Libraries and Parks Oh My!

Two "I must have died and gone to heaven" moments occurred to me yesterday Sunday. Parts of my vision of heaven are composed of huge libraries and parks, and Singapore has taken those two favorite havens to higher levels.  Imagine a public library on the fifth floor of a mall -- not just a token space but a generous one overflowing with a wide range of choices, books and magazines in different languages actively used by people comfortably ensconced in reading nooks for children and adults.  There are interactive programs and we caught one teaching kids traditional games like sungka.  Joshua was enthralled by the exhibit on fishes and we almost could not drag him out of the library when he fell in love with a book detailing a construction site's activities for a year.  

More than eight years ago, we lived in Singapore for a month and my brother and I used to enjoy rollerblading at the East Coast Park.  I was single then and thought that a month in the tiny, tiny territory of Singapore was much too long, claustrophobic almost and I couldn't wait to get back to Manila.  But now with hubby and kid, it's just a place of joy and fun with the endless playgrounds, parks and well-designed streets.

Jason, Joshua and I went to the West Coast Park since it's only a short bus stop away from where we live.  At first, we struggled at boarding the bus with a wheelchair but we eventually figured the system out with ever-ready helpful bus drivers.   And the park was pure bliss!  Ziplines for free, innovative seesaws, superbly designed climbing structures to challenge all levels of adventurers and fast pedal go-karts for rent!   Jason indulged in his outdoor fantasy driving us around the park going crazy over a zigzaggy road designed for competitive go-karting that was hardly used by anyone so we had it all to ourselves.    

When will the Philippines have libraries and parks like these?  Is it too much to ask of an economically grappling country?  Are only developed countries with great fiscal condition and accountable governments the ones that can breed such great public spaces?  Realistically speaking, these perks are a function of economic success and till we reach that level, we can only be content with what private developers like SM can provide (how terribly sad) while we envy other countries' hard-earned assets.  It's something you live with or kill yourself trying to change or more optimistically, strategically align yourself with others to improve and alter.