Preserve and Protect: La Mesa Ecopark

The watershed

 La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City is the primary source of drinking water of about 12 million Metro Manila residents. La Mesa Watershed is vital to the city, not only because it is a primary source of drinking water, but also because its forest functions as the lungs of Metro Manila, providing it with clean air. 

Due to lack of funds, illegal settling, poaching and logging, La Mesa Watershed came into disrepair and ruin. In 1999, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. created Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch) and, in partnership with the MWSS, undertook the Save La Mesa Watershed Project. The project aimed to rehabilitate, reforest, preserve and protect La Mesa Watershed. 

To sustain the Save La Mesa Watershed Project, Bantay Kalikasan, in partnership with the MWSS and the Q.C. Government, rehabilitated and renovated a 33 hectare public park located right outside the natural boundaries of the watershed and 40 meters below the reservoir. In September 2004, it was renamed La Mesa Ecopark and reopened to the public. All revenues generated by La Mesa Ecopark are utilized for the continuous preservation and protection of La Mesa Watershed.

To know more of La Mesa Ecopark

Mura lang di ba? Punta na..

Bed of flowers

View from the top

Adan at Eva.. La Mesa Ecopark version

Amphitheater.. hindi rice terraces!

Huts for picnics

Taga-QC ako kaya todo ang suporta ko sa La Mesa Ecopark. Tatlong beses ko na syang napuntahan pero hindi ako nagsasawa. Maganda at refreshing ang lugar. Di ko na kailangan magpunta outside Manila para makalanghap ng fresh air at maka-experience ng outdoor activities. Very affordable pa ang fee. Convenient pa puntahan. I never fail to recommend this to my friends whenever they ask me where's the best place to go on weekends or to unwind.

It's the best place to hold picnics with family and friends. They  have arrays of huts and tables, situated at the Lopez Picnic grounds. May faucet where you can wash you can wash the dishes but I don't think it's potable, so you'd better bring your own drinking water. Kung wala ng vacant hut, pwedeng magdala ng blanket at ilatag sa may damuhan. Mas sweet pa ang dating. 


Pwede din mag-exercise. They have the Petron fitness trail. Lakad o takbo pwede gawin. Meron din sila mga exercise stations like bars. Be ready lang to wear your most durable shoes dahil mabato sa paligid.

Boat dock

Swans

They also have other recreational outdoor activities like the boating lagoon. Mag-paddle to sawa ka for an hour. Kasabayan ang mga swans na lumalangoy. Sa other side, forest na. As we speak, nire-renovate sya. Pinapahaba yata para mas malawak ang sasagwangin.

Rappelling

They also have rappelling. Sarap sana i-try pero pasensya na, may fear of heights ako eh.. Mas feel ko na lang manood. :)


Di rin pahuhuli ang zip line! Mababa lang sya pero you can still feel the takot na tumawid. Kasi you're gonna zipline across the river papunta sa kabilang side. Ang dami kong naiisip before trying it out. Baka maputol ang tali, baka tumigil ako sa gitna.. Ang tagal pa ng pilitan na ginawa ng mga kaibigan ko, mapilit lang nila ako mag-zipline. Nagdadalawang isip na nga ako eh, hindi na ako nanghinayang sa 100 peso na bayad, pero nagwagi sila.. Kaya ayun! Teary-eyed akong nag-zipline.. :)

Ako.. kapit na kapit sa tali!

Zipline buddy Apple

One last recreational activity dun: Paintball. Kahit bitin sya pero super fun. Kung gusto mo magtagal sa field, wag mo muna ubusin ang bala mo. But once you're there, you can't help it but shoot your foes. Ang hirap pa gumalaw kasi ang bigat ng baril at ang kapal ng padding. Yung helmet, nagmo-moist sa init. Pero go, go go pa din.. :)

Paintball buddies