Manila Ocean Park Is A Family-Friendly Destination You Can Visit All Year Round

Hey Folks! Do you know this song?

"Look at this stuff. Isn't it neat?

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

Wouldn't you think I'm the girl.

The girl who has everything?"

Ring any bells? Oh, no! It's not one of Ariana Grande's songs but she can surely create beautiful and unique cover of it on YouTube. Come on '90s babies I'm sure you know this. Without a doubt, your kids have heard this so many times. Okay, how about this one?

"Under the sea, under the sea.

Darling it's better, down where it's wetter.

Take it from me.

Up on the shore they work all day.

Out in the sun they slave away.

While we devotin', full time to floatin'.

Under the sea."

Any guesses? Yeah, you got it! Seems we have a lot of Disney fans today. Am I right? Me too! The first song is "Part of Your World" and the second is "Under the Sea". Both are from the 1989 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney, 'The Little Mermaid'. Omg! Can't wait for the remake.

 

And yes! I can't also wait to be a cute 'Merman'. Lol! No, I'm just kidding. Hello world! Welcome to my blog again and how are you? Oh really? That's perfect to hear. To my super love fellow Filipinos, how are you enjoying the dry season? Have you been to the beach lately? Okay, that's cool!

 So, what's my new blog post? For sure you already have an idea, right? Of course, it's family-friendly again. From the nice and cozy Canyon Woods Resort Club in Tagaytay, we will go back to Manila to visit the world of Ariel, Ursula and Sebastian from 'The Little Mermaid'. Let's go kids!

Lion Fish

Sadly, we will neither go to Disneyland because we don't have that in Manila, nor swim in Manila Bay because it's totally not clean. We will actually go to the first world-class marine theme park in the Philippines, it's none other than Manila Ocean Park.

Puffer Fishes

Are you excited? Well, I'm afraid that we can't really see legendary creatures like mermaids and mermen inside the ocean park but definitely, this is the perfect destination to see Ariel's friends, they are aquatic animals such as seahorses, stingrays, sea lions and fishes. 

You can also find Clownfish and Blue Tang Fish, the real-life counterparts of Nemo and Dory. Yeah, it's so easy to find them and you won't suffer short-term memory loss. Sorry, I still can't get over 'Finding Dory'. That was heartbreaking!

Seahorses

Wait, let me dry my eyes. Okay! Now, I'm back in business! No more talk and no more drama. Manila Ocean Park is located at Manila Bay, behind Quirino Grandstand. It is also near Rizal Park(aka Luneta Park) and Rizal Park Hotel(formerly The Manila Army and Navy Club), two famous landmarks in Manila. 

The most comfortable way to get there aside from your private car is either by taxi or carpool like Grab. However, if you're really busy and don't have time to buy tickets yet. Not to worry, my blog is here for you! This post will show the inside pictures of Oceanarium, one of Ocean Park's main attractions. It is also the first and largest aquarium facility in the Philippines. 

So, consider this like a Virtual Reality Tour of the park where you're not required to spend money and make effort. Simply, hassle-free! In fact, you already saw some of the photos and all you need to do is to scroll down. Sure! You can wear your VR headset.

Stingray

These images were actually taken more than two months ago, when we celebrated my father's birthday without him. Sadly, he was Mr. Killjoy that day and we didn't win his heart. My bad, I really thought the surprise gift would work for him and he would love the place since he's an animal lover. Maybe next time I should ask him first instead. Know the drill!

I was quite disappointed but we had to go and use the vouchers I purchased on MetroDeal for only 499 Pesos(roughly 10 US Dollars) each. Wow! They regularly sell affordable and legit Manila Ocean Park deals, so I really didn't even hesitate to buy it immediately. But if you don't like this site, you can also check great deals on TravelBook.ph and Klook. Then, compare!

Ocean's Deep Sea Rush: Manila Ocean Park's 5 Wonderful Attractions for P499 instead of P2500. This is the title of the voucher I saw and purchased on Metrodeal. Truly an eye-catching ad, right?

