This P600 Million Theme Park in the Visayas Takes Inspiration from Philippine Folklore

The first large-scale theme park in the Visayas will finally open before the year ends in Silay City, Negros Occidental. The highly anticipated P600-million theme park is called Magikland.

“Magikland will officially open in October in time for the 40th MassKara festival,” said Reynaldo Bantug, president of Aton Land & Leisure, Inc., which developed the project.

Photo by Luis Miguel Kilayko.

Silay’s stunning new tourist attraction has incorporated Philippine mythology into the theme park, particularly the legend of Bakunawa, the moon-eating dragon, in an effort to promote and preserve local folklore.

Filipino film director Peque Gallaga is reported to be the creative consultant of the project. Funnily enough, Gallaga also directed a film titled Magic Land to coincide with the launch of the park. However, the film is yet to be released.

Strategically located on a five-hectare lot near the Silay Airport, Magikland will have a total of 12 rides, including the tallest Ferris wheel in the Visayas, a carousel, sky tower, roller coasters, as well as kiddie rides, go-karts, and arcade games. The park is designed to accommodate 3,000 visitors per day.

The theme park sourced its rides from Zamperla, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of entertainment rides. Zamperla is also Disneyland’s biggest supplier and has built rides for popular American theme parks Six Flags and Coney Island.

The project is a move to boost economic development on Negros Island, as well as to establish Silay as a top tourism destination in the Visayas.