Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem accepts the key to Kidzania from Ms. Maricruz Arrubarrena Ocejo.

05 August 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr. participated in a press conference in Mexico City to mark the opening of Kidzania Manila.

Kidzania is a global developer of children’s edutainment theme parks that allow children to role-play in diverse adult professions within scaled-down cities. The Mexican franchise’s latest facility in Manila, valued at around US $25 million, is the twentieth in the company’s growing list of investments.

Kidzania currently has a presence in 17 countries, including the following: Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Chile, India, Egypt, Turkey, Kuwait, and Brazil. Its theme parks have attracted over 42 million visitors since the company started operations in 1999.

The press conference was held at Kidzania Cuicuilco, the largest theme park of its kind in the world. The Philippine delegation, which included children of the Embassy staff and their parents, were given a tour of the facility that includes a miniature city covering more than 11,000 square meters, attracting more than 4,000 visitors daily.

The event then began with speeches from the Ambassador and representatives from Kidzania and ProMexico, the Mexican trade promotion agency. In his speech, Ambassador Dilem emphasized the closeness of historic relations and the significant cultural similarities between the Philippines and Mexico. He welcomed Kidzania’s investment in the Philippines, and congratulated the company on successfully promoting civic values among children and fostering future productive members of global society.

(Left photo) Ambassador Dilem poses with Mexican and Filipino children after the exchange of gifts. (Also in attendance, from left to right) Mr. Miguel Aguirre Palmerin, Mayor of Kidzania Cuicuilco; Ms. Maricruz Arrubarrena Ocejo, Commercial Director of Kidzania Mexico; Mr. Hector Martínez Elizondo, ProMexico Director for Asia; and Mr. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Mikhal C. de Dios. (Right photo) Ambassador Dilem answers questions from the press.

The Philippine Embassy children were then invited to participate in a symbolic exchange of gifts with their Mexican counterparts, after which the undersigned was given a ceremonial key to Kidzania’s cities.

Ambassador Dilem then answered questions from the assembled media representatives who inquired about the Philippines’ bilateral trade and investment relations with Mexico, before the conclusion of the conference. END