Good fortune and a blessed year – these are the things that the Chinese New Year heralds, and why Filipinos have taken this holiday to heart and celebrated it along with our Tsinoy brothers and sisters. The Chinese New Year is not just about the fireworks (which can be and are always spectacular), but is about learning to attract the good things in life by letting go of the negative attitude to acquire a more positive one.
What better way to attain a high-minded perspective that will set the tone for the new Chinese New Year than by reveling in all the thrills that are offered by the Sky Ranch? Sky Ranch, an amusement park popular among children and the young-at-heart, celebrates the ties that bind the Filipino-Chinese community in the country and features the richness of the Chinese culture. Located beside the Taal Vista Hotel along Aguinaldo Highway, Sky Ranch showcased 19 fun rides and other attractions such as horseback riding and its 300-meter zip line.
Start the festivities off with two awe-inspiring performances: the Dragon Dance and the Lion Dance. In Chinese culture, the dragon is the messenger of power, wisdom, wealth, and courage, along with other attributes that denote greatness. Meanwhile, the lion is seen as a guardian who protects the people against evil spirits and demons. During the festivities, it is believed that the Dragon Dance will open the pathway for good luck to fall on those who are watching the performance, while the Lion Dance will keep all the bad luck and curses away.
The Dragon Dances start after lunch on Feb. 21, which the Sky Ranch has also filled with exciting activities to look forward to. If you want to experience what it’s like to be part of the ancient Chinese dynastic family just for a day, have a photo opportunity with the Chinese Emperor and his Empress at the Main Entrance. Prior to that, you can shop to your heart’s delight at the Chinese bazaar, and find discounted delights that range from food items, fashion ware, to Feng Shui charms.
Then what more fitting way to end the night than to witness a stunning display of fireworks, welcoming the New Year and all its possibilities?
Celebrating the Chinese New Year also means powering up your energies. What better way to soar and see things from the heights than riding the Sky Ranch’s zip lines? Going up and down the Ferris Wheel gets an entirely different meaning if you do it during the Chinese New Year – think of it as your own personal encounter with the Wheel of Fortune that opens doors of opportunities for you. The Loop Roller Coaster takes you on a dazzling journey that makes you see new vistas, heralding the chance for you to acquire a new, lifechanging mindset.
Store up your spirits and recharge by indulging in your favorite food fests. Sky Ranch also featured restaurants such as Uncle Cheffy’s Kenny Roger’s Roasters, Leslie’s and Tokyo Tokyo that offer various gastronomic delights to visitors. Those who want to try their food palate on a wide variety of cuisines as possible have numerous choices from the Fiilpino-themed Mesa, the homegrown Downtown Pizza, quick but tasty meat-and-fish fixes in Red Engine Diner, and beer fests in The Rou Bourbon Restaurant and Bar.
Guests can feast on their food while taking in the view of the picturesque Taal Volcano.
The Sky Ranch is among the most popular to-go places in Tagaytay which is open Monday to Sunday, from 8 AM to 10 PM. The SM-owned park has earned numerous recognition for its “sulit” and fun adventure, and is near notable spots in the area such as the Picnic Grove and People’s Park.
From Manila, Sky Ranch is accessible through the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) exit to Santa Rosa, Laguna, and from there, travelers can feast their eyes with panoramic views ,while on a road trip along Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Rd. going up the hills and landscapes to Tagaytay.
Sky Ranch Tagaytay is a 5.5-hectare development by SM Prime under Commercial Properties Group and Family Entertainment Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of SM Prime in charge of the creation and installation of rides in Sky Ranch and in By The Bay park adjacent to the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
For more info, you can visit its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SkyRanchTagaytay), or reach them through phone (8570100 loc 1450) or email at info.skyranch@yahoo.com.