The Science Discovery Center at Anjo World Theme Park officially opened on July 30, 2026, in Minglanilla, Cebu, giving students, families, and visitors a new space to explore science through interactive exhibits, games, experiments, and technology.

Today, we are not just opening an attraction, we are opening a door to curiosity, imagination, discovery, and possibility.

— Chester Lim

President, Anjo World Theme Park

Developed through their partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the center brings scientific concepts out of textbooks and into a theme park setting, creating a learning destination designed to spark curiosity and make science more relatable to the Cebuano community.

Organizers describe the facility as the first science discovery center of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao, combining science, technology, discovery, and the excitement of a theme park in one destination.

The opening follows the May 14 strategic partnership launch between Anjo World, DOST, and representatives from around 43 academic institutions across Cebu, which marked the first major step toward bringing the Science Discovery Center to the province.

This marks a new chapter for Anjo World, which now offers more than recreational attractions by giving families and schools another reason to visit: the opportunity to learn together through experiences they can see, touch, and explore.

Where science goes beyond the classroom

Inside the Science Discovery Center, scientific concepts are presented through activities designed to turn questions into experiences.

Visitors can explore natural hazards exhibits such as Cyclone, Whirlpool, and Feel-the-Shake, which demonstrates how seismic activity affects buildings, people, and the environment. There are also tabletop exhibits focused on electricity, motion, vision, light, energy, and other scientific principles.

Among these are the Van de Graaff Generator, which demonstrates static electricity; the Vertical Lightning Ball, where visitors can watch streams of electricity follow their fingertips; the Momentum Machine, which demonstrates energy transfer; and the Tesla Coil, which lets visitors observe electrical discharges while learning about high-voltage electricity. Other exhibits explore optical fiber, color, gravity, air pressure, resonance, balance, and vision.

The experience is spread across different areas of the center. The second floor features nine interactive science exhibits and a Laser Maze, while the third floor adds 11 more exhibits and a Hide-and-Seek game that challenges observation and problem-solving. The ground floor includes a 3D printing area, the Starbooks Digital Library, and a souvenir shop.

Selected exhibits also come with QR codes that allow visitors to access additional information and answer interactive learning activities, creating a deliberate connection between what students encounter at the center and what they learn in school.

For Anjo World president Chester Lim, that connection is central to the center’s purpose.

“Today, we are not just opening an attraction, we are opening a door to curiosity, imagination, discovery, and possibility,” he shared.

Lim said the center was envisioned as a place where science can be experienced, touched, seen, heard, and enjoyed, with the hope that students leave not only with memories but also with the confidence to ask questions and experiment.

Making science more relatable for Cebuano learners

For DOST, the value of the Science Discovery Center lies in making science less abstract for young learners.

Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa B. De Guzman pointed out that children’s interest in science often starts not with formulas, but with simple questions such as “bakit?” or “ngano?” The center gives students a place where those questions can lead to exploration.

She said the exhibits allow children to see, touch, and experience scientific concepts while teachers can help answer the questions that naturally arise during the visit.

The approach also gives families a role in the learning experience. De Guzman encouraged not only teachers but also parents to pay attention when children begin asking questions about what they see, saying these moments can signal that a child’s mind is expanding.

The center therefore offers something particularly relevant to Cebuano families: a place where a weekend recreational trip can also become an opportunity to discover how science connects with everyday experiences.

De Guzman described the project as a new reason for families to come to Anjo World not only to enjoy themselves, but also to wonder, experiment, and learn. She also noted that the project represents DOST’s first collaboration with a private-sector partner on this type of science center or museum.

Why a science center matters beyond the attraction

The center’s purpose extends beyond giving students something new to see.

Filipino astronomer and astrophotographer Christopher Go used the opening to highlight a broader challenge in science education: students can have difficulty visualizing concepts when they encounter them only through books.

A science center, he said, can help address that gap by making theories more visible and easier to understand. For Go, this matters because greater understanding of science and technology can eventually contribute to innovation, research, and economic development.

He also pointed to examples from Thailand, where efforts to popularize astronomy helped build stronger public interest in science and eventually contributed to the development of major science facilities and technologies. His broader message was that science appreciation can begin with making scientific ideas understandable and interesting to the public.

“We need something like a science center where everything is visualized,” shared Go.

That makes the Science Discovery Center relevant not only as a new family destination in Cebu, but as a space where young learners can begin seeing science as something they can understand, question, and potentially pursue.

Lim hopes that the students who walk through the center’s doors will carry that curiosity beyond their visit, perhaps eventually pursuing careers as scientists, engineers, inventors, astronauts, or technology innovators.

With its combination of interactive science exhibits, games, digital learning resources, and hands-on activities, the Science Discovery Center at Anjo World gives Cebuano students and families another way to experience learning together.

The center is also expected to expand its learning offerings beyond its current exhibits, with science-focused workshops planned in the near future.

The Science Discovery Center is open daily from 12 noon to 8 p.m., with each batch of visitors allotted 45 minutes to explore the center and experience its interactive attractions.

Students, families, and curious visitors can now include the Science Discovery Center at Anjo World Theme Park in Minglanilla, Cebu in their next educational or family day out and discover how science can be learned through play, exploration, and hands-on experience.

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