Cruising

By Chris A. Datol

Wanders, The Musical at the Casino Filipino in Parañaque

Nothing less than Universal Studios – yes, the Hollywood-themed amusement park from Warner Bros. – will serve as one of the ultimate offerings of the “Entertainment City” once it rises on a $15-billion mega complex in Parañaque City. At last, Manila will have something to pitch against Hong Kong’s Disneyland, Singapore’s animal parks, and Japan’s plethora of amusement park destinations.

As early as now, investors and industry experts are anticipating a tourism boom unheard of, with the unveiling of the Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Entertainment City Manila which was envisioned by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), led by Chairman Efraim C. Genuino.

“It is not going to be a casino complex in the level of Las Vegas;’ said Paraftaque Mayor Jun Bernabe during an interview with Cruising. “The gaming component will only comprise 20 percent of the development. The majority is geared for tourist entertainment, recreation and leisure, by virtue ofmalls, hotels, clubs, restaurants, and even the popular American theme park Universal Studios is coming.”

Mayor Bernabe said that the 120-hectare entertainment and tourism hub, set to rise along Macapagal Boulevard, has been given accreditation by PEZA as an economic zone. Since the groundbreaking of the project last April, at least two major investors have started construction of their projects. The partnership of Filipino company Alliance Global Inc. (AGI) and Malaysia-based Genting Berhad as well as the Japan-based ARUZE Corporation have already received provisional licenses from PAGCOR to start on their respective projects.

AGI’s subsidiary, Travellers International, and Genting’s subsidiary, Star Cruises, plan to build hotels with a minimum capacity of2,000 rooms, a world-class theme park and a museum. On the other hand, the ARUZE Corporation headed by Kazuo Okada will also put up special museums, hotel chains, theaters, a sports arena and the “Manila Eye” – a giant Ferris wheel that is set to rival the famous London Eye in Europe. Each company is poised to invest at least US$1 billion for the venture.

Also in talks with PAGCOR is mall giant SM Investment Corporation, which proposes to build a luxury hotel, museums and a sports arena near the SM Mall of Asia complex, in partnership with Asia Pacific Gaming from Australia and Radission Hotels and Resorts. Another interested company, Bloombury Investments, Inc., plans to build hotel chains, shopping centers, celebrity-themed restaurants, showrooms, museums as well as a huge entertainment and sports center.

The Entertainment City is expected to give the Philippines a competitive edge over other premier tourist havens in Asia, while generating jobs and filling the shortage of accommodation infrastructure within the greater Manila area. PAGCOR Chairman Genuino even refers to the multi-billion dollar project as “the economic miracle” that the Philippines had been waiting for all these years.

“This represents a vital turning point for the Filipinos. With this project, we aim to put the Philippines at the forefront of tourism development and the booming gaming industry – the two leading sources of revenue for nations worldwide,” Genuino said in a statement.

PAGCOR is giving a preview of world-class acts by launching its one-of-a-kind musical – Wanders – at its casino in Parañaque City. The production combines the elements of theater, circus and musical all in one show, featuring an international cast composed of multi-talented Filipino entertainers, Chinese acrobats and stunning Russian dancers. It also highlights the latest in state-of-the-art stage technology, couture costumes and live band music during every performance.

Mayor Bernabe however clarified that the Entertainment City, though already a massive project, is just one of the components of the whole reclamation site that is up for development. “There’s another 650 hectares for expansion and it’s all under the jurisdiction of Parañaque. Once completed, the reclamation site will be a virtual satellite city composed of high-rise residences, commercial establishments and business centers. It will become a city of the future,” he declared.