lemiThe 7,107 islands of the Pearl of the Orient Seas boast of cultures, language, sounds, and sights that are as lively as its people
Pounding Pavement
Philippines
The parks of Metro Manila are oases popping up amidst the suffocating smog, frenzied pedestrians, and helter-skelter cars. Spaces safe for runners are rare in the city so exercisers flock to the lifestyle districts where green spaces are making a comeback. As voracious runners know, nothing quite beats a peaceful run in the open air. The city sights can be a refreshing change from the office desk or textbooks. Sometimes a treadmill just won’t cut it. Head out the door and hit the trails, it’s time to break in those sneakers you’ve been saving since New Year!
Shake off the work day at the heart of the Makati Central Business District (CBD)! Makati’s workforce swap out their leather shoes for running shoes as soon as the day’s air cools and the sun dips. The Ayala Triangle Gardens stretches out behind the Philippine Stock Exchange and is bound by three major roads—easy access for professionals in the area. From your first step into the gardens, cleaner air hits you with a welcome breeze. The city’s skyscrapers still rise up above you, but there is headspace to think. Rubber soles have the option to tread on paved path or grassy lawns. Cool down with a well-deserved swirl of frozen yogurt at Pinkberry!
Paseo De Roxas Street corner Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
- https://www.ayalatriangle.com/gardens
Another option for the professional on a schedule is Legazpi Active Park, a smaller spot tucked in a neighborhood of Makati CBD. Drinking fountains and clean washrooms fully equip the park for runners out there who’re coming fresh from the office. Sneak a run into your work day and don’t sweat the small stuff! The paths can get busy with people after the day shift ends, but you’ll be in great company. All activity is compressed into a square block—the runner’s lane winds along the perimeter, while a play area and amphitheater offer something for those coming with family or friends. Paths are marked for easy navigation as some parts of the park can be a little dim at night.
Legazpi Street corner Rada Street corner Gamboa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
When the Active Park next door is too busy to your taste, the languid pace of Washington SyCip Park is a lush spot perfect for lighter jogs by the runner with a lot on their mind. Regain your zen after working up a rush in the Japanese-style garden, hidden away behind a hedge of bamboo. Take your mind off piles of paperwork with an eyeful. A canopy of trees filter in the sun gently over quirky installations that decorate the park. Paths vary from paved concrete to loose pebbles, so there’s plenty to explore! Come first thing in the morning or at the end of the day when the crowd thins out. Little pavilions and secluded corners dot the park so the general pace of the area is a little more languid—popular with the lunch break crowd.
Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Double the cardio and chase your kids around Jaime C. Velasquez Park! Under the diligent eye of Bel-Air Village’s police officers, this charming park is a safe spot to run with the entire family. Jaime C. Velasquez Park is also called Salcedo Park—after the neighborhood it’s in—by residents. Saturdays open it up for a farmer’s market, so opt for a late afternoon to pre-dinner run after the market closes. The rest of the days, it’s business as usual: children wrangle through the colorful playground and visitors pass the time on the benches.
Tordesillas Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Built on the grounds of an old racetrack, Circuit Makati is a development quickly on the rise. Restaurants, shops, and events spaces provide for every possible need. Though also located in Makati City, the roads of Circuit are less busy, allowing runners to trail the streets if they want to. The Globe Circuit Event Grounds, when not in use for music festivals, is another vast playground for exercisers. The sprawling lawns invite people for free play, runs, and leisurely strolls overlooking the Pasig River.
- +6329444754
Hippodromo Street, Carmona, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
- https://www.circuitmakati.com/
Jog on a small track in the shape of a red dot when the winding paths get monotonous. Together with interactive art installations, Track 30th is a playground for the active adult! Cool down with some yoga on their dedicated lawn or swing from the wooden beams. With the onslaught of time and the demands of a job, Track 30th in Bonifacio Global City reminds us it’s okay to play!
30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
You’ve made it this far, so it’s time for a challenge. The Marikina River Park offers just that with eleven kilometers looking for some foot traffic! Join bikers, seasoned runners, and casual joggers on the waterfront as it courses with wide, open spaces. The local government rehabilitated the Marikina River by clearing out the banks, planting flora, and urging businesses to set up water treatment facilities. Now, the Marikina River Park teems with life. Locals come not just to exercise, but camp out, have picnics, or rehearse for school activities.
300 Shoe Avenue, Santo Niño, Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines
- https://www.facebook.com/Marikina-Riverpark-429389967226387/
University of the Philippines Diliman Academic Oval
1 saveQuezon City, Philippines • Recommendation •
A jog on the wide roads, shaded by a canopy trees, are just what the students and faculty at the University of the Philippines need to lift the weight of school off their shoulders. The Diliman Academic Oval is a popular exercise spot for all ages, not just for runners, but also bikers. On the weekends, almost half of the road is occupied by sneaker-clad pedestrians. Even in the scorching heat, the grove of trees bring in a relieving breeze. Wear something bright and skip the earphones on your weeknight run as roads still keep busy with homebound vehicles.
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Instead of four-wheeled cars, the massive ramp in front of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) sees walkers, joggers, and runners of all kinds. From the elderly looking for a low-impact workout to officers from the nearby Philippine Navy Headquarters, all are free to set their own pace here. CCP itself is one of the country’s premiere venues for the visual and performing arts. Everyday, it serves people in various ways, another one as an open space to keep active.
Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Building, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
With clear skies and shady trees above you, and a dirt path climbing hills ahead, it’s hard to believe that this all exists within the city. Filinvest City is a lifestyle hub in development known for their dining and shopping destinations. Patches of empty lots on the grid were soon converted into nine kilometers of biking and running trails. It fringes southern Metro Manila, just before a major highway, so joggers have a nature excursion without ever leaving the city! Runners just starting their journey can ease in with the Beginner Trails. These stretch along the entire Filinvest Avenue. The adventurous ones can go straight to the Intermediate and Advanced Trails, clustered on both sides of Corporate Avenue. You’ll be sharing the trails with bikers so keep alert, and if possible, come with friends the first time!
Filinvest Avenue, Alabang, Metro Manila, Philippines
- https://filinvestcity.com/green-spaces
About Philippines
