Hello 
I used to pass by Divina Gracia every time we went to the city. The fences are high, and only tall coconut trees can be seen from the outside. I thought it was just a garden or something that was not really a stop-by.
One time, my son asked us to stop for a while in the park. We hesitated at first, but our boy insisted. We got inside the park after paying the 25-peso (0.50 USD)entrance fee and brought out our packed lunch when we saw tables nearby.
It was 11 in the morning, but the air inside felt like 5 am. The cold breeze was so fresh under the coconut trees. Inside was a beautiful landscape. Rare decorative plants captured my eyes. The mini-children's ground was full of kids' toys, but only my kids were there. There were no other guests at that time. The kids enjoyed playing as if those toys were their own.
You can see many figures inside, a horse, a zebra, a big heart-shaped bench, a big butterfly where you can take pictures of yourself becoming a butterfly, a wishing well, and more.
The swing was still very functional, just as functional as the shoe-shaped slide. And beside the slide is the wall climbing for kids area, where my kids really had fun.
As I strolled around, I saw a high-floored bahay-kubo (native hut). I wanted to climb on its high staircases, but my partner told me not to go upstairs. It seemed that the structure was not that sturdy anymore. Perhaps it was not well-maintained since they had few guests, or maybe there were times when no one got inside the park. Too sad that the park was really beautiful.
The park was quite huge. I never noticed the other side until my son Jeff was trying to head in that direction. There, I saw a swimming pool filled with crystal clear water, spring water. Beside the pool was a covered veranda with beautiful furniture.
At the center of the park was a mini-stage, and we saw musical instruments covered with mesh. I concluded that live bands on weekend nights were on that stage before. That place must have been very lively and filled with people some time ago.
We never noticed the time; we enjoyed the fresh air and the beauty of Divina Gracia. We ate our lunch, and it was 2 pm when we left the place.
Looking back, stopping at Divina Gracia was a good choice. Sometimes, beautiful places are hidden behind plain fences and simple gates. You will never know what’s inside if you don’t give it a try. I hope more people will visit this quiet spot so it can be taken care of and enjoyed by many. This place is now one of our favorite stop-overs. We will surely come back again to breathe fresh air, enjoy the calm, and make more memories together.