National Geographic Channel in RP for exhibit

MANILA, Philippines - In an effort to strengthen and raise people’s awareness of marine conservation, particularly the blue whale, the National Geographic Channel, in partnership with Ayala Malls and the Mind Museum, unveiled yesterday an exhibit on blue whales, which will run for three months.

Yesterday, National Geographic and Ayala Malls officials unveiled a life-size replica of a baby blue whale in Glorietta 5, Makati City.

Sonia Jackson, senior vice president for marketing and general manager for Hong Kong and the Philippines of Fox International Channel, mother company of the National Geographic Channel, said yesterday they saw it fitting to bring the exhibit to the Philippines.

“There is no better place for whales than the more than 7,000 islands and islets of the Philippines. We started the campaign in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to move the message of marine conservation. We want to get closer to younger generations,” Jackson said.

Blue whales are the largest creatures to ever inhabit the earth. They are bigger than the greatest dinosaurs, weigh up to 200 tons and are longer than a basketball court. The length of a blue whale is equivalent to two bumper-to-bumper school buses and it has a mouth big enough to hold 100 people.

Blue whales have no teeth but eat four tons of seafood a day, the equivalent of 64,000 hamburgers.

“The Big Blue exhibition will take visitors into the world of the magnificent blue whales. The sophisticated sculpture will be the highlight of the event. It is a life-like rendering of a nine-meter long, two-month-old female blue whale that was created by a team of professional model makers in Australia,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the whales are greatly threatened today because of the abuse of the environment.

Several centuries ago, the whales’ population numbered more than 250,000 but rapidly decreased in number with only more than 10,000 now in the oceans.

The Big Blue exhibition will run in five different venues on the following dates: Glorietta 5 on Nov. 17-26; Trinoma Mall on Nov. 28-Dec. 1; Alabang Town Center on Jan. 4-17; Market! Market! on Jan. 18-Feb. 2; and Greenbelt Mall on Feb. 3-17.

“We hope that this inspiring encounter with this majestic creature will spark imaginations and further interest in marine conservation and how oceans relate closely to the well-being of humans,” Jackson said.

Ayala Group senior vice president Marivic Anonuevo said the Ayala Malls is committed to support the National Geographic Channel’s effort to encourage Filipinos to care for the blue whale and raise awareness of marine conservation in the Philippines.

“As one of the country’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination, Ayala Malls takes a leap further by heeding the world’s call for sustainability by launching an awareness campaign called Greenology. Ayala Malls continues to take an active role in bringing the sustainable lifestyle to consumers through the various events and activities lined up in the coming months,” Anonuevo said.