Kidzania Manila
KidZania Manila is an indoor family entertainment center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is a franchise of KidZania, a Mexican chain of family entertainment centers which allows children aged 4 to 17 to work in adult jobs and earn currency. KidZania Manila was opened to the general public on August 7, 2015 making it the 11th KidZania in Asia and the 20th in the world.[2][3][4][5]
Slogan | "Get ready for a better world." "Where kids do big things." |
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Location | Park Triangle, North 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines |
Theme | Educational entertainment |
Owner | ABS-CBN Theme Parks & Resorts (73%) KidZ Edutainment Ltd. BVI (27%) |
Operated by | Play Innovations, Inc. |
General manager | Ma. Rosario Bartolome (KidZania Philippines Governor) |
Opened | August 7, 2015 |
Closed | August 31, 2020 |
Operating season | year-round |
Visitors per annum | 360,000 (FY 2016)[1] |
Area | 6,000 m² (ground area) 8,000 m² (gross floor area) |
Website | http://manila.kidzania.com/en-us/ |
Status | Closed |
Background
KidZania Manila operates like a real city that is built to the scale of children, complete with paved roads and vehicles, buildings and establishments, a functioning economy and its own currency. Designed for children aged 4 to 14, KidZania Manila houses more than 55 establishments most of which are sponsored by real brands with over 70 role play activities. At KidZania Manila, children perform ‘jobs’ and are either paid for their work (as a stylist, fireman, radio jockey, surgeon, etc...) or pay to get a service (university, culinary school, department store, driving school, pit crew, etc...).
Upon entering Kidzania Manila, one is given a boarding pass, a map of the city, and a 50 KidZos (the official currency of KidZania) paycheck upon entry. Inside, one can work on over 70 different professions. Some establishments require children to pay a significant amount of KidZos. If one runs out of money, they must work in establishments that offer salaries. A security bracelet is also given to the children upon entry.
Due to the losses amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, KidZania Manila will be permanently closed starting August 31, 2020.[6]
Awards
KidZania Manila, together with its PR agency, Strategic Works, Inc., won two Anvil Awards in 2017,[7] the Gold award for “KidZania Manila: Roleplay as a Form of Education”, a communications program which showcases the formative power of play, and a Silver prize for “KidZania Manila: A Play City Where Kids Learn to Build a Better World." Considered the “Oscars” of the local PR industry, the Anvil Awards is an annual competition held by the PRSP (Public Relations Society of the Philippines) to recognize outstanding public relations programs and tools implemented in the previous year.
References
- Imee Charlee C. Delavin (21 March 2017). "Election-related ads boost ABS-CBN earnings in 2016". BusinessWorld Online.
- "KidZania abre su decimosegunda Ciudad de los Niños en Manila 6,". Publimetro. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- "Paradigm shift in teaching: KidZania Manila empowers the young…with fun?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 26, 2014.
- "Here we go with KidZania Go! KidZania Manila introduces the educational entertainment concept to Filipino academe". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 4, 2014.
- Amojelar, Darwin (February 27, 2014). "PH franchise holder of KidZania seeking tax perks for P1B play city in BGC". Interaksyon. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- "After 5 years, KidZania Manila to cease operations". ABS-CBN News. 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- "Stratworks celebrates 18th year with 18 Anvils". wnot.com.ph. March 25, 2017.