Before this year ends, our family decided to wander at La Mesa Ecopark. Situated along Fairview, exactly at the Greater Lagro, Quezon City. La Mesa is perfect for family picnic and bonding. Please take note of the park’s admission fee is only Php 50 for adults and kids 3ft. and up. For QC adult residents, it is only Php 40, Php 20 for students and free admission for senior citizens. Ecopark is an example of good escape without even going up North or South Expressway. I cannot imagine how do they preserve this park in the middle of a busiest city in the Philippines. (maybe because of the watershed/ reservoir served to million Metro Manila residents).
We arrived at 10am. The sun shines bright talaga kaya medyo mainit na pero maganda na rin ito kesa sa umulan. First thing that you need to do here is to look for a place where the family could stay and enjoy the view. We are fortunate that we grabbed the airy and nice scenery of the place. Ay, wait asan ang banig????! tsk..tsk..
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| Ligaw na bulakalak, ang tawag ko dito. hehe |
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| Pork barbeque, Shrimps, Adobo and Pancit |
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Early lunch while having pictures with the ABS-CBN logo.
There are picnic tables and monoblock chairs that you can rent. So since the no. 1 important thing that we supposed to bring is nakalimutan, we finally rented. La Mesa Ecopark offers outdoor activities that you, friends, family and loveones can enjoy. There are boat riding, mountain bike trails, horseback riding to name some and for their newest attractions they have now paintball, wall climbing and zipline.
Ecopark is also famous in couples. Why, kase they do shoots pre- nup here. Medyo marami rami sila having a pictorial of their pre -wedding event nang dumating kami. I just noticed, wala lang ;) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Zip line (Kathleen and Mavic) |
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| Wall climbing with ate (left) me (right) |
I was so happy when I and ate finished the wall climbing. Mind you, this is our first time and those who have tried it even the guys before have failed to do it! So we really must be so proud. Plus, knowing ako yung nasa side ng mahirap because of the curve by the wall itself. I was almost to give up, I was already panicking that I can hardly pushed myself up and reached the next stone. Huh! Hirap pala.
All I need is a cheer lang pala, which Mavic did and so I tried again pulling myself up with all my strength and I made it. When you were on top, you feel so relieved and so PROUD!! Oh, going down the wall is much exciting pala. hehehehe.
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| The Lake |
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But if you prefer to swim, meron din sila. It is called pool and bath house which is really good kase very close to nature. The pool entrance fee I think is P60. Pero I heard they have launched a new Olympic Pool also by the ABS-CBN Foundation for the reason of sustaining to save La Mesa Watershed Project. Nice di ba! |
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| Captured large green fields. |
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| Refreshing! |
La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City is the primary source of drinking water of about 12 million Metro Manila residents. The property is owned by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a government agency. La Mesa Watershed is 2700 hectares, 700 hectares of which is the reservoir and 2000 hectares of which is the surrounding forest. This forest is the last remaining one of its size in Metro Manila and serves as its carbon dioxide sink. La Mesa Watershed, therefore, is vital to the city, not only because it is a primary source of drinking water, but also because its forest functions as the lungs of Metro Manila, providing it with clean air.
Due to lack of funds, illegal settling, poaching and logging, La Mesa Watershed came into disrepair and ruin. In 1999, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. created Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch) and, in partnership with the MWSS, undertook the Save La Mesa Watershed Project. The project aimed to rehabilitate, reforest, preserve and protect La Mesa Watershed. The total area that needed reforestation was 1500 hectares. Today, eight years since the project started, only 158 hectares remain to be planted. Bantay Kalikasan’s strategy of actively involving the general public in the project, through its Adopt/Protect-ATree/ Hectare programs, was key to its success.
To sustain the Save La Mesa Watershed Project, Bantay Kalikasan, in partnership with the MWSS and the Q.C. Government, rehabilitated and renovated a 33 hectare public park located right outside the natural boundaries of the watershed and 40 meters below the reservoir. In September 2004, it was renamed La Mesa Ecopark and reopened to the public. All revenues generated by La Mesa Ecopark are utilized for the continuous preservation and protection of La Mesa Watershed. (Source: La Mesa Ecopark website)
La Mesa Ecopark
Website.
For more pictures, please click here
Ecopark.
