A hop-on, hop-off tour of Bonifacio Global City
MANILA, Philippines - There was a time when the mere mention of Fort Bonifacio would send shivers up one's spine. That has changed dramatically since the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. (FBDC) has transformed the hectares of open space into one of the most bustling and exciting hubs in the metro.
Members of the media on Tuesday were given a tour of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) as it launched its Hop On, Hop Off bus tour. No less than cultural activist Carlos Celdran served as tour guide.
Going around BGC allowed us to discover that its top attractions go beyond restaurants and retail shops. It also has engaging art installations, sports and recreation facilities that bring back childhood memories, and a state-of-the art science museum.
"We want people to know that there's more to BGC other than making money. We want to contribute something to humanity," said Manny Blas, BGC's head of commercial operations.
BGC's key attractions are homages to both history and modernity as embodied in art, sports and the sciences.
On the one hand, there are the brass-and-bronze sculpture of Andres Bonifacio by Ben-Hur G. Villanueva (bottom left photo), the Balanghai kinetic sculpture by Leo Gerardo Leonardo, (top left photo) and the Larong Pinoy area at Terra 28th with its piko and patintero, among others.
On the other hand, there the more modern interactive playground installations, glow-in-the-dark art work at the HSBC building, Science-in-the-park, and the first world-class science museum in the Mind Museum.
For those who want to enjoy some fine dining after the tour, we suggest checking out the chef-based restaurants at Bonifacio High Street Central. Here, you would also find garden islands, an ampitheater and a multi-facted water feature that lights up at night.
"When they said you were going to Fort Bonifacio in the past, it meant that you were never coming back," Celdran said. That notion has taken a totally different meaning today; once you've toured around this bustling city within city, you really wouldn't mind staying for a long time.
Bonifacio High Street Central at night
The BGC Hop On, Hop Off bus tour runs every Saturday and Sunday from 4 pm to 10 pm. Tickets are priced at P25 per person. They are available at the B-7 Concierge, Bonifacio High Street and on the bus. For more information, visit www.bgc.com.ph.
