Text and photo by Erlyn May U. Pareja
The Crèche: UP Manila Early Childhood Care and Development Center pupils embarked on an exciting educational field trip to the Manila Zoo and Food Wanderer x Lakbay Museo at Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Mar. 14, 2025.
Nursery and Pre-kinder students, along with their parents, enjoyed a fun and educational day, starting at the Manila Zoo in Malate. For most of the students, this was their first close encounter with animals, sparking curiosity about different species and their habitats. The zoo provided a fun and interactive environment for the kids to explore, ask questions, and make friends. Before leaving, they had a photo taken with the taxidermy of Mali, the late star elephant of the zoo.
The children were excited to visit the museum, and they certainly were not disappointed. The museum staff and tour guides greeted them warmly, matching the kids’ high energy. Before entering the museum, everyone was invited to slide through the large entrance or enter from the side, which resembled a traditional Filipino jeepney. Of course, no one missed out on the fun — even the parents and teachers joined in. After sliding down, the kids eagerly ran off to explore, trying out all the mini slides inspired by the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and bouncing on a pool of bouncy balls. Even the staff of the museum enjoyed watching these cute kids.
The museum showcases a wide variety of foods found throughout the Philippines. While touring they have an exotic challenge for visitors: eating rice worms in exchange for prizes. Teachers and parents bravely ate their fears, with some describing the taste as nutty, while others found it bland.
Continuing the tour, the staff introduced the children to one of our cultural favorites — Karaoke! But before that, they played a game to see who could shout the longest ‘Mabuhay!’ All the kids eagerly participated in the game before continuing the tour and exploring different types of sauces and street food of the Philippines.
The museum also featured an interactive wet market, or talipapa where the kids got to experience selling and weighing fish, as well as sweeping away flies. They even had the chance to take a picture with a carabao festival-themed statue and sit on it. The tour concluded with a special dance performance by the museum staff, who wore colorful costumes representing the different regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The Crèche: UP Manila Early Childhood Care and Development Center was established in June 1995 in response to the need for a safe and convenient place for the children of UP Manila and PGH employees while they are at work.
Crèche’s commitment to hands-on learning and cultural exploration continues to inspire young minds, creating future stewards of nature and culture who are eager to continue their journey of discovery.#
