Nayong Pilipino finds new home at Expo Pilipino

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – What used to be the centerpiece during the centennial celebration of Philippine Independence in 1998 would soon be converted as the new home of Nayong Pilipino.

Lawyer Apolonia Anota, the newly appointed head of Nayong Pilipino-Clark, yesterday said out of the 60-hectare property of Expo Pilipino, the cultural amusement park will occupy 3.5 hectares.

“We will invest heavily here and we hope to finish all the rehabilitation projects by May 12,” Anota said in a press conference.

With an approved budget of P50 million, the rehabilitation plan will cover the general repair of structures, including two museums, landscaping, and redesigning of air-conditioned cottages.

Nayong Pilipino, which is an autonomous government corporation under the Department of Tourism, is being targeted to be a major tourist destination at Clark, especially for travelers coming from the Clark international airport.

The cultural amusement park will feature a venue for Palaruang Pilipino or traditional Filipino games, authentic Kalinga houses, a T’boli village, and an orchidarium, among others.

The orchidarium will display unique orchids that resulted from local crossbreeding, numbering about 45,000 species, including 20 new ones.

Anota said the existing artifacts in the museum would be expanded to include an authentic Filipino weave collection as old as 75 to 100 years.

Meanwhile, visitors can explore authentic houses found in Batanes, Bicol, Mt. Province, and Mindanao as well as a botanical garden where trees would be properly labeled with name, value and history.

Aside from these, there would be “living mannequins” or dancers who will perform folk dances twice a day, near the replica of the historic Barasoain Church. “They will not only dance, but will also demonstrate to visitors how to dance,” Anota said.

Other features include “changing exhibits” varying from paintings to wood or ice sculptures, a lagoon area which will host cultural shows and other water activities, and themed festival events like Santacruzan (May) and Ati-Atihan (June).

Since Expo Pilipino is isolated from public transport, Nayong Pilipino authorities have made provisions for free daily shuttle service from the park to SM Clark in Angeles City, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.