A virtual winter vacation

SHANGRI-LA PLAZA mall is offering a respite from the hot summer heat — albeit virtually — with its newest offering, the augmented reality experience “Arctic Explorer.”

An installation first unveiled on May 6 and running until the 21st, the “Arctic Explorer” presents a “magical world of animated creatures from polar bears, penguins, seals, to orcas,” said a company press release.

“This is the first time we’re doing this and it’s [also] the first time for the country,” Lala Fojas, general manager and EVP of the Shangri-La Plaza Corp., said during the launch on May 5.

“We wanted to communicate to our market that we’re moving along with the times,” she added.

The augmented reality installation was made with INDE, a UK-based company that has worked with the BBC for its “Frozen Planet” augmented reality experience in 2015, as well as National Geographic, Universal Studios, and Coca-Cola, among others.

Shoppers who have minimum single official receipt purchase of P500 will be given a ticket to the 10-minute experience where they will be able to “play” with various creatures and take photos during the interaction.

“We think it will be very popular, especially with the children, and because it’s so easy to participate,” Ms. Fojas said.

Tickets for the interaction may be redeemed at the Mid-Level 2/3 of the East Atrium (where the installation is also set up) and must be used on the same day the purchase was made. The activity is open daily during mall hours.

After the run of the “Arctic Explorer” on May 21, Ms. Fojas said they will be presenting another augmented reality experience from May 22 to June 4 but declined to give more details.

“For now it’s going to run for a month and then we’ll see. Maybe we’ll do something else and bring something back or bring something different,” she said. —