Enchanted Kingdom, the country’s first and only world-class theme park is celebrating its 16^th year of bringing MAGIC to families and friends. Happy 16^th Birthday EK!

Check out this month’s activities for EK’s 16^th Anniversary celebration.

Sweet 16 Birthday Celebrants Promo (Wednesdays to Fridays from October 1 to 31)
A birthday treat for you! Free RDP tickets await park guests who turn 16 in October, plus 20% off on tickets purchased by the celebrant’s companions, maximum of 10 persons.
Student Sembreak Anibersaya Promo (October 12 to November 13)
An anniversary treat for students of ALL levels! Every purchase of one EK Day Pass for Php350.00 shall entitle you to one hotdog on a stick and 12 oz. Pepsi drink.
Enchanting Sweet 16 Merchandise Promo (October 1 to 22)
Get the chance to win EK merchandise treats! Simply claim your raffle coupon at the Eldar’s Tent and drop in the designated drop box. The Enchanting Sweet 16 raffle draw will be held on October 22 during the Asian Sky Wizardry Fireworks Competition.
16th Anniversary Sale (October 1 to 31)
Eldar the Wiz treats one and all to a 16% discount on selected premium EK merchandise, including Eldar’s Hat and Crystal USB.
Take Me Home Eldar Doll (October 1 to 31)
Park guests who avail of a Regular Day Pass will be entitled to a 25% discount on any Eldar toy! Simply present your ticket or wrist tag and bring the magic home with your very own cuddly Eldar.

Enjoy PEPSI for 16! (October 1 to 31)
A special anniversary treat from Pepsi! Park guests may purchase food items from any EK cart or kiosk, and Amazon Grill and Launch Time restaurants. Upon purchase, guests may avail of the P16.00 discount on the 16oz. size Pepsi.

PARK SCHEDULE:
Starting October 1, 2011 to December 16, 2011, EK is CLOSED from Monday and Tuesday.
Weekdays: Wednesday to Friday
Time: 12:00 NN to 7:00 PM

Weekend: Saturday & Sunday
Time: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM

SM TICKETS Partnership
With its recent partnership with SM TICKETS, you can now purchase your Enchanted Kindgom Tickets in all SM TICKETS outlets located at all SM Cinema branches nationwide.

Call SM Customer Care at 470.2222 for inquiries and reservations.
TICKET PRICES

REGULAR DAY PASS-WEEKEND
Php 500
REGULAR DAY PASS-WEEKDAY
Php 400
SENIOR REGULAR DAY PASS-WEEKEND
Php 358
JUNIOR DAY PASS-WEEKEND
Php 320
SENIOR REGULAR DAY PASS-WEEKDAY
Php 286
JUNIOR DAY PASS-WEEKDAY
Php 250
CAROUSEL SPECIAL
Php 150
SENIOR CAROUSEL SPECIAL
Php 108

You can still purchase your tickets at EK Makati Sales Office, Monday to Fridays, 8:30am to 5:00pm at G/F The Biltmore Condo, 102 Aguirre Street Legaspi Village, Makati City (at the back of AIM Building, near Greenbelt 1)

Useful Links:

Enchanted Kingdom’s website

EK’s Facebook page

Follow EK on Twitter

SM Tickets website

SM TIckets Facebook Page

Manila Ocean Park is the Philippines’ first state-of-the-art Oceanarium — an open water marine habitat, boutique mall, restaurant row and function facilities all located in one area at the back of the Quirino Grandstand, Manila.

The place is really huge and nicely situated beside the Manila Bay, Luneta. Visitor entrance is Php400 for adults and Php350 for kids. There are discounts for group visits, students, among others.

See Google Maps of Manila Ocean Park below.

View Larger Map

The San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila is one historic church where hundreds and hundreds of weddings are held each year. A favorite location for Metro Manila couples exchanging vows, the San Agustin Church has also become a tourist attraction whenever there are ceremonies going on.

This church is actually the 3rd generation structure build on this location. The original one was the first religious structure built by the Spanish in Luzon back in 1571. Since it was only made of bamboo and nipa, it was completely destroyed by fire in 1974. The second one, also built in wood went down in flames in 1583.

