Poor kids to receive passes to theme park

CEBU, Philippines – A Korean firm has put up an amusement theme park in Mandaue City that seeks to allow less privileged children to play.

Some personnel of the City Social Welfare Services were toured to the newly-opened Happy Mong Kids park located in Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City.

This is the second park opened by the management of the Happy World Inc. after the firm also opened its first amusement theme park in Barangay Gabi in Cordova town called Happy World Museum.

Mario Cabahug, the vice president of the said park, said they are now planning to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Mandaue City government that will allow 100 indigent kids in the city to play for free in the park for a day. This will be part of their company's corporate social responsibility, he added.

The CSWS, according to Cabahug, will be the one to indentify who among the city's less privileged children will be given the chance to visit the park for a particular month.

Cabahug also said his fellow Korean friend decided to open the Happy Mong Kids park after his friends noticed there are a lot of Korean children now living here in Cebu and after the Cordova theme park's success.

He said aside from Mandaue, they are now also open to other local government unit to partner with them so their less fortunate children can also try playing in theme parks.

He added that their park have complied with the international safety standards, the reason why most of the stuff they use are inflatables. There are also attendants and nurses in every station and the establishment is fully air-conditioned and well-carpeted.

In a separate interview, city social welfare chief Violeta Cavada said she is happy that the park has opened in the city because most of the city's less fortunate cannot even afford to the play in theme parks.

She said once the theme park will be launched this Saturday, her office will be bringing along with them children below 10 years who are currently living in the city's shelter house. Most of these children are reportedly homeless and abused.

"Maayo ni siya kay amusement park, at least naay physical activities ang mga bata ug safe sila kaysa magduwa sila sa dan nga hugaw ug delikado," Cavada said.