I’ve featured the La Mesa Ecopark here in Vista Pinas years ago and it’s one of the very few forest-setting public parks in Metro Manila. Well, another such park is Pasig City’s Rainforest Park and this one is probably a better destination for those who think the La Mesa park is too far away. I said probably since Pasig’s park is not that easy to reach being located in the southeastern periphery of Pasig City far from the Ortigas or Santolan areas. But if you manage to go to this park (which supposedly can be reached by one FX ride from Ayala—just take the one with an “Angono/Floodway” or “Binangonan/Floodway” sign), then you’d be treated to a well-maintained and free leisurely place where you can bring your family, friends, or sweethearts.

Photo by Ferdz Decena. (CC)

If you browse through the many online articles and blog posts about this urban oasis (such as this write-up by my friend, Ferdz Decena), you’ll quickly learn that it has plenty of attractions for almost any type of person. There is a swimming pool (but with an entrance fee) for those wanting to beat the summer heat. There is a butterfly garden and a mini and petting zoo for the animal lovers. There are sports facilities like tennis and basketball courts and a wall-climbing area for active people. And there are tons of landscaping and a botanical garden for photographers to practice shooting at.

Download KML file (for Google Earth)