Zoomanity Zooper Cruise: revisit and rediscover the history of Manila
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| Captain Luigi at Zooper Cruise |
There's an alternative way to discuss History 101 and not a way you might expect - a cruise along Pasig River.
It was a sunny saturday afternoon and #TeamNintendo is having an adventure again. Not in the mall, playhouse or at the road (SLEX or NLEX) ,we are going to Manila's very first commercial highway: Pasig River.
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| excited Mommy Rhoda and Luigi |
Whenever we hear the word Pasig River, what comes into our mind? I admit words like pollution, filthy, lots of water hyacinths... all the negative thoughts on Pasig River but the cruise experience proved me wrong. It's like "Pumasok kaming mabango, lumabas kaming mabango!" We are blessed to be invited for a Zooper Cruise experience because this is one of the memorable experience for me and my son that is why I am sharing our story.
THE TOUR
Our meeting place is at Valenzuela Ferry Station at 2:30 pm.
The Valenzuela Ferry Station
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| Zooper Early Bird |
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| Mommy, Luigi and Queen Sally |
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| My Queen Sally |
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| Zoomanity Zooper Cruise guest |
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| Zoovenir |
There are cute Zoomanity souvenir items that you can buy inside the ferry at a discounted price.
ZOOMANITY TELLS THE STORY OF PASIG RIVER, OLD AND NEW MANILA
While inside the cruise, Engr. Ed Bondad tells us the history of Pasig River, Old Manila and New Manila
Pasig River is the main river in Metro Manila that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila bay through a length of 26 kilometers.
During the Spanish occupation, Pasig River was full of life. It is the thoroughfare for boats and ships carrying people and goods from Port of Manila to different parts of Manila and its neighboring towns.
But decades later, the city becomes crowded, commercialized and many informal settlers came in Manila, what was once a beautiful river turned into a dump site. In the 1990's the river was declared biologically dead.
There have been a few attempts to rehabilitate the river. With the help of NGOs and concern citizens, the river can now be safe enough to carry passengers.
Fortunately, there is a new and unique way to experience the Pasig River through Zoomanity Zooper Cruise.
Tawid-Ilog
Fishes and birds swarm the Pasig River
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| Coast Guard Sub-station Pureza |
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| PUP Ferry Station |
ZOOMANITY ZOOPER CRUISE
Zoomanity Group with an aim to promote education and environmental conservation of Pasig River launches Zooper Cruise, a zooper unique cruise under Zoomanity Foundation.
Zooper Cruise is a specially arranged tour in Pasig River every first Saturday of the month.
In this tour, we had a chance to rediscover the beauty of historical places in Manila like Intramuros and Fort Santiago.
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| Guest watching the Manila sunset |
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| Senior and junior enjoying the Manila sunset |
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| Sunset at Pasig River and Manila Bay |
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| Plaza Mexico |
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| Fort Santiago |
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| Post Office |
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| Manila CBD |
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| Escolta Station |
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| Queen Sally at the Polland Hopia Factory |
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| Luigi having fun at the Hopia Factory |
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| Capitol Theater |
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| Sta. Cruz church |
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| Escolta, Manila |
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| Luigi at Escolta |
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| Dinner at Crowne Prince Seafood Restaurant |
The tour is complete with good ambiance, historical facts, music, snacks, drinks and dinner famous authentic Chinese restaurant in Binondo
CAPPING OFF THE NIGHT
We go back to the ferry at 7pm to bring us back to Makati. But the fun never ends, the staff greeted and gave us a clean and cold towel to freshen up, we have ice creams, music, trivias and games!
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| Luigi and Queen Sally enjoying their Ice Cream |
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| Engr. Ed Bondad |
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| Mr. Robert Yupangco, CEO of Yupangco Group with the cruise staff |
Zooper Cruise is the newest project under Zoomanity Foundation. Parts of the proceeds of this special project will go to Zoomanity CSR Conservation projects and rehabilitation program of Pasig River.
Thank you to Mr. Robert Yupangco, Engr. Ed Bondad, Zooper Cruise staff, Ms. Grace Bondad Nicolas and Pinoy Blogger for this one of a kind event. My family enjoyed the cruise so much!
MY DREAM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
"Anak ng Pasig naman kayo
May bukas pa ang ating mundo"
I can say that the Zooper Cruise is a unique experience and an eye-opener to value our Mother Nature. I also learned to appreciate and love Manila - its history and contribution to the country because in this cruise I realized how I want my son Luigi and all our next generation to still see, feel, touch our nature in its purest form. But how? We should act now. This is our social responsibility. Let's help preserve and conserve our nature.
Want to try out the Zooper Cruise? What do you think of discovering Manila through Pasig River? Let me know through the comments.
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