I love nature parks and serene environments. And knowing that my girlfriend shares the same love for nature as I do makes me feel very fortunate. While movies and Netflix dates as well as fancy restaurants might offer a different experience, for introverts like us, serenity is the key.

So from time to time, we commit to spending a day just enjoying nature in places with many trees, green grass, and not much pollution. Fortunately, there are still a few parks we can go to amidst the polluted and building-congested Metro Manila.

So this weekend, we decided we go to UP.

Weekend begins

She insisted that she comes to my place first before we begin our walkathon to UP. Commuting from her place to ours is an 18km travel, but she doesn't mind. It's her way of shaking off her work-related stress accumulated over the week. What I do in return is prepare her food as soon as she arrives.

It was almost 10 am when she arrived. She complained about the traffic. Because of electoral campaigns, traffic sprouts everywhere. We went our way an hour later, after taking our brunch.

Walk to Riverbanks

Our first stop is Riverbanks via Riverpark. I can no longer count how many times we've walked in this area, but it remains our favorite place. But since it's almost at the peak of noon, we barely see joggers and bikers along the road. It's good that I brought with me an umbrella. At least we have a little protection from the sun. When we could no longer tolerate the heat, we stopped beside a chapel to rest and enjoy some shade while looking at some children picking mango fruits. Later, we continued walking towards Riverbanks.

The Riverbanks Mall welcomed us with a cooling air conditioning breeze. We bought some refreshments and a few chips for our UP picnic. UP is still two rides away from Riverbanks, and walking is no longer an option.

Reaching UP

The University of the Philippines was established in 1908 and is one of the flagship universities in the Philippines. Many of the top leaders and movers in the country hail from this century-old university. UP Diliman is one of the campuses of the UP System and serves as its seat of administration. It is a coeducational, public research university that epitomizes honor and excellence.

The thing I love with UP is the vibe of freedom and passion it fosters. The campus itself welcomes people from all walks of life. Though I didn't make it to UP when I was in college, I still have memorable experiences with people from UP.

UP houses a luscious green park that is open to everyone. That's why joggers and families with children flock to UP for picnics and relaxation. Couples like us are present too! Unfortunately, bikers are not allowed at the moment.

We brought out the food we bought from Riverbanks, rested with our backs flat on the grass, talked about life, love, and our plans. While we're there, we forget about our work and our family problems. The cool breeze and shade and the sight of happy children playing with their parents imbibe a relaxing effect on our minds and bodies. It was a sight to behold.