Top 5 Interesting Things to Do at the La Mesa Ecopark

A tribute

The La Mesa Ecopark in Fairview, Quezon City is a favorite weekend destination for many people living in the crowded city. It is perhaps one of the last remaining forested areas in Metro Manila and thankfully, it is still free of urban sprawl.

It was not always that way. Many years ago, the park was not open to the public. It was only opened in 2004 after a rehabilitation effort was undertaken.

The untimely passing of Ms. Gina Lopez, a known environmental advocate and long-time chairperson of the ABS-CBN Foundation which directly maintains the La Mesa Ecopark, came as a shock to many. Ms. Lopez led the rehabilitation of the La Mesa Ecopark together with a few other stakeholders. Here's hoping that what she started will continue and that the La Mesa Ecopark will remain unspoiled for all of us to enjoy.

I thought of writing this piece as a simple personal tribute to the efforts of Ms. Lopez and  to share some of the things that I have enjoyed doing at the ecopark through the years.

Things to do at the ecopark

Here's my Top 5 list of interesting things to do at the ecopark:

1) Go on a picnic. The picnic grounds at the La Mesa Ecopark are perfect for both small and large groups. Some of the picnic tables are free to use, while some, such as the large gazebos and events places, can be rented.

2) Enjoy the gardens. There are a lot of flowers, plants, and of course trees in the park. One can visit the gardens near the stairway going up to a view of the La Mesa dam. Most of the time, many flowers are in bloom.

A blooming lotus in a pond.

3) Go jogging. From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., joggers can go to La Mesa Ecopark and pay a minimal fee. The park officially opens at 8 a.m. so this is a perfect window for those who may want to go jogging within the park grounds before the crowd of park visitors come in.

4) Go swimming. The La Mesa Ecopark has two swimming areas which open at 9 a.m. The swimming pools are quite large and well-maintained.

5) Take photos. This is by far my most favorite thing to do whenever I am at the La Mesa Ecopark. I usually take a leisurely stroll with my camera and take photos of flowers, insects, the ponds, etc. However, if you do plan to do a full-blown photo shoot, you may have to pay a certain fee to use the park.

There, my Top 5 interesting things to do at the La Mesa Ecopark. Do visit the park. It will be worth it.

Note: This piece was also published in my travel blog, The Pinoy Gypsy.

A blue dragonfly makes a small pond its home in La Mesa Ecopark.

A red and black cricket perches on a tiny plant. This insect is just one of the many insect species found in the ecopark.