Quezon City, the Philippines
May 8, 2010
This particular summer had been a scorcher; I’d give my front teeth for some cool and breezy respite in this microwave oven milieu. Indeed, there was the wisdom in having more of the jungle in concrete jungle.
Lucky me, I had been living in Quezon City, one of the leafier cities in not-so-tree-friendly Metro Manila, for years. A forest reserve called La Mesa Ecopark, tucked away behind a residential community and beside a landfill (of all places!), was just 15 minutes away.
It was actually a large swathe of area around the La Mesa Watershed, the water source of the metropolis that this forest protected. This sylvan enclosure was covered by both city ordinance and a canopy of trees. I had not been there before even though it was practically in my backyard.
There was an entrance fee of P50, less P10 for Quezon City residents. Practically peanuts, but it still felt like that Joni Mitchell classic where she bemoaned having to pay a dollar and a half to see trees in a tree museum. “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got till it’s (almost) gone?”
Oh, Joni would quit kvetching here. The trees were lush and gigantic. Eye-level ID tags provided both their common and scientific names (a nod to Joni’s tree museum?), but I had to cock my head 90 degrees to appreciate them in their entire splendor. Their tops loom overhead formed a capillary network of leaves and branches, a tenuous cover with a potent cooling effect. I could almost feel drafts of oxygen emanating from the trees if not for the breeze-less afternoon.
Even as I hung my head down and I still did not miss nature’s glory in the undergrowth. A small roadside creek supported a whole ecosystem in itself. Ferns, grass, weeds, moss, and tiny insects were practically begging to be macro’d.
And of course, the common but beautiful corazon de Maria stood out. Its distinct heart-shaped leaves grew just about anywhere so most people never gave it much thought, but this weed was unfailingly fascinating. Just how could a thing of such symmetry and cordate beauty randomly sprout in prosaic places like the roadside gutter?
All was not peaceful and quiet in the woods though. Other people always wanted to DO something in a place. I was just content to BE in it. There was a flurry of activity at the swimming pools, zip line, paintball field, rappelling wall, and lagoons. Commerce could not be far behind. There were bamboo huts and wooden stalls that sold everything from virgin coconut oil to native handicrafts.
Other bloggers would have tried any of those activities, but what did I do? I made a beeline for the flower terraces instead. It resembled a hillside but it was actually the dam wall, cloaked by a field of flowers with dancing colors. Cutting through the middle was a steep flight of steps flanked by pink-flowering shrubs all the way up to the reservoir. The windless heat drenched me in sweat.
Two rows of perimeter fences kept the reservoir out of reach. Even “camera taking” was strictly prohibited. On the way down, I succumbed to flower power; I went fluttering in the sun-kissed field, hopping from one flower to the next like a jolly bee (good thing there were no real bees!). But deep inside, I was wilting in the heat, amidst all the blossoming.
Even leaves could hold their own. A hedge of crotons could give any artist’s palette a run for its pastiche of colors. Blood reds, luminous yellows, and ink-blot patterns added drama to the veins and their ramifications on leaves such that they mimicked floral pulchritude.
Plants with monochromatic leaves, on the other hand, were planted en masse to form landscaping patterns. This artful use of plants had only been minimally employed in public spaces. Sadly, it was because people here had a penchant for vandalizing and stealing public property. Plants would never stand a chance.
The water features were actually green, color-coordinated with the rest of the forest. For extra fees, you could either go boating or fishing. I did neither. I just took in the soothing sights with both my naked eyes and Leica lens.
Space issues and the economics of real estate development notwithstanding, it was undeniably healthy to have greenbelts to hold any city together, especially since urban areas were live-in spaces. Trees and flowers allowed urbanites to breathe and to think, not only under the stifling sun but also under the constrictive claws of concrete. I was my fervent hope that Quezon City would live up to its original plan as a green leafy city.
