People often say that “malling” is the Philippines’ national pastime—and they’re not joking. Aside from the multitude of shopping, dining, and entertainment options found in these commercial centers, malls have become havens to most of our country’s citizens seeking to escape the sweltering heat or heavy rain. However, Robinsons Land has brought something new to the table with some out-of-this-world concepts, putting a fresh spin to the mall-going experience.
Experience the Future With Robinsons Galleria Cebu’s PlayLab
Cebu has always been the destination for sun, sea, surf, and the awesomeness of nature. But did you know that it’s also the location of the very first digital interactive playground in the Philippines? With PlayLab, a futuristic state-of-the-art facility in Robinsons Galleria Cebu, Robinsons Land has made your sci-fi dreams come true.
Entering the slick-looking hub will make you feel like you’ve stepped into the video game world. Everything in the room comes alive as you pass by any of the 14 attractions in the area. Among the first attractions that guests see is the Growth Chart, where a state-of the art sensor accurately measures your height with the results being delivered by a friendly virtual character. Not only can you interact with animations onscreen but you can transform into one of them, too!
World of Zodiacs has an augmented-reality mirror that will turn you into one of the zodiac signs. Move and groove in your new form and jump up for a special surprise. If you would rather create your own characters, head on over to the Butterfly Garden, which has a large touchscreen art table where you can design butterflies. Once you’re happy with your choice of colors, tap on the button and watch it flutter and fly around the room. At the Live Forest station, grab one of the animal templates, sit at the workstation, and let your imagination run wild. Afterwards, you can scan your masterpiece and watch your spirit animal roam the virtual jungle along with many other artworks.
Creativity is unleashed at the enchanting Butterfly Garden.
The musically inclined should try the Music Wall, set up with interactive strings, percussion, and more. Tap your hands on any of the instruments to hear some notes and you’ll be on your way to making that hit song. PlayLab also combines play with learning with the Tangram. At this station, you can build a rocketship that will blast off into infinity and beyond, but before you can do that, you learn about simple geometry by assembling the spacecraft with a few basic shapes.
With the Sand Box, the favorite beach pastime of making sandcastles gets a futuristic upgrade. They’re built using a special projector, and depending on the height of the structure you’re building, the Sand Box’s sensors will I.D. it as mountains, land, or sea.
There’s more to explore at the Poppin’ Pond, a special slide surrounded by projected animations and bubbles bursting into a rainbow of colors. After making your way down, tap your hidden superhero potential and protect sea creatures from toxic trash in the Save The Reef game. Eliminate floating junk by throwing your Trash Destroyers ball at it. Save the reef, save the world!
Engage in some friendly competition at the Room Racers station. With a controller in hand, race against other players as you zoom toward the finish line. It sounds simple, but there’s a catch: the racetrack and obstacles can be altered by moving around the household objects lying on the floor, all done via the projector and infrared camera detecting real-time movement in the room. Another race-type game is Head Rush. Like a marathon runner, players clear through a track while dodging 3D obstacles that pass by in speedy succession.
For the generation that grew up with Instagram, there are many brightly lit backgrounds and stations all over PlayLab for that perfect shot—a memory of PlayLab to cherish, until your next visit.
AquaFun, the first water playground in the Philippines, makes a splash!
At the newly opened Robinsons Pavia, located in the municipality of Pavia in Iloilo, there’s a refreshing take on the usual public playground set-up, courtesy of AquaFun. The sprawling 3,500 sqm. water wonderland is an entertaining and interactive way to cool down compared to common swimming pools as AquaFun features a lot of activities within the complex.
This giant blue whale presents the perfect opportunity for your souvenir photos.
The first thing guests encounter is a large arch, around 10 meters wide, adorned with crashing waves and dolphins: It’s the perfect place for a group photo. Once you pass through the aquatic gates, you’ll step, no, splash into a playground that has a social media-worthy opportunity at every corner.
Enjoy this wet and colorful world of fun only at Robinsons Pavia in Iloilo.
Continue straight ahead to the Octopus Sprinklers for quick refreshing shower, then, make your way to the Pool Playground where the fun really begins. There are tall slides for the big kids, lower but wider slides for the younger ones, and a lot of twists and turns that are fun for the whole family. Exhausted from all the climbing and sliding? Take a break by the colorful Water Buckets, Water Spouts, Spray Grounds, and Jellyfish Sprinklers. How about dipping your feet in the Water Pond? Later, when you’ve built up your appetite, satisfy your cravings at the many food stalls in the area.
Before you leave, remember to take another memorable group photo by the giant Whale structure that’s just by the far end of the entrance/exit. At Aquafun, safety is a top priority, so parents can rest easy knowing that there’s a stationed nurse at the grounds, as well as 10 lifeguards with basic first aid training who roam AquaFun at all times.
PlayLab at The Greens Level 1, Robinsons Galleria Cebu is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Follow @PlayLabPH on Facebook and Instagram. AquaFun at Robinsons Pavia, Iloilo is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Follow @RobinsonsPlacePavia and @AquaFunPH on Facebook.
