We have a notion that nature parks are always located somewhere in the province or mountain areas. A place where trees are free to grow, and there are no air pollution brought about by the roaring engines and honking horns of motor vehicles. And at the same time, a nature park is also a place where visitors can simply relax, spend time with their friends and family over a picnic, where kids can simply play on their bikes or mini-tykes.
Now can you imagine a place so relaxing like this to be found at the center of a bustling city? Well.. our very own Quezon City Memorial Circle is a good example of this. Located at the heart of the Elliptical Road, this national park serves a lot of purposes for its various visitors.
For one, it is a jogging site and “fitness center” for health buffs in the mornings, as ordinary joggers and amateur and professional athletes alike jog around this 4-5KM (circumference) park. Even my Dad and brother do their morning breeze walking and jogging here completing about 2-4 rounds of walking/running around the park!! From experience, it is nice to jog or do breeze walking here because there are still large trees planted within the park’s vicinity, which protects the joggers from the direct scorching heat of the morning sun. For those who are into dance and traditional exercises, there are some groups who hold free aerobic classes which are open to the public. There are more “specialized” dance classes like belly and ballroom dancing which charges a minimal amount to those who join, but since these classes are held in open halls, a fast-learner kibitzer would learn the dance by simply watching from the outside. For the more adventurous learners, there are also “poi” and hula-hoop classes that are being held during Saturdays.
The 3-wheeled Pedicab
For those who are more “mechanically-inclined”, the park has a separate biking circle (totally separate from the jogging lanes), matched with bikes for rent. These bikes come in makes which fit both old and young alike. In my family’s case, my brother and I ride the usual 2-wheeled BMX or mountain bikes – these bikes usually require balancing and agility skills . We usually rent a smaller one for my son – one having 3rd and 4th smaller wheels known as “balancers”. My Mom and Dad, both being bike-haters during their younger days, had to be content with “pedicabs” – a bike that have “side cars/side seats” attached to its side, where a 2nd rider or passenger can sit comfortably while the 1st person does the pedal job. Rental fees range from 50-70 pesos an hour, depending on the bike being rented.
the Quezon Memorial Circle Bicycle Station – Bikes for Rent
For the sporty types, the park has basketball and volleyball courts. There are also open lawns for those who are fond of playing badminton or soccer. One advice though for those who will use those basketball and volleyball courts – try to arrive earlier, as the these courts are in-demand especially for those basketball addicts.
one of the less complicated “play areas” in the kids’ playground
Apart from these, the park also has a vast playground where kids (and sometimes kids-at-heart) can try out their muscular strength and stamina. Swings, seesaws, slides, ladders, mazes of various shapes, sizes, color, and difficulty (I believe some of the mazes and ladders are too complicated for 1-3 year olds). Play in these areas are free-of-charge. A bit of advice though for those who want to enjoy the playground – similar to the basketball and volleyball courts, try to arrive earlier especially during weekends to be able to enjoy it better. Arriving a bit late may cause your kid to enjoy the swing for shorter periods of time because another kid closely watches as he awaits his/her turn on the swing.
For the more adventurous and not budget-constrained kids, the park has the Circle of Fun. This mini theme park contains mechanical rides and even booths such as Caterpillar, Octopus, Carousel, and Horror House for the braver souls. These rides require the visitor to pay a specific fee in order to experience adrenaline rush onboard those rides. For those
who are looking for a higher-level
one of the more difficult “play areas” in the kids’ playground
adrenaline rush, the park nowadays offer also the zipline which costs about PHP 150 to 200 pesos per ride.
Shopaholics will not feel alienated here especially during weekends as bazaars selling different kinds of items and wares can be found – from fruits and vegetables, home plants, food items (snacks, meals, drinks, even organic stuff), to clothes, footwear, kids toys, and gift items. This is a good alternative to the usual mall shopping, as buyers will be able to save due to much lower prices while supporting the livelihood of local entrepreneurs. Bit of advice – try to haggle for the “last price”. Some sellers are open to giving discounts, especially if the buyer will make a large purchase.
Getting hungry inside the park will not be a problem. For the more resto-type people, there are various restaurants in the simple central food area within the park – there is the fastfood type Tropical Hut (similar to Mc Donalds and Jollibee), the more family-oriented Max’s and Serye, and even the specialized Bacolod Chicken Inasal. People who are on a tighter budget need not worry. There are food kiosks inside the park selling various food items – from street snacks such as lugaw (rice porridge), banana and camote-Q (deep fried banana and sweet potato in caramelized sugar), fishballs, squidballs, and tokneneng (deep fried quail eggs wrapped in a seasoned orange batter) to thirst quenchers such as coconut juice, sago’t gulaman, buco pandan, to the conventional softdrinks and bottled water.
If you are from Quezon City, and if you are tired of being a mall rat during sunny mornings or lazy late afternoons, try visiting Quezon Memorial Circle with the family or a set of good friends. Aside from the different relaxing feeling here, it gives one the chance of being a part of nature. 🙂
PinoyWanderlust 