The current structure of the San Augustin Church which you can see now inside Intramuros in Manila was built in 1586 and was competed in 1607. Essentially, the current building is more than 400 years old.

Today, the San Augustin Church stands as one of the oldest churches found in Metro Manila. Grand weddings are held here almost every weekends and the hallways and monastery attached on the side are filled with antiques and memorabilias.

Iniiwasan ko parati ang DelPan na malapit sa pier. Napaka-notorious ng lugar na yun, kung bagito ka nga malamang pagtitripan ka. Pero di ko aakalain na ang Del Pan ay nabibilang sa isa sa mga pinakamahahalaga nguni’t mukhang nakakalimutan nang maksaysayang distrito ng San Nicolas sa kalagitnaan Maynila.

Katabi nito ang Pasig River sa timog, ang bayan ng mga Tsinoy na Binondo sa silangan, ang pinakamalaking bargain place sa bansa, ang Divisoria sa hilaga at ang mga pinakanotoryus na lugar ng DelPan at Parola sa kanluran. Madaling puntahan kung galing kang Divisoria o Santa Cruz dahil may mga kalesa (na P50 kada byahe) o di kaya ang jeep (P8.50 ang pamasahe) na may karatulang San Nicolas, ang pwedeng sakyan papunta dito…

Isang tip, laging magmukhang simple at laging vigilant. Huwag ka nang magbalak pang lumampas ng Calle Barcelona papuntang Del Pan “kung gusto mo pang mabuhay” sabi ng mamang pulis sa detachment doon.

Sa mga kapanahunan ng ika-19 na siglo, maunlad ang lugar na ito dahil nga napapagitnaan sya ng Chinatown, ng pier at ang malaking pool of human resources. Bagsakan ng komersyo at pagawaan. Dati andito ang mga pagawaan ng pabango, general merchandise at marami pang iba. Dito rin ipinanganak ang mga bayani na magkakapatid na Luna.

Maraming nagsasabi na ang mga lumang bahay na bato na nakalatag sa San Nicolas noon ay nakaligtas sa pagbobomba ng mga Amerikano noong “Liberation” ng Maynila noong 1945. Sira ang Maynila, pero ang San Nicolas nakaligtas.

Sabi ng mga matatanda doon, halos ang buong komunidad ng San Nicolas ay napupuno ng mga bahay na bato na panlaban na sana ng Maynila sa Taal sa Batangas at Vigan ng Ilocos.

Nakapanghihinayang isipin na dahil na rin sa kapabayaan, nakalimutan na ang dating alindog ng old world charm ng Maynila. Unti unting nasira ang mga lumang bahay, ang iba giniba, ang iba nasunog. Iilan na lang ang natitira.

Mga bahay na bato na meron pa ring marka ng nakaraan. Marami sa mga ito ay pinarerenta, ang iba condemned, ang iba ay bodega. Pero kahit papaano, may iilan sa kanila ang nag-preserve o pinangalagaan ang mga lumang bahay na ito dahil na rin napamahal na sila mismo sa lugar.

Marahil notoryus na sa generation ngayon pero ang mga tile na street signs na mismo makapagsasabi na ang lugar na ito ay isang pamana na dapat pangalagaan. Isang natatanging karakter ng Maynila na parang nanganganib nang mawala. Ang San Nicolas na marahil ang isa sa pinakamagandang halimbawa ng urban decay at neglect of patrimony. Kung hindi aaksyunan, maaaring mawala ang mga unique na streetscape na ito.

Pasig River has so much importance in the history of Manila. It was the EDSA during the pre-colonial era, a main water thoroughfare used by our ancestors for trade and travel. It has also become an advantage as a natural harbour for ships. The Spaniards came and constructed the walled city and several pueblos along the river. But just after World War II, as roads plough the streets, the river’s importance declined and was notorious to be “the largest poso negro in Metro Manila.”

