Ninoy Aquino Monument at NAPWC

The Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center is a 64.58-hectare (159.6-acre) zoological and botanical garden located in Diliman, Quezon City, the Philippines. It is named after Benigno S. "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.  This area is an ideal place for everyone who loves nature. The 80-hectare complex of wooden areas is conducive for picnicking or promenading.

History

July 25, 1970, the park was inaugurated and opened to the public by the then President Ferdinand Marcos and the Vice President Fernando Lopez.

In July 1982, the park was temporary closed to the public for renovation in an effort to provide facilities/infrastructures. It was in this period when the craft village cottage, fishing village, amphitheater and comfort rooms were constructed. Also, the water system facilities were installed. Furthermore, the park’s lighting system was developed and installed by the armies. It was reopened to the public on February 21, 1983 named Lungsod ng Kabataan Recreational Park.

In 1986, it was renamed Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center (NAPWNC) in honor of the late Senator by virtue of Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Administrative Order No. 4 series of 1986.

After the government reorganization in 1987, the park was placed under the administration of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) a staff bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) responsible for the protected area management and wildlife conservation.

In May 25, 2000, the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center were disestablished as protected area and shall be known as DENR-Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center by virtue of Proclamation No. 312.

In August 21, 2002, Proclamation No. 312 was amended by changing the name of DENR-Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center to Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center by virtue of Proclamation No. 238.

At present, the 22.7-hectare NAPWC is under the management and administration of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) by virtue of Proc. No. 723 dated 25 October 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Said proclamation established the park as a protected area and a component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

Features

The Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center has:

• Man-made Lagoon
• Fishing Village
• Children's playground
• Botanical garden
• Tea House
• Amphitheater
• Our Lady of Peace Grotto
• Visitor's Center
• Craft Village
• Wildlife Rescue Center

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources uses the center as a temporary shelter where confiscated, retrieved, donated, sick, abandoned, and injured wild animals are placed to be taken care of.

Flora and fauna

The park houses several indigenous plants and animals such as crab-eating macaques, water monitors, Philippine deer, binturongs, Palawan bearded pigs and several varieties of birds.

Where to stay

Here is the list of some of the accommodations that can be found around the city of Quezon. It offers good services and comfortable rooms for all visitors.

• Imperial Palace Suites - Timog Avenue Corner Tomas Morato Avenue, 1103 Quezon City
• Torre Venezia Hotel - 170 Timog Avenue cor Scout Santiago St.,, 1100 Quezon City
• Dangay Suites - 99-A Dangay Street, 1105 Quezon City
• Eurotel Araneta Center, Cubao - General Araneta Corner General Roxas Streets, 1109 Quezon City
• The Sulo Riviera Hotel - Matalino Road, Diliman, Quezon City
• Sir William's Hotel - 39 Timog Avenue, 1103 Quezon City
• Lemon Tree Inn - 18 Scout Magbanua Street near corner of Quezon Avenue, Barangay Paligsahan,, 1103 Quezon City
• Robbinsdale Residences -  # 14 Araneta Ave. corner Palanza St., 1113 Quezon City
• Mezza Residences Condote -  Aurora Boulevard Corner Araneta Avenue, Guirayan Street, Barangay Dona Imelda, 1000 Quezon City
• La Breza Hotel - Mother Ignacia St., 7876 Quezon City
• Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila - Ortigas Avenue corner ADB Avenue, 1100 Quezon City
• Eastwood Richmonde Hotel - 17 Orchard Road, Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, 1110 Quezon City
• Stone House Bed and Breakfast Quezon City - 1315 E. Rodriguez Avenue, 1100 Quezon City
• Fersal Hotel - Annapolis - 49 Annapolis Street, Cubao, 1100 Quezon City
• The Oracle Hotel - 317 Katipunan Avenue, 1600 Quezon City

Getting around the city

Public transportation within the city, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive jeepneys and buses. Tricycles give access to more secluded areas, while taxi cabs are available to navigate any course.

This City has 3 Circumferential Roads. The following are:

• C-3: Sgt. Emilio Rivera Avenue and Araneta Avenue
• C-4: Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA
• C-5: Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora Avenue, Congressional Avenue Extension, Katipunan Avenue and E. Rodriguez Avenue

Railway

Currently, two elevated light rail systems and one heavy rail system run through Quezon City: LRT 1 – at EDSA (C-4) connecting North Avenue and Baclaran (Manila) LRT 2 – at Aurora Boulevard (R-6) connecting Santolan (Pasig City) and C.M.Recto Avenue (Manila), and MRT 3 – at EDSA (C-4) from Taft Avenue (R-2 in Pasay City) to North Avenue.

An elevated rail transit system (MRT-4) that was supposed to follow the general alignment of Quezon and Commonwealth Avenues (R-7) was shelved. In its place, a 22 kilometer rail system will be built. The MRT-7 project will commence at North Avenue, connecting the MRT-3 at its northern terminus. It will then go through Commonwealth Avenue, then through Regalado, Quirino Highway, ending in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. The system has a proposed spur line to connect itself to MRT-2 in Katipunan, passing through the University of the Philippines Diliman and Katipunan Avenue.

The following elevated railway stations in the city (Only 13 Stations):

• MRT-3 (with 5 Stations):
• North Avenue- (Connected to LRT-1 Yellow Line)
• Quezon Avenue
• Kamuning
• Araneta Center-Cubao- (Connected to LRT-2 Purple Line)
• Santolan
• LRT-2 (with 5 Stations):
• Gilmore
• Betty Go-Belmonte
• Araneta Center-Cubao- (Connected to MRT-3 Blue Line)
• Anonas
• Katipunan
• LRT-1 (with 3 Stations)
• Balintawak
• Roosevelt
• North Avenue- (Connected to MRT-3 Blue Line)