Weather & Climate
The Department of Tourism announced that clear Manila Bay sunsets have become so rare that they now require advance booking through a lottery system, with tickets selling for ?2,500 each.
Carlos Mendoza (staff writer)
Manila Bay, Roxas Boulevard —
Manila Bay Sunset Viewing Now Requires Advance Reservation Due to Smog Density
The Department of Tourism announced today that due to increasingly rare clear visibility conditions, viewing Manila Bay sunsets will now require advance reservations through a government-operated lottery system, with premium viewing slots priced at ?2,500 per person.
Exclusive Sunset Experience Package
Tourism Secretary Ramon dela Rosa explained that with only an average of 12 clear sunset days per year, the government needed to regulate access to prevent overcrowding during the precious moments when the sun is actually visible through Manila’s atmospheric haze.
“We’re treating Manila Bay sunsets like limited edition sneaker drops,” dela Rosa announced from the newly constructed VIP viewing deck at Rizal Park. “Premium ticket holders get guaranteed front-row positions and complimentary face masks rated for PM2.5 particles.”
Black Market Tickets Emerge
The announcement has already sparked a black market for sunset viewing privileges, with scalpers offering “guaranteed clear sky” packages for up to ?10,000. Several fake sunset viewing companies have emerged, using Instagram filters to simulate clear Manila Bay horizons.
Local photographer Jenny Reyes, who has been documenting Manila Bay for 15 years, noted the dramatic change: “I used to take sunset photos daily. Now I’m lucky if I get three decent shots per year that don’t look like abstract art.”
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources maintains that air quality is improving, though they acknowledge that their definition of “improvement” now includes “being able to see the sun as a faint orange blob.”