Now the efforts have paved the way for its improvement, one of them is the revival of the Pasig River ferry system, which is part of the ways that the government can alleviate transportation woes in the metro. Equiped with air-conditioned catamarans and modern terminals, ferries ply from Pasig City to Intramuros in Manila in an hour less the traffic…

From Guadalupe, Makati to Intramuros, Manila, it will cost you PhP45 for regular fare, P20 for students. You don’t need to worry about traffic, the river’s stench. Instead, just sit back and relax and enjoy the cruise and the river scenery. You may even go out at the bow to breathe fresh air (and most of the time I took the ferry, the obnoxious stench is not available). Go out and take pictures of the surroundings but as you approach Pureza and Pandacan, security people would request you to get inside. Unfortunatelty, hanggang beinte pesos na lang ang Malacañang as the crew would not allow the people taking pictures of the Palace due to security reasons.

Pasig River may have been the reflection of the Philippine urban society. The soaring skyscrapers of Makati and Ortigas are contrasted by the slums beside the river. The oil depots that bring life to infrastructure to the city and a Palace that is the seat of power of the Republic. Unseen Manila can be seen here, if you want to reminisce the old days when Bapor Tabo of El Fili once cruised the waters of this historic river. The river that brought life to Manila.

The oldest among the rail transits in the metro, it was constructed in early 1980′s by the Marcos Administration to drastically reduce the travel time from Paranaque City to Caloocan City, passing through the heart of downtown Manila. The said line runs from Baclaran to Monumento. Light Railway Transit was inspired by the tramvias of pre-war Manila (similar to cable cars of San Francisco) but on an elevated railway and with specific stations. It runs 15 kilometers with 18 stations north to south, traversing the roads of Taft Avenue, Avenida Rizal and Arroceros Street. So, here we start our joyride from south to north and get to know the destinations.

The station guides at the next page

• Baclaran Station – It is the southern terminal of LRT-1. Famous for being a crowd and traffic drawer pilgrimage site every Wednesday which is at the Redemptorist Church. The area is also known as a giant marketplace of everything affordable, from apparel to cellphones to television. It is Divisioria’s competitor in the south.
• EDSA (Pasay Rotunda) Station – It is simply the big hub of passengers who are either going to QC, Pasig or Makati or Manila and Caloocan. It is where you disembark if you want to travel the Metro by EDSA either by bus (which will take you, heaven knows when hours before you reach the area) or by MRT, the blue line. The Taft Avenue Station of MRT is just a walking distance away. Also, the place is a large transit area for provincial buses mostly bound south of Manila.
• Libertad Station – This is where you disembark if you want to go to Pasay City’s market or watch a basketball game at the Cuneta Astrodome.
• Buendia Station – The station in which you can either infiltrate the Central Business District of Makati or the expanse of the World Trade Centre or even knock your doors at the Senate of the Philippines.
• Vito Cruz Station – Animo La Salle! The station where the De La Salle schools are within its reaches. Also, this is the most convenient disembarking location for those bound for CCP, Aliw Theatre and the Rizal Stadium. And oh, Harisson Plaza Shopping Centre.
• Quirino Avenue Station – Sightseeing at Manila Zoo or having a courtesy call with Malacanang? Or bound to Santa Mesa? It’s the place to drop yourself off to these destinations.
• Pedro Gil Station – Sick and needs check-up, PGH (Philippine General Hospital) is near, and same with the first UP (University of the Philippines) campus. You may also want to shop or go bar hopping at nearby Malate or have your judicial cases be solved at the Supreme Court.
• United Nations Avenue – The gateway to the most famous landmark in Manila, Luneta or Rizal Park. Also for those who wanted to have the American Dream, the US Embassy is just at the western end of UN Avenue. NBI clearances and wanting for investigation? NBI is here. And to our fellow mariners seeking for a job, this is where TM Kalaw is.
• Central Terminal – At the heart of the Capital is the Central Terminal or known as Lawton. SM City Manila is nearby and so is the the old walled city of Intramuros, a standing reminder of Manila living with Spain for three centuries. Fort Santiago and the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Agustin Church is here and so are the schools of Mapua, PLM, Lyceum and Letran and the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila.
• Carriedo Station – This is the gateway to the old soul commercial hub of Manila. The famed Avenida Rizal and the old commercial strip of Escolta, the Church of Santa Cruz and of course Chinatown Binondo where those Chinese delicacies, restaurants and that imposing church is located. Pilgrims of the Black Nazarene can disembark here as Quiapo Church is just several blocks away. This is also another bargain hunter’s paradise.
• Doroteo Jose Station – Going to Divisoria, the famed “THE BARGAIN PLACE” of Manila? Or going to Sampaloc and head yourself to the University Belt or have a rally staged at Mendiola? Heading for Cubao QC and Marikina, it is the transit station for the Purple Line or LRT-2.
• Bambang Station – Going north Luzon? Some terminals are located here or searching for bargain goods.
• Blumentritt Station – The street is named after one of Rizal’s supporters. This is the transit station for those who want to ride the old PNR (Philippine National Railways) for Alabang or its main station at Tutuban.
• Tayuman Station – Once the gateway to the world of jockeys and horse racing of San Lazaro, it is now the station for those who want to go to Tondo or Sampaloc or shop at SM City.
• Abad Santos Station – Visiting some departed loved ones at the Chinese Cemetery or bound again for Divisioria, it is here where you disembark.
• R.Papa Station – One of the gateways to Manila’s largest cemeteries, the North Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery. Also within the vicinity is the lechon district of La Loma in Quezon City.
• 5^th Avenue Station – Station for the residents and people bound to the residential areas of Grace Park and also Dagat-Dagatan of CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas & Valenzuela).
• Monumento Station – The last station up north. So called because of the monument done by the National Artist Guillermo Tolentino dedicated to Andres Bonifacio, a Philippine revolucionario and a hero. This is where you transit for Navotas’ fish port, the zoo and antique places of Malabon, the industrial Valenzuela and all the way to Bulacan and beyond. It is also where Yellow Line meets EDSA once more, bound for Balintawak Interchange and Munoz market, the “bagsakan” of Benguet vegetables.

