Last Saturday, I, my wife and our son Gabby went to Manila Ocean Park’s Oceanarium. It’s the latest attraction at the back of Luneta grandstand. Tickets sold at P400 for adults, P350 for kids. It’s by-word is A DEEPER EXPERIENCE…
Did it live up to our expectations ? Read on…
I have been to San Diego California’s SEA WORLD where I saw SHAMU, the whaleshark, lots of sealions, aquariums of fishes, manatees, dolphins, sting rays, even flock of colorful birds in a bird show. I have been to Hong Kong’s Ocean Park where similar attractions can be found and a cable car ride to boost. Then back in 2005, my family went to Auckland, New Zealand for a 7-week-vacation where we saw Kelly Tarlton’s Ocean Adventure. There we saw real-life-PENGUINS !!! The amazing thing about Kelly Tarlton’s though it is on a smaller-scale area compared to the other sea-adventure parks that we’ve been to was it’s located underground or under-the-sea… Our experiences of going to sea-theme-parks abroad were worth it. Memorable and splendid.
I became a bit excited (for my kid and being a kid-at-heart) when I heard the news about the opening of Oceanarium here and it was heightened when I first saw its banners posted in main streets of Manila . The idea of bringing the sea-life to public awareness is truly informative and educational. The fact of setting a theme park similar to those abroad may lessen the expenses of traveling and rather make it more affordable to many.
What really disappointed us was the very poor presentation of everything; to think that it is (and it should be) one of the newest tourist attraction in Manila. Some Filipinos (especially GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS; read : FIND OUT WHOSE FACE IS ON A GIANT BANNER FRONTING OCEANARIUM… LOL) are really good at boasting "HALF-BAKED goodies." The Manila Ocean Park is of one these. In my 2-cent-worth of opinion, it should not be open until it’s completely DONE… There should be no tickets being sold until it’s construction is finished. The long queues to buying tickets to the Oceanarium and gaining entry were unbearable. Airconditioning was not that enough to enjoy the cold-blooded sea creatures. The staffs could have been more considerate to children who are mostly their patrons. Cleanliness is needed. There were no tissue papers at toilets unlike theme parks abroad where KLEENEX are abundant. There was no crowd control. Construction is still to be completed in most parts of the park from its entrance to its last attraction.
Was it a DEEPER EXPERIENCE ? I guess it’s better to enjoy a fried TUYO on a plate at home rather than to remember that I paid P1,150 for our 3 tickets.
The Manila Ocean Park’s Oceanarium should have IMPROVEMENT, for children’s sake.
Anyways, what else can we do that time but to smile (as if we enjoyed) for the camera…
OPINION COUNTS…