Oops! Speaking of ad, let's have a commercial break. FYI, Manila Ocean Park just turned 10 last March 2018. Belated Happy Birthday! If you're a frequent traveler, you can say that it is a local version of Dubai Ocean Park, The Marine Life Park Singapore and Ocean Park Hong Kong. Filipinos undoubtedly love it because it's somewhat a new destination you can visit in Manila, aside from the usual yet worthy local tourist spots like Intramuros, Manila Zoo, Star City and Chinatown. It's now a household name!

This Ocean Park is also a premiere educational facility, that's why it's always one of the top choices when it comes to "Field Trip Ideas For Elementary School". It's an integrated urban resort with marine life attractions and aqua-themed hotel. Okay, let's go back to my story!

We arrived in Manila Ocean Park before 1pm and went straight to Metrodeal lane. Like in Canyon, we were Fantastic Four(My mum, me, nephew and sis). It was quick and easy, I just presented the printed eVouchers with my 1 valid ID. Voila! We were able to redeem our wrist tags for less than 5 minutes. I thought afternoon was the right time to visit the Ocean Park because we needed to stay there until evening for the lights and sounds show. Heads up! Make sure to read the terms and conditions of the eVoucher before you buy it. It's better to know the rules before you go there, okay?

So, the first attraction we visited was the Oceanarium. Honestly, it's the major reason why we went to Manila Ocean Park, because we'd love to see the 25-meter long, 220 degree curved walkway tunnel with a spectacular underwater view of amazing sea creatures swimming overhead. We'd also love to take selfies with the fishes or sharks, without getting wet. Thankfully, we were able to turn our wishes into reality. The three sections we visited were The Reef, Lost Atlantis and Living Ocean.

The Oceanarium is home to roughly 14,000 marine creatures from around 277 species, all indigenous to the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

After that, we went to the other four attractions. We visited The Barnyard and met Old MacDonald's little creatures like rabbits, chickens and hamsters. Do you want to feed the birds on your hands? If yes, we had that chance inside the Birdhouse and it was ticklish. We also watched the two adorable sea lions of South America at the Sea Lion Show. Lastly, to complete our stay, we watched the huge water fountains and amazing fireworks of Symphony Evening Show.

Attractions Schedule:

Barnyard (Last entry, 5:30 PM)

Daily: 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Birdhouse (Last entry, 5:30 PM)

Daily: 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Oceanarium (Last entry, 7:15 PM)

Weekdays: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Weekends & Holidays: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Sea Lion Show 

Daily: 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM, 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Symphony Evening Show

Nightly: 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM

How's our somewhat virtual reality tour? Are you ready to visit Manila Ocean Park, for real? I'll tell you, it's fun to see living things in the ocean and learn the importance of marine life to you. At the end of the day, you'll realize that we really need to take care of the ocean. We can help by simply not throwing our candy wrappers in Manila Bay because there's definitely life under the sea. Time is up! Thank you guys for reading my blog and be ready for more posts. 

For other promos and more details, please visit Manila Ocean Park website www.manilaoceanpark.com and their fb page.

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Bauan, Batangas: The Immaculately Beautiful Sunset In Sampaguita Beach (Certified Boracay Alternative)

Describe, Boracay? Beautiful and oh my, very beautiful! That's all I can say. Have you been to that paradise, in the Philippines? Have you heard the news? It's been almost five years since I first visited this popular holiday destination in my country, merely to relax and enjoy life with my friends. I can say, it's truly a memorable vacation because it was also my first plane ride. Brrr! I still remember how cold the aircraft cabin was. It was freezing cold.

Just like you, I'm also missing this true heaven on earth. I'm missing its powdery white sand, barefoot walking, Puka Beach, perfect turquoise water, dramatic sunset, super fun nightlife, yummy seafood, island hopping and my favorite ATV(all-terrain vehicle) ride. Oh goodness! How soon can I experience these again? Perhaps, tomorrow? Sure!

