Monday, August 26, 2019

Top 5 interesting things to do in La Mesa Ecopark

A tribute

The La Mesa Ecopark in Fairview, Quezon City is a favorite weekend destination for many people living in the crowded city. It is perhaps one of the last remaining forested areas in Metro Manila and thankfully, it is still free of urban sprawl.

It was not always that way. Many years ago, the was not open to the public. It was only opened in 2004 after a rehabilitation effort was undertaken.

The untimely passing of Ms. Gina Lopez, a known environmental advocate and long-time chairperson of the ABS-CBN Foundation which directly maintains the La Mesa Ecopark, came as a shock to many. Ms. Lopez led the rehabilitation of the La Mesa Ecopark together with a few other stakeholders. Here's hoping that what she started will continue, and that the La Mesa Ecopark remain unspoiled for all of us to enjoy.

I thought of writing this piece as a simple personal tribute to the efforts of Ms. Lopez and  to share some of the things that I have enjoyed doing at the ecopark through the years.

Things to do at the ecopark

Here's my Top 5 list of interesting things to do at the ecopark

1) Go on a picnic. The picnic ground at the La Mesa Ecopark are perfect for both small and large groups. Some of the picnic tables are free to use, while some, such as the large gazebos and events places, can be rented.

2) Enjoy the gardens. There are a lot of flowers, plants, and of course trees in the park. One can visit the gardens near the stairway going up to a view of the La Mesa dam. Most of the time, many flowers are in bloom.

3) Go jogging. From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., joggers can go to La Mesa Ecopark and pay a minimal fee. The park officially opens at 8 a.m. so this is a perfect window for those who may want to go jogging within the park grounds before the crowd of park visitors come in.

4) Go swimming. The La Mesa Ecopark has two swimming areas which open at 9 a.m. The swimming pools are quite large and well-maintained.

5) Take photos. This is by far my favorite thing to do whenever I am at the La Mesa Ecopark. I usually take a leisurely stroll with my camera and take photos of flowers, insects, the lake, etc. However, if you do plan to do a full-blown photo shoot, you may have to pay a certain fee to use the park.

There, my Top 5 interesting things to do at the La Mesa Ecopark. Do visit the park, it will be worth it.

Monday, July 1, 2019

Throwback: A visit to the Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle

I had the opportunity to travel to Seattle, Washington way back in 2007 while I was working for a daily newspaper in Manila.

I used to write for the paper's technology section and one of the topics I often wrote about was online gaming which was still at its infancy, back then.

Professional online gaming was just starting to become big in the early 2000s, with players from all over the world forming teams that often compete for prize money. The Republic of Korea took the lead in "cybergaming," and the country was the birthplace of the first "World Cyber Games."

And so I was there in Seattle covering the 7th edition of the World Cyber Games to report on Team Philippines. The tournament was quite uneventful, probably because Team Philippines was unable to advance in the latter stages of the games.

However, I did enjoy spending some free time walking in Seattle. The city has a good mix of old and new, with skyscrapers towering over quaint neighborhoods. I had the chance to visit a few "taverns" and coffee shops. I saw a lot of technology companies alongside traditional businesses which showed Seattle's vibrant economy.

In 2007, costs are fairly reasonable and you don’t have to break the bank to have a good time.

Me and a couple of journalists took a stroll in the waterfront, had lunch atop the Space Needle, then headed out to Pike Place Market and watched fishmongers do their thing. The fishmongers put on a show of tossing fish (usually salmon) before wrapping it up with brown paper for the waiting customer. The spectacle usually draws a fairly large crowd.

Here's a fun fact: it is said that the fish throwing was actually a prank on an employee which eventually turned into a beloved tradition. Customers loved the "act" so much that they actually visit Pike Place Market just to see the fish-throwing.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Reasons why people go into freelancing

There was a time when you had to take an official leave from work to be able to travel and relax. With the emergence of the mobile worker and opportunities for freelancing arrangements, it has now become possible to travel and still do some work.

There are many pros and cons when it comes to freelancing. On one hand, you have control of the work hours that you want to render or be selective of the projects you have to take. On the other hand however, freelancing does not guarantee a steady income and does not provide other benefits that a full-time employment may bring.

In my case, I like freelance writing and here are my reasons:

I like to work at home and spend more time with family
A no-brainer. I like to work at home and spend more time with family which is good if you’re a dad to three almost grown-up kids.

I do not like to commute
I don’t like traffic, which unfortunately, is a daily challenge if you live and work in the city. Commuting can be very draining and can zap that creativity even before you set foot in the office.

I don’t like a 9 to 5 routine
I have nothing against people with regular jobs. For many years, I once had a few 9-to-5 jobs too, but nothing beats managing my own time and working at my own pace.

I like to travel
A few months ago, I had blast writing about “travel,” while I was actually on a road trip with family.





I work best when I’m alone
Freelancer writers are often thought of as these nerds curled up in a tiny corner typing away. This is not untrue, and some (including myself), are often very productive while working alone while in their jammies.

I don’t like do the same thing over and over again
As a freelance writer, I sometimes don’t necessarily like what I write. However, I can always anticipate that the next writing gig will be something new.

I like to juggle different projects
The magic phrase for freelancers is “time management.” I like to believe I have it figured out and thus, juggling a few gigs here and there becomes an enjoyable experience.

I like to challenge myself
Freelance writing challenges me to go out of my comfort zone. As a freelance writer, I am compelled to write about things that I have zero knowledge on. I once wrote a product review of a conveyor belt and it took me three cups of coffee before I came up with a fairly decent copy.

So there. My Top 20 reasons why I became a freelance writer. What are yours?