Quezon City | 10 Things To See and Do at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center

~ oo00oo ~

UPDATED JANUARY 2020:

Last year, for the first time in my life, I've been to the clinics every quarter of the year; having myself checked for various symptoms and pains I'm experiencing. I've found out I'm having elevated BP, my uric acid level is above normal range, I have GERD and I have chronic shoulder/back pains. So aside from regular check-ups and doctors' advice, I read a lot of health and fitness articles online and found out I could eliminate all the pains I'm having if I will just lose weight. Since then, I realized I need to get out more and move more if I want to live a healthier life, free from medicines and diet restrictions. No more Netflix and mobile games now (I'm trying hehe). So this 2020, I started again this #sitlessmovemore mantra. Everyday on my way to work, I walk from MRT to my office  instead of riding a cab. And I didn't just walk, I do brisk walking, in order to keep my heart pumping and improve my VO2 max. And every Saturday, I went to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center to jog/walk for at least an hour. I still couldn't do straight jogging for 1km but I'm working on it.

Enough about me and my health and fitness issues, back to the reason why I'm updating this blog. One of the commenters below wrote new rates and that NAPWC charges more to foreign visitors. I didn't know it back then so when I started again this weekend jog at the park, I inquired about their new rates. And he's (or she's?) right, NAPWC rate for foreign visitors is 100 Php, higher than the entrance rate of local visitors. Actually, all NAPWC rates were increased; rates got tripled, more than triple for some fees, actually. But the entrance clerk quickly mentioned that they're not implementing foreign rate as of now as they don't have 100 Php tickets, yet. I don't understand why foreign visitors should be charged higher than the locals but for now (or until they have printed 100 Php tickets), foreign visitors out there who want to explore NAPWC can enjoy the 30 Php entrance fee, same as local visitors. Below is the copy of the updated Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center entrance, parking, facilities and commercial filming rates.

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center 2020 entrance, parking and other fees

~ oo00oo ~

Sit less... move more... explore!, my mantra this 2017. This is because I realized I'm not getting any younger that getting physically fit is a must. And one way of achieving it without getting bored is to go out and explore the city (am living in Quezon City) around me. One of the first place I explored is the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center.

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) is a 22 hectare zoological and botanical garden located in Diliman, Quezon City, very near Quezon City Memorial Circle (just across QCMC's North Avenue entrance). Aside from being a park, it serves as a temporary refuge for donated, abandoned, rescued and confiscated animals. Several government offices under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are located there, including the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), an agency in-charge of the management, protection and conservation of protected areas and wildlife including those sheltered in NAPWC.

Anyway, if you're like me who wants to move more without spending more, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is one of the place to be. It's very near and it's cheap (only 30 Php entrance fee), a very good alternative than going to a gym. In NAPWC, you'll lose some extra pounds while exploring your very own city; you'll even learn something new that will raise your awareness of the environment.

forest in the city

Exercise: Walk/Jog around the Lagoon

As I mentioned earlier, NAPWC is a good place to do your walking and/or jogging. You can walk and jog here anytime of the day since the park is mostly shaded with trees. Walking around and exploring the park would take about three hours so imagine the calories you'll lose. I did it the first time I went there. The next time around, I did my walking/jogging just around the lagoon, circling around it at least two times.

jogging/walking around this lagoon and taking photos, too :)

Picnic/Play With Family/Friends

For QC dwellers, NAPWC is known as a picnic park. Many families go there especially those with young children. They play around, do some catching up (probably some gossiping, too... hehe), eat together and just sit and relax. Some even celebrates a family member's birthday. Cheap yet fun, right?

a family celebrating a member's birthday

playing around with friends

pink-themed picnic :P

more picnics

picnics pa more

Photography/Videography

Walking around the park, I noticed several photo sessions here and there. I've also seen some groups shooting and directing some plays. Majority involves children dressed like a princess and/or using their (probably) favorite character's costume. I've also witnessed an on-going photography session with aspiring (I suppose, hehe) models. If you're a photography enthusiast, drop by NAPWC and be inspired by those photographers. You may even ask to join them, I just don't know if it's free.

kid's in a photo session...

dressed like a little princess...

briefing before the photo session...

photographers in action...

heard the theme's about the sang'gres, you be the judge!

photographing the photographers ;)

Wedding Prenups

If you're on a budget but still would like to have that dreamed prenup photos and video to showcase on your wedding day, consider NAPWC as your photo shoot location. You and/or your photographer will surely find a nice spot to do it; you may even bring some props and kits to help with your theme. I've seen several couple doing it, just be creative.

Wildlife Rescue Center

As mentioned above, NAPWC is a refuge for donated, abandoned, rescued and confiscated animals. There is this particular section of the park dedicated for them, the Wildlife Rescue Center. It's a bit of a cramped area with cages all around that housed various animals - birds, snakes, wild cats, crocodiles and many others. Check them out and make your children be aware of those protected animals.

Wildlife Rescue Center

caged chattering lory... aptly named,
she (beautiful color so I assume a she's a 'she' hehe) never stopped chirping and chattering

lawin!
not within the rescue center area but still caged

caught him (I assume he's a 'he') munching on his food

Philippine Eagle: he (again, I assume he's a 'he') seems sad
probably he wants to be free

looking for a way to escape?!
Haring Ibon: pambansang ibong ng Pilipinas

Fishing Village

I wasn't able to enter the fishing village premise but I suppose you can rent the place for a special occasion. I saw it fully decorated with caterers/waiters waiting around to serve its guests. You may ask the park's administration, for a more accurate information about this one.

The Fishing Village

Gazebo and the Amphitheater

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is a photographer's haven. And the Gazebo is it's most photographed section, I suppose. A lot of people gathered there to do their selfies, some others (young and young once) in photo session with their photographers.

where people do their selfies :P

the amphitheater: just don't know if it's for free
saw teenagers practicing their dance steps here, though

where selfies and photo sessions abound...

you can do some bamboo rafting in here, too

The Aquatic House and the Serpentarium

In case you don't know, NAPWC also has this section for sharks and other marine life. It doesn't look well-maintained and with only a few fishes but if you want to introduce your children to marine life, then you may check out their aquatic house. It is located just beside the serpentarium.

hammer head sharks and me ;)

the aquatic house...

The Serpentariun
several snakes can be seen in here

Food Trip

If you and/or your family didn't bring some food, there are several food stalls and vendors inside NAPWC. Rice meals, noodles, dim sums, ice cream, chips and other junk foods - you'll find them there. For a rice meal, price ranges from 50 Php to 60 Php; noodles and other snacks are of course, cheaper. For a minimal amount, you'll never get hungry in this place.

the food station, where I took my brunch :)

because me and my wallet's on a diet ;)

food vendors...

Relaxing, Dating, Training, Meetings and a lot more

relax with your daughter, on a hammock

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is a popular field trip destination
even on a weekend, many buses arrived here transporting children for their field trip

don't know who they are but it seems like they're here for a training

sleep under the canopy of trees

date with your special someone...
fresh air, peaceful environment and most of all, free (almost!)

~ oo00oo ~

Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center

Diliman, Quezon City (near QC Circle)

Entrance Fee: 30 Php - adults; 15 Php - student; FREE for SCs/PWDs/children below 7y/o

Parking Fee: 150 Php - bus; 60 Php - jeep/coaster; 45 Php - cars/SUV; 20 Php - tricycle/motorcycle

Operating Hours: Tuesday - Sunday; 7:00AM - 5:00PM