March 8 - 21 , 2017 Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 Philippine Showbiz Today 9
March 8 - 21 , 2017 Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 Philippine Showbiz Today 9
Feature Story
Get swept away by tsunami waves this summer !
With by Jose K . Lirios
PST Manila Correspondent the summer season fast approaching , it is time to open your closets and take out your swimming trunks , bathing suit , inflatable life preservers , sun block and suntan lotion . But where do you go to beat the summer heat of 2017 ?
Off to Manila Bay ? It is too polluted and already congested with people taking a free dip . How about the beach resorts in Zambales and La Union ? Too far for those who are uncomfortable in taking a road trip out of Metro Manila , a trip which will take several hours before arriving at your destination .
How about the nearby province of Bulacan ? For that ideal , stressfree summer destination closer to Metro Manila , there are many resorts scattered all over Bulacan to choose from .
The land-locked province of Bulacan may not be blessed with beaches and natural waves , but the so-called “ tsunami ” wave swimming pools that are found in some of its 115 resorts have been attracting tourists from Metro Manila and other nearby provinces
these past summers .
Elizabeth Alonzo , Bulacan tourism officer , said that pool resorts scattered around the province accommodate from 1,000 to 5,000 visitors each day , with many of the resorts taking in as much as 10,000 people during weekends and holidays .
Alonzo stressed that Bulacan ’ s pool resorts earn from P20 million to P40 million a month during summer season . So far , 15 pool resorts have designed their service packages around the very popular wave pools . Bulacan ’ s pool resorts started investing in the so-called wave pool technology way back in 2002 .
The 8-Waves Waterpark and Resort , located near the boundary of Baliwag and San Rafael towns , started the first-ever wave pools . Then Villa Concepcion in the town of Pandi followed soon after , which drew more pool resorts to try out this new , crowd-drawing attraction .
Fifteen is not a small number . There are now a lot of pool resorts with wave pools , which is why the province of Bulacan has been called the wave pool capital of the Philippines .
The wave pools and pool resorts in Bulacan have begun attracting tourists because they are much closer and accessible than the beaches of Ilocos and Pangasinan , a relief for the residents of Metro Manila and Central Luzon .
The Amana Waterpark Resort in Pandi town , Bulacan , has the largest and biggest wave pool in Bulacan so far , which it markets and boasts as “ tsunami waves .” This wave pool technology can whip up sevento eight-foot waves and this attraction is available to tourists from 10 a . m . to 12 noon and from 2 to 4 p . m . The waves are said to dance to popular songs played on the sound system ’ s speakers placed around the pool .
Amana Waterpark Resort is considered by many as one of the most exciting waterparks in Southeast Asia . It offers some of the most impressive amenities found in a swimming pool resort . It has seven themed pools in various shapes and designs , two of which are located indoor . Lifesized statues of popular movie and television characters like the Avengers ( Iron Man , Thor ,
Hulk ), Justice League ( Batman , Superman , Wonder Woman ), Dragon Ball Z , Disney and Marvel offer tourists something amusing to look at and to pose for photo souvenirs .
The resort also boasts a 3,500 square meter wave pool that generates tsunamilike waves , so far the biggest in the Philippines . The thrill of swimming and splashing in these artificially-generated waves will surely bring out the child in anyone .
During the peak summer season , Amana Waterpark has a special treat for visitors during the weekends . From 1:30 to 3:00 in the afternoon , there is a special presentation that features hip-hop dancers , professional acrobats and magicians whose performances are very entertaining .
Visitors can bring food and water , but soft drinks and alcoholic beverages have a corresponding corkage fee . For the safety of all the visitors , management
discourages them from using breakable containers for their food and water . Grill stands are available for rent at P100 and videoke units too for P1,000 .
For swimming attire , bathing suit , shorts with garter and cycling shorts , and white shirts are preferred . Visitors are discouraged from wearing colored shirts when taking a dip or swimming in the pool
Ṫo prevent injuries and fatal accidents from happening , diving is not allowed and back diving on the edge of the pool is strictly prohibited . Amana Waterpark has
two slides at the twin pool area located near the Avatar swimming pool
Ḟor commuters living in Metro Manila , you can take a bus at the bus bay along Farmer ’ s Market in Cubao , Quezon City , Trinoma bus bay along EDSA , the SM City bus bay also along EDSA or the Baclaran bus terminal bound for Sta . Maria , Bulacan . The fare is P50 . Just tell the bus driver or conductor to drop you off at Waltermart in Sta . Maria . From there you can hire a tricycle going to Amana Waterpark . The fare is P120 and the tricycle can accommodate up to three passengers in a single ride .
For those who have a private car , just take the Bocaue exit to Sta . Maria , Bulacan and from there follow the route going to Pandi town . The travel time is around 25 minutes from Sta . Maria .
With less than two hours from
Metro Manila , Amana Waterpark is very accessible to commuters and the trip going there is not very stressful . It is truly a fascinating
and fun destination this summer that one should not miss out on . ●
Jose “ JP ” K . Lirios is a graduate of the Universtiy of the East , majoring in English and has been writing for publications such as The Manila Times , Business World and Philippines Free Press . We are honoured to have JP on board as our feature writer on PST .