-over pool of the La Mesa Dam. Upon entering the park itself, you would be awed by the decades-old trees and ferns that crowd the Lopez Picnic grounds. There are gigantic narra, acacia, and mahogany trees as well as wild flowers and orchids. The picnic tables and grills are free of charge. Of for the complete nature experience, just spread your blanket anywhere around the 5 hectare park and no one would mind.
On one corner you can find the saltwater swimming pool. For 80 pesos (for adults) and 40 pesos (for kids), you can relax and enjoy the experience of swimming in the ocean, without the fear of riptides or man-eating fish. Across the pool is the fishing lagoon where fresh tilapia, catfish, and bangus are kept in stock. You can rent a pole for 20 pesos and buy some bait and you're ready to go fishing. Catch-and-release is encouraged, but if you decide to keep the fish, you'll be paying 90 pesos per kilogram of fish you catch.
For the fitness-conscious, there is the Petron Fitness Trail where 17 exercise stations are located. This also includes almost two kilometers of winding bike trail under the thick canopy. But for those who just want to relax, there's the Shell Flower Terraces. A 117-step staircase will lead to the top of the terrace overlooking the whole park. Just behind the flower garden is the La Mesa dam itself, which supplies fresh water for the whole Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces. The flower gardens are ideal for couples who want to have their prenuptial photo shoots.
Getting there is easy. If you are bringing a car, just take Commonwealth Avenue from the elliptical road going to Fairview. When you reach the East Fairview Subdivision, there are signboards posted all the way to the Eco-Park. If you'll be taking public transportation, just take the bus going to Fairview and alight at the entrance of East Fairview Subdivision. From there, there are tricycles that would ferry you to the park. The tricycle ride is expensive though if you are riding alone since it would cost you 50 pesos one way. Admission to the park will cost you 50 pesos if you are not a Quezon City resident. For QC residents though, it's 40 pesos provided you have a valid ID with an address. QC students are charged 20 pesos. There are packages too, if you will be booking a club or even your whole company for team-building sessions. There are pavilions ranging from three to five thousand pesos. Entry for a certain number of people will be free depending on the size of the pavilion you will be renting for the day. And if you really want to reduce your carbon footprint, you can adopt a tree for 250 pesos. It gives you free admission to the park, and a certificate of adoption for a tree inside the watershed.
Global warming is really upon us. Why not cool yourself down by visiting the La Mesa Eco-park. Not only will you help the environment, you would also appreciate the real beauty of Mother Nature.
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