Visit to Nayong Pilipino -Clark

Nayong Pilipino -Clark  occupies about 5 hectares of the southeastern portion of the Clark Expo (formerly Expo Filipino) within Pampanga province. This site is between 1 hour and half to 1 and 1/2 hour drive north from Quezon City in Metro Manila. The distance is approximately 91 kilometer to 92 kilometers .

Maria Sinukuan statue

Our first visit at the old- Centennial expo site was on the later part of 1998- The area is larger but the landscape is still not mature at that time .  This was built as part of the Philippine National Centennial Exposition event . Site was intended as a showpiece during the commemoration of centennial anniversary of declaration of the Philippine Independence. Nearby features an amphitheater-type tent that can seat 35,000 people.

Malakas at si Maganda

Then, we revisited the site during the time of Ms. Charito Plans around 2007 . The last one was about 3 years ago , with a group of American tourists attending a conference . This is the fourth time to visit the site. The place also had interesting pocket gardens with Philippine popular characters based on myths , legends and folklore .

Barasoain church replica – This church was erected around 1998 funded by Agencia Cooperacion Espanola Internacional 

Barasoain Church was inaugurated during the visit of then King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain on February 13, 1998 , in commemoration of Philippine centennial of declaration of independence.

The theme park is divided into 15 different places .

Replica house of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in Calamba, Laguna and Gen. Emilio Aguinalo house 

Heroes Plaza – named after famous Philippine heroes and that plaza had several replica houses of Philippine heroes , Emilio Aguinaldo, Dr. Jose P. Rizal and Apolinario Mabini.

Obra Maestra of Mr. Rafael Maniago  ( theme Philippine kalesa painting) 

There is also a heroes gallery , stage area and administration office is located . There is an ongoing painting exhibit of Mr. Rafael Maniago at the second floor at the Administration office. The exhibited opened to the general public last December 7 and will run until the end of the Yuletide season.

Mr. Rafael Maniago was born in an impoverish Mexico , Pampanga. He is world reknown for his paintings

numismatic exhibition

There is also an ongoing numismatic and banknote exhibition at the Emilio Aguinaldo house – The exhibit showed the history timeline of Philippine coins, banknotes and pre-hispanic era. The collection is owned by a fellow stamp and coin collector Mr. Jorge H. Cuyugan

Kalinga Village 

Kalinga Village shows a typical village in Kalinga with several native huts , complete with rice terraces , stage area with wooden seats.

Orchidarium

The Nayong Pilipino Orchidarium had Philippine bred orchid hybrids named after Philippine presidents . There are also pocket gardens where one can appreciate native trees and plants.

Ifugao hut 

There are craftsmen and wood carvers from Ifugao which makes wonderful artistic wood crafts like statues , tissue holders, wooden mortal and pestle, chopping board and other items.

wood carvings

One can easily buy interesting wood carving from native tribes.

orchid hybrids mounted on drift woods

There are a couple of Philippine native orchid species like Dendrobium anosmum ( sanggumay ),  Cymbidium finlaysonianum , Vanda lamellata and Dendrobium crumenatum ( dove or pigeon orchid ) within the grounds .

Museo sa Nayon 

Museo sa Nayon houses different textiles made by different indigenous tribes of the country .

Salangi Restaurant 

Salangi Restaurant specializes on Kapampangan dishes like adobo , menudo among others . The restaurant had a second floor , ideal with rustic views of the place.

native cottage 

Those who wanted to experience a rustic bahay kubo with modern amenities , one can rent any of the bahay kubo within the Nayong Pilipino for a minimal fee – each bahay kubo had a capacity of between 4 to 6 people .

The place is also ideal for team building , debut , wedding and special event.

Cultural Shows

cultural performers

There are daily cultural performance held at the Nayong Pilipino – one is held around past 8:00am at the lagoon area and 11:15 am to 11:45am at the Centennial plaza fronting the Barasoain Church (except monday )

cultural performer inside the teatro

There is also a daily performance of rondalla , cultural shows at the Teatro every 2:00pm

A visit to Nayong Pilipino is worthwhile not only for balikbayans , tourists but for every Filipinos .

Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/NayongPilipinoOfficial/

Operational Hours : Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Contact Information :

(+63) 943-553-2414 , (+63) 906-117-9037 ,(+63) 927-287-0097 , (+63) 949-768-1893

Entrance Fees: 

General Public : Php 150 

Students and Senior Citizens :Php 120

Photography and Pre-Nuptial : Php 2,000 ( inclusive of 4 hours shoot with complimentary entrance for 5 PAX and use of holding area ) Php 300 per hour in excess – (Prices are subject to change without prior notice ) 

How to Commute 

Take any Bus to Baguio and Pangasinan with stop-over  at Dau, Mabalacat Pampanga. Victory Liner, Five Star, and Philtranco, on the other hand, have Manila-Dau route.

From Mabalacat Bus Terminal, walk towards McArthur Highway and wait for jeepneys to Main Gate Terminal. You can also take jeepneys to Angeles, get off at 1st street, and walk towards SM Clark. The Main gate terminal is just few meters before SM.

