CLARK FREEPORT― The Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) is set to relaunch one of the country’s famous theme parks here which will be called “Nayon Clark Park (NCP),” an almost entirely new attraction built on fresh concepts and strategies.
Formerly known as Nayong Pilipino sa Clark Park, the NCP will be relaunched on October 28, in time for the holding of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here starting November30.
This was announced by NPF executive director Michelle Aguilar-Ong during the media forum “Balitaan” organized by the Capampangan in Media Inc. at the Bale Balita here recently.
Ong said NCP will be the home of Filipino diversity, a showcase and venue of expression for the arts such as visual, performing, literature and culinary among others.
Ong said the theme park will also be a showcase of Filipino history, culture, heritage and tradition highlighting the 169 indigenous tribes of the Philippines.
“The park is also aimed to be the home of every young and struggling artists in various fields,” she added.
Ong also explained that the 5.6-hectare park complex is currently undergoing renovation including the theater area, the villages, the food park, the man-made lagoon, the galleries, and the replacement and upgrading of the lighting, equipment and other display areas and centers.
On its reopening soon, she added that the theater will be used for daily cultural shows while the food park will also host retail goods like souvenir and novelty items and delicatessen.
The lagoon, one of the main attractions when Expo Pilipino was established in 1998, will also be used for entertainment purposes, Ong said.
To make the park more attractive, the NCP logo will use the Vanda Sanderiana flower, an orchid commonly known in the Philippines as “waling-waling,” which will also be launched before the opening in October.
She stressed that the waling-waling orchid is among the rare flower species and famous worldwide.
She also said replicas or miniatures of important places and structures, which the old theme park is known for, will continue to be among the exciting attractions like the famous rice terraces of Banaue, the Barasoain Church in Malolos, the house of national hero Jose Rizal as well as others will also be on display in the park.
Ong also said the villages of Kalinga, Ifugao and Aetas are among the group of indigenous peoples that will be reproduced.
Natives dances will also be given highlights at the new NCP including the works of aspiring artists in painting, sculptures, artifacts and artistic creations will be on display at the galleries for the appreciation of local and foreign visitors and tourists.
The theme park was transferred here from Manila in July 2002 under Executive Order No.11 signed by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and opened anew in 2007 at the multibillion-peso former Expo Filipino complex in Clark.
