Aqua Planet, the largest water park in the Philippines, successfully hosted the 2019 World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) in the country on June 20, 2019. The Philippines is one of the many countries that joins this global initiative, with the aim of educating people around the world that Swimming Lesson Save Lives.

The event was streamed live at the Philippines' top-rating morning show, Umagang Kay Ganda. UKG Squad hosts Martin Javier, Patricia Reyes, and Roxanne Montealegre was also at Aqua Planet to report the live happening. 

For the 2nd year in a row, #AquaPlanetPH is the only water theme park in the Philippines to host the WSL! A total of 1,819 participants joined Aqua Planet’s hosting of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) on June 20, 2019. This exceeds the existing Guinness World Record set by Florida, USA, with 1,308 participants!

Aqua Planet awaits the confirmation of World Waterpark Association and Guinness Book of World Record for this attempt to beat the record. Truly, a new world record for the country is possibly on its way!

WLSL is a global campaign with 49 countries actively participating as a member of the World Waterpark Association (WWA) that helps the global aquatic industry to work together in providing basic swimming skills to children to prevent drowning. World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that drowning is one of the major public health problems worldwide and third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death.

With the advocacy “Swimming Lessons Save Lives”, Aqua Planet, in partnership with Bert Lozada Swim School (BLSS), is committed to saving lives by spreading awareness and educating people, especially children, on how to be safer in and around water, and that learning proper and basic swimming techniques is not only for competitive sport but it can also save a life from drowning. During his welcome speech, Dr. Irineo “Bong” Alvaro Jr., President of BB International Leisure and Resort Development, is exalted that a big number of children are willing to learn how to swim.

“This event does not only focus on breaking the Guinness World Record, but most importantly we focus on teaching the community, especially the children, on how to swim in a fun and exciting way,” he said. Alvaro also emphasized that “learning how to swim can save not only your life, but you can save the life of others as well.”

As a staunch advocate of swimming as an essential survival skill, BLSS headed simultaneous swimming lessons highlighting the five basics of swimming, which includes breathing, floating, paddling or kicking, and proper swimming strokes to the children from Pampanga from elementary students from public schools, children from orphanages, indigenous communities, local government units, to children with special needs.

Filipino actor and swimmer Enchong Dee was also present in the event to give inspiration and to empower the children to swim. “When I was a kid, I always pay attention to the swimming lessons taught to me because I know, when the need arises, it will all be beneficial to me and in helping others,” he said.

Aside from learning the survival skills on swimming, the children were also given some guidelines and safety reminders on what to do during an earthquake especially if they happened to be inside a water park.

This is the second year Aqua Planet has successfully held the event, exceeding its last year’s record of 1,273 participants, in underlining the importance of international water safety standards, and making it the first and only establishment in the Philippines to participate in this worthy cause.

The other 48 countries that took part in the campaign are: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe.

This event is also made possible by: Bert Lozada Swim School, Bert Lozada Foundation, Salonpas, Pocari Sweat, Aldenver Events and Gaming Beat Charity.

About AQUA PLANET

Considered to be one of the biggest and most modern world-class water parks in Asia. Aqua Planet is a 10-hectare water park with over 38 water slides & attractions guests of all ages can enjoy. With over 38 slides & attractions available and vast land area surrounded by lush greenery, guests are in for a relaxing yet satisfying experience.