Visitors flock to the Maybunga Rainforest Park in Pasig City on May 2, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — It’s the time of year again when the heat gets unbearable and the absence of trees in our communities is more severely felt.

And that is what Pasig is trying to provide not only to its constituents but also to non-residents: green spaces and shade from trees in the Maybunga Rainforest Park.

Similar to Manila’s Arroceros Forest Park, Quezon City’s Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Park, and UP Diliman’s Sunken Garden, Maybunga Rainforest Park offers a safe and relaxing close-to-nature environment for those who want to escape the sun’s scorching heat, or the loud and cramped vehicles on the road.

The 6.8-hectare park provides a variety of attractions for visitors like the Botanical Garden, Flower Park, Pet Park, Amphitheater, Senior Citizen’s Park, Waterpark Pools, Picnic Grove, Adventure Park, aMAZE Garden, Fitness Center, Kiddie Playground, and Tennis & Basketball Courts.

It is also home to the Pasig City Science High School.

Some parts of the park are under renovation, like the Boating Lagoon and the Zoo, which will soon be converted into a habitat for endemic and native trees.

Maybunga’s growing number of trees

In January 2023, the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Pasig renamed the Rainforest Adventure Experience Park and made Maybunga Rainforest Park a permanent protected area through Ordinance No. 6, Section 2023.

The park is home to about 3,000 different types of trees, which offer shade and much fresher air to its visitors.

Patrick Plandiano, officer-in-charge of Maybunga Rainforest Park, said the park is looking to add more trees with the help of its visitors.

“Yeah, actually, ‘yun (tree planting) ‘yung madalas natin ina-accommodate … Ngayon, sa Maybunga Rainforest Park, mas priority namin yung pag-tree planting,” he said.

Apart from tree-planting activities, the park also helps visitors interested in learning about urban gardening.

He said that increasing the number trees and plants around us can help reduce the intense heat that the Philippines has been experiencing in recent weeks

While Maybunga Rainforest Park wants more trees planted, it also takes care of trees that have been on the park for a long time. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is set to declare an 80-year-old Balete tree in the park as a Heritage Tree, which will mean any work that could affect the tree, including cutting, pruning and removing it, will require DENR approval.

For friends, families, fur babies

According to Plandiano, the park has seen an overwhelming number of visitors this summer, with weekday visits ranging between 3,000–4,000 and weekend visitors reaching 10,000.

Most visitors of Maybunga Rainforest Park stay at the free entrance spots like Picnic Grove and Senior Citizen's Park because of the surrounding trees, which offer fresh air and shade from the intense sun.

Sophia Mejio, 21, celebrated her baby's first month by taking her family to Maybunga Rainforest Park because it is near to their house and offers a relaxing atmosphere.

“Diito po kasi, sariwa po dito, mahangin,” she said on Thursday, May 2.

She added that they did not spend any money for this picnic-style family activity and just prepared meals at home before going to the park.

Since the park is also open to non-Pasigueños, 42-year-old Stephanie Burguite and her family went there to make the most of their time in Manila before returning to Dipolog City.

“Presko dito ‘pag dito kayo sa may shade (ng puno),” she said.

She also said that they only found Maybunga Rainforest Park on the internet while looking for tourist spots to visit in Manila.

However, the park isn’t only for the humans. Fur parents are also allowed to take their pets for a walk around the park.

According to Kris, a pet owner, she did not know that there is now a pet park in the Maybunga Rainforest Park and it was her first time there with her fur baby, Yuki.

“Naghahanap kasi ako ng pet park na open field kasi boring na sa bahay. ‘Di ko alam na may pet park na dito,” She stated.

All pets are welcome at the Pet Park, however Plandiano advised pet owners that their fur babies must wear diapers to maintain the park's cleanliness.

Reminders to park goers

In order to protect and preserve green spaces like Maybunga Rainforest Park, proper sanitation should always be observed.

Plandiano reminded people who plan to visit the park to have discipline and avoid littering inside the area.

“Kung gagamit ng CR, bigyan ng respeto ang susunod na gagamit nito. ‘Yung mga facilities, mga halaman ay hindi po natin pag-aari. Huwag po natin kukunin,” he added.

He emphasized that efforts to protect Maybunga Rainforest Park and other green areas not only preserve their beauty and landscape, but also our biodiversity in general. 

— Myra Pasa, ABS-CBN News intern