Have you guys tried walking the 1.5km stretch of SM by the Bay?

My family and I just did, last Saturday.  OMG, ang saya!  Isa syang malaking fiesta!  Perfect for families, balikbayans, barkadas and of course, since Valentine's is this weekend, with your labidabs.

It was the opening of the Annual Pyro-Musical Competition Show and if the fireworks during New Year gives you endless ooohs and aaahs, the fireworks displayed here will leave you breathless.

Photo Credit: SM by the Bay Facebook Page

Be-a-u-tiful!  I went with my 2 kids, my mom and brother and we were all in awe of the fireworks display.  The fireworks display of the Philippines went on for a good 20 minutes as different bursts of light and sounds danced to popular tunes spanning several decades.  Each Saturday till March 14, 2 countries will be competing in a grand fireworks display.  SM Mall of Asia together with Platinum Fireworks have been hosting the competition for six years now at SM by the BAY.

If you are planning to watch the show along the bay,  SM has designated areas that are accessible for a fee for as low as P100 to P1,500  (with dinner).  Show starts around - 7:30pm for first competitor and the next one would be between -8:30- 8:45pm.  Each show lasts between 15-20 minutes. The show will run every Saturday until March 14, 2015.  Tickets are available at SM Mall of Asia, SM ticket booth, Ticketnet and Ticketworld outlets.   Otherwise, you can also choose to watch the fireworks from the restaurants at SM by the BAY.

Check out SM by the Bay Facebook page for more details.

Apart from the Pyro-Musical show, street entertainers, from firedancers to robots, are all over adding flair and festivity to the occasion.

Men on stilts.

Light-up drummer boys.

And OM! My kids, especially my boy,  went wild in excitement when Bumblebee, the robot in Pacific Rim and a few other robots walked by.

When we got to the rides section,  my kids darted off in different directions!  My girl wanted to ride the Magic Dance while my son wanted to drive a motorcycle.  There are around 15 different rides to choose from,  fees range from P50 to P150/person.

Magic Dance is similar to the Octopus ride.

My boy darted off in his motorcycle.

Other rides include Twister and Drop Tower (for the dare devils), Flume Ride (like a log ride), Indiannapolis car and of course pwede ba naman mawala ang carousel:-)

The star of the rides is the MOA Eye.  It is the tallest Ferris Wheel in Manila towering to a height of 180 feet.  You can see all the lights at MOA, the bay and even parts of Solaire.  Tapos aliw because each gondola is airconditioned pala and can sit a family of 4-6:-)

I want to go back and try the MOA Eye on a sunset.  I bet it's going to be lovely.

There are 19 restaurants along the bay.  As expected,  they were packed, with the al fresco seats overlooking the bay filling up faster than you could say "I want to sit there."  There were a number of good themed restaurants. Hooters is there!  Syempre my daughter said, "Mom I don't think you can work there, they are all sexy!"   And then there is the famous buffet restaurants Vikings, Buffet 101 and Banzai (another themed restaurant kids will enjoy).

Related Blog Post:  Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater.

We dined at the fun and entertaining, Movie Star Cafe.  It's a movie-themed restaurant where super heroes, villains and well loved characters come alive to dance and perform onstage and gamely post for photos after!  We all had a blast.  Hehe hindi na nga kami halos maka kain sa excitement!:-)

We took so much pics, I think  I'll just make another post for it.  Movie Stars Cafe is at Bldg. D, SM by the BAY Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City.  Do make reservations by calling 550-1234 to get the best seats.

Guys, you have to take your family to SM by the Bay this weekend or any weekend till March 14.  It will be a great experience for everyone.  The fireworks is amazing.  The Manila Bay is lovely as always.  And the festivities SM by the Bay prepared is sooo entertaining! Parang Mardi-Gras!  If the happy twinkle in your kids eye is what you are after, they will be twinkling bright that night.

Ok, on which Saturday are you dropping by?:-)