For many decades it was known as Plaza Goiti. It is now Plaza Lacson; a tribute for the soccer player at Ateneo de Manila University and amateur boxer who once challenged Ferdinand Marcos to a fistfight and called Ernesto Maceda (who was then a Manila councilor) “so young and so corrupt.”

Arsenio Lacson was supposedly the best mayor the city of Manila ever had. His statue stands tall on a pedestal across the old Roman Santos Building.

To the left of Mayor Lacson’s statue is the LRT Carriedo station. It was there where Henry Sy’s original Shoe Mart once was. A little bit towards the right is Carlos Palanca Street, named after Don Carlos Palanca, a wealthy Chinese trader whose real name was Tan Quien-sien; powerful and influential in Manila during the 1930s. And right off MacArthur Bridge was the popular Clover Theatre; a vaudeville theater where Don Jose Zarah’s Extravaganza and jazz pianist Ping Joaquin entertained many of Manila’s inhabitants. The annex building of City College of Manila now stands on its spot.

The very first school, however, that established itself at Plaza Goiti was Adamson University, but it was originally called Adamson School of Industrial Chemistry. The Philippines’ steady progress towards industrialization during the early thirties demanded people to be trained in technology to man the increasing number of local industries. Inspired by this economic trend, three Greek cousins — Dr. George Lucas Adamson, Alexander Adamson and George Athos Adamson — founded the Adamson School of Industrial Chemistry on June 20, 1932. The School, which was set to train young men and women in Industrial Chemistry, was housed at the Paterno Building at Plaza Goiti. It opened on July 1, 1932 with only 42 students. A year later, the population grew to 300, which necessitated its transfer to more spacious quarters.

After the war, Dr. George Lucas Adamson re-opened the school, this time, in the premises of the Vincentian Fathers at San Marcelino Street. In 1964, the University was turned over to the Vincentian Fathers, which signaled the transformation of Adamson University to a Catholic Institution of learning whose vision of education makes it participate in the Catholic Church?s mission of establishing the reign of God in the secular world.

A major banking concern established on June 18, 1951 at Plaza Goiti was Security Bank and Trust Company. It has prospered even in the most trying times, remaining steadfast amidst the economic, political and social upheavals in the country’s history. It has steadily moved with the brisk pace of economic growth that characterized the 1950’s. Three years later, the corporate headquarters moved to Escolta, fittingly at the nation’s pre-eminent business district.

