Zooper Cruise is a fantastic way to watch the story of Metro Manila unfold from the point of view of the Pasig River.
Launched last month by business tycoon Robert Yupangco, the tour is on board twin-hull airconditioned ferry boats, owned by former Navy and presidential security guard Eduardo Bondad.
This very first Pasig River ferry tour service starts from Circuit Mall in Makati, where a van takes passengers (up to 120 per trip) to the Valenzuela Ferry Terminal in Sta Ana, Manila.
From there, the Pasig River tour goes towards Escolta in Manila — a non-stop trip that takes roughly an hour to complete — where it culminates in a sumptuous lauriat dinner in the first restaurant built in the oldest Chinatown in the world: Uno Seafood Restaurant in Binondo.
Along the way, you’ll be seeing notable landmarks such as the Post Office Building, Hospicio de San Jose, the old Pandacan Oil Depot, and yes, even the Malacañan Palace. (For national security purposes, just remember that you can’t take any photos while cruising by the President’s home.)
“I encourage today’s generation to look back and find out how Manila came to be,” says Bondad. “It’s quite an experience, knowing where we came from… And this Zooper Cruise is a unique history class on a boat.”
“The Philippines is well-endowed with many beautiful tourist attractions, yet many Filipinos as well as foreign tourists have not yet discovered the beauty of Metro Manila,” adds Yupangco.
The Pasig River stretches roughly 25 miles, connecting Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay. It divides Manila into the northern and southern halves.
During the time of Spanish occupation, Pasig River was teeming with life and commerce, being the main thoroughfare for boats and ships carrying people and good from the port of Manila to various parts Manila and its neighboring towns.
Decades later, it got crowded, commercialized, and — sadly — terribly polluted. What was once a thriving river turned into an eight-feet-deep dumpsite. Pasig River died together with the livelihood it once brought.
There have been a few attempts to rehabilitate the Pasig River and a few years ago, the river became safe enough to once again carry passengers around Metro Manila with the Pasig River Commuter Ferry, with stations from Bonifacio Global City all the way to Escolta.
However, the heavy flow of sturdy water hyacinths has proven to be too much for these commuter ferries, so it was discontinued.
But not forever.
Zooper Cruise plies Pasig River every first Saturday of the month. One trip a day only. PHP 699 (student rate), PHP 999 (cruise only), PHP 1,999 (cruise, Intramuros tour, and dinner). Snacks and refreshments are also available inside the ferry during the tour. Call +63 2 8999819, +63 2 8999824, +63 917 9521371.
