Before the pandemic changed the world, there was a magical place in Bonifacio Global City where children could dream, explore, and “work” like adults — a place called Kidzania Manila. It wasn’t just an indoor theme park; it was a miniature world that taught kids the value of effort, responsibility, and imagination.
For our family, Kidzania became more than a destination — it became a part of my son’s growing-up years. From his first hesitant visit in 2016 to his last proud day as an “Honorable Citizen” in 2019, each trip was filled with lessons, laughter, and love.
Now that Kidzania Manila has closed its doors, I look back with deep gratitude for every moment we spent there — our little city of dreams where kids truly did big things.
Kidzania Manila: Where Kids Do Big Things
When Kidzania Manila first opened, I was thrilled. I joined their giveaways, got a few freebies, and eagerly told my son about it. But to my surprise, he said,
“I don’t like that! I don’t want to work! I can’t do that!”
As a mom, I panicked a little. I didn’t want to raise someone who disliked the idea of working. I explained gently, “That’s not difficult. They’ll teach you how to do each activity. When you grow up, you’ll need to work to provide for yourself.”
My husband, ever the calm one, told me not to worry — he’s still young and doesn’t fully understand. For almost a year, I kept asking if he wanted to go, and the answer was always “no.” From his birthday to every school break, I would show him photos and updates from Kidzania’s Facebook page.
Finally, after seeing the Art & Design Academy, where he could paint, he eagerly said yes. Our visit was delayed a bit by travel and family matters, but when we finally walked through KidZania’s gates, that day marked the beginning of countless unforgettable adventures.
16 Activities in One Day Trip at Kidzania Manila (May 2016)
We arrived early at 7:15 AM, rode with my husband to his office, and waited for Kidzania to open at 8:00 AM. The staff gave us boarding passes, check money, and security bracelets before we entered this incredible mini city.
Even though I had seen countless photos online, seeing Kidzania in person left me amazed. The miniature buildings, the bustling streets — it felt like a real city designed just for kids. I couldn’t help but wish we had something like this when I was little!
At 9 AM sharp, my son encashed his check and started his first job as a Firefighter, one of the most popular roles. We later got him a CitiZen Pazzport, which allowed him to earn and save more Kidzos and collect stamps for each activity.
That day, he completed 16 activities — from working as a Courier, Vet, Hotel Staff, and Gas Station Attendant, to making Pizza, Designing Cars, Painting, and even Farming. He also earned his Driver’s License and proudly drove around the Kidzania streets.
We stayed from morning until 4 PM, completely unaware of how quickly time flew. On the way home, my husband teased him:
“I thought you didn’t like Kidzania? Why do you want to go back?”
We all laughed — lesson learned: don’t say no until you try it first.
Mom or Dad Can Work with Their Kid at Kidzania Manila (October 2016)
A few months later, we went back for our second visit as a reward for my son’s good grades. He had received the Gold Eagle Seal and made it to the top 10 in class, so we wanted to celebrate.
I discovered a Kidzania promo allowing parents to join certain jobs with their kids. It was the Eid Mubarak holiday, so the ticket was at weekday price — perfect timing!
We arrived early again, and though the lines were long, we managed to get tickets. My husband joined us this time, hoping to experience working at Kidzania too. Unfortunately, companions were only allowed in a few jobs, and most were already full.
Still, my husband got to join one activity at the Lady’s Choice Cooking School, where they made sandwiches together. Seeing the two of them side by side was priceless.
The rest of the day, my son took on more jobs — at the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, Ice Cream Factory, Snack Factory, House Painting, Window Washing, and CSI & Police Station.
He completed 12 activities that day and realized how hard it was to clean windows. We laughed about it on the way home. Experiences like these made him appreciate the value of work, no matter how small.
15 Activities in One Day at Kidzania Manila (March 2018)
A year later, Kidzania was still my son’s favorite place. Whenever he received high grades, I preferred to reward him with experiences rather than toys.
This was our third visit, and we arrived just before opening. We skipped the long lines at the bank and headed straight to the Fire Station for his first job — a repeat of his favorite role from our first visit. Then he worked at the Supermarket, Mercury Drug, and rode the City Tour Bus to see the entire Kidzania city.
He later became a Judge at the Courthouse, a Radio DJ, and even let me join him as co-host for the Home TV Shopping activity — a hilarious and memorable moment for both of us.
He also tried being a Dentist, Cabin Crew, TV Field Reporter, Pit Crew Trainee, and Burger Maker.
One highlight was upgrading his CitiZen Pazzport to a Distinguished Citizen Pazzport after earning enough stamps. With it, he got discounts, additional Kidzos, and more privileges in each establishment.
We ended the day with 15 activities completed, a new Pazzport level, and countless proud memories.
14 Activities in One Day at Kidzania Manila (July 2018)
By July 2018, this was already our fourth visit. We went with my husband’s relatives, who were visiting from abroad, and my son was so excited to be the “tour guide” this time.
He completed 14 activities, including jobs at National Bookstore, Healthy Options, Mercury Drug, Jack ‘n Jill Snack Factory, Cooking School, Century Tuna Marine Research Lab, Pilot, Driver, Engineer, Architect, and Window Washer.
Even though he had tried some of these before, each visit offered new tasks or twists, making it worth repeating. I loved seeing his confidence grow with every role he played.
He also took a BS Engineering and Architecture course at Kidzania University and proudly earned his degree before ending the day with another window-washing session — a tiring but fulfilling finale!
19 Activities in One Day at Kidzania Manila (March 2019)
Our sixth visit to Kidzania Manila in March 2019 was his busiest yet — he completed 19 activities in one day!
By then, my son was older and more independent. He had his own KidZania ATM card, which recorded his earnings and even earned 1% interest. He knew the city layout by heart and planned his day efficiently.
He worked as a Firefighter, Dentist, Baker, Ice Cream Maker, Bottling Plant Worker, Snack Factory Worker, Electrician, Hotel Staff, Magazine Writer, Bookstore Clerk, and more.
He also attended courses in Health Science, Business Administration, and Humanities and the Arts, earning additional Kidzos for each degree. Later, he proudly upgraded his passport again to Honorable Citizen, gaining +6 Kidzos per job — a proud milestone for him!
Despite having visited six times (and once in Kidzania Bangkok), there were still a few activities he hadn’t tried — like singing or acting — but that was perfectly fine. He loved what he loved, and that’s what mattered most.
A Bittersweet Goodbye (2020)
When I read the news on July 22, 2020, that Kidzania Manila would permanently close due to the pandemic, I felt an unexpected sadness. It wasn’t just a theme park to us — it was a place filled with laughter, learning, and family moments.
From the day my son said, “I don’t want to work,” to the countless badges, stamps, and Kidzos he earned, Kidzania helped shape his view of responsibility, effort, and pride in doing a job well done.
Though its doors have closed, the lessons it taught and the memories we created will always remain open in our hearts.
Kidzania Manila truly lived up to its motto:
“Get ready for a better world.”
And for our family, it gave us one of the best experiences of childhood we could ever ask for.
