MANILA – The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will develop a blueprint to transform the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City into a vibrant and multi-purpose space for recreation and physical fitness.
The shared vision is to revitalize the area, positioning it as a safe and accessible venue for active lifestyles in the country’s largest city.
The park is ideal for the development of various sports facilities, including a skateboarding park, wushu and sports climbing areas, rowing lanes, and canoe-kayak paddling zones in the lagoon, biker- and pedestrian-friendly spaces, among others.
Within Quezon City, there are places where people can be active, such as the Quezon Memorial Circle, University of the Philippines Academic Oval and Tomas Morato Avenue during car-free Sundays.
The construction of additional fitness and recreational spaces is set to be a game-changer for the widely populated city and other nearby areas within Metro Manila. These new spaces will also contribute to making the city’s streets more pedestrian-friendly, especially with the planned Elevated Landscape Promenade connecting the Wildlife Center to the main area of Quezon Memorial Circle.
The project requires minimal budget but will make a significant impact to many.
It can also help revive certain sports in communities like softball and baseball, where the country was known to be excellent in the early 1900s. Putting up a diamond for softball and baseball is not expensive, which can also be used in other kinds of activities like music and others.
There are plans to coordinate with the Wushu Federation of the Philippines to regularly conduct programs within parks and public spaces.
Wushu disciplines such as taolu, which involves choreographed routines using weapons, and tai-chi, which is focused on slow and fluid movement for health and balance, are ideal for such settings and can be easily adopted by the citizens.
The DENR is likewise exploring the possibility of collaborating with the PSC to enhance its forest land management programs, transforming natural landscapes into dynamic platforms that encourage physical activities. Among the activities are mountain biking, hiking, trail running, and obstacle sports — all of which are seen as potential consistent producers of medals in global competitions.
Regional centers will be established all over the country, as long as the province or the city has a facility and they adopt a sport.
The DENR is just one of several national agencies the PSC is working with to strengthen grassroots sports development and promote sports tourism.
A new national program is being crafted that provides training equipment and improves capabilities of teachers and coaches through the PSC’s Philippine Sports Institute.
The country is also positioning itself to host big-ticket tournaments, further cementing its potential as a sports tourism hub. Major support for this objective has been secured.
Quezon Memorial Circle
The Quezon Memorial Circle is a national park and shrine located in Quezon City, Philippines, built to honor the memory of President Manuel L. Quezon. Its centerpiece is a 66-meter tall triple pylon, representing the three main island groups of the Philippines and housing the remains of the former president. The park was developed on the site originally intended for the Philippines’ national capital.
Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center
The Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center is a 22.7-hectare protected park and rescue center for indigenous Philippine fauna, located in Quezon City. It was renamed in 1987 to honor Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a prominent opposition leader whose assassination was a pivotal event in the nation’s history. The park itself, however, was originally established much earlier as the Quezon Memorial National Park.
University of the Philippines Academic Oval
The University of the Philippines Academic Oval is the historic central core and main carriageway of the UP Diliman campus, established in 1949. Lined with acacia trees and iconic buildings, it serves as a central promenade and a symbol of the university’s tradition of academic freedom and national excellence.
Tomas Morato Avenue
Tomas Morato Avenue is a major commercial and dining hub in Quezon City, Philippines, named after Tomas Morato, a former mayor of the city and a WWII hero. Historically, it developed as a prominent entertainment and restaurant district in the late 20th century, earning its reputation as the “Restaurant Row” of Manila.
Elevated Landscape Promenade
The Elevated Landscape Promenade is a modern urban park built on a repurposed former railway viaduct in Seoul, South Korea. Originally constructed in the 1970s, the abandoned structure was transformed into a public green space and opened in 2017. It now serves as a popular linear park featuring gardens, cafes, and art installations, connecting different neighborhoods while preserving a piece of the city’s industrial history.
Wushu Federation of the Philippines
The Wushu Federation of the Philippines is the national governing body for the sport of wushu (Chinese martial arts) in the country. It was established to promote and develop the discipline, organizing athletes for both local and international competitions. The federation has played a key role in the Philippines’ success in the sport, most notably in producing Olympic medalists and champions in the Southeast Asian Games.
Philippine Sports Institute
The Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) is the national sports academy of the Philippines, established to systematically develop the country’s elite athletes. It was created through Republic Act No. 11214, also known as the “Philippine Sports Training Center Act,” which was signed into law in 2019. The institute’s primary mission is to provide world-class training facilities, scientific coaching, and support services to athletes in their pursuit of international sporting excellence.
Metro Manila
Metro Manila is the bustling capital region of the Philippines, a dense metropolis composed of 16 cities. It was formally established in 1975 to administer the growing urban area, but its history is deeply rooted in its core city, Manila, which was a major trading port long before Spanish colonization began in the 16th century. Today, it serves as the country’s political, economic, and cultural center.
