At least two times, Matthew Garrick, vice president for Asia Pacific of Feld Entertainment, the company behind Disney on Ice, has enjoyed diving in Cebu.
“I go to Cebu and then I usually go diving or do something like that, so I enjoy that, yeah,” he told in an exclusive interview.
Garrick is among the tourists that make Cebu a top destination in Central Visayas, recording 5.1 million arrivals in 2024 out of the region’s total 7.5 million visitors last year. Cebu welcomed 1.9 million foreign tourists and 3.2 million domestic travelers in the same period, according to official provincial figures.
“I’ve been to Cebu a couple of times, but you know, I think the Philippines as a whole, the people are very similar,” Garrick said. “So I think, always, for me, the hospitality is always there.”
Garrick is among those hoping Cebu would continue to rise from recent challenges like massive flooding last month brought by typhoon “Tino”; and a 6.9-magnitude earthquake last September.
In the same exclusive interview, Arnel Gonzales, vice president and general manager of SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, gave details on the new arena being built in Cebu. Once completed, the structure is expected to help Cebu get back on its feet by contributing to creating more jobs in the tourism industry.
Tourism, said Department of Tourism (DoT) regional director Judy Gabato, directly or indirectly support around 1.5 million jobs in Central Visayas.
“Well, currently that is part of the development of the SM Group. So I think in the past, there has been talks about building a Cebu Arena. So we’ve been building there since two years already. We will be opening sometime next year. You could say that it’s an equal size if not bigger than Manila’s Arena, but the expectation is the same well-appointed facilities, dynamic seating for the guests, immersive experience,” Gonzales disclosed.
“We aim to create a space where Filipinos of all ages can experience the highest quality of live entertainment, where families can together share this Filipino holiday tradition that will transcend in their memories,” he added in a speech prior to the interview.
Gonzales and Garrick both agree that Cebu poses a great potential for both the MOA Arena and Disney on Ice.
“If you can see we’re already what we’re 110 million in terms of population. We’ve only reached the one million (for Disney on Ice) in terms of guests for visitors here in Manila in only six years… we’re hoping to develop it,” Gonzales said.
All new ‘Disney on Ice’ show
“Allow me to share with you our wish. It is quite simple — to deliver live entertainment like no other. For the past 40 years, SM Supermalls have been woven into the everyday lives of Filipinos, celebrating holidays, marking milestones and creating unforgettable moments every single day,” Gonzales noted during his speech at the recent press launch of this year’s Disney on Ice, attended by SM Prime Executive Committee chairman and director Hans Sy.
“And to us, the greatest gift that we could ever give to the Philippines is to hold the proud legacy of the SM Mall of Asia Arena on his 13th year of hosting world-class sports and entertainment events. We, on behalf of the SM Mall of Asia Arena team, welcome everyone to join us in our wishful journey to the stars as this year’s Disney on Ice runs from 20 December to 4 January 2026,” Gonzales announced.
“This year, we’re excited to bring Disney on Ice Presents Magic and the Stars, an all new production featuring more Disney characters than ever before in one show,” Garrick said in his speech during the launch.
“For the first time in Manila, you’ll be able to see Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon, Asha from Wish and experience the wonder of Frozen 2. You’ll also see many of your favorite stories come to life that you know and love, so stories like Aladdin, Toy Story, Cinderella.”
In addition to these, Cars would also join the show “for the first time in ice,” noted Garrick.
According to him, this year’s show “have more characters than any other show that we have.”
What keeps the show running and touring the world for all these years are the generations of children then that are now already parents to their own kids, who are now the ones also enjoying the show.
“The show this year, what stands out to us when we talk about it is that it truly is multi-generational. Here you see three generations, probably even four generations of families,” he said.
“Yeah, we have been coming in a long time, so I think our first show in Manila was back in 1990, so we’ve been in Manila for 35 years and I think… every year I come, it (the show becomes a bigger and a more kind of immersive experience, I think, for everyone.”
When Cebu Arena opens sometime next year, Gonzales said they are also “calendaring” Disney on Ice as among the arena’s shows “so that we could reach out to more Filipino families so that they can enjoy this holiday tradition.”
“We are thrilled to share that the true spirit of magic, dreams and hope with every guest that walks through our doors,” he affirmed.