Ecopark - La Mesa Ecopark, Quezon City

La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City is the primary source of drinking water of about 12 million Metro Manila residents. The property is owned by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a government agency. La Mesa Watershed is 2700 hectares, 700 hectares of which is the reservoir and 2000 hectares of which is the surrounding forest. This forest is the last remaining one of its size in Metro Manila and serves as its carbon dioxide sink. La Mesa Watershed, therefore, 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. The total area that needed reforestation was 1500 hectares. Today, eight years since the project started, only 158 hectares remain to be planted. Bantay Kalikasan’s strategy of actively involving the general public in the project, through its Adopt/Protect-ATree/ Hectare programs, was key to its success. 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. La Mesa Ecopark envisions a better environment for our children. Our mission is to spread environmental awareness through education and advocacy. La Mesa Ecopark is a venue providing for healthful outdoor recreation and a true forest experience. It is a living classroom and laboratory for environmental education and aims to be a center for biodiversity conservation. In 2006, over 280 different schools from all over the country, some coming from as far as Laoag, Bohol and Cebu, trooped to La Mesa Ecopark for their educational school field trips. Today, the park continues to be a popular destination for family outings and picnics; a more healthful alternative to shopping malls.

At La Mesa Ecopark, each member of the family can enjoy varied outdoor activities. La Mesa Ecopark boasts of the following facilities: Lopez Picnic Grounds – Five hectares of picnic spots with grilling facilities underneath a forest of varied trees. Salt Water Swimming Pool – Probably the only salt water pool that is open to the public. Salt granules are used instead of chlorine making the water safer and less toxic.

Superferry Boating Lagoon – To experience and enjoy a paddle boat ride, one once had to trek all the way to Baguio’s Burnham Park to do so. Now this popular activity is available right here in Quezon City.

Fishing Lagoon – Fishing is another very popular to-do at the park.etron Fitness and Mountain Bike Trail – Here, one can enjoy a full-body workout under the shade of trees. The fitness trail has 17 exercise stations and connects to a forested 1.2 km mountain bike trail. Shell Flower Terraces – Two hectares of flower terraces. This is actually the dam wall of the reservoir.

Ecomuseum – A museum dedicated to environmental education and biodiversity conservation. Butterfly Trail and Hatchery – An educational walk through the wonderful, colorful world of butterflies.

Waterpark - Club Manila East, Taytay Rizal

Only about 25 minutes from Ortigas Complex, located at Km. 24 Manila East Road in Taytay, is your any day getaway for fun! This new hangout offers a whole bunch of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Bond with your friends, be in touch with nature and take time to live again as you engage yourself in a variety of recreational activities that the facilities offer. As of now, the Club Manila East’s Funtasy Lagoon offers six beautiful water facilities, a kayaking pool, the kiddie pool with water fun toys and games, the sun-screened pool with basketball, a bean-shaped pool, the adult pool with a 3-looped slide and a 25 M, 6-lane lap pool.

Waterpark - Splash Island, Laguna

The Philippines' premiere water recreation haven in Binan Laguna managed and operated by Helm Public Affairs, Inc.

Splash Island Located at the Southwoods Ecocentrum in Biñan, Laguna, is known as the largest water park in the Ohilippines, Splash Island sits on a vast piece of real state where more than 12 water attractions can be found. The park is so vast that it can accommodate 6,000 guests at any given time.

http://www.splashisland.ph/main.html

Waterpark - 8 Wave Waterpark, Bulacan

8 WAVES WATERPARK ADDRESS: Ulingao, San Rafael, Bulacan OWNED & DEVELOPED BY: Villamar Construction & Development Corporation MANAGED BY: Univill Corporation

The project started with a dream of the owners way back in 1998 to offer to the community a place where the family could get together more often while having leisure and fun. The concept of a leisure park that would be very affordable to all people of different walks of life which its facilities would be at par with the international standards of providing recreation to the family. Indeed from the very beginning, the management has been very optimistic on providing every guest an "experience"- such experience to be noted as "unique" in the sense that he/she would feel not only satisfied but as well as delighted everytime he or she leaves the place. With this in mind, the theme under the sea (water world) finally became the final concept to which gave the park its present image.

The biggest attraction, the waves at the 2,788.52 sq. m. pool has become the centerpiece of the project.