Sadly, we can neither go tomorrow nor next week. "Breaking News: Time to say goodbye, Boracay will be closed for 6 months". I wish it's a fake news but it's not, it's already more than two months when the Philippine government announced its decision to close the popular tourist island to make way for environmental rehabilitation. The shutdown has started on April 26, 2018.

Where Am I?

I feel you my friend. If the decision has made you jobless or ruined your travel plan, your frustration is completely understandable. On the other hand, Boracay has served its visitors for many years very well. It has become the perfect getaway and stress reliever of many travelers, like me. I know the island already did its part and it's now asking for a break. We also know that it has been violated and abused so much. President Duterte even compared it to a "cesspool". If the 6-month rehab is a good breather, so be it. It's undeniably bittersweet and I hope it's worth it. Let's wait until the paradise reopens on October 26, 2018. Mark your calendar!

Nice beach, right?

Hakuna Matata! Simply means, no worries. As they say, always look on the bright side of life. That's what I actually did. Folks, the Philippines is an archipelago that consists of more than 7,000 islands. So, what does it mean? We can easily find breathtaking beaches alternative to Boracay island. Yay!

Cabanas! Where do you think this is?

Mission 101: Find Awe-Inspiring Beaches You Can Explore As Boracay Alternatives. As a blogger, I thought that what happened was more of like a task for me. To really show, to you my readers and fellow Filipinos that we need to calm down because we're not running out of amazing islands. That's why, it's more fun in the Philippines! Right?

Beachgoers are arriving. Where is this place?

Where to start? How am I going to do this? I did ask myself but honestly, it all started with a casual chat, "hey friend, what's our plans for summer?". It was last dry season when we chatted on messenger about going to one of the beaches in Batangas, preferably lesser-known and lovely. I really thought, that journey was perfect in commencing my mission to look for Boracay alternatives. There was enough sunshine in the tropical country.

Karate at the shore, hi-yah!

Please welcome, Sampaguita Beach! After weeks of planning, my friends and I went to the beach in Bauan, Batangas last summer. I can say, it was a mutual decision to go to another municipality in the province of Batangas, aside from the popular to beach lovers San Juan, Nasugbu and Calatagan.

Perhaps, I'm Batangeño. I was born in Manila and sadly, don't live in Batangas but if I were given one million dollars by Sir Manny Pacquiao, I would surely buy a modern house in this province. Whether it's in Anilao or Mataas Na Kahoy. Seriously, I'm in love with Batangas. Why? Oh my, there are a lot of great things to tell you like Taal Volcano, Kapeng Barako(Barako Coffee), Awesome destinations near Manila and Many affordable beach resorts. Yeah, someday!

If you're living in Bauan, I just want to let you know that you're so lucky. I totally didn't know about your municipality until I saw the laidback life in Sampaguita Beach. 

Well, thanks to different reviews from other Filipino bloggers because without it, we wouldn't know relaxation and joy. I'm telling you, it's a nice beach and not really crowded. Hopefully, 5 or 10 years from now it stays like that.

Time flies too fast and I wouldn't be surprised if one day, we were welcoming another summer season. Thus, if you're looking for something new, swimming in Sampaguita beach is definitely a great activity to consider. 

How to go to Sampaguita Beach?

(Feasible only for those who are living in some cities of Metro Manila like Makati, Manila and Pasay)

Friends, my instructions are easy as 1-2-3! First, ride a JAM Liner bus going to Batangas Grand Terminal. Their stations are in Pasay and Cubao. Ticket price is roughly 157 Pesos(3.14 US Dollars) per passenger but still, for updated fares and schedules make sure to check also their website(https://www.jam.com.ph). The usual travel time is between 2 to 3 hours. It's better to travel in the morning and weekdays, simply to avoid traffic jam.

