National Geographic Channel launches Big Blue exhibit in Manila

National Geographic Channel, in partnership with Ayala Malls and The Mind Museum, unveiled a life-size sculpture of the world’s biggest baby blue whale in Manila. This is the last stop of the Asian tour that aims to further public understanding of blue whales. Blue whales are the largest creature to ever inhabit the earth. Bigger than the greatest dinosaurs, they weigh up to 200 tons and extend up to 30 meters.  

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. 

The exhibition also includes expert sharing sessions, conservation and education activities, and a feature writing competition. It features never-before-seen footages from National Geographic’s groundbreaking documentary,

The Big Blue Exhibition will run in five different venues on the following dates:  Glorietta 5, November 17-26; Trinoma Mall, November 28-December 11; Alabang Town Center, January 4-17; Market! Market!, January 18-February 2; and Greenbelt Mall, February 3-17

“The National Geographic Channel is delighted to launch Asia’s first Blue Whale Exhibition in Manila, in partnership with Ayala Malls and the Mind Museum. We hope that this inspiring encounter with this majestic creature will spark imaginations and further interest in marine conservation and how oceans relates closely to the well-being of humans,” said Sonia Jackson, senior vice president for marketing and general manager for Hong Kong and the Philippines of Fox International Channel, the mother company of National Geographic Channel.

The Ayala Malls, led by Ayala Group senior vice president Marivic Anonuevo, is committed to support the National Geographic’s efforts to encourage Filipinos to care for this beautiful creature and raise awareness of marine conservation in the Philippines.

Learn from the expert

National Geographic and The Mind Museum have invited local marine mammal scientist Dr. Arnel Andrew Yaptinchay to host special sharing sessions to inspire students and visitors of the Big Blue Exhibition. 

Dr. Yaptinchay is one of the volunteer scientists providing advice on some exhibits for the museum. He is involved in conservation initiatives on threatened marine species such as the whale shark, cetaceans, and dugong in the Philippines. Dr. Yaptinchay has once served as director for the Species Conservation Program of World Wide Fund-Philippines. He will share his experiences with local audiences and answer questions.

Showing on National Geographic Channel 18 November at 7 pm, 21 November at 11 am, and 22 November at 8 pm, the two-hour Big Blue special is the first documentary to uncover the mysteries of the blue whale.

The special features never-before-seen moments in the life of blue whales, with stunning first-time footage of a blue whale calf and its mother and amazing shots of an adult blue whale singing.  

Audiences will also get a unique whale’s view through an advanced technology developed by National Geographic called CRITTERCAM®, which allows unprecedented access into the animal kingdom without human interference.

This state-of-the-art research device was attached to a blue whale’s back to record footages of the animal as it travels deep into the ocean to allow scientists to study its behaviors.

For more information about the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition and the Big Blue documentary, please visit http://www.ngcasia.com/programmes/blue-whale