See the beauty of nature in The Underwater World of the Philippines here.

Thrilled, overjoyed and ecstatic about this breaking news—I can’t help but talk about it here…too. A one-of-a-kind sight-seeing destination and underwater adventure for me, you, and our families, is finally open—not today but tomorrow, 01.03.08. Then we can take turn in hosting and accommodating flocks of local and foreign tourists into the country to see this rare and sophisticatedly designed underwater paradise.

Margaux Ortiz of Philippine Daily Inquirer reported today that after months of much delay, a world never before seen in the country will finally open. The 1st phase of the Manila Ocean Park behind the Quirino Grandstand-Manila, Philippines when fully completed, will showcase the splendor of the reefs and the deep seas. “The 2nd phase of the ocean park is scheduled to be completed towards the end of the year,” Armi Ruby Marie Cortes, the park’s vice president for sales and marketing, told the Inquirer. It will include a boutique hotel, an ocean-themed mall, and a lagoon where visitors can interact with marine creatures. In the meantime, the people can enjoy the oceanarium and be dazzled by the wide variety of aquatic life, many of them never before seen in the country.

Zoologist and program facilitator Jappy Lim gave a preview of the various highlights of the facility—the most spectacular was a 25-foot-long tunnel that allows visitors to view different species of fish. The first area, Agos (Flow), is patterned after a rainforest with waterfalls and vines. Agos showcases an impressive display of freshwater specimens and explains the flow of aquatic life from those that live in fresh water to those in the salty ocean. Many of the freshwater fish varieties are large and carnivorous. South America’s Giant Arapaima, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, shares a tank with the equally huge Red-Tail Catfish and in another tank are Northern Pike and Royal Knife Fish. An electric eel that can generate 600 volts of electricity is also showcased. Also in the Agos area are the colorful cichlid, relatives of the tilapia. “Through these African cichlids, we want to show that freshwater fish can also be colorful,” Lim said. He added that because most freshwater fish live in murky lakes and rivers, they usually do not need colorful scales.

Popular Attraction—Probably the most popular attraction in Laot is the Giant Queensland Grouper from Australia, a cousin of our own Lapu Lapu, that can grow up to seven and a half feet long. Laot also holds schools of dalagang bukid, assorted wrasse, parrot fish (Oh, my jongjong, too!) and breams. There are a lot more to see in the oceanarium. So, don’t miss it! Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer by Margaux Ortiz.