Oceanarium Adventure: Manila Ocean Park

I was actually undecided about spending my Saturday by going to Manila Ocean Park. It opened last March 2008 and is still halfway through construction. The website only says a little, if not vague descriptions, about what's in store for a visitor. The entrance fee is P 400 for adults and P 350 for children. Quoting myself before I headed to the Oceanarium, I don't want to regret spending 400 pesos and feel like I shredded the bills into fish food.



When we got there, restaurants were lined up beside the ticket booth. I was given a stub that was 'needed' to buy tickets, but it wasn't really necessary. I got confused as to where to go next. After looking around, we found the entrance in an inconspicuous corner to the right of the ticket booth.

The Manila Ocean Park has seven general sections. The first one was Agos (Flow), which had a rain forest theme, explaining the reason why it was an open area with lush green plants and why there was fake rainfall by the entrance. Umbrellas were readily available, and an attendant was kind enough to brief people about the rules inside the Oceanarium. Before the next section, Bahura (Reef), there were wooden staircases and an interactive area where people can touch and feel starfishes. The Bahura exhibits artificial corals and reef fishes. There were also big interactive touch screens that visitors can use to read about ocean facts. The next part was dimly lit, but the Laot (Fishing ground) features big fishes and blue-spotted rays. The next area was the 25 meter long 220-degree walkway tunnel, Buhay na Karagatan (Living Ocean), which is one of the main attractions of the Park. It has various multi-colored fishes - some swim alone and some pass by in schools. You'll never get tired of observing the fish. After making it through the tunnel, you can see Ang Kalaliman (The Deep), a big aquarium that showcases some of Philippine deep-sea creatures. You have to look up to the overhanging tank of Pagi (Sting Ray) and see rays swim. The last area was Pating (Shark) where there was a tank with a variety of young sharks that are commonly found in the Philippines - so don't ask why there's no great big white sharks.



The Agos area is great for picture taking, because it's an open area and the fake waterfall makes for a nice scenery. Touch and feel the starfishes and the hermit crabs. I would recommend people to look for and observe the Razorfishes, Ribbon Eels, Rock Mover fishes, and Bamboo shark eggs, if I remember it right, they're all found in the Bahura. The Hispid Frogfishes and some camouflaging fishes that looked like rocks or corals (whose names seem to have slipped my mind) are great to look at, too. Try to take your time at the interactive touch-screen LCDs available, you're sure to learn new things there. The Laot is a very dark area, so it's hard to take pictures. But the color-changing box seats there are interesting because they're 100% recycled material. If you're lucky you may also catch the dolphin mascot in the Buhay na Karagatan.

There are four specific rules to keep in mind during your stay, and sadly, not everybody is mindful about them. 1. No flash photography - it scares the fishes. 2. No tapping on the glass. 3. No food and drinks. 4. No smoking. Most of the Oceanarium is dark, and people who want to take pictures but are unable to do so because of the poor lighting resolve to using flashes. I also came across a (seemingly autistic) young girl who was slapping the tanks with both of her hands - even her adult companion did not bother to stop her. One of the signs also clearly stated 'Thank you for not sitting', and guess what? People actually sit and pose beside the sign.



Construction is still on going, but there were exhibit, reading, and play areas where kids can enjoy and learn more about the ocean. Exiting the main gallery would lead you to an area overlooking Manila Bay. As an added attraction, there's a Fish Spa, where you can dip your feet in a pool of Doctor Fishes and they'll eat your dead skin cells away. There's also a Glass Bottom Boat Ride where you can ride a boat with a glass bottom and (obviously) view the fishes in the Buhay na Karagatan fish tank while learning more about them. Of course by "added attraction" I mean you have to pay extra for them.

We were lucky to catch the Anino(Shadow) Show that was held at the Laot area around 2pm. I'm not sure if it was sponsored or held by a certain hotdog brand - the product placement was so evident. Still, it was a cool show. It tackled ecological problems and presented them in a way that young kids would be able to understand them. I guess I have to give Manila Ocean Park a thumbs up by trying to reach out and inform the young generation about deforestation, flooding and the likes.

You have to go through a slightly expensive restaurant that offers buffet (with a breath taking view of the bay) and the Manila Ocean Park Store in order to exit *cough*marketing*cough*. Some of the stalls aren't finished yet, and you can even see the on-going construction site of the marine-themed mall. I'm looking forward to the Open Marine Habitat which may open sometime next year.

I didn't regret spending my Saturday in Manila Ocean Park. It's a great place, especially if you would go beyond enjoying colorful fishes in tanks. It's both educational(at least certain spots) and entertaining. Try to learn as much as you can from the experience and the 400-Peso entrance, fish food or not, would be well worth it.