Snow World to open in Cebu in December
It’s our way of giving back to Cebu. Belmont has been in business for 45 years. My parents travel a lot and we want the people of Cebu to experience what are offered in other countries.
CHESTER LIM
Belmont One president
Do you want to build a snowman?
If you live in tropical Cebu, the closest place you can go to is Japan.
But if you’re on a tight budget, snow is readily available for you at Star City in Pasay, which is approximately 828 kilometers from Cebu.
But if you’re on a tighter budget, grab your bonnet and long sleeves, and hop on a jeepney ride to the southern town of Minglanilla.
A theme park boasting an ice haven and what would become the second tallest ferris wheel in the country is set to rise soon in Barangay Calajoan.
Aside from an amusement park, the three-and-half-hectare property will also feature retail stores, restaurants, a hotel, supermarket, convention center and hardware store. The entire project is estimated to be worth P500 million.
Chester Lim, president of Belmont One, told SunStar Cebu that they want to develop a getaway destination for families.
“It’s our way of giving back to Cebu. Belmont has been in business for 45 years. My parents travel a lot and we want the people of Cebu to experience what are offered in other countries,” he said.
If everything goes as planned, Anjo World will open its doors to kids and kids at heart in December, in time for the yuletide season.
The theme park is named after Chester Lim’s parents Antonio and Josephine, who wish to share their good memories with other families.
Once operational, Anjo World will cater to families, tourists, school tours and orphanages. It is expected to accommodate 5,000 people at a time.
Initial plans for tickets vary from unlimited rides, package trip to Snow World and ride-all-you-can, and solo visits to the cold park.
Lim said Snow World, which will be a three-storey building, will have a capacity of 500 people.
It will feature ice sculptures from world-renowned artists, real snow and ice slides.
To ensure safety, visitors will have to undergo briefing in a practice room before proceeding to the snow haven, which will be at negative 10 degrees Celsius.
A parking space with around 200 slots is available for visitors of the integrated family-entertainment complex.
Despite traffic woes, Lim said they chose Minglanilla as their project site because it’s a growing town. To avoid the traffic jam, Anjo World will open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“This will hopefully decongest people from the city and encourage probinsya muna (province first). Minglanilla has a good mix of population. The local government unit is also very supportive and excited,” Lim said.
Aside from Snow World and a 60-meter ferris wheel, the complex will have around 27 retail slots, six restaurants, 15 food park slots, a convention center with a 500 seating capacity, and a hotel with an initial 30 rooms.