Clark Parade Grounds

Park Picnic 🌳

On the weekend, I went to the park with my friends from the academy. We even packed a picnic mat for the picnic and wore comfortable clothes for being active. Since I spend so much time at the academy and the dorm, it's really nice to spend relaxed time outdoors like this every now and then.

When you arrive at the park, you can see people who have come out with friends and family to enjoy a picnic. Some play badminton, fly kites, or sit on the grass and chat quietly together. Even without doing anything busy, simply spreading out a mat, sitting down, and looking at the scenery around you is enough to make for an enjoyable weekend.

HANA Academy, where you can mingle with friends from many different countries

The sky seen while lying on the picnic mat

On weekends in particular, you can also see lots of local families visiting. I think it's another nice point that you get to see an everyday weekend scene of Filipino people, which is different from a typical tourist spot.

We arrived while the sun was still blazing hot, so before getting into the picnic properly, we stopped at a nearby cafe for a little while. Since the Philippines has summer weather, if you're planning outdoor activities in the middle of the day, it's a good idea to know a place where you can escape the heat for a bit.

There are lots of restaurants and cafes near the park, so it's great for having a meal or taking a short break. At 'Here Cafe', which we chose, we could enjoy a variety of foods, from all kinds of bakery items to brunch. It's also perfect for resting a while with a drink and recharging your energy. When we visited, they were just in the middle of decorating with a Christmas theme. True to a country that starts enjoying the Christmas mood early, we could feel the year-end atmosphere even in these small decorations. The staff were working at the cafe wearing Christmas hats from October.

The bakery display at Here Cafe

Bakery display 22

As the sun started to set little by little, a different atmosphere came over the park as well. If during the day there were many people resting to get away from the sunlight, once the sunset arrived, people began to find spots and sit down one by one.

Around 7-8 in the evening, everyone was gathered together, so we went over to see what was going on, and it was a fountain show! Watching the fountains move to the music, we could feel a completely different charm of the park from the daytime. Thanks to that, we didn't just enjoy a picnic and head back, but fully enjoyed the Philippine evening atmosphere along with the music~

### Another Park Worth Visiting Together

Another park nearby is Air Force City Park. It's an especially fun place to explore if you have a child who loves airplanes or helicopters. Planes and helicopters that were used in the past are on display with explanations, making it a nice place for a casual look around.

However, it's smaller than the park I introduced earlier, and there's only one café nearby.

### Visiting TIPS!

• **Recommended time:** We recommend visiting in the late afternoon when it gets a little cooler, rather than during the daytime when the sun is strong.
• **What to bring:** It's a good idea to bring a picnic mat, water, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent.
• **Recommended for:** Those who want a casual picnic with friends, those who want to experience the local weekend atmosphere, and families planning outdoor activities with their children.

Even if you don't travel far, if you'd like to spend a different kind of weekend during your time at the academy, be sure to visit at least once!