An oasis of fun at the edge of the city

Only 20-km from Manila, Splash Island offers water

excitement

To the delight of beach-loving Metro Manilans, they need not go to a

distant shore in Batangas to frolic in the waves and enjoy a game of

beach volleyball. All they have to do is drive 20 km. south of the

metropolis to the sixhectare tropical paradise called "Splash Island,"

the country's largest water park, straddling on the right side of the

south bound lane of the South Luzon Expressway just before the Bi?an

Exit in Laguna.

Aside from the exciting one-and-a-half kilometer-long snaking tubular water

slides, another popular attraction in the water park is the Olympic-size "Wave

Pool," the only one of its kind in the Philippines. Filled with more than 500,000

gallons of fresh water, the 90meter wave pool, whose deepest end is more

than two meters deep, is almost like the real thing, except that the water is

not salty and instead of a sandy bottom, it has a gently sloping aquamarine

concrete floor.

Controlled by a state-of-the-art computerized pneumatic system, five types of

wave patterns are simulated by giant piston-like valves where air is forced

through by four huge 450hp air blowers to create the desired swell as big as a

meter high. For eight minutes each, a series of roller, double rollers, diagonal,

Vshaped and diamond-shaped waves, come in succession, with a five-minute

interval in between to give the swimmers a respite from the thrill of "riding" the

waves in a mini "ocean" a few meters away from a busy freeway.

Costing P250 million, "Splash Island," owned and operated by Fil-Estate

Eco-centrum Corp., opened in April 30, 1997. To assure the safety of its

riders, each segment of the 1.5-km long heavy duty fiberglass water slide has

60 bolts per segment and the towering green structure could withstand 242

kph winds. What's more, the sprawling water park has 60 full-time lifeguards

specially trained on the latest rescue technology by the Texasbased Jeff Ellis

& Associates.

The water park's lifeguards were trained in the American Comprehensive

National Pool & Water Park Lifeguard Training Program. Posted strategically

along the route of water slides and the wave pool, they follow the socalled

"10-20 Protection Rule." ("10" means the lifesaver must scan his area of

responsibility - from his left, in front of him, and to his right - every 10 seconds,

to look for any distress sign. "20," on the other hand, means he must reach,

from where he is posted, the person in distress within 20 seconds and apply

first aid to him).

"The wave pool is divided into four zones each manned by a lifeguard,"

explains Rafi Suarez, the 33-year-old Puerto Rican operations manager of the

water park during a media fam tour last year. "Despite their extensive training,

they also undergo a weekly inservice training in lifesaving techniques to hone

their skills," adds Suarez, who has been in the country for the last three years

to supervise on the implementation of "Splash Island's" design during its

construction.

To assure that its water is clean and safe, the water park draws its water from

its own deep wells where its cleanness is guaranteed round-the-clock through

a computer-controlled filtration system that recycles and monitors water

quality. For its outstanding accomplishment and contribution to the

international water leisure industry in the areas of safety, cleanliness and

guest service, "Splash Island" was cited last year by the World Water Park

Association (WWA), composed of 750 water parks worldwide.

Park hours for the period of Jan. 4-Mar. 18 are from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. from Friday

to Sunday. "Splash Island's" general admission of P250 entitles the guest

unlimited use of all slides, attractions and facilities. Children below 48 inches

(kids under 36 inches are free of charge) and the not-so-young guests with

Senior Citizens LDS have to pay P190 only.

So, leave all your city problems behind and enjoy a splashing day filled with

aqua thrills and adventure with your family and loved ones.