IN A country with seemingly unstoppable inflation, it's quite easy to assume that anywhere you may want to go and anything you may want to do would mean you probably have to spend.
But contrary to what you may think, you really don't need to spend much to find the perfect place to hang out with friends or family. After all, expensive cafes do not have a monopoly on suitable meeting places.
As a matter of fact, there are a lot of places here in Metro Cebu where you and your friends can hang out for free-or so cheap, it's practically free. And no, I don't mean your, or your friend's, house. What I'm referring to are parks. Yep, the ones with soft green grass underfoot, tall trees overhead, and loads of space to run around and play tag in. Curious?
Here are 8 parks in Cebu you can certainly check out.
1. Fuente Osmeña Circle
One of the few parks with lush greenery, it offers parkgoers a lot of fresh air as well as many cool shady areas. On special occasions, such as Christmas holidays and Sinulog festival, the park is a popular venue for all kinds of shows, concerts, and gatherings.
You can get there by riding a jeepney that passes by Capitol or Jones Avenue.
2. Ayala Terraces
Aside from being a great place for taking selfies, you can also have nice picnics at that nice patch of green near the Chocolatier shop, which is nearby the pathway that leads to Marriott Hotel. There, you can lay out a cozy blanket and laze around for as long as you like. And if it gets too scorching for your sensitive skin, you can just pop inside for a bit and enjoy the mall's AC air. A perfect set-up if you ask me.
To get there, you can take any jeepney that can bring you to Ayala mall, of course.
3. Parkmall Cebu
You can get there by taking the 01K jeepney route at Emall.
4. Cebu I.T. Park
Any jeepney that goes to Apas can bring you to I.T. Park.
5. Plaza Independencia
Re-opened on 2011, Plaza Independencia is among the most significant historical places in the city. As a matter of fact, the earliest versions of the park can be traced back to the 1600s, when it was first called Plaza de Armas. It was named this because it was an official military training ground. Before it got its present name, it had three other names -- Plaza Mayor, Plaza Maria Cristina, and Plaza Libertad. It was officially dubbed Plaza Independencia only after the country was freed from all its colonizers and was declared an independent nation.
The jeepney routes that pass right by the said plaza are 12G, 12I, and 21D. Jeepney routes that can take you to Santo Niño Church will also get you within a short walking distance to the plaza.
6. Fort San Pedro
It also has a rather small square foot area. But it has tons of benches spread throughout the grounds and up on the walls, where you can take a rest and read. There are also several museums scattered all over the fort.
I remember when I was a staff writer in our high school paper, our editor-in-chief used to meet us at that open space right in the middle of the fort. We had some of the best powwows in that place.
There's no jeepney that can actually bring you to the gates of Fort San Pedro. But anything that can take you to Plaza Independencia will be good enough. From there, you just cross the park to the fort on foot.
7. Senior Citizen's Park
When I asked around where I could find it, one old lady mentioned that it was converted into a parking lot. Thankfully though, it wasn't. But there is a parking lot adjacent to it. I'm not entirely sure, but perhaps, that was part of the park before, which was why the old lady thought the park had been decommissioned altogether.
The park is so small that when you get inside and turn around in place, you'll be able to see everything it has to offer. Still, the benches look mighty welcoming and it does have sufficient space for small gatherings.
Any jeepney that can bring you to City Hall will do. Just go on foot from there, especially if you're not sure about the nearest jeepney stops.
8. Family Park
Like Parkmall, this park is a little out of the way since it's in Talamban, and you'd also have to pay an entrance fee to get in. I'm not sure about the fee since it has been a while since I went there, but it may be around P15 to P20 now. This park is run by Metro Cebu Water District, the main water supplier of the city. Quite aptly named, this park has lots of facilities that are perfect for all groups of people, especially families. It has a large main ground, a playground for children, a mini zoo, a pool, a pond, and a function hall. You can also rent cottages around the pond. I'm also not sure about their business hours but they open pretty early in the morning.
To get there, you can take any jeepney that will take you to Talamban or USC-TC in Cebu Business Park -- right across Ayala Terraces or in that stop near the Pag-Ibig building, to be more specific.
Family Park is a little a ways from USC-TC. If you're not sure where to get off, tell the driver that you're going there and he'll drop you off at the right stop.
These parks probably have rules or restrictions that visitors should follow, and I can't say I know all of them. But I guess cleanliness is first and foremost. Don't be a slob and leave your trash behind. Throw them in the right bins. Also, respect other people's space and privacy. Knowingly eavesdropping on a private conversation is not nice. Lastly, refrain from being a loudmouth. The rest of the world doesn't have to know what you think. If you want to share something to a stranger, do so respectfully and politely.
If you have any other useful advice or info to add for those who might want to visit these parks, please do share. It's always nice to hear from our readers. (HangingRice.com)
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