La Mesa Ecopark (Quezon City, Philippines)

Take a walk inside La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City and you will be surrounded by trees, plants, and flowers that is good for your health. Nature definitely has a way of relieving stress and reminding you that life is worth living. 

In highly urbanized areas like in Metro Manila, it is unlikely to find a place where trees and greens dominate the scene. Most open areas in Metro Manila are either converted into subdivisions or turned into gigantic malls. Concrete dominates the landscape. There are very few patches of greens. Trees that used to provide shade from the harsh rays of the sun have given way to roads. 

There is really nothing wrong with development provided that it still recognizes the importance of nature. Trees, plants, flowers, and animals have to be taken into consideration during the planning of stages of a development project. 

In Quezon City, you can visit La Mesa Ecopark if you want to commune with nature. Unlike before, there is now a minimal entrance fee. Inside this park are areas full of plants and trees perfect for morning and afternoon exercises. Riding a bicycle inside this park is also allowed. In fact, there are bikers who frequent the area.

Hopefully, in the future, there would be more parks such as the La Mesa Ecopark and the Arroceros Forest Park in Manila where trees still abound. More open spaces provide better opportunities for physical activities. Instead of malls, a better plan would be to protect nature. What I like about Ayala Malls such as the Fairview Terraces Mall and  UP Town Center Mall is how the design of these malls provides spaces for plants and trees.