Text and photos by Joseph T. Bautista

POINSETTIAS at Bokod.

My original plan for the five-day vacation after Christmas was to take things slow, and just spend days lazing around in Banaue and Sagada. In fact, I already packed my hammock and brought several books, and was already looking forward to doing nothing but just reading under the cool shade of the pine trees in Sagada. (more…)

By MAE LORRAINE S. RAFOLS

Rizal Park, also known as Luneta (Photo by KJ ROSALES)

A stroll along Rizal Park in Manila, can also be described as a walk for patriotism – not only because of its historical significance, but because the place has the power to stir a sense of national pride. (more…)

By PINKY CONCHA COLMENARES

The official marker of the Quezon City Circle

The 26-hectare Quezon Memorial Circle is a natural landmark that locates six main roads of Quezon City –  Quezon, East, Katipunan, Commonwealth, Visayas, and North Avenues – that start from its perimenter.  The three-pylon monument which stands 66 meters, is the official marker of the Circle; it is the monument for Manuel L. Quezon, the first President of the Commonweatlh, and father of Quezon City. (more…)

By INIGO S. ROCES

For members of the media that are typically pampered by hotel reservations and a veritable buffet of cars to choose from, seeing them up and about at the crack of dawn was a refreshing site. (more…)

By ARIS R. ILAGAN

A part of the 35-km bike trail at the La Mesa Dam Nature Park. (Photo by ANJO PEREZ)

A 10-km stretch of bike trail known as Loop No. 4, whetting the appetite for uphill and downhill adrenalin rush, or enduring a 700-meter uphill climb with a 20-degree inclination in the killer Loop No. 12?  It’s not a choice, it’s part of the easy and difficult trails in the 35-km bike trail at the La Mesa Dam Nature Park.  But if one’s stamina fails for any reason – lack of skill, sleep or guts – there’s always a way out that leads to the main road and back to the reception area. (more…)

The mini port at the La Mesa Eco Park

By JOHANNES L. CHUA

Standing on a sea of green on a breezy Sunday afternoon seemed like the best way to welcome a New Year. I was at the La Mesa Eco Park a few days into January because I felt I needed some “fresh air” to boost my sagging spirit after the punishing holiday schedule got me sick and exhausted.   Thankfully, I was able to convince my best friend Kenford (or did I bully him?) to drive me to this park, which I said “was just near the Quezon City Memorial Circle.” (more…)

By Anjo Perez

The La Mesa Dam Nature Reserve

In the outskirts of the metropolis lies a very scenic place where one can commune with nature, learn nature conservation, have a dose of fresh air and even get an adrenaline rush by going through the trails carefully laid out inside 2,700 hectares of forested area.  That place is called the La Mesa Nature Reserve, which can be found in the fringes of Quezon City. (more…)

Cruise Control by Pinky Concha Colmenares

Public parks and nature parks will never go out of style, no matter the theme parks and malls that offer attractive entertainment and more comfortable amenities. Nature offers the best attractions of a park – green grass, shady trees, colorful shrubs, water ponds, rock gardens. Twinkling lights tracing posts and trees cannot beat that. Neither can clowns, marching bands or heart-stopping carnival rides. (more…)

SUMMER – oh, that season of wonderful memories! The time of the first dance, first kiss, first swim, first camping trip, first trek, first adventure. Summer never seems to leave without some water fun, be that afternoons in the club pool, mornings at the beach, weekends in a farm near a waterfall or river, camping along a lake. How can a summer pass without a water activity? (more…)

For all the annoyance of being crammed into an aluminum tube at 35,000 feet with a bunch of strangers, air travel has offered one benefit: the ability to tell bosses and colleagues, “I’ll be on a flight, so you won’t be able to reach me.”

(more…)

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