Nayong Pilipino re-opens today

Nayong Pilipino, once the country’s most popular theme park before being closed to give way to the expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be re-opened today.

In an exclusive interview with The STAR, Charito Planas, executive director of the theme park said they are happy to see once again the re-opening of Nayong Pilipino.

"We are elated because people can once again enjoy visiting the park. Now, they can once again have a place to visit that is good for the health since people could breath the fresh air here at this park," said Planas, who also manages the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

She said the old Nayong Pilipino, 22 hectares of which makes up the actual theme park, closed down about two years ago due to the development of NAIA Terminal 3.

The area is about 46 hectares. The Philippine government allotted 8.6 hectares for the building of taxiways for NAIA Terminal 3. The expansion is in line with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Planas said that due to the NAIA expansion, they had to close down the entire theme park. The portions affected were Nayong Pilipino’s Visayas, Mindanao and Tagalog regions.

"These attractions were removed to give way to the expansion of Terminal 3," she said. "But we kept most of the materials that were taken down, such as the capiz and narra."

She said that for the clearing and renovation of a portion of Nayong Pilipino, they only spent P600,000.

The opening day is in time for the "Paskong Handog" of the theme park.

By January 2005, they will be opening the rest of Nayong Pilipino, which they plan to aptly call "Bagong Nayong Pilipino."

In a statement, the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) said that the opening was timed for the Christmas season, following the spirit of sharing and the tradition of maintaining an "open House," an event for families, and people who enjoy natural scenery.

Four of the seven regions demolished were the "Tagalog Region, the Mindanao Pavilion, the Chocolate Hills (Bohol area), and certain Visayas sites such as the Magellan Cross.

Left untouched are the areas of the Bicol Region (Mt. Mayon), the Cordilleras (Ifugao Rice Terraces), the Ilocos (Vigan House), the aviary, children’s playground, the picnic area and several lagoons, the NPF said.

"With this re-opening, families and friends can relax and enjoy the scenery and go boating, fishing, biking, skating, have Filipinos cooking at the picnic areas, under the shade and sheltering trees," it said.

The NPF added that cultural shows, sports and health activities are also being planned. Nayong Pilipino is also open for parties, wedding receptions, seminars, location shooting and other activities.