ACHRISTMAS TREAT
There are many ways to spend the holidays with your loved ones without having to break the bank. One option is to spend a day at the different parks in the metro, and in the various Christmas attractions that of- fer fun activities, play and picnic areas—not to mention of course, the stunning décor and lights that can serve as the perfect backdrop for a photo.
Here are some of the parks that you maywant to visit during the holiday break.
QUEZON MEMORIAL CIRCLE
The 25-ha urban park that is Quezon Memorial Circle is the central landmark of Quezon City. It is home to the shrine, museum and the remains of former President Manuel L. Quezon and first lady Aurora Quezon.
At the heart of the park you can find the Quezon Memorial Shrine, which features a 66-meter (Quezon’s age when he died) vertical pylons symbolizing the three islands namely Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
On top of the pylons are Art Deco statues of three angels bowed in grief and holding sampaguita wreaths sculpted by an Italian artist. The equilateral triangle base serves as the mausoleum of the former president and his wife.
Housed in the shrine is the “Museo ni Manuel Quezon,” which contains Quezon’s memorabilia and various interactive installation about Quezon’s life.
In 2007, the management of the park was turned over to the local government by the Quezon Memorial Circle Foundation to start the renovation projects. At present, visitors can rent mini electric cars, shop at the stalls, or join in the free aerobic sessions in the park.
LA MESA ECO PARK
The 33-hectare nature reserve in Quezon City is a popular ecotourism destination for those who want to reconnect with nature. The park is part of the 2,700-ha La Mesa Watershed, which is Metro Manila’s main source of potable water.
In 1999, the Quezon City government, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan Foundation moved to save the park from further neglect due to illegal activities and lack of funds. It was then reopened to the public in 2004.
The park charges only P50, but discounts are given to Quezon City residents, senior citizens and kids. And there are many fun activities family and friends can do together.
Under the canopy of trees, visitors can go hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rapelling, ziplining and fishing.
The park also has a large pool, which is claimed to be the only public saltwater pool in Metro Manila. Salt granules are used instead of chlorine to sanitize the pool and make it less toxic.
NUVALI
Nuvali, the largest estate development of Ayala Land, was opened to the public in 2009.
This 2,290-ha “eco-community” in Laguna province features a tree-lined mountain bike and hike trails, a wildlife and bird sanctuary, a multifunctional lake and Camp N, Nuvali’s teambuilding and camping grounds. Visitors can rent a bike, ride a boat or buy food for the koi fish in the lake.
The lake is also used for rainwater harvesting, a water reserve for firefighting and a reservoir for landscaping and irrigation. There are bio-swales and permeable surfacing to help recharge groundwater aquifer.
A major attraction in Nuvali during holidays is the “Magical Field of Lights,” where bright Christmas trees flank a 50-meter long tunnel adorned with bright Christmas lights.
In terms of residential and commercial developments, Nuvali has grown considerably since 2009. The estate has about 85,000 sqm of gross leasable areas (GLA) for retail and office spaces and 150 hotel rooms.