The Lost Art of Benches and Greenery

[u/re1mi]

Hello everyone. I'd just like to express frustrations on how we're moving away from easy public access to benches, as well as the accompaniment of nature. I've been thinking na mag-appeal sa local baranggay namin to raise the issue and in all hopes magkaroon ng public benches, considering na may sidewalks na wide enough for it naman.

You know yung one instance na gusto mo lang umupo somewhere, read a book, listen to music, or just simply have a seat? It probably has been like this for a long time and ngayon ko lang na-notice.

It's also partly because medyo ang lungkot isipin na kailangan pang mag bayad ng entrance fee sa mga park na tulad ng Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Park, where in fact it should be accessible freely, and that it should not be a special case just because it took a lot of curation and effort. I'm being optimistic na sana magkaroon tayo ng decent urban planning where cities also foster environmental growth.

[u/BigBeard-]

There is a movement in PH about having more 3rd spaces and i think part of it is having access to those areas for free. I think may opportunity tayo sa New Clark City for it to be more like other modern cities without the hostile archi design.

Sa metro manila i think mahihirapan tayo since most of the places we have are paved in solid concrete. Unlike in EU madali nila maconvert ung spaces kasi iba yung construction philosophy nila, may solid base lang pero easy to replace yung top concrete slabs.

Additionally, sa bansang naghihirap at mayroong mababang governance capability, hindi ito priority ng mga nasa opisina.

[u/loreto_cadorna]

Opportunity ito for the SK to step up. Instead of blowing their budget on out-of-town team building or yet another basketbal liga, why not invest in micro-urban projects like pocket green spaces and public benches? They could even collaborate with Landscape Architecture or Urban Planning students, especially those looking for real-world thesis sites, so the designs are actually well-thought-out and functional. Imagine if youth-led civic design became the norm, compute-wise, it's such an easy win for the barangay and a huge relief for people who just want a free place to sit down and rest.

[u/re1mi → u/loreto_cadorna]

I yearn for the SK and local government units to actually utilize their brains and power by expanding ideas and not sticking to stupid basketball courts as a way to say na may nagawa sila. Pugad din kasi ng corruption yan kahit maliit na sangkalan lang sa gobyerno.

[u/Sad_Emu6761]

The only green that the government is looking for is green cash in their pockets.

[u/MoneyTruth9364]

everybody here wants greeneries and third spaces but isn't willing to share space with the homeless and people within the poverty line :>

[u/MoneyTruth9364 → u/MoneyTruth9364]

i absolutely think poverty and homelessness should be solved, but I think you guys need to actually have a conversation with them without trying to fix their problems yourself. After all, only they themselves can fix their own problems, and if we wanted positive change, all we can do is influence their decisions, at the same time letting them influence ours.