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Hah! so you managed to take a picture of that La Mesa Watershed sign! 🙂 Your blogs are very informative and entertaining and I always look forward to reading them.
Oh well, putting up a sign that says “No camera taking” invites picture taking. 🙂 It’s a cousin of that “genuine fake watches” sign you took a photo of. Haha…
Beautiful pictures I must say……the colours are so ……so colourful 😉 ……………I remember seeing the heart shaped plant in a garden near my school.
The true colors of mother nature are shining through like a rainbow, apologies to Cyndi Lauper. 🙂 Thanks Nehha! It seems India and the Philippines share many things in common. First is my favorite bread, now my favorite weed! 🙂
All those pictures cause a mixture of emotions….Love all the flower ones….would you believe that we have most of these flowers house-grown….
Hahahaha…whenever I see the “no camera’ sign I feel tempted to take a picture….;)))
The ‘proudly Pinoy’ looks mighty proud..;))))….and then there comes this feeling of malancholy at the sight of the river with the leaves and then the boats…Thanks for stirring me-hehehe
Wow, I wouldn’t have guessed we could grow the same flowers since we live in different latitudes. The resilience of a flower indeed!
The river and boat scenes do look somber in the photos, but actually the place was ringing with echoes of children’s laughter and adult chatter from nearby picnic grounds.
Love the greeneries! You did a great job with your camera 😀
It’s pretty hard to go wrong with such beautiful sceneries. 🙂
Beautiful photos of a beautiful Ecopark. I like the “river runs through it” photo the “Pinkaholic Steps” and the “Little Boats Should Keep Near Shore” the best. Your commentary on the park is terrific – I felt like I was right there with you!
Again, your compliment never fails to give me a shot in the arm. You have always been encouraging of people’s work, despite your level of excellence in your field. Thank you Mari!
Thanks for visiting my site, Gest to Utopia. Yours is so cool, my short stay is fun, ts like travellin in real life. will definitely go back and browse slowly.
Thanks Rome! My site caters to armchair travelers, I think. Glad you enjoyed it.
My favorite is cropped circle.
QC is indeed greener than other cities. Soo… Your header photo’s shot here? Just noticed. Hihi. Joni Mitchell would love La Mesa Eco Park 🙂
@Clint: Cool herbal art, right?
@PTJ: Alam na! Yeah, this post gives my header shot away! I bet Joni would, but she’d have to pay up cuz she’s not a QC resident. 😀
I first saw the place with a dear friend some 5 years ago. I would like to come back this summer Great shots 🙂
Thanks for sharing great pics and post.
Ang ganda naman ng place!
I give credit where credit is due – the place is really photogenic. I don’t usually take photos like these ones, hehe.
I’ve been to this place. Even blogged about it. Your post reminded me of everything that I did there. Yung “no camera and video taking” we almost the same shot. I think that signage was meant for people like us: me sign na nga nagpipicture pa din. Me hangin ba when you were there? I though the park was nice pero parang walang hangin.
You know, you nailed it. The place was wonderful and all but it was punishingly hot. I just blamed it on summer in general, but looking back, it was also cuz there was no wind! There was no breeze to wipe the sweat away. It was soooooo humid!
ang ganda ng mga pictures lalo na yung mga close-ups ng mga plants…
I Being grown up in the province, I am not expecting a nature reserve in a city especially on a city like Quezon City! Although I am aware that La Mesa exists, this one is inspiring because within a concrete jungle, I realized that there is still a room for the mother nature to dwell “if we will allow it”
@Romelo: I think I just discovered the macro settings in my cam then. 🙂
@Edmaration: You’re right on the money; it does depend on people. Singapore is a perfect example of a “green leafy city.” Trees are not only in nature reserves, but part of the cityscape.
I live near Eco-Park but sadly, I haven’t visited the place yet. Maybe I’ll try to go there on summer.
