Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife

When I get bored to my guts and really wanted to have some peace and quiet or just want a change of scene, I just step out of the house and trek anywhere within the OLD FORT BONIFACIO. I just grab a book and read away under almost century old acacia trees. Just me, my book, under a tree, sometimes atop its branches, while a cool and gentle zephyr blows. But ever since "development" of THE FORT and the coming of modern structures, the natural ambiance and serenity of the place vanished along with the trees and endemic wildlife. Gone is the peace and quiet, leaving only bits and patches of "untouched" land as you see in the picture below.

An almost century old acacia tree still left untouched in Fort Bonifacio today

But, now that tall edifices replaced the once tree laden FORT, I go back to Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife in Quezon City. It has been a while since I last visited this park. For those on a budget, both time and money, the park is a quick getaway for those who want to commune with nature or for those who just wants to sit back and relax, without ever leaving the city. I just hope cities in around the metro with patches of land to spare, can make parks like these for all to enjoy.

Details of Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife

Location: Quezon City
Entrance Price: PhP15/car; PhP8 per person

For first timers. Make sure you fully charge your Digital Cameras and Video Cameras. Bring extra batteries if you have to for there are lots of great vistas wherein you can have photo ops with friends in nature scenes, and with various flora and fauna as backdrops. Coming to the park is far more rewarding in my opinion, to relax by your lonesome, a special someone, or be with friends and/or family while communing with nature other than gallivanting in concrete jungles (READ: Malls).

For those who haven't been to Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife, check out the pictures below. These were all taken inside the park.

Other Write ups:

A refreshing experience of the woods and its wildlife in a safe environment. Quezon City harbors such a place. Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife was started in the mid Martial Law years (late 70s to early 80s). It’s an 80-hectare city forest reserve for woodland and animal life. It is along the Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City, across the Quezon Memorial Circle.

From downtown Manila travel takes, via the España-Quezon Avenue route, some 45 minutes to an hour. Public transportation plying Quiapo to Philcoa or Fairview will never fail to drive past this Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City. It’s right at the very tip of Quezon Avenue right across Kidney Center and Lung Center of the Philippines.

Named “Philippine Parks and Wildlife” in the Marcos administration, it was changed to “Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife” in the reign of President Corazon Aquino. This Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City boasts of a number of caged wild animals and tree and plant species, plus a vast playground, deeply shaded promenades, a man-made lagoon, eatery, huts and cottages, among others.

Lots of school excursions, tourist trips, movie and commercial shooting, and casual visits are scheduled in this Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City. Even health buffs like joggers and volleyball and badminton aficionados frequent it, especially in early mornings. Picnic grooves and huts are best for outdoor meals and helpings are available at the eatery beside the lagoon.

The lagoon is littered with benches at its edges under big tree shades. A sunken amphitheater is at its bank. It is a favorite hang out of lovers, book readers, bonding families, idle visitors, and students rehearsing a drama or concert. Others celebrate religious fellowships there and display public communion with their Creator. The lagoon has an extended covered port where curious visitors can venture farther and nose around for what may be hiding in the lake.

Life activities of men, the wilds, and nature burst with vibrancy at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wild Life. This wooded haven standing right in the midst of business affords travelers with an accessible Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City.

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NOTE: All photos except THE ACACIA were taken from the Web.
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In The Heat of the Moment

Ang init! These two words has been reverberating in my head at the start of the summer season. I noticed in the last several years, summers here in the Philippines have become somewhat hotter. I looked it up and indeed I was right. Compounding the problem is the high humidity we have in this country.


The heat was not a problem back then when Fort Bonifacio was a closed Fort. We had lots of trees literally peppered all over the place. My father's uncle happened to be the first Camp Commander of then Fort McKinley before it was renamed Fort Bonifacio in honor of Andres Bonifacio. It was hot during the summer months alright but once you step in the gates of the old Fort Bonifacio, one will feel the refreshing cool breeze brush up against your skin thanks to those wonderful acacias. Now they are all gone. No thanks to the BCDA which came into being by virtue of Republic Act No. 7227, or Bases Conversion Development Act of 1992, which was signed into law by President Corazon C. Aquino on March 13, 1992. Technically speaking, all military bases within the Luzon area are now up for sale. This started the development of the Subic Economic Zone some 15 years ago. But that didn't stop there. During the time of President Fidel V. Ramos, Sangley Point in Cavite was also put up for sale. Camp John Hay in Baguio, Villamor Air Base in Pasay, and then Fort Bonifacio through the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC). FBDC is a joint venture between Bonifacio Land Corporation (BLC) and the state-owned BCDA.


Incidentally, Fort Bonifacio (Makati) is now more popularly called the Bonifacio Global City (Taguig). What used to be my safe playground when I was young is now a rising city with first class amenities. Several condominium edifices rose like mushrooms after a lightning storm. To name a few, there rose Pacific Place, Essensa, One McKinley Place, The Fort, Market Market, Serendra, High Street, etc.


And because of these changes, the quiet Fort Bonifacio was reborn. And accompanied with this changes we lost the once moderate temperature we had back then. Oh well that's progress for you. More on this topic later on as Global City further develops.