Another interesting, though somewhat morbid piece of trivia I dug up online: Citing its source as Turn of the Century by Gilda Cordeo Fernando and Nick Ricio, DLSU-D Website mentions La Funeraria, the first funeral parlor in the Philippines. It was supposedly established by Carlos March at no. 3 Plaza Goiti. It advertised hermetically-sealed coffins imported directly from Europe, embalming at moderate prices, “French Style Packing” of corpses, and an assortment of epitaphs. La Funeraria sternly warned the public against imitations and assured the public of guaranteed airtight coffins!

The Phelipino Undertaking, a funeral parlor owned by Mr. Feliciano Quiogue, located at Calle Salazar, Trozo No. 2, offered luxurious funeral services consisting of one hearse with four horses, a metallic coffin and four attendants, with two carriages for mourners, all for P85!

The DLSU-D Website also mentioned a John Bancroft Devins who in 1905 wrote that the Spanish Friars collected varying fees for funeral services, depending on what robe they wore for the service and the length of prayers they offered. Every stroke of the church bell announcing the death would cost from tent cents to a dollar (P0.20 to P2). The Funeral itself could be ordinary, solemn or most solemn, with corresponding fees. Burial charges were extra. If the friar went all the way to the grave, it is twice as expensive if he went only half way. If death and funeral fees were not forthcoming, there can be no bells rung, no services held. Dying was expensive even for the poor who paid P30 for burial services!

Finally, this Greco-Roman building — The Roman Santos Building — built by a successful businessman who also founded Prudential Bank.

Dona Marta Rodriguez y Tuason married Don Hilarion Santos. They had two children: Rafaela Santos y Rodriguez who married Vicente Fernandez and Roman Santos y Rodriguez who married Juliana Andres. After the death of Don Hilarion Santos, Dona Marta Rodriguez, viuda de Santos married Don Domingo Carlos.

Roman Santos y Rodriguez was raised as a ward by his first cousin Dona Florencia Sioco de Gonzalez in Barrio Sulipan, Apalit, Pampanga. Her elder sister, Dona Sabina Sioco de Escaler, lent him the initial capital to purchase his first bamboo “casco” (raft) with which he ferried the dry goods he was buying and selling in various towns.

Don Roman Santos y Rodriguez founded Prudential Bank. The building named after him still stands across from Plaza Goiti.

I didn’t think the Manila Ocean Park would be big. But Manila Ocean Park is indeed world-class — at least that’s the plan.

The Manila Ocean Park is “a marine themed park bringing together in one complex an Oceanarium, a mall, a restaurant row, boutique hotel, open water marine habitats and multi-purpose function facilities.”

The park has a huge lobby with huge photos of marine life to whet the appetite of visitors, and food stalls to fill the stomach too. Visitors make their way through a series of aquariums beside stairways and artificial waterfalls in a section named “agos”. There’s a portion where visitors can touch some starfish. There are more marine life in the “Bahura” and “Laot” sections of the oceanarium. The beautiful colors of the corals had awestruck until I realized they were fake. It’s interesting that all the marine life in the entire park are found in Philippine seas. Nothing foreign here, except for some visitors, maybe.

The underwater tunnel of the “Buhay ng Karagatan” section is the real feature of the tour. The stingrays are wonderful, like graceful birds “flying” in the water. You could almost touch the fish except for the glass that divides their world from ours. There’s more sharks in the “Ang Kalaliman” section with an overhanging tank where you can see the bellies of various sharks. The multimedia facility has some interactive games.

There’s more in the second floor, but was rather incomplete the time we visited. There’s a shark viewing area, a “fish spa”, hermit crab race area, stingray/fish feeding area and a glass bottom boat area. Nice!

The place isn’t wheelchair friendly at this time. There’s a lot of construction still on-going. The staff are obviously doing their best, helping to provide more info and trivia about the marine life, answering questions from curious visitors. A little more crowd control could help. The persistent reminder over the loudspeakers to “turn off the camera flash” was a bit irritating. But it’s true, visitors must turn off the flash to reduce stress on the fish.

