Old Nayong Pilipino

Old Nayong Pilipino, officially known as the Nayong Pilipino Cultural Park, was a cultural and tourism attraction beside what is now Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, Metro Manila. Rather than operating primarily as a conventional amusement park, it presented a condensed, visitor-oriented portrait of the Philippines through regional zones, architectural replicas, landscape features, cultural displays, and recreational facilities. Its concept was associated with First Lady Imelda Marcos, who promoted the park as a national showcase, while the landscape design was credited to Ildefonso P. Santos, later recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines. The park opened in 1970 on land beside Manila International Airport. The park proper covered approximately 22.3 hectares, while the broader property associated with the facility measured about 45.9 hectares. Its principal attraction was a geographic and cultural layout divided at its peak into six broad regional areas: Ilocos, Cordillera, Tagalog, Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao. Within those areas, visitors could see representations of places and structures associated with Philippine identity, including Mayon Volcano, the Banaue Rice Terraces, traditional houses from Vigan, the Chocolate Hills, and Magellan's Cross. The site also included an aviary, an aquarium, lagoons, picnic areas, a children's playground, and a museum devoted to Philippine traditional culture. The museum, operated by the Office of the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities, closed in 1983. The park was administered by the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, which was formally established by Presidential Decree No. 37 on November 6, 1972. During the early 1990s it remained a significant domestic tourism destination. Recorded attendance reached approximately one million visitors in 1991 and reportedly remained at that level through 1994. Visitor numbers and the condition of the facilities deteriorated later in the decade. In 1993, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Proclamation No. 273 directing the foundation to conduct a year-long fundraising campaign intended to address the park's worsening condition. Relocation became a recurring policy issue. In 1999, Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz Araneta proposed moving the attraction to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga, including the area associated with Expo Filipino. That proposal was shelved during political turmoil surrounding President Joseph Estrada's impeachment trial. Relocation planning returned after the Manila International Airport Authority indicated that additional airport infrastructure was required to meet aviation safety standards and support the development of NAIA Terminals 2 and 3. The original Pasay park closed in 2002 after a taxiway and service road were constructed across approximately nine hectares of the property. Several regional sections and attractions, including the Tagalog Region, Mindanao Pavilion, Bohol area, and selected Visayan features such as Magellan's Cross, were demolished. A limited seasonal reopening took place on December 12, 2004, following clearing and renovation work reported to have cost about 600,000 Philippine pesos. The remaining attractions included the Bicol, Cordillera, and Ilocos areas, an aviary, children's facilities, picnic grounds, and lagoons. The park subsequently closed again. A later Nayong Pilipino theme park was established at the Clark Freeport Zone, but that is distinct from the Old Nayong Pilipino subject. The former Pasay site remained connected to public-sector redevelopment plans. In December 2024, San Miguel Holdings Corporation and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation signed a 25-year lease covering a 15-hectare Nayong Pilipino Cultural Park property. The announced development included renovation and infrastructure works as well as a planned PAGCOR headquarters occupying 40,000 square meters on a two-hectare parcel. These plans concern redevelopment of the former cultural-park site rather than a return of the original park in its historic form. Old Nayong Pilipino is therefore best understood as a discontinued cultural-tourism brand and landmark whose legacy lies in its national-regional presentation of Philippine culture and its role in the development history of the NAIA area.

Old Nayong Pilipino was created as a physical and cultural representation of the Philippines for residents and visitors seeking a compact national tourism experience. The attraction was conceptualized under the influence of First Lady Imelda Marcos and opened in 1970 beside Manila International Airport in Pasay. Its landscape and site design were associated with Ildefonso P. Santos, who later became a National Artist of the Philippines. The park used replicas, regional landscaping, cultural displays, and family-oriented facilities rather than presenting a single historical period or one local community. At its mature stage, the park was organized into six regional zones: Ilocos, Cordillera, Tagalog, Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao. These areas contained models or interpretations of recognizable Philippine places and cultural landmarks. Among the best-known were representations of Mayon Volcano, the Banaue Rice Terraces, traditional Vigan houses, the Chocolate Hills, and Magellan's Cross. Supporting attractions included an aviary, aquarium, lagoons, a children's playground, and picnic areas. The Museum of Philippine Traditional Culture, associated with the Office of the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities, also operated at the site before closing in 1983. Although the park opened in 1970, its operating foundation was formally created through Presidential Decree No. 37, issued on November 6, 1972. The park proper occupied approximately 22.3 hectares, and the larger property connected with the facility measured around 45.9 hectares. Its location near the airport made it visible to tourists and convenient for short visits, but it also placed the attraction in an area subject to major transport and aviation-development pressures. The park achieved substantial attendance in the early 1990s. Visitor numbers were recorded at approximately one million in 1991 and remained at that level through 1994. By the end of 1995, however, attendance had declined and the facilities were reported to be deteriorating. In response, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Proclamation No. 273 in 1993, directing the Nayong Pilipino Foundation to undertake a year-long fundraising effort to support the park's rehabilitation. The idea of moving the park gained prominence in 1999. Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz Araneta proposed a relocation to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga, at the site of Expo Filipino. The proposal was not immediately implemented and was set aside during the political crisis associated with President Joseph Estrada's impeachment proceedings. Relocation planning was revived after the Manila International Airport Authority identified the need for additional airport infrastructure to satisfy International Civil Aviation Organization safety requirements and facilitate the construction and operation of NAIA Terminals 2 and 3. The original Pasay attraction closed in 2002. Approximately nine hectares were used for a taxiway and service road, and major portions of the park were removed. Demolished or lost features included the Tagalog regional area, the Mindanao Pavilion, the Bohol area, and selected Visayan attractions including a representation of Magellan's Cross. A limited reopening occurred on December 12, 2004, after clearing and renovation work. At that time, the surviving attractions included the Bicol, Cordillera, and Ilocos areas, an aviary, children's facilities, picnic grounds, and lagoons. The reopening was associated with the Christmas season and did not restore the park to its earlier scale. The site later closed again. A separate Nayong Pilipino theme park was subsequently developed in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. That later facility should not be conflated with Old Nayong Pilipino in Pasay, which is the subject of this dossier. The old park's site continued to be relevant to public infrastructure and redevelopment planning. In December 2024, San Miguel Infrastructure and PAGCOR announced a 25-year lease for a 15-hectare Nayong Pilipino Cultural Park property. The announced redevelopment includes renovation and infrastructure development, together with a 40,000-square-meter PAGCOR headquarters on a two-hectare portion. This represents a new use and redevelopment phase for the former site rather than evidence that the historic park resumed its original operations.

• 2024

  Long-term redevelopment lease is signed

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  San Miguel Infrastructure and PAGCOR sign a 25-year lease covering a 15-hectare Nayong Pilipino Cultural Park property and announce redevelopment plans.

• 2004

  Limited seasonal reopening

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  The remaining facilities reopen briefly on December 12 after clearing and renovation work.

• 2002

  Original Pasay park closes

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  Airport construction takes over part of the property, resulting in closure and demolition of several regional sections and attractions.

• 1999

  Relocation to Clark is proposed

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz Araneta proposes moving the attraction to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga, but the plan is shelved.

• 1993

  Government directs a fundraising campaign

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  Proclamation No. 273 directs the Nayong Pilipino Foundation to conduct a year-long fundraising campaign in response to deteriorating facilities.

• 1991

  Attendance reaches approximately one million

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  Recorded annual visitation reaches about one million people, a