Manila Zoo Photo Gallery - The Caged World In The Heart of The City

"What my passport and my SSS card are not valid IDs? How come, madam?"

I asked the ticket seller at the entrance gate of Manila Zoo in bewilderment. The lady in her fifties reasoned out that I didn't have a barangay ID or postal ID to show that I'm a resident of Metro Manila.

"Madam, I am going to write about the present situation about Manila Zoo and now you're stopping me here in front of these excursionists?"

People began lining up behind me as I argued about my situation. Then I blurted out that I'm not a Manila resident. I'm a local tourist and I'm from Bicol, Philippines.

So, there she handed me my ticket, costing me P40.00 with a heavy heart (slightly) and irritation that I will share my not-so-nice experience during my initial venture inside the caged world of Manila Zoo.

Despite my encounter with the ticket lady, I was able to lessen my stress by taking photographs of some of the live animals inside the premise.

But my sadness seemed to encompass with the lonely stares of those caged creatures, starting from the birds in captivity up to the ferocious tigers growling sadly inside their abode.

Elementary students and toddlers who were ferried by the school buses who frolicked the Manila Zoo facade along with me enjoyed waking up those sleepy, sad birds of the wild that were forced to stay inside their cages in order to amuse foreign and local tourists, excluding me.

I've seen imitated caricatures of the popular computer game "Angry Birds" adorning and mimicking the popularity of the 'old occupants'.

Some took heed of my warning never to touch the iron-laden cages when taking photographs. Although some never controlled to shout at the mayna bird that are gagging terms and street lingo, like 'pangit' or ugly, and even simple greetings, like 'hello'.

Some cranes and waders took the opportune to spread its wings under the heat of the Friday morning sun.

I've seen the lonely elephant rummaging its fresh hay, ignoring other tourists who are taking its 'dumbo' photos.

Non-poisonous snakes and the Philippine cobra were just enjoying its morning treat of chicken meat, although one chick was still alive inside an empty cage, or may the snake was just hiding for an early rest.

Turtles gaze lazily while the iguanas posed for its photographic stare.

The growling of the tiger seemed to proclaim that he's the king of this zoo, while leaving the amazed spectators and wide-eyed children due to the loud roaring of this big cat.

I appreciated the rehabilitation project that is going on inside the zoo, although those caged creatures think otherwise.

The eyes of those sea eagles seemed to beg for a great escape, if someone has the courage to free them. Not even the 'arrk' sound of the hawk eagle (kulago in Bicol) or the Philippine owl's big-eyed stare can never surpass the loneliness of those wild boar or the elephant itself.

Coin-laden pond of Chinese carp and other fresh water fishes helped me relaxed my mood.

I even asked some park personnel about the nilad tree which is being propagated by the city authority for a massive replanting.

I never finished my initial tour as my digital camera alerted me to change its battery pack.

I cling to my cellular phone's camera but its pixel's capacity can never record the photos I've taken clearly.

Anyway, my two-hour tour ended beside the man-made lake inside the zoo, taking a fish-squid snack with black gulaman for my light lunch.

Manila Zoo or the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, is the first and oldest zoo in Asia, and one of the most-visited site here in Metro Manila.

It is opened in the public way back July 25, 1959.

Due to the change of government leadership as our leader cling more to political bickering and graft and corruption, this educational site and amusement park as well was momentarily forgotten.

National television station, and even one of our prolific hubber, Peter Dickinson (allow my namedropping) caught my attention regarding the present situation of the park.

Although, it still captivates the imagination of the children, teenagers, adults and parents as well, Filipinos cannot defy the fact that a complete upgrade or rehab must be done immediately in this establishment.

It provides jobs and millions of people visit the park annually. Yet, people never see the needed improvement for the zoo.

Rusting cages, dilapidated structures...one can't help but notice those imperfections surrounding the park, although young ones seem to be oblivious of my predicaments and negative remarks.

Yes, they can enjoy the whole park but the danger lurking in the area is possible to erupt or ignite in a moment of negligence.

I've seen one brown wader which escaped its iron cage. What if some snakes slip out their glass cages?

Or the roaring tiger suddenly escaped its cage at night.

Our help is needed by Public Recreation's Bureau (PRB) and its Director, Engineer Deogracias Manimbo in order to realize the ultimate goal of Manila Zoo in order to keep its operation going.

Manila Zoo has its own website and you can easily access the latest information and progress regarding the rehabilitation of its facilities in order to cater more safely to tourists of all ages.