The Burning Star: Retracing Star City

'As you burned down the smiles we left there, we will wither too'

I had some fond memories in star city. We've been there several times especially in the 90s era. The travel time going to star city from our house at San Andres Bukid, Manila is only just 30 minutes away. When I was a child we usually go there during Holiday seasons. I still remember when I and my cousins along with our aunties and parents enjoyed the rides of star city. Sighs, how I miss those days. We experienced the adrenalin rush with the extreme rides we first had when we entered the gate of star city. These kinds of rides are on top of our list.

At the Star City

A place for entertainment, amusement, and pleasure, Star City is most lively during Christmas holidays when adults and kids take delight to experience exciting rides coupled with a flea market, shopping and live concert shows.

The place is crowded with people waiting for the opening of the park. And the lines are long at the entrance. It was a joyous feeling for the kids like us as you can see never-ending colorful lights at the scenery and the songs of Christmas are playing in the air. Nothing but a happy heart is all that I can feel.

Like many years before, the carousel is the first ride that you can spot upon entering the venue. Ask me if I did ride the carousel? Well, no I guess I'm too old for that. But back on our Foundation day in elementary days, of course, I did ride the second famous ride in the carnival. In our time, we call it the "Merry-go-rounds".

People all over the world have enjoyed these rotating devices for centuries. Rotating devices of various sorts were in used across Europe and America as early as 500 AD. Carousel-makers back in the day introduced the use of steam engines in merry-go-rounds and carousels began to more closely resemble what we would recognize today.

video credits to @Madoskiii

Here is the list of KIDDIE RIDES in Star City.

The Quack-quack

It's a six-duck tub with seating up to four.

Little Tykes

It's a giant playground for kids. Kids can release all that energy and have hours of indoor fun.

The Rodeo

A different kind of vehicles that travel up and down in a form of the convoy along a loop track.

Ball Pool

Little kids will love exploring a maze of tubes ending up in a slide of softballs on the surface.

Tea Cup

That same old ride which you can spin in a giant-sized teacup.

Kiddie Bump Car

Definitely, one of my favorite ride when I was a kid.

Kiddie Wheel

A Ferris wheel for kids minus the daunting height.

Poets of the Fall - 'Carnival of Rust'

ADULT RIDES

The Zyklon Loop

One can say "one hell of a ride." This is one of the famous rides in Star City. It's a roller coaster that travels at the speed of 60 kph and features a 60-degree drop, banking turns of over 720 degrees. This is the country's first imported 360-degree loop coaster. Trust me a tito like me won't ride that, "magkamatayan na."

Star Flyer

Another roller coaster ride that became controversial in 2009. A man died after falling from the ride. A witness said the man's body hit the metal framing of the ride before finally falling to the ground. The Star Flyer is among the few rides that survived a fire on October 2, 2019, which destroyed most of the amusement park.

Surf Dance

If you have vertigo and afraid of heights don't dare to experience this ride. The first and only of its kind in the Philippines is a family gondola ride that is about the height of a five-story building. The 44-seat ride swings upwards, downwards, and sideways. So you bet, you'll gonna throw up later.

Blizzard

It is an all-family roller coaster ride that will take you to an exciting experience.

Wild River

The ride consists of a dozen log boats that travel down a channel propelled by a strong current of water. The boats allowed to drop freely from the height of up to 15 meters into a SPLASHHHH!!! For me, it's an anti-stress ride because of the cold water splashing at your face.

Super Viking

It is a pirate ship-inspired family ride that swings forward and backward horizontally.

Gabi ng Lagim

Filipinos with an obsession for local folklore may just find what they are looking for at Star City's Gabi ng Lagim. Inspired by a longtime radio program of the same title, the attraction's horror house features the creepiest creatures in the Philippine mythology - from the nuno sa punso, tikbalang, kapre, manananggal to the zombie creatures - as well as the scariest traditional practices of Filipinos like kulam and kultos.

The horror house is more realistic, they added sound effects taken from the Gabi ng Lagim radio show. The lighting also summons a truly spine-chilling feel.

THE DOWNFALL OF STAR CITY / FIRE RAGE

An early morning fire on October 2, 2019, burned through 80 percent of the Star City complex in Pasay City, including the theme park that has been a staple "pasyalan" of Filipino families during the holiday season for nearly three decades. The amusement park opened its doors in 1991 and has an annual attendance of about 1.5 million people according to the books.

Initial investigations showed the fire started in the storage facility filled with stuffed toys and other assorted prizes. Investigators are looking at electrical trouble and arson as possible causes of the fire 

based on how quickly the blaze spread.

The memories of our childhood in this place will never be forgotten. As you burn down the smiles we left there we will wither too.  All my childhood memories we're there and it was just burned to ashes. Thank you for the 3 decades.

video credits Hannah Amonte

Star City after burned

1991 - 2019.