Second, ride a jeepney going to Bauan from Batangas Terminal. Fare is roughly 12 Pesos/passenger(0.24 US Dollar). Travel time is less than an hour. Kindly tell the driver to drop you off at Bauan High School(near the public market). Third, across the school there is a terminal of jeepneys going to Brgy. Sampaguita, Bauan. Sadly, they only have two trips every day: 7am and 11am. Fare is 35 Pesos/passenger(roughly 0.7 US Dollar). Travel time is also less than an hour. Tips for you! Some parts of the road to Sampaguita are narrow and steep, so if you have vertigo, make sure to take your meds before travel. For campers and backpackers, make sure to bring enough food throughout your stay because it's a bit pricey in Sampaguita and honestly, it seems like everything has a price to pay. Go buy food at the public market first. Oops! Don't forget the toiletries and Johnnie Walker. Enjoy the ride!

Voila! You're now in Sampaguita Beach! Oh my, that was quite a roller-coaster ride but unique. That jeepney ride showed us the glimpse of province life. It's simple, old style and local people are very nice. The fun fact was, we were the only strangers inside and everybody knew each other. 

We arrived in Sampaguita at noon. It was cloudy day and high tide. The first person who will welcome you when you get there is the collector of environmental fee, which is roughly 20 Pesos/visitor(0.4 US Dollar). Yeah, it's the famous fee every time we go to the beach. Unfortunately, it's also controversial like what happened to Boracay.

Why they named it Sampaguita Beach? Is it because there are Sampaguita flowers(aka Philippine Jasmine) grew along the beach? Maybe yes? Sadly, I wasn't able to attest that when we were there and it's still a question for me. One thing is for sure, residents told us that Enrique Gil, one of Bagani's stars and a famous Filipino actor has a beach house in Sampaguita.

What's my first impression? I tell you, don't expect to see another Boracay in Bauan but the special thing about Sampaguita beach is, it's still hidden to many tourists because it's somewhat hard to explore but worth it. You'll surely love this place to unwind and be offline. Sometimes it's better to say, no Wi-Fi, no worries. There are few resorts where you can stay overnight like the Dalawampu Beach Resort and Rosemund Resort but we settled in Ate Carina's Resort because it's noticeable. Their cabanas are lined up in a row, invitingly. So, we rented one for only 600 Pesos(roughly 12 US Dollars) good for overnight stay. In all fairness, though it's open and only has table, it's really wide and can accommodate up to 6 people. Luckily, we were only 3. Moreover, we also paid 100 Pesos each(roughly 2 US Dollars) for the entrance. They accept walk-ins and you can also contact her at 0916-374-9536 for reservations assistance. 

What were our challenges? Mainly, the tent we rented for 600 Pesos(roughly 12 US Dollars) good also for overnight stay because we really thought it could fit 3 people but no. We had a hard time to sleep. So, if you guys want to go camping, be ready with it and buy your own tent. Other issues were not enough restrooms, water service and power interruptions.

The best part? The immaculately beautiful sunset! We didn't expect to witness a glorious sunset on the beach because it was raining that afternoon but thankfully, it stopped before 5pm. It was really beautiful and completed our day. It's very IG-worthy. I hope you'll see it too when you go to Sampaguita beach.

Mission accomplished! Although Sampaguita beach doesn't have white sand and blue water like Boracay, I can say that it's still a very good alternative because of its tropical vibe, affordable destination and helps you to de-stress naturally. Yes! It's time to go to Bauan. Just make sure to be a responsible traveler and don't pollute the beach.

How to go back to Batangas Grand Terminal?

It's so simple, from Sampaguita beach ride a jeepney going to Bauan Public Market. Make sure to prepare early because the first trip is 7am. Fare is also 35 Pesos/passenger(roughly 0.7 US Dollar). Travel time is an hour. From public market, ride another jeepney going to diversion road. Fare is 10 Pesos/passenger(roughly 0.20 US Dollar). Travel time is less than 30 minutes. From diversion road, ride a jeepney going back to Grand Terminal. Fare is 8 Pesos/Passenger(roughly 0.16 US Dollar). Travel time is less than 30 minutes. At the Batangas Grand Terminal, you can decide whether you want to take a bus going to Pasay or Cubao. Definitely, travelling by car is a better option.

Thanks for reading this blog, folks! Be ready, I'll be posting another "Certified Boracay Alternative" next month. Okay, I'll try next week! Please, don't forget to like, follow and subscribe on my.

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