From the Noah’s Arc at the kiddie pool, to the Neptune’s Diner, every guest is promised an unforgettable experience.

http://www.8waveswaterpark.com.ph/about.htm

Farm - Eagle Farm / Philippine Eagle Center, Davao

Malagos, Calinan, Davao City

Once known as the monkey-eating eagle; it is endemic(found only) to the eastern portion of the Philippine comprising the Sierra Madre mountains in Eastern Luzon and the heavily forested area of Mindanao. The largest eagle, standing to about three and a half feet (3 1/2) may be recognized by its powerful bill, strong legs and claws. The general body color is grayish brown in the back and wings, whitish front neck and belly with shafts of gray brown streaked feathers on the head, which when erect forms a crest. The prey mostly on monkeys, but lately they have been observed feeding on flying lemurs (caguang), wild cats (musang), and flying squirrels (tapilac) in Mindanao. Usually the male does the hunting, sharing his catch with the female and the young, especially during the breeding time. The life of the eagle has been closely watched resulting in the following findings: pairs occupy a wide territory in lowland and medium elevation forest. Hunting flights extend to the cleared areas as well. At breeding time, they usually indulge in high searing flights and are said to mate in mid-air. The nest is a crude platform of branches and twigs, set in the tallest tree. Only one white egg is laid which hatches in about two months. The very size of the monkey eating eagle with its majestic stance makes it a very desirable target as a trophy. Also because of its uniqueness, there is a demand for its in major zoos of the world.

Farm - Crocodile Farm / Palawan

IRAWAN CROCODILE FARMING INSTITUTE

Location: National Road, Puerto Princessa How to get there: From the city proper, one can take a tricycle and get off at Irawan where the crocodile farm is located. Travelling Time: Five minutes by tricycle The Irawan Crocodile institute aims to preserve and further research studies on crocodiles. It also intends to make good use of the raw materials derived from the crocodile skin.

Located between Iwahig and Puerto Princessa is a crocodile farm. It is a joint venture between the Philippine and Japanese governments. The idea is to breed the animals in captivity and eventually harvest them for the meat, skin, and whatever a crocodile has that is valuable. We arrived just after 12:30 pm and it did not open up to the public until 1:00. We stayed until it opened, but it turned out to not really be worth the wait. There was a fifteen minute walking tour of the facility which included a small crocodile museum. The museum needed a little work done on its displays, but it did have the skeletal remains of the largest crocodile caught in the Philippines. The remainder of the tour involved looking at the different crocodiles in their pens. There were pens for hatchlings, one, two, three, and four-year-olds.

Farm - Crocodile Farm / Crocodile Park, Davao

The Davao crocodile Park all started from the fascination of the owner, Mr. Philip Dizon, to Saltwater and Freshwater Crocodiles. He did not think of it as a lucrative business until he learned that crocodiles are raised in United States not just for public viewing but as well as for production of leather purposes. It was in November 1995 when the government has given the owner the accreditation and permit to operate the 1st Davao Crocodile Park. 10 years later , on August 18, 2005, the world-class Davao Crocodile Park was opened with the help of the consultant Dr. Gilbert Buenviaje. The Davao Crocodile Park Inc. is owned and operated by a group of businessmen headed by Mr. Sonny Dizon, a resident of Davao City. The Davao Crocodile Park is an establishment that showcases a ‘state of the art’ crocodile farming system in the Philippines. It has the most recent crocodile farm design equipped with modern facilities and equipment. The presence of other exotic animal species like raptors, monkeys, bearcats, snakes, birds, and other reptiles makes it one of the most desired tourist destinations in Davao. The purposes of this establishment are as follows: tourism, public viewing and entertainment, venue for educational tours, promotion of public awareness through regular lectures, conservation of crocodiles and other wildlife animals and, acts as a field laboratory for students in Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine as well as for wildlife animal enthusiasts.

Wildlife encounter is the show wherein the visitors are given the chance to interact with our exotic petable animals and given the opportunity to take pictures with it. During this show, the animal keeper is able to converse with the guest and explain to them the animal’s role in the ecosystem. The keeper can also explain the things that we can do for these animals.

The crocodile encounter is showing to the people how a crocodile would react in a wild once we invade their territory or their life is threatened. It is also that part of the show wherein the people is introduce to behavior of the crocodile, like what it is capable of doing. The amount of food that they can consume and the number of years they can survive. Moreover, it is part of the show that gives us opportunity to push through with our conservation.

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