MANILA, PHILIPPINES– The cinema is an experience missed by many. During its golden age in the Philippines, Avenida brimmed with the humongous type posters of blockbuster movies that allowed all-day screening for a measly 50 php.
Today, cinema houses are slowly becoming a novelty. While it was once a rite of passage among teenagers and grown-ups looking for the dating experience, the cinema has become mundane and an affordable place to pass the time for everyone.
For this year’s Valentines, adobo magazine went to the first float-in cinema conceptualized by Megaworld at McKinley Hill. The mall first made waves five years ago when it opened its doors to the public and revealed a beautiful artificial canal inspired by the one in Venice, Italy. Since then, it has been a romantic destination within Metro Manila for the view and of course, the gondola ride.
More recently, the mall has revived the magic of cinema by combining it with their popular gondola ride. Since November last year, McKinley Hill has been screening films every night for ten people per show.
Limiting the gondolas’ capacity to two people allows for a safe watching experience and the open air ventilates the area. The audio system is provided by units of transistor radio per boat, a nice touch that allows their viewers to full immerse themselves in the movie. To complete the theater experience, a hefty serving of houses popcorn is also provided.
Under Megaworld’s Helm, a dated Will Ferell film feels like a brand new release. The live serenade, the gondolas plying the canal, the ambient lights all go together for a perfect Valentines under the stars. True to its premise, the McKinley Hill float-in cinema is the only one of its kind.
