Fun Summer Activities you can do on any Budget

The schedule: swimming classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, soccer camp on Tuesdays and Thursdays, painting every Friday, and reading workshops every day. Summer activities can drain your bank account faster than a regular school year. Here are some ideas for pure fun in the sun to fit any budget! 

If you have P100...

Have a wild time!Going to the zoo is an inexpensive trip that is both educational and entertaining for children of all ages. Go to the Manila Zoo and treat your child to a morning filled with elephants, ostriches, zebras, and horses. Bring along a small book about animals to further acquaint your child with the creatures he sees. Interesting tidbits, such as monkeys’ habit of peeling bananas before eating them, will help your child retain more information.

Zoo hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Admission fees*: P40/adult, P20/child

Address: Adriatico Street, Manila City

Telephone: (02) 525-8157

 

A good alternative to Manila Zoo is Ark Avilon. Aside from seeing orangutans, jaguars, and tortoises up close, there is also a feeding station young children will truly delight in. 

Admission fees*: P300/adults, P200/child

Address: Ortigas Ave., Pasig City

Telephone: (02) 706-2992; (02) 706-2993

 

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Bask in the sun

 A picnic with your family under the clear blue skies is a sure-fire hit. A kite floating in the breeze or maybe a ball or two for kicking around will keep young ones entertained. Your neighborhood park is a good spot, but there are also other places that offer picnic grounds for a minimal fee—or even for free:

• Luneta Park 

Also known as Rizal Park, this famous landmark teems with history and interesting facts for everyone. Spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy a lazy afternoon with the kids. There are street vendors selling balloons, ice cream, and other knick-knacks to delight your children.

• Quezon Memorial Circle

 A busy park during the weekends, Quezon Memorial Circle offers a wide variety of fun-filled activities for children. 

• University of the Philippines Diliman

Although most university campuses offer acres of manicured lawns perfect for picnics, the campus of the University of the Philippines Diliman offers unrestricted entrance for everyone. Parts of the university are closed to vehicular access, so bring along your bikes, strollers, and skates for added fun!

 

Smart tip: 

There are other venues in the Metro that offer good picnic grounds. Lopez Picnic Grounds, located inside La Mesa Eco Park, is equipped with tables, benches, and even grilling facilities. There is a P50 entrance fee and additional fees to go horseback riding and for using the swimming pool and bikes. Call (02) 430-5208 for information. 

Another good venue with an educational twist is Fort Santiago located inside Intramuros. Call the Intramuros Visitor’s Center at (02) 527-2961 for information on entrance fees.

 

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If you have P300...

Tell stories.

There are so many wonderful storybooks out there that can capture the imagination of your little ones. Pop into your nearest bookstore and settle in for an afternoon of browsing and choosing a book for an evening of storytelling. 

Smart Tip:

  Booksale, a chain of stores selling brand new and secondhand books, is a good source of quality books at a discount. The selection varies from store to store and the quality of the books ranges from brand new to well-loved. 

 

Make art!

 Be creative this summer and provide your child with a wealth of materials guaranteed to bring out his inner artist. Collage, painting, and drawing materials are easily accessible in bookstores and the selection these days is quite varied. Choose from pompoms, sequins, pipe cleaners, glitter, oil and water, or acrylic-based paints. Sketchpads can help keep all his work in one place while flat canvas boards tend to inspire even those who claim they cannot draw. 

Smart Tip: Post some of his artwork on your walls. The pride children feel when their work is displayed has no bounds. 

 

IF YOU HAVE P500...

Scrap it up! 

 Keep your summer memories intact. Print out your favorite photos and create a scrapbook that you and your child can assemble together. To make one: Simply attach a few pieces of thick poster paper together by punching holes and winding a piece of string around them to hold the pages in place. Gather your pictures, used tickets, flyers, brochures, and other materials related to your summer outing. Cut out pictures and words from newspapers and magazines to create fun captions. Ribbons give a nice whimsical touch while glitters add sparkle and pizzazz. Have fun with your child as you relive the funny and crazy adventures of your family. 

Go fish! 

Take a stroll thorough Manila’s ever-growing attraction that is the Manila Ocean Park. Aside from the Oceanarium, which houses numerous aquariums to guide children through the different kinds of water and the fish that live in them, from Agos (freshwater), Bahura (reef), and Laot (deep fishing grounds) all the way to the great big ocean (Buhay na Karagatan), the park also boasts of a wide range of activities. The glass bottom boat is always a big hit. 

Business hours: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and other public holidays, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Admission fees*: P400/adults, P350/child

Address: Adriatico St., Manila 

Telephone: (02) 525-8157

Website: manilaoceanpark.com 

 

Things to remember: 

 • Make sure your child has an identification card with him at all times. 

• Bring along a first-aid kit that contains the essentials: alcohol swabs, bandage, wet wipes, skin ointments for minor scrapes and bruises, mosquito repellent, and an ice pack.

• Teach your child to beware of strangers.

 

*Prices are subject to change.

Photography by Alfred Mendoza