7 Open Spaces for Manileños Who’ve Decided to Get Fit This Year

Location: Roxas Boulevard, Magdalena Jalandoni, Malate, Pasay City 1300 Metro Manila

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) opened its spacious grounds for outdoor exercises, jogging, and other physical activities. Only 30 people at a time can use the CCP front lawn. Visitors are also required to follow the standard health protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields.

Location: * Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Philippines*

Luneta Park is open for physical fitness activities every day from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM only. The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) requires guests to check-in via SMS, FB Messenger, or a QR code, preferably ahead of time. Visitors are advised to use StaySafe app for faster entry. The entry request is valid for one day, allowing multiple entries and exits within park hours. Note that children under 18 years old are not allowed to enter the park.

Location: Roxas Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila

The University of the Philippines Diliman’s campus has plenty of spaces where the public can do various physical fitness and activities. One of these is the Academic Oval, which is perfect for walking, running, jogging, stretching, yoga, and tai-chi. Inside the premises, visitors must wear face masks and face shields. They must also carry their alcohol or disinfectant and exercise equipment. Persons must be at least six feet apart when running, and there’s also a 10-person limit for those who want to exercise with their friends.

Location: North Fairview, Quezon City, Metro Manila

Besides its leisure facilities, La Mesa Ecopark also features open areas surrounded by verdant plants where you can jog, walk, or meditate. The eco-park is available for exercises and other activities from 6:00 AM to 12:00 NN; a minimum donation fee of PhP40 per head is imposed on entering. Walk-ins are allowed as long as the park is within its guest limit of 100 people. Meanwhile, La Mesa Watershed is also open from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily except on Tuesdays; a reservation is needed for trail running, biking, and hiking. Indeed the best place to exercise!

Location: 30th St, Taguig, Metro Manila

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) has open parks where residents can run and walk their dogs for the southern folks. One of these parks is Track 30th, a well-kept public space where people can go around a designed jogging trail. Aside from the jogging path, Track 30th also features an exercise and yoga lawn and even a meditation garden with interactive art installations! BGC implements curfew from 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM. Seniors and minors, with a guardian, are allowed to enter.

Location: Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Avenue, San Juan, Metro Manila

Residents of San Juan can improve and strengthen their immune system at Greenhills’ Active Playground, a place where everyone can run, bike, and exercise. Inside the Active Playground is a dedicated bicycle lane for cyclists, and bike priority lanes are also set up every day from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Pop-up challenges are also placed within the mall to encourage mall-goers to be active.

Location: Alabang, Muntinlupa

In the middle of Filinvest City’s bustling business district, running and biking trail routes opened last 2013. The mountain bike trail spans over 9 kilometers and is a good workout space for beginner and expert cyclists. Filinvest City also has Spectrum Linear Park, a green space that features tree-lined walkways, lighted seating areas, and art installations for walking and jogging. The park is open from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday to Sunday. Filinvest is also building a new park, Central Park, for more exciting and recreational space for its guests soon to be completed.

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