CLARK FREEPORT – Aqua Planet, the largest water theme park in the Philippines and Southeast Asia located in this freeport, has aimed for the world record – the largest swimming lesson in the world.
Dr. Irineo “Bong” Alvaro, Jr. said the Philippines is joining the annual worldwide affair for the first time because Aqua Planet is now a member of the 26-nation World Waterpark Association (WWA).
Alvaro said some 1,200 local children joined others in the world in their bid to break the world record.
On Thursday, an attempt was made to break the world record in multiple venues with most of the children coming from the Angeles City district of the Department of Education (DepEd) while some came from the indigenous Aetas as well as from the physically challenged.
The largest swimming lesson at multiple venues consisted of 36,564 participants and was achieved by the WWA (USA) at 480 locations in 22 countries on June 20, 2014 while the largest swimming lesson for a single venue consisted of 1,308 participants and was achieved by the WWA (USA) at Sun-N-Fun Lagoon in Naples, Florida also on the same day.
Alvaro, president and CEO of BB International, developer of Aqua Planet and Midori Hotel and Casino here among others, said this is a joint effort of the WWA and the first for the Philippines.
For next year, we will try to beat the single venue record, he said. The main objective is to familiarize the kids with water, Alvaro said.
The children will be taught the basic lessons so that they can overcome their panic and be taught the introductory idea on the do’s and don’ts in water safety, he added.
“But it should not replace the formal swimming lessons,” he stressed.
Rafael Soarez, Aqua Planet general manager, said the largest swimming lesson in the world aims to create awareness in water safety.
Soarez said the event is organized by the WWA, the leader in the waterpark industry all over the world.
“Basically what we are trying to do is create awareness on drowning prevention which is the most common cause of fatal accidents among children,” he said.
“It is very important to introduce and teach the kids to the water so that we can reduce incidents of drowning worldwide,” he added.
“But we are also bringing every part of the world together in this event and then try to break the world record of Guinness on the most people teaching swimming lessons at the same time in diff erent places around the world,” he stressed.
