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Commonwealth, Manuel Quezón,
whose museum and sarcophagus can
be visited under the three-pronged
Quezon Monument.
Walk 270 yards north-east in the
direction of Commonwealth Avenue,
then follow the interior road south-east
about 50 yards until you reach Coconut
House (
D-4 Elliptical Rd, Diliman; tel:
+63 2 392 4115
),
where you can have
a leisurely
buko
(
coconut)-themed
“
cocolog” breakfast (PHP105). North-
west along the same road, you’ll find
the Circle of Joy children’s playground
and the Circle of Fun carnival grounds
(
PHP20); a ride on the latter’s soaring
Ferris wheel provides sweeping views
of the park.
Back at your last stop, ride a jeepney
(
PHP10) bound for Fairview: you’ll
travel about 8km up Commonwealth
Avenue before you hit the corner of
Winston Street. Motorized tricycles
(
PHP30) can take you into La Mesa
Ecopark (
tel: +63 2 430 4051,
lamesaecopark@abs-cbn.com
),
a
33-
hectare green space bordering
Manila’s main source of drinking
water, the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa system
(
PHP50 3ft and above, free otherwise;
daily 8am-5pm). Inside, a number of
inexpensive activities can keep a family
happily occupied for an afternoon.
Lunch on a Salisbury Steak (PHP80)
at Sizzling Island (
Ipil Pavilion; tel: +63
922 859 2613
)
before practising your
Hawkeye impression at the archery
range (PHP50); visiting the butterfly
trail (PHP80); or trying the Ecopark’s
rides, either of the pedal-powered
(
PHP60) or equine (PHP50) variety.
Wrap up the afternoon with a dip at
the Ecopark’s new swimming complex
(
PHP80 for 3ft and above, PHP40
below 3ft, open 8am-4pm). A kiddie
pool and a separate, Olympic-size pool
supply splashy fun for all ages.
To get back to Intramuros from the
Ecopark, ride a tricycle back to the
corner of Winston and Commonwealth
Above left:
President Manuel
Quezon’s museum
and sarcophagus
are located at the
Quezon Monument;
(
above right) have
fun with the kids
at the Circle of Fun
carnival; (inset)
enjoy the food at
Sizzling Island at La
Mesa Ecopark
(
PHP30); cross the highway, then ride
a bus to Quiapo (PHP15); from Quiapo,
ride a jeep headed to the Pier (PHP8)
and disembark at Intramuros in front of
Plaza Roma.
Shoestring
budget for day 3:
PHP698 per head
M A N I L A O N A S H O E S T R I N G
TOTAL
SHOESTRING
BUDGET:
PHP2,099
per head
Cebu Pacific flies to Manila from across
the network.
