Enchanted Kingdom (EK), the country’s largest and only world-class theme park, has brought a lot of joy and excitement to millions of children… and adults, too. This 25-hectare magical attraction in Sta. Rosa, Laguna now has four event venues, aside from the more than 30 thrilling rides, which guarantee its visitors that once they enter the park, the fun never stops.
My first magical experience at this theme park was when it opened in 1995 with my three young children in tow. We were there on a weekend, from the time it opened in the morning until it closed late at night. It was a wonderful weekend my children and I will never forget. We tried practically all the rides and enjoyed the food sold at the many food stalls and restaurants inside the park.
Our favorite rides were the Space Shuttle, a thrilling roller coaster, and the Wheel of Fate, a humongous Ferris wheel with 36 gondolas, each of which can accommodate six people. There were many other rides we enjoyed, and they kept us busy queueing up for the whole day.
So, when I received the invitation to EK’s recent 29th anniversary celebration, I made sure I’d go to see what’s new with the theme park and enjoy it like a child all over again.
The party started with a get-together at one of the venues, with speeches from the officers involved and those who had contributed to its success. Cynthia Mamon, EK’s Chief Operating Officer, gave a very nice speech detailing the history of the theme park.
Chief Executive Officer and Founder Mario Mamon regaled everyone with a beautiful rendition of his favorite song. I was surprised to be asked to give a speech, too, so I delivered my heartfelt congratulatory message to Cynthia and Mario, whose vision brought joy to millions of our countrymen and their children.
A sumptuous buffet dinner was later served, after which we were invited to enjoy any or all of the rides, particularly their newest one, the Agila EKsperience. This is a beautiful, 10-minute flying theater, taking guests on a thrilling journey over the country’s famous tourist attractions, right in the comfort of their own seats, from the vantage point of a flying eagle.
The Agila EKsperience is the first flying theater in the country and the largest of its kind in the world. Inside the theater, guests lift off the ground via moving seats, which are equipped with multi-sensory special effects of wind, water, and eagle-like motion. I noticed that when the “flight” took us through the clouds, I felt the wind blowing on my face, including the moisture that clouds bring. It is such a fantastic way to promote the beauty of our country’s natural attractions, something our Department of Tourism can be proud of.
Guests were later invited to watch a concert featuring some of the latest teenage performers who dominate the local scene. I preferred to go around the theme park all over again and see what new things they had. This time, I busied myself with checking out toys and souvenirs that my little grandchildren would be thrilled to have. For someone who had no plans to go shopping, I ended up tugging along two big shopping bags of colorful and interesting items for my grandchildren.
Since I was already there, I waited for the evening’s finale, the grand fireworks display that EK is known for. Naturally, the kid in me came out once again as I marveled at the colorful pyrotechnics that dominated the evening sky.
It was another beautiful weekend that made me emotional as I recalled the first time I was there, with my little children, all starry-eyed, excited to see all the thrilling rides and colorful toys for sale. Now they’re all busy with their own families. Where have all those beautiful days gone? Nevertheless, I’m happy I spent this much-needed respite from the hassle of daily life—a weekend of timeless magic.
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