Metro Manila's Lungs: La Mesa Ecopark

I have long heard that this place is fantastic. But it was quite a surprise finding out that it was more than that.

About five years ago, my colleagues and I went to the La Mesa Watershed for a tree-planting project. We were by the hundreds and we all planted at least two to three trees each. I planted five trees in what seemed to be nothing but plains covered in bushes.

Giant Acacia Tree

The La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City is the primary source of drinking water of about 12 million Metro Manila residents. The property is owned by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a government agency. La Mesa Watershed is 2700 hectares, 700 hectares of which is the reservoir and 2000 hectares of which is the surrounding forest. This forest is the last  remaining one of its size in Metro Manila and serves as its carbon dioxide sink. La Mesa Watershed, therefore, is vital to the city, not only because it is a primary source of drinking water, but also because its forest functions as the lungs of Metro Manila, providing it with clean air.

In 1999, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. created Bantay Kalikasan (Nature Watch) and, in partnership with the MWSS, undertook the Save La Mesa Watershed Project. The project aimed to rehabilitate, reforest, preserve and protect La Mesa Watershed. 

Beautiful wilderness

And so we visited the park on a Tuesday morning. The blogs I read said that we should not go on a weekend since the place would be packed. And so when we did, it was just us and a few other people. The park was located along Commonwealth avenue in the Fairview area so it was about half an hour drive from my place in Marikina. 

The Entrance

When you see a huge green building, which I think is Parco Supermart to your left and across it, you see KFC the next right is the way to the park. You will be greeted by a guard since you'll be entering a Subdivision. Then take your first left and then just go straight until you see a large gate that opens into a forested area --and that's the park.

It was nothing but wilderness…and it was good. It was a break out of the buzzling city within the city. I was able to take one of my best photos.

The view by the lake --an oriental paradise.

I was ecstatic to find out I was a part of the project and planted my share of trees to absorb the CO2 that I and 12 million other individuals emit. The park was breath-taking. What I saw before when we started the project is nothing to the beauty of this place now.

Happy to have planted some of the trees in this paradise.

And so if you come across this story, please go to the La Mesa Ecopark and plant your share of trees to absorb the city's CO2. I myself plan to go back and plant a few more trees. This is, after all, the lungs at the heart of the city.