BUNAWAN, Agusan del Sur, Philippines – “Sweat (A La La La La Long),” a hit song of the Jamaican reggae group Inner Circle, is now the theme song of “Lolong” the crocodile.
The song is being played at the Bunawan Eco-Park and Wildlife Reservation Center in Sitio Masapya, Barangay Consuelo here where Lolong is taken care of by the local government.
Visitors from as far as Davao, Cebu and other provinces whistled, sang and swayed as they heard the song while taking a glimpse of the 20-foot crocodile. Entrance fee at the Bunawan Eco-Park is P20.
Played together with the song is a seven-minute documentary free for public viewing.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed around Lolong’s special cage to monitor the giant crocodile’s movement.
Inner Circle’s upbeat song released in 1993 was No. 3 in the UK singles chart and No. 16 in the US Billboard hit list.
The reggae group’s hit song “Bad Boys” also served as theme song for Fox Television’s longest-running television series “C.O.P.S.”
Personnel of the eco-park said the entrance fee will be used to maintain cleanliness and ongoing construction work at the park, which the municipal government of Bunawan built.
A natural waterfall can be found 50 meters away from Lolong’s special cage.
Apollo Deano, assistant officer-in-charge of the eco-park, told THE STAR that Coca-Cola Philippines would provide 45 stalls to more than 100 ambulant vendors at the park for free. The company has signed an agreement with the municipal government of Bunawan.
Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde said they would convert the six-hectare eco-park into a tourist destination.
Elorde said the funds used in developing the eco-park and the expenses in capturing Lolong in the Agusan Marsh already cost the municipal government more than P1 million.
The giant crocodile was named after Palawan-based crocodile hunter Ernesto Goloran “Lolong’’ Coniate, who died of a heart attack days after the world’s biggest crocodile was caught.
Coniate was the leader of the team tasked to capture Lolong after Daniel Austero, 53, a fisherman, disappeared after a giant crocodile reportedly attacked him last July 21 in the Agusan Marsh.