From the main gate, take route 1 jeepney and tell the driver to drop you off at Parkson Duty Free (Claro M Recto Highway cor. Centennial Road) then walk along Centennial Road to Clark Expo or Nayong Pilipino.

There are also occasional service shuttle from Clark Freeport Zone, Main Gate near SM City Clark- This was according to the staffs of the Nayong Pilipino .

Note : The author was invited by the new head of the Nayong Pilipino to visit the site , this is for some unsolicited advice and free consultation about the landscape, plants and orchids . I would like to thank Mr. JQ Quesada and Ms. Mich Aguilar -Ong , Sir Stephen from the Nayong Pilipino administration.

The author is not connected with the management of the theme park.

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Food Tasting with Hizon Catering at Nayong Pilipino

Nayong Pilipino , Luneta Park , Manila -Philippines

Hizon Catering for more than 25 years of catering events, the company have been blessed to be a part of thousand of wedding, debuts, corporate events, and private celebrations. These events have given valuable insights and ideas that inspire continuous effort to provide better and improved services to wider set of clients.

wedding set-up by Hizon catering

They have a lot of tie-ups with different companies and government institution . The company can cater for a minimum of 100 pax up to 7,000 people.

sample table set-up

A client can choose from 3 types of table settings and meal packages . They had an event stylist for themed parties and events.

Mr. JQ Quesada- executive director Nayong Pilipino leading the prayer

appetizers

buffet menu

One can choose from the wide array of menus that they offer

Another popular event venue place: Nayong Pilipino  

Ms. Alea Jean Duran – Banquet Sales Executive

Contact : +63 917-6556868 / +63 925-7555696

• +63 (2) 925-0107
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• info@hizonscatering.com
• 22 Renowned Lane Sanville Project 6, Quezon City

Website : Hizon Catering

A Visit to Nayong Pilipino within Rizal Park

 

Nayong Pilipino, Rizal Park ,  Manila-Philippines

I got an opportunity to re-visit the famed Orchidarium within Rizal Park  in which the author was a volunteer tour guide , events coordinator several years ago. I visited the park twice after it re-opened in 2013 – They gave a FREE entrance promo and another one when we have a group of foreign tourists from Singapore , while they were on the country .

Nayong Pilipino

History :

The place used to be operated under the Clean and Green Foundation which was a pet project of then former first lady Mrs. Amelita ” Ming” Ramos in late 1992 . The place used to be a vacant parking space allotted to the Department of Finance before it was  the National Park Development Committee  (NPDC) the one in charge of Rizal Park  had taken jurisdiction of the place  .

dancing ladies

The place was developed by the foundation and opened to the public in late 1994 with several man made waterfalls, butterfly area,  mini aviary ,  hanging bridge, fishing facilities , rock wall climbing  , an art gallery and a fine dining outlet  ( Lush Life) operated by Barbaras.

semi-terete vanda

The Clean and Green Foundation had a partnership with several plant societies like Philippine Orchid Society , Philippine Horticultural Society , Fern and Nature Society of the Philippines members who donated the initial collection of plants and orchids.

They used to charge an entrance fees of Php 100 general public , Php 50 students and seniors at P60. Additional fees: rock wall climbing at P50 and fishing at P25.

pavilion

This was a restaurant ( Lush Life)  and an art gallery several years ago .

Ifugao house- This area used to be covered with hundreds of terete vandas, mokaras, kagawaras before it closed down .

man made waterfall , rock climbing and concrete bridge

For the children and young adults, there is the Rocky Trail, which has a facility for sport wall-climbing. They can also go fishing at the Mystic Lagoon where bamboo poles can be rented.

golden tilapia

wedding set-up by Hizon Catering

The place is a favorite place for  pre-nuptial , weddings, photographers , students and young artists.

hanging bridge – was built mid-2008 and is popular among school children

kalesa carriages

I have also donated several clumps of sanggumays and fairy sanggumays in mid- 2008 before the Orchidarium closed-down for several years due to management issues .

colorful painted jeepney greets the visitor

The management of the place was initially offered to different NGO groups and plant societies but because of financial constraints and lack of resources , It was turned over to Nayong Pilipino sometime in 2012 .

The Orchidarium name was changed to Nayong Pilipino is a cultural theme park .  Asie from the usual attractions like man-made lagoon and different plants. There are interesting display of Philippine attractions like Ifugao hut , kalesas and roving exhibition.

The place can be rented out for weddings, debuts, garden events, pictorials, photo shoot and events.

Address: Orchidarium Rizal Park, Ermita Metro Manila, Ermita, Manila

Update : As of October 15, 2016 – Entrance Fees: Adults Php 40 and Students Php 30

Operating Hours: Mon – Sun, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Contact numbers: 405-0279 (telefax); 405-0377 , 525-0601, 405-0198, 405-0309 Email address: np.orchidarium@gmail.com

Note: Photos are from the author ,to those who wish to grab the copy for any purposes, Please try to link or cite this page .