Amid the floods brought by successive storms—further worsened by environmental destruction and climate change—one of the terms that now dominates public conversation is environmental protection and sustainability.
The United Nations defines sustainability as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. However, sustainability begins with the awareness that every action we take has an impact on the environment. This is why it is important for sustainability awareness to start in childhood.
Just in time for Enchanted Kingdom’s 30th anniversary, the Philippines’ premier theme park has reopened one of its biggest attractions, Agila the EKsperience. First opened in 2016, Agila the EKsperience is the country’s first flying theater and one of the largest in the world. It temporarily closed for renovation and feature upgrades, and reopened only last month.
The attraction returned with a new name: Agila the EKsperience: Saribuhay. The Filipino word saribuhay, or biodiversity in English, refers to the variability of living organisms within an ecosystem. Composed of 7,641 islands rich in diverse landforms and bodies of water, the Philippines is one of the world’s leading biodiversity hotspots. These natural treasures—and the biodiversity they contain—are the main highlights of Agila the EKsperience: Saribuhay.
During our visit to Agila the EKsperience: Saribuhay last Saturday, the first thing we noticed was the long line of students eager to see and experience the attraction. Every year, 600,000 students visit Enchanted Kingdom to enjoy its various rides, including Agila the EKsperience. This makes the attraction a fitting venue to promote sustainability awareness among the youth—and even among visitors of all ages. Housed in a nine-story glass-encased building covering 6,000 square meters, Agila the EKsperience is a major investment for Enchanted Kingdom.
In the lobby, a large screen plays an introduction led by Eldar the Wizard, Enchanted Kingdom’s main mascot. The introduction focuses on the Philippines as a biodiversity hotspot, its natural treasures, the environmental threats it faces, and how each of us can help protect nature—not only for the present, but also for future generations.
After the introduction, we moved to the next section of the attraction. In the Enchanted Forest, a dimly lit, cavernous, and wooded room illuminated by artificial fireflies, Eldar appears again on the large screen. Here, the wizard explains our mission: to reunite the three harmony stones—earth, water, and air. These can only be restored upon completing a journey across the Philippine archipelago with Agila, the mighty Philippine Eagle and the country’s national bird. With Agila as our guide, we would soar across the islands to discover their natural wonders and biodiversity.
Next, we entered the theater of Agila the EKsperience: Saribuhay. Inside are three rows of seats divided according to the three harmony stones. Once everyone is seated with seatbelts secured for safety, the excitement begins: the seats rise and move, simulating the gliding of an eagle through the sky while traveling across different landscapes and exploring Philippine biodiversity projected on a massive 544-square-meter screen. Throughout the journey, guests can feel gusts of wind and sprays of water. Agila the EKsperience: Saribuhay can be considered a major level-up from Rialto 4D, another motion simulator theater in Enchanted Kingdom.
Beyond the fun and thrill of rides such as Flying Fiesta, Rio Grande Rapids, Jungle Log Jam, Twin Spin, and Space Shuttle, visiting Enchanted Kingdom—especially this holiday season—becomes even more meaningful thanks to Agila the EKsperience: Saribuhay. More than a joyful adventure, it fosters sustainability awareness, especially among the youth—a legacy that can benefit generations to come.
