LOL! WTF?

Dimasalang Park to Sumulong Park. In the time that the said park changes its name it is also the time where a lot of changes and progressions happened to our City. I grew up going to this place after church. Before, it was like any usual plaza but when the Antipolo became a city and Victory mall needs to build in that place, it also changed its name and its place.  It is actually easy to locate because it is only in front of three known place, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church, Victory Mall Antipolo and Municipal hall. It is not like any of the park that everybody knows, it is not that huge because in my own vision it was build in front of the church for people to find its relaxation after going to the peace place.

A lot of things to remember specially when I was in high school, after going to school, we always had a time to went there because it is also one of our way to our house.  You can stay there and eat because there’s a variety of food that you can choose beside of the park. If you also want to be relaxed, you can also have your massage where visually impaired people will serve you. It is pleasant to feel that you have your massage at the same time you have also the time to help those people.

There are months that people are so excited to go to Sumulong Park. Every Ber months the municipal of Antipolo do something to make the Sumulong Park more attractive. When the Christmas gets nearer, a lot of decorations like giant Christmas tree and giant gifts are there. They also put life size Santa Clause where a lot of tourists take their pictures. The whole month of May also, people go to the park to be involve or to watch different activities for the reason of SUMAKAH Festival. SUman MAngga, KAsoy at Hamaka Festival, it shows what makes Antipoleños be proud of their City. Every Sunday of May, a lot of performers are there to entertain the people.

Maybe it is not like other park that can you go around, but Sumulong Park made for the citizen of the Antipolo and for the other to remind the development and happiness of the said City.

Photos from Google

   LEA G. BALMACEDA
  BCR 3-1D

Food and shoes... these are only some of the notable things the city possesses. But what it is really known for is CLEANLINESS. Marikina differs to other cities in the Philippines, where cleanliness are maintained only to those places  most visited. I am able to say this because the city is awarded Hall of Fame as Greenest and Cleanest City in the Philippines. It is the only place in the Philippines where sidewalks are available even in its most isolated part, where people can actually walk hazard-free.

One proof of this cleanliness I'm talking about is the maintenance of the Marikina River, a place for lovers, tourists, gatherings and the like. During my elementary and highschool days, my  friends and I used to hang out in this place. The very ambiance of the CLEAN river is relaxing. No foul stenches, I must say.

This river park used to be a squatters area but with the extensive effort of then City Mayor Bayani Fernando, the depressed area became a haven for Marikeños and tourists.

   

Marikina River Park Walkbridge

Back when I was in high school, I was enrolled in Pasig Science High School, this school was located in Maybunga, Pasig  City which at first became a reason for me to just enrol in another school because of the long travel time from home (it’s a long travel for me because I’m just a high school student) and on top of that I had this feeling that this school will give me so much headache because of the curriculum that they are implementing. However, upon arriving in PCSHS on the first day of classes, I did not expect to find my school inside a park!

Rainforest Park is developed by Mayor Eusebio as a gift to Pasigueños for their unending support and cooperation on their administration. According to ironwulf.net, it takes Php 2, 000,000 for the daily maintenance of this park. This park doesn’t require entrance fee so this can be a very accessible place to spend your days not only to relax but also burn some fats!

Rainforest parks has its own Olympic sized swimming pool, basketball court, tennis court, fitness center, children playground, ampi-theater and more for you to shape up your bodies on top of that, if you are feeling tired already, you can just sit on the benches erected on the grassy area  and feel the fresh air  and unwind through the park’s quiet environment. You can also visit the Butterfly Haven where you can see different colors of majestic butterflies while taking pictures with your special someone. This is also the spot where my boyfriend and I took our first photo together (just sharing!)

So if you are feeling bored and wanting to go somewhere not spending too much money, you can visit Rainforest Park. Take a jeep going to Pasig Palengke then go to the tricycle’s terminal, ride the PRESSJMTODA route then voila, do your thing!

                                                                                                            Jillian Patrixia Manlangit

                                                                                                                        BCR 3-1