Twenty two years after it opened to the public in October 1995, the magic lives on at Enchanted Kingdom (EK), the country’s first and premiere theme park located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Through the years, theme park owners and management team led by husband and wife Mario and Cynthia Mamon, EK successfully enchant the public with exciting new rides, magical experiences and souvenir items.
Filipinos from all walks of life visit EK in droves, making this side of Laguna most visited and tourist-friendly. Many children – today’s millennials – have practically grown up and keep coming back reliving childhood memories and discovering new experiences with their friends and families in this happiest place in the Philippines. Thus, as it bids adieu to 21 glorious years and enters its 22nd year of park magic, the management team has set its sight on bigger achievements, better offerings and greater success in fulfilling its advocacies and God-centered vision.
This year’s theme, “The Filipino Spirit Flying High,” Enchanted Kingdom aims to bring back national pride and to continue to be a beacon of hope for its loyal publicas as it continuously showcases the goodness, if not the greatness in every Filipino through AGILA: The EKsperience.
EK’s grandest and most ambitious attraction, AGILA: The EKsperience, was unveiled in December 2016 showcasing the Philippine eagle’s might and highlighting the beauty of the Philippine archipelago. The ride aboard the flying theater makes one travel and experience the beauty of our beloved country.
“The pioneering motion-simulated flying theater currently finds no equal in size and magnitude. Its superlative features boast of the most modern breakthroughs in motion simulators and special effects, the most captivating aerial cinematography, world- direction, editing and musical score, and an iconic building to match its magnificence and grandeur,” Mario Mamon said.
It is no understatement that EK went to great lengths to produce an attraction as amazing and awe-inspiring as AGILA. Replicating an eagle’s movements as if gliding over its natural habitat is no easy feat, let alone simulating what it sees in the wild, in this case, the pristine, unspoiled beauty of the Philippine’s natural attractions among them Palawan’s Underground River, Bengue’t Rice Terraces, the Windmills of Ilocos, the sandunes of Laog, Batanes, and Boracay. Likewise, the sights and sounds are so astounding. Its creation will remain in Eldar’s books as one of the finest and proudest moments in EK history. In EK parlance, AGILA is definitely an EKsperience, one that epitomizes the Filipino Spirit Flying High.
“The sky’s the limit for Enchanted Kingdom as it welcomes its 22nd year with this motto in mind. In this day and age, this is exactly what we need–a whole lot of hope, pride and spirit to get us through. Enchanted Kingdom has put itself to task by committing to inspire hope and build pride through its many endeavors. Through it all, EK educates as it entertains, delivers memorable moments as it thrills, values people as it reaps honors, supports causes at it moves to the future,” Cynthia Mamon said.
“Like the indomitable Philippine Eagle and the unrelenting pride and spirit of the Filipino people, Enchanted Kingdom will stay true to everything it holds dear, and that is, hope, inspiration and faith. This is the promise that everyone’s most loved theme park intends to keep, twenty two years and beyond,” she added.
The grand spectacle
The most loved theme park treated its loyal patrons with EK 22 ON 22 Concert, a spectacle of stars on October 22 starting 6:00pm at Agila Theater Grounds with a night of music and magic led by one of the Philippines’ hottest love teams today, Nadine Lustre and James Reid or JaDine among their followers. Hosted by Luis Manzano, adding magical and ‘kilig’ moments to park goers were EK’s premier vocal groups Victoria’s Way and Kingsmen , Arjo Atayde, Yassi Pressman and the boy band, The Juans.
After serenading the crowd, Park guests walked over to the Spaceport at 8:30PM for the much-awaited Skywizardry Fireworks Competition that lit up the night sky. It was hosted by Angel Aquino and Yoni Mamon, while wholesome twosome Ella Cruz ,Julian Trono and EK Circle of Artists performed for the crowd.
The distinguished panel of judges were composed of Chairman and CEO, GMA Network, Inc. Atty. Felipe Gozon, Model, Actor and Sta. Rosa Laguna’s pride Alden Richards, 1st District, Province of Laguna Cong. Arlene Arcillas, GMA 7 Encantadia Director Mark Reyes, Musician, Composer and Conductor Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Managing Director, Siam Park City, Bangkok, Thailand WUTHICHAI LUANGAMORNLERT, Founder & Managing Director, Only World Group, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ybhg TAN SRI RICHARD CK KOH, Chairman, P.T. Funworld, Jakarta, Indonesia MR..RACHMAT SUTIONO and Former PEZA Director General Atty. Lilia De Lima. As expected the night’s fanfare ended with a momentous high. There were 4 local contenders who battled in the pyromusical competition. Exhibitions of fireworks accompanied by one chosen song and the other was EK’s original song “Everyday, Everyday.” Sky Wizard no. 4 – Pyromount Fireworks emerged as the Grand Winner by unanimous decision.
What’s new inside the world-class theme park’s in-house museum?
To celebrate another year of magical experiences EK’s place of curated memories of the park, Memorabilia, is updated with all-new installations. Together with the launch of the park’s 22nd anniversary, the memorabilia showcase the making of AGILA: The EKsperience as it highlights on the attraction’s journey throughout its first year of conception until implementation.
The Memorabilia displays pictures from the groundbreaking ceremonies held on March 2014, the design of the building by Architect Kenneth Quintal, the theming by RTA and the musical scoring of Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. The Memorabilia describes how the AGILA film was produced with the help of Philippine Film Studios Inc as Executive Producer with post production by the Central Digital Labs with Sid Maderazo as Director.
The ride was manufactured by Simex Iwerks, a Canadian-based company. AGILA: The EKsperience was recently nominated for the THEA awards for Product Excellence.
Image credits: Alysa Salen