Manila's Pools Launch Swimming Programs Drawing Thousands Weekly

More than 12,000 Manileños have signed up for group swim classes at city-run aquatic centres this year, city records show, a 34 percent jump from 2025 that has pool managers scrambling to add evening lanes.

The surge comes as Metro Manila’s wellness culture shifts toward low-impact, full-body exercise. Heat indices hitting 42°C in March and April drove many indoors, but officials say the real draw is programming designed for every stage of life.

Pools that welcome everyone

At the gleaming Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Pablo Ocampo Street, the 50-metre pool now hosts a Sunday morning “Family Aqua Fun Day” that costs just PHP 80 per person. The program, launched in March 2026, combines lap swimming with relay games and introductory snorkeling. Attendance has averaged 340 people each session, according to the Philippine Sports Commission.

Across town, the Marikina Sports Center, a 14-hectare complex along Riverbanks Avenue, runs a six-week “Toddler Splash” course for children aged 18 months to 4 years. The PHP 1,200 fee includes parent-child water acclimation, floating drills and basic breath control. Enrollment closed within two hours for the July batch; a second session starts August 3.

At the Quezon City Memorial Circle pool, the local government partners with the Philippine Red Cross to offer subsidised adult learn-to-swim clinics. The 10-session program costs PHP 600 for QC residents and PHP 900 for non-residents, with classes at 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. More than 70 percent of participants in the April-June cohort were first-time swimmers over age 40, data from the Quezon City Sports Office shows.

Seniors and special-needs programs gaining traction

Senior citizens account for the fastest-growing demographic in Manila’s pool programs. The “Golden Fins” aqua aerobics class at the Manila Citypool in Malate runs three mornings a week and costs PHP 30 per session, or PHP 200 for a monthly pass. Average class size has grown from 18 participants in January to 54 in July.

On Saturdays, the Makati Aquatic Center on Gil Puyat Avenue hosts a free one-hour adaptive swim session for children and adults with disabilities. The program, supported by the Makati Social Welfare Department, uses a lift chair and heated water kept at 30°C. About 25 participants attend weekly; the city plans to expand to two sessions per week starting September.

Dr. Maria Lourdes Osmeña, a sports medicine specialist at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, said aquatic exercise lowers joint stress while improving cardiovascular fitness. “For people with arthritis, back pain or balance issues, water removes the fear of falling,” she said. “The resistance also builds muscle more efficiently than land-based routines.” Osmeña spoke at a wellness forum at the Rizal Memorial complex on June 27.

The Department of Health reported last month that 58 percent of Filipino adults do not meet the weekly 150-minute moderate physical activity recommendation. The city’s aquatic programs aim to close that gap, particularly for seniors and office workers who find gyms intimidating or expensive.

What’s next: Starting August 15, the City of Manila will roll out a “Midnight Swim” pilot at the Malate pool, keeping the facility open until 11 p.m. on Fridays for young professionals. The PHP 100 fee includes access to a floating cinema screen. Bookings open August 1 at the Manila Sports Office or by calling (02) 8527-1234.