Rizal, Laguna is my father’s hometown, so we were one of the first kids to visit TANAW Park back when it was still a dirt trail going up to a grassy peak of a hill. The bike and the huge cross were already there, but no covered resting area yet or any of the stoned steps and concrete view decks existing now. Just raw grassland 736 meters above sea level, and I loved it! We’ve known it simply as Tayak Hill..

When the municipal government pushed for its transformation into a full-blown tourist attraction, private-public partnership made it possible to develop it into an ecotourism park, complete with anything you can imagine. It’s a good experience, still, especially if you visit during off-peak days or late afternoon. The downside though is that it’s highly regulated, there’s entrance and parking fees, there’s noisy Karaoke sessions (though this may be coming from the residents there), and of course commercial establishments c/o of the locals.

Still, the adventure is about the journey going there. From the town center, it’s a long stretch of a narrow winding “Wrong Turn” kind of road. Perfect for riders and cyclists! And when you get there, you’ll have to climb hundreds, maybe a thousand steps to reach the viewdeck. But it’s worth the climb! You’ll sweat buckets, and would have to stop and rest every other 10 steps (lol), but it’s a relaxing feeling when you get to the top and be in awe of a marvelous God-given surprise of a sunset.. The scenery is just amazing. Mount Cristobal at your back, and the sun setting, touching everything below the horizon. It’s close to nature, close to the skies, and closer to God.

Super well recommended!