“We know we went the length of the pandemic. So, it is good that we have an opportunity to gather today and celebrate life and our 28th Anniversary.”
— Enchanted Kingdom President & Chairman Mario Mamon
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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
ENCHANTED KINGDOM, Laguna (SDN) — As Filipinos are savoring their freedom to venture out, doing revenge travels, either foreign or local, this haven of safe fun and entertainment is coming back with a vengeance, too.
Recall that a three-year hiatus caused by lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2022 forced people to stay at home for days on end.
The pandemic which Wikipedia says killed 6.95 million people globally as of October 3, 2023, with the Philippines suffering 66,685 reported fatalities, took fun out of people’s lives. Doing business, traveling, going to school, government work, and just getting to market in person to buy food for the table became life-threatening.
Thus, it occurred that lockdowns and safety protocols forced entertainment parks like the Enchanted Kingdom (EK) to close to comply with the government, thereby, losing visitors and earnings as they rely on visitors’ physical presence.
That was then, this is now!
As the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is winding down (hopefully to a full stop) in 2023, establishments have come out of the shadows to do business once again. But obviously, people are still tempered by the fact the virus is still around and people are still getting infected, though not to the staggering numbers in the past. While wearing mask is no longer required in public places, some still do.
Hotels, restaurants, schools, government offices, parks like the EK — life is savoring a return to life pre-pandemic — are perking up and experiencing good business.
So, in that context, this entertainment hub of around 36 hectares more or less was able to celebrate on October 1 its milestone of 28 years of providing Filipinos fun and wholesome and safe entertainment.
A hundred or more journalists, bloggers, and influencers excitedly flocked to Enchanted Kingdom for the celebration in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Rizal, on official invitation.
While the official event was for 4 p.m., EK vans conveyed the invitees early to the park to give them a few hours of getting into the rides and enjoy for free.
Siblings Anna Mamon Aban and Nico Mamon, EK’s Business Development & Digital Transformation Chief and Organization Development and Corporate Planning Chief, respectively, led the celebration at the park’s Eldar Theater.
EK is regaining its footing, the siblings told the gathered reporters, bloggers, and influencers.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, EK is the Philippines’ leading and only world-class — as in world-class — theme park.
The Mamon children happily revealed that EK is gaining momentum in its comeback after three years, saying their employees have grown to 600 and visitors range from 10,000 to 15,000 people daily.
“What’s Your Enchanted Story?” is this year’s celebratory theme, inviting visitors to share their fun and magical moments at the park.
“The theme is all about two things: First, the Enchanted Kingdom, and (second), the story,” Nico says.
He emphasized the story is not only about visitors’ magical experiences in the park, it is also about the 700 EK cast members (read: employees).
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“(Our) casts are the ones who provide magical experience, they are the ones who provide the service to make visitors safe, to make sure that the rides are safe, to make sure the experience is magical,” he points out.
“We want you to capture that. Everybody has an enchanted story.”
EK’s slogan, Nico reveals, is “Be the magic, be enchanted.”
The celebration started off with video message from EK President & Chairman Mario Mamon who is in Paris, France.
“We know we went the length of the pandemic. So, it is good that we have an opportunity to gather today and celebrate life and our 28th Anniversary,” the Mamon patriarch notes, adding that it was “no mean feat (to survive) 25 years and (three years of) the pandemic.”
Anna and Nico detailed EK’s month-long celebrations, saying the highlight would be the Grand Finale on October 28 of the Sky Wizardy Fireworks Competition.
“We listen to our customers,” the Mamon siblings assured, emphasizing the return of the popular firework contest was suggested by EK visitors.
They said that starting on October 7 there will be weekly Sky Wizardry Fireworks Competition every Saturday leading to the Grand Finale.
Here are what awaits park visitors this October, per EK statement:
- October 7th — Enchanted Kingdom recognizes teachers through activities and entertainment with the World Teachers Day Celebration event as part of National Teachers Month.
- October 14th — EK will conduct Storytime with Eldar, An Enchanting Kids Event to start off the kids’ activities, followed by its very own Grand Storybook Characters Parade to introduce other Enchanted Kingdom characters.
- October 21st — Eldar’s E-Kreators will host, dance and perform for loyal park goers and fans as part of the worldclass theme park’s collaboration with social media influencers and content creator partners.
- October 28 — the Grand Finale of the Sky Wizardry Fireworks Competition will dazzle guests, and the Be Enchanted! Concert will headline Asia’s Soul Supreme KZ Tandingan together with other best local acts to cap off the anniversary month.
To commemorate its 28th anniversary, EK will also re-launch its nostalgic menu items from the past 28 years from its restaurants as well as launch merchandise.
During the launch, EK also unveiled their newest offerings and developments at the theme park in line with its 28th year of creating and providing magical experiences and memories that last a lifetime.
These include the:
- EK mobile app which features the park’s interactive map as well as ride and show schedules. Through the mobile app, guests can also access the EK online store (EKOS). The app offers a seamless and magical guest experience.
- STARBOOKS, the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) interactive kiosk system and digital library in a box, containing thousands of carefully curated knowledge content. Two units will be installed at the park’s Agila the EKsperience in partnership with DOST.
- Guests can also expect a new and improved Fun Kart, EK’s 800-meter go-kart racetrack; and,
- The official launch of EK’s new partner tenants: Tater’s, Fortune Bakeshop, and Dash Premium Ice Scramble. EK also launched their own food offerings, Tropical Coolers and Princess Cookies.
The EK president and chairman teased that Enchanted Kingdom is weaving its magic to bring guests an enhanced dining experience with branded dining outlets planned.
Furthermore, EK announced that starting December 17, the theme park will open its gate every day of the week and continuously provide wholesome family leisure and entertainment especially during the holiday season.
Meanwhile, EK services for guests include Kindermagic, Security, Wheelchairs, Strollers & Storage Lockers, Lost & Found Booth, Credit Card & Cashless Payment, and Parking Area. (✓)