Last Updated on 12 October 2024 by Cycloscope
Everything You Need to Know About Entertainment City in the Philippines
When people think of the Philippines, they think of a tropical island paradise that’s perfect for backpacking. Indeed, with its welcoming people and immaculate natural wonders, you’ll never run out of things to do if you choose to visit this beautiful country. However, what people don’t know is that the Philippines also has a bustling metropolis that also has plenty to offer.
One place, in particular, piqued our interest: Entertainment City.
Entertainment City or E-City is a sprawling 8-square-kilometer complex located on the western side of Roxas Boulevard near the heart of Manila. This sprawling complex is home to luxurious casinos and resorts such as Solaire, City of Dreams, Okada Manila, and Resorts World. But what is E-City and what is there to do while you’re there?
This article is contributed by Olivia Swift
Origins of E-City
We can’t talk about E-City without talking about the circumstances that brought it about. But to do that, we’ll have to go off tangent and talk about the Philippines’ unique relationship with the internet. The Guardian reports that the Philippines is home to the world’s top internet users, clocking in 10 hours of internet use a day.
Other than social media, Filipinos use the internet for games and online gaming. Indeed, the gaming industry has used its resources to create games that fit and shape today’s market interests.
ESports has also been rather big in the country with Manila even playing host to the Manila Major, an international eSports tournament held in the country back in 2016. Couple this with the fact that these games are increasingly accessible with low barriers of entry and you’ve got a sure-fire hit. Now, what does this have to do with E-City?
Take all the things that are right with the online gaming industry and flip it on its head and you would have the brick-and-mortar casino. These establishments were dated and out of touch with the current market, leaving many disinterested in them on a global level.
And with the technology ever improving, every casino industry in the world is now looking for new ways to draw customers in beyond the appeal of the games.
This is where E-City comes in. The establishments in E-City are more than just your run-of-the-mill casinos — they are mega-resorts where you can also play games. Think of this as a last-ditch effort to tap into a market that has left the industry behind. Now that that’s out of the way, what is there to do in E-City?
Bastion of Culture
Entertainment takes on all of its forms in E-City. However, the most impressive (and equally surprising) element of it would have to be the world-class theaters located in the various resorts across the complex.
The Theater at Solaire is a great example of this, as it’s hosted multiple shows including Andrew Lloyd Weber’s masterpiece “The Phantom of the Opera”. The Theater has also had runs of local productions, championing the local theater scene all while imparting world-class entertainment to everyone in the audience.
Culinary Mecca
If theater isn’t your thing, then you may want to check the world-class food establishments scattered across E-City.
Whether it’s award-winning Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s restaurant Nobu at City of Dreams or Wolfgang Zwiener’s iconic steakhouse at Resorts World Manila, E-City has a wide array of dining options that span cuisines and cultures.
For local cuisine, Okada’s Kiapo provides a no-fuss and casual dining environment that shows off the best of what Filipino food has to offer.
All in all, E-City has something for everyone. Whether you choose to play or not, all of the attractions present in the different establishments will give you plenty to do to pass the time.
It’ll be worth checking out if you want a nice change of pace and to see the urban side of the Philippines.