Spanning some 59 acres, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Centre is a sprawling green lung in the heart of Quezon City,

Opened in 1970 by then president Ferdinand Marcos, the park was renamed in 1986 in honour of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a Philippine senator who was Marcos’s most prolific political opponent, and who was assassinated during the latter’s regime.

Today, the park provides much needed respite amidst the concrete jungle of Metro Manila. There are many facilities and attractions to explore, such as a wildlife and research centre, playgrounds for children, gazebos for picnics, an amphitheatre, as well as a fishing area by a manmade lagoon.

Entrance is 30PHP for adults, 15PHP for students, and 100PHP for foreigners. Senior citizens and children below seven enjoy free entry.

N and I had a short meet up here with one of my long-time friends, B, whom I haven’t seen for six years. It was great to see her again after so long, especially with her husband and baby in tow.

How time flies! We were just college kids when we first met on Stickam (for you young ‘uns out there, it’s a defunct streaming platform, sort of the precursor to Twitch). She’s still the same sweet person on the inside, despite the years that have passed and the distance between us, although I’d like to think we’re both older and wiser. I hope this never changes.

B and baby T.

You’ll find many beautiful structures scattered around the park, some by prominent Filipino sculptors and artists, and many of which have themes related to wildlife and the environment. Pictured above is “Elephants” by Janus Andrade Nuñez, which is made from steel mixed with the ashes of elephant tusks that were confiscated in 2013. Can you see the figures of the elephant mother and her calf?

The park’s wildlife research centre serves as a repository/rehab facility for confiscated, donated, or abandoned wild animals. This is where exotic pets that have been given up by their owners or rescued from captivity / the wildlife smuggling trade are housed.

Currrently, the facilities look pretty old, but plans to upgrade them were announced late last year so hopefully the animals will have better, more spacious conditions to live in that will mimic their natural habitat.

Aside from animals like gibbons, Philippine deer, saltwater crocodiles, and even two tigers, the wildlife centre is also home to a variety of birds, including emus and a majestic Philippine eagle.

Another kind of ‘wild’ life lol.

Besides fauna, visitors will also find many flora species in the park, some of which are endemic to the Philippines. Pictured above is the tagpo plant, a variety of ardisia. Its fruits, which resemble clusters of berries, have medicinal properties.

One of the main features of the park is the four-hectare manmade lagoon, which is stocked with a variety of fish such as tilapia, carp, mudfish, catfish, and gouramy. Perched on the water’s edge is a wooden gazebo where you can enjoy the view of the lagoon and its surrounding greenery.

We spent just over an hour at the park, but with toddler in tow, we missed a lot of spots, such as the “Children at Play” statues at the entrance from Quezon Avenue. The grounds are pretty large, though, so it makes for a good workout. It’s also pretty well kept, with pathways clear of leaves and trash.

For those looking for a quiet space for contemplation in bustling Manila, the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Centre offers an inexpensive spot to retreat to for an hour or two, away from the crowds.

NINOY AQUINO PARKS AND WILDLIFE CENTRE

1100 Diliman Quezon City, Philippines

Opening hours: 7am – 5pm (daily)

Getting there: The park is a few minutes walk from Quezon Avenue MRT station.