KidZania Manila

Do you ever wish you were a kid again?

Few days ago, Ate Glads asked me if I could go with Ex and Rax for their educational trip. Dahil Team Bahay naman ang ate niyo, why not? Hanggat may gagalaan, go! Besides, I only experienced field trip thrice in my whole student life. One was when in grade 3 in Planetarium, where I was amazed of the astronomical presentations which looked like hollograms in the ceiling. Second was in 2nd year highschool, I can't remember anymore where the location was. It was forgettable and the only thing I enjoyed was my baon! Hmmmp! And my favorite among the three was a requirement in Intra-Intercultural subject in college wherein we did an "Amazing Race" concept as we toured around Baguio City.

In the kids' itinerary, there were 3 different locations included: Crayola Factory, Rainforest Adventure Experience in Pasig and KidZania Manila. I had a very little knowledge about KidZania that time. I didn't know why kids were much more excited of going to KidZania than going anywhere else in the IT. Alam mo yun, dahil nahawa ka na lang sa excitement ng mga bata, naexcite ka na rin. :)

Ex and his friends showing their wristbands :)

Jumping forward, after the first 2 locations, we headed towards Bonifacio Global City for KidZania. When we got there, there were students from other schools, too. As usual, students and guardians were asked to fall in line. There were staff members dressed like cabin crews/airport crews who approached us and gave us magnetic wristbands. This served as our "entry pass". As we walked from ground floor up, we stopped by this mini airport facilitated by Cebu Pac -complete with all paraphernalia to look exactly like one! From there, the cabin crews gave each student 50 KidZos (KidZania's currency) which they could use/spend inside.

We passed through their mini immigration office, scanned our magnetic wristbands and voila! I was literally stunned of the place. I was right, it's a mini version of everything! The ambience was very light and very happy! :) As soon as the kids stepped into the place, they vanished instantly and went to different directions.

Rax doing rappelling :)

I'm a 90s kid, so I know for a fact that there was no place like KidZania before. Maybe there were amusement parks like Enchanted Kingdom and Star City where kids could enjoy too but KidZania is a totally different place. Thanks to Play Innovations! It's an interactive museum, an indoor play center that allows children to freely explore a kid-sized world. As a 90s kid, all I could role-play was Lutu-lutuan. Sige isama na rin ang Bahay-bahayan! Kaya super amazed ako, teh!

#Batang90s: Bahay-bahayan, palayok for Lutu-lutuan,

Tanzans and candy wrappers as Pera-perahan

Ex as Assistant Manager in LBC :)

In KidZania, kids can choose from over 100 role-playing activities that teach children how to get things done in different establishments of different industries on their own. They have little fireman's station, mini airplane, mini hospitals, and etc! Samantalang dati, Yung mga palayok ang gamit tas dahon-dahon yung niluluto. Hahaha. Tas sa ilalim ka lang ng lamesa solb ka na! Ngayon, fully equipped na! High tech pa! Time Machine pleaaase!

Rax as Shell Gasoline Boy! :)

Founder Xavier Lopez summarized KidZania perfectly as an avenue for children to learn the world of work, that if you want something, you really have to work hard for it because money is not unlimited. That's the most important thing about KidZania, it doesn't just provide facilities for the children's enjoyment but it also teaches sense of independence and value of saving up!

Rax showing his KidZos :)

Ex getting his PaZZport :)

That day was epic, I just thanked the Lord of the experience He gave everyone who went there. It really was a fountain of youth for me! I wish all Filipino children could afford to go to KidZania, a place where they could just enjoy being a kid... Kahit isang araw lang, ano?