Being a mom definitely comes with many perks. One of them is having an excuse to be a child again when playing with your kid. And you also get to join school field trips again!

A few weeks ago, Kinderwood Learning Villa had its annual learning exposure trip which included tours in different attractions in Pasig City.  The kids (and parents) learned more about fishes at Las Farolas, saw artifacts and heard stories about the rich history and culture of Pasig at the City Museum, and had great outdoor fun at RAVE.

 

Las Farolas

We have passed in front of Las Farolas several times already since it was opened but have never really been inclined to check it out.  We’ve read mixed feedback on this “waterworld” with some parents saying that it was a fun place to discover more about fishes while others say that they found it a bit boring.  The kids’ school exposure trip provided us a chance to finally see it for ourselves.

Las Farolas is a modest oceanarium where one can learn more about rich freshwater biodiversity.   They exhibit various aquatic species not only from the Philippines but from other countries as well.  Aside from functioning as a museum of sorts, Las Farolas also serves as a research platform for new methods and breeding practices that would help preserve and conserve freshwater aquatic resources.

So, how did the kids find the place?  Some kids enjoyed looking at the different aquatic lifeforms but some kids were not too keen about them.  While inside the two-storey hubs, my little Jade was too afraid of the dark surroundings to fully enjoy viewing the ornamental fishes and other animals.  Before we even finished the tour inside, Jakei had already turned cranky.  I can’t remember what triggered that bad mood but suffice it to say that we did not enjoy the rest of Las Farolas after that.

Would I recommend the place to other families? Not really. Unless you are a family of fish lovers and would enjoy spending hours just watching the fish and other aquatic lifeforms swimming inside their aquariums.  I also find the entrance fee of P400 too steep for a modest oceanarium.  I’d rather just take my kids back to Manila Ocean Park or to Ocean Adventure in Subic.

 

Pasig City Museum

Our next stop was the Pasig City Museum housed at the Concepcion Mansion, an architectural heritage built in the 1930s.  During the Japanese occupation, the mansion was used as a Japanese headquarters and a detention house.  The Concepcion Mansion was acquired by the Pasig City government in the 1980s and used it as the city library and museum.  In early 2000s, it was renovated and was renamed as the Pasig City Museum.  Today, it serves as a historical and art museum exhibiting the city’s rich culture and history.

How did the kids find the museum? The artifacts, dioramas, and other exhibits did pique my kids curiosity.  Jade was interested to know the story behind “Nagsabado ng Pasig” and marveled at the “Mutya ng Pasig” sculpture in the lobby.  I was on my toes during the entire time we were there because the kids were used to going to interactive museums and may think that it’s fine to touch the relics on display.

Would I recommend this museum to other families?  Yes, especially if you live in Pasig.  However, visit the museum in small groups to fully appreciate the exhibits and the tour.  It was nice to see how rich the history of Pasig is but it would have been a much better experience if we were guided around in small groups.  We were way too many(more than 50) for a decent guided tour around the museum.  Those staying at the back (us included) could barely hear what the guide was saying.

 

RAVE of Pasig

The Rainforest Adventure Experience of Pasig is an oasis in the midst of industrial, commercial, and residential structures in a highly urbanized city.  If you need a breath of fresh air without driving hours out of Metro Manila, RAVE is the place to go.  Among the many attractions in this park are a petting zoo, an aviary, a butterfly pavilion, a maze garden with tropical flora, a boating lagoon, and a water park.  There’s also an amphitheater and an obstacle course.  Those who want to see all the attractions without having to walk the entire time can ride on the train that goes around the park.

Did the kids like the park?  Oh yes, the kids were raving about the RAVE of Pasig days after the field trip.  They really loved the open space and the many attractions. Jakei was delighted to see a peacock. I bet he would have been ecstatic had the peacock spread its tail. 🙂  The animals in the zoo looked a bit pitiful though.  I’m sure the zookeepers are doing their best to care for them but you really can’t help feeling bad for the animals cooped in their tiny pens. 

The wishing well in the middle of the maze garden delighted Jade.  I didn’t have coins in my wallet so we had to ask around to have our bill changed.  Both my kids made wishes until we ran out of coins.  It’s worthy to note that the park administrators made sure that the well was safe for children (and crazy adults) by putting chicken wire over the opening of the well.  That should prevent any accidental falls into the well.

Another attraction that the kids enjoyed was the Chess Pavilion.  They didn’t know how to play chess yet but are familiar with the game.  What made the place exciting for them was that the chess pieces were around two-feet high and the board was big enough for them to walk on.

The kids also had a great ride on the train. I wouldn’t let children ride the train without any adult though as it didn’t provide any security for active children.  Wildly adventurous kids could jump off the moving train without much difficulty.

Would we recommend this park to other families? Yes, definitely yes!  It is among the handful of open spaces in the metro where kids can run around freely and enjoy nature. The Waterpark also looked very inviting so we might go back again for a swim one of these days.