Introduction

Introduction

The Manila Ocean Park is an oceanarium in Manila, Philippines. It is owned by China Oceanis Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of China Oceanis Inc., a Singaporean-registered firm that has operated four oceanariums in China. It is located behind the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park. It opened on March 1, 2008. In terms of floor space, the 8,000 square meters (86,000 sq ft) oceanarium is larger than the Sentosa Underwater World oceanarium in Singapore, and features a 25-metre (82 ft) underwater acrylic tunnel. It specializes in the investment, building, and operation of public aquariums and oceanariums. The Group owns and operates two Underwater World facilities in China, in the cities of Chongqing and Qinghuangdao. The Manila Ocean Park (MOP) is currently under construction behind the historical Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park. On February 29, 2008, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (with Philippine Tourism Authority general manager Robert Dean Barbers) graced the soft opening of Manila Ocean Park. Envisioned to be the "largest aquarium facility in the Philippines," the MOP will contain both an oceanarium and an open water marine habitat that can handle 12,000 cubic meters of seawater, featuring 300 marine species indigenous to the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Also, in line with its "fusion concept," the complex will feature a mall, a restaurant row, a hotel, and multi-purpose function facilities. This P1-billion venture by Singaporean and Malaysian investors is foreseen to attract 1.2 million to 1.5 million visitors annually. Lim Chee Yong, the president of the MOP, said that the park would be among the most advanced ocean parks in Asia. He stated that the MOP's area is greater than that of Singapore's Sentosa, and its oceanarium is much bigger than Hong Kong's Ocean Park. The Manila Ocean Park Oceanarium is divided into seven sections, each showcasing different kind of marine life. The first part is called Agos (flow), where you can find an artificial