I recall visiting the place more than a year ago for a photoshoot but it didn’t push through. I hope the place would be as green as the pictures that you take ^_^
@Karen: I’m hearin; ya. I had lived in QC for more than 25 years before I got to visit La Mesa. Go now! 🙂
@Mark Pogi: I assure you, it’s as green (among other colors) as in the photos. It’s not just photoshop. 😀
I love the pictures! So relaxing…. Di pa ako nakapasyal sa place na eto.. Hope to visit soon! 😉
I was taken aback when I first read your blog for I mistook it to read as “Green Leafy Vegetables” It’s a green leafy city instead. I’m convinced now that everywhere you go and look around you can a leafy plants growing abundantly.
@Violy: Don’t wanna burst your bubble. It may not all that relaxing, depending on the crowds. There was a lot of noise from the swimming pools. But at least the dam wall and the lagoon for boating were quite tranquil.
@Gil: That was really the point. We associate green and leafy with veggies which are healthy. Our cities should be the same. 🙂
Ang kulet, sabi nang no camera and video taking e. hahaa. ganda ng mga kuha mo ser. keep posting n_n
have heard great things about this place. hope to go here soon
Nice Place malaki na pala pinagbago ng Lamesa Dam.. Matagal na rin akong di nakapasyal dyan..
I’ve never been to Eco Park but my lil sis who had been here for her field trip raved about the place. And with your lovely photos, I’m sold! I really need to visit Eco Park for myself soon.. 🙂
@Dexter: I wonder how it looked before. My mom said that she and dad used to go there for picnics (wiener roasts) back in the late 50s. It was already a nature reserve, I guess.
@Sumi: I still have a knack for sales! 🙂 But really, do go for a visit, preferably NOT on weekends or holidays. Baka crowded eh.
@paliiits: Sorry naman. Di naman sinabing no picture taking eh. 😀
This looks a vibrant promise of natural life and your photos provide a glimpse of these beautiful green park. I hope the people and visitors of the Ecopark would help not only preserve what’s left but develop sincere care for the all the lives that depend on it.
I miss going to La Mesa Eco Park, na-try namin yung pizza diyan, just can’t remember the name right now. I wish there would be more places na maraming puno sa Kamaynilaan. We all need the greenery amidst the pollution around us.
I keep reading about this place but I have never been here … I really should go since its just in the city.
@Earlie: The ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (through Bantay Kalikasan) rehabilitated this park in 1999. I hope they continue to protect it from encroaching development and the nearby Payatas landfill.
@Tadong Genius Kuno: Didn’t see a pizza place there. Maybe it was just a stall?
@Kathy: Yup, it’s worth visiting.
I love your photos, your choice of words, and how you construct this post! Great job!:)
Beautiful scenery…pero I’m imagining going around without some breeze…it must give an uncomfy feeling….
@Gemma: Wow, thanks for the carpet compliment! 🙂
@Enzo: I’m sure it’s not always breeze-less. Maybe it was just the time of year. Our summers are generally like that. Visit the park in the cooler months then.
why there is that crap sign “no-camera, video taking allowed”?
Hi Blair! Perhaps it’s for security reasons. They don’t want any pictures of the dam that may be used in plotting attacks or mass poisoning. I took the photo of the sign, not the dam itself so I guess that’s fine.
Nice you show a different approach on the pictures being taken at the La Mesa Eco park. I fell asleep here in your page looking at the photos ha ha ha!
Oh my, is my blog THAT boring??? Hmmm I better put some GIF and videos and audio to shake my readers to wakefulness. 😀
ito pala ang lamesa ecopark. I always here an informercial when I was younger about the dam and a certain foundation. I forgot the ad na. hehe. place looks nice!
Maybe that was ABS-CBN Foundation, which spearheaded the rehabilitation of La Mesa Watershed.
yes! I remember that ad was always played after watching Sineskwela or Hiraya Manawari in channel 2. haha
AJ’s lips are hawwtt
The asset of all AJs. Angelina Jolie has her bee-stung lips. I have mine. 😛