MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya actor Paulo Avelino has entered the family entertainment business with the opening of PlaySpace, a 1,000-square-meter indoor playground at Ayala Malls Vermosa in Imus, Cavite.
The playground officially opened on July 18 with a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Avelino and his business partners.
Avelino teamed up with fellow fathers Adam Vinluan, John Gonzales and Bugsy Lising to develop the project, which took nearly two years to complete. Vinluan serves as the company's CEO and president, Gonzales heads business development, Avelino oversees marketing, and Lising manages daily operations.
According to Avelino, the idea for PlaySpace came from Vinluan during one of their online gaming sessions.
"It's actually the brainchild of Adam. About two years ago, we were just playing games and talking on Discord when he suddenly brought it up. I said yes, and from there we started working on it," Avelino said.
Designed for children and families, PlaySpace offers slides, obstacle courses, a ball pit, interactive play stations, dress-up areas, and cooking and baking activities. It also features a 150-square-meter event space that can host birthday parties and other family gatherings.
The founders said they wanted to create more than just an indoor playground. They hope the venue encourages children to spend less time on gadgets and more time playing, exploring, and interacting with others.
"Nowadays, kids are becoming addicted to gadgets. It's nice to have a safe space where they can freely be themselves, run around, and actually not be on their phones," Avelino said.
He added that growing up in Baguio allowed him to enjoy outdoor play, an experience he hopes more children can have despite limited open spaces in urban areas.
Safety was also a priority in developing the facility. The founders said PlaySpace follows building safety standards, limits the number of guests inside, and has trained staff to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for children and their families.
While PlaySpace's first branch is located in Cavite, Avelino said the group hopes to expand to more locations in the future and explore new concepts with different themes.
Meanwhile, Paulo said that there are a lot of showbiz projects for him in the future.
“Hindi ko alam kung pwedeng sabihin to e. Pero may mga dine-develop. Medyo marami. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano mati-tripan,” he said.
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