It’s great to have a facility like the Manila Ocean Park in the Philippines. It’s just a bit ironic that our country is an archipelago with some of the richest marine life, but it takes an Ocean Park like this for more Filipinos to appreciate the riches of our Philippine seas. It’s all good, more awareness for more Filipinos, a venue for education and experiences for kids and adults alike, and an improvement to the tourism industry.

The Park is right behind the Quirino Grandstand at Roxas Blvd. Tickets are quite steep at P400 per person considering that only around half or one third of the entire park is open. Ask for group rates. Better to visit on weekdays to avoid the weekend rush. It’s a good show, nonetheless. Best seen when the 2nd floor activity area opens after a few more months, perhaps.

To the management and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF, partner of the Manila Ocean Park), take care of the marine life, and take care of your patrons too! All the best!

The Manila Ocean Park:
Behind Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila
Park hours: 10am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday
Tel. (+632) 567-7777
Fax: (+632) 567-2309
Email: marketing@manilaoceanpark.com
Website: www.manilaoceanpark.com

ka edong
edong da fish

Yesterday, I went to Makati City, Philippines to witness the Caracol Festival. The first time I heard of these festival was in 2006, but I wasn’t able to witness it because I went to Bacolod then. Last year I also skipped this event for Cebu Sinulog Festival. Now, I no longer have any reasons for skipping this event. It’s actually my first time seeing this parade.

Caracol is derived from a Spanish word meaning “Snail.” As the name implies, the theme of the festival revolves around the preservation of the Mother Earth. Young kids from elementary schools as well as the High School and College students all dressed up in various Mother Nature theme. There were kids dressed as bees, sea horses, jellyfish, birds, tarsiers, flowers and grasshoppers. There we also some dressed as rice planters and illegal wood cutters to complete the whole picture.

The parade started late because of the drizzle. That’s fine. I know the organizers a re keen in protecting the well-being of these students. What really disappointed me is that these so-called “dancers” just walked down the streets of Makati Avenue instead of dancing. They just did their presentation at the judging area near the Park Square 1 building, were only a few people got to witness. The place is so small, and the view is obstructed by several trees and a lamp post. I guess the number of people who watched in the street is far greater than the number of the people cramped in the judging area. That is why they should have added street dance criteria to their judging mechanics.

Another thing that pissed me off is the power fluctuation in the judging area. I did not finish the performances at the judging area, but I have seen at least two power fluctuations which lead to two contingents dancing and performing their routine even without the music.

I see a big potential in this festival. I just hope that the organizers can very well improve it for the next year’s edition. And have a street dance, please.

View the Caracol Festival Photo Slideshow here

More travel tales here.

Upcoming Festivals to watch out for!

Sinulog 2010
Ati-atihan 2010
Dinagyang 2010
Panagbenga Festival 2010
Philippine International hot Air Balloon fiesta 2009 Clark Pampanga

There’s a new Carnival in town. And it’s huge! Far better than Boom na Boom, Star City and other carnivals we’ve (out-)grown to love.

It’s right next to the phenomenal Mall of Asia and it’s sure to attract the crowds (and traffic). The place is poised to be the place to be during the Christmas holidays revelry.

Global Fun Carnival is the first european-style carnival to travel into Asia and is also the only carnival in the world to bring The Booster, which is one of the only 2 in the world, to Asia.

Our company’s investment has totaled more than US$10Million and in the next 2 years this is estimated to increast to more than US$20 million, when we increase to more than 45 new rides.

Global Fun Carnival uses the latest and most aadvanced games and rides in the world, with most of the rides coming from Italy and Germany. All of these rides have passed the TUV World Safety Standards and have also passed China’s Standard Safety Measures and have been highly-acclaimed for its safety. This purely guarantees the safety of these games and rides.

We are an entertainment leader from Singapore, equipped with 15 years of experience, strength and knowledge of this industry.

We aim to provide huge world-class entertainment, with a win-win situation for our partners

ka edong
umiikot-ikot ang mundo

Disclaimer: I didn’t write that press-release! Visit the Global Fun Carnival website and see more English oddities.