‘Malacañang of the North’ being spruced up

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The corner of Cardinal Santos Avenue and Lorenzo Tañada street in this special economic zone has been closed to traffic "for security reasons."

The reason: the area hosts the so-called "White House," a century-old, two-story house where Philippine presidents, starting with Fidel Ramos, have stayed during their visits to this province.

Also on the site are three other houses which, along with the White House, are being spruced up to be the "Malacañang of the North."

Zorayda Camelo, supply and purchasing chief of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), said Malacañang has asked for tighter security in the area, but added she is unaware when the "Malacañang of the North" would be officially declared.

"There is no need to spend for the four housing units since they are complete with furniture and appliances left by the Americans," she said.

However, openings inside the White House were fitted with doors. "It used to be that one room led to another without a door," Camelo said.

Alvin Tabag, CDC property chief, told The STAR that three of the four houses are to be repainted and their roofs repaired, although he could not say how much this would cost. The CDC management has ordered all its departments to economize.

"We are no longer renting out the units," he said. Except for the White House, they used to be rented out for P4,500 per night.

The Americans built the houses soon after former US President Theodore Roosevelt declared the old Clark Field — then called Fort Stotsenburg — a US military outpost for the 5th US Cavalry troops on Sept. 1, 1903.

President Arroyo frequently visits the White House where she meets with leaders from Central and Northern Luzon. At times, she stays there for the night when she has to go to northern provinces.

Last Aug. 19, Mrs. Arroyo opened the "Malacañang of the South," a refurbished old building of the Bureau of Customs in Cebu City, to bring the national government closer to the people in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Before the Americans abandoned this former military base in the aftermath of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991, the houses used to be for top US military officials. The White House itself was a guesthouse for special visitors of the US military commander.

Having a "Malacañang of the North" is not something novel. During his administration, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos had the "Malacañang Ti Amianan" in his Ilocos Norte hometown, although it served mainly as a vacation house for the Marcoses.

In Tacloban City, Leyte, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos had her "Sto. Niño Shrine" which doubled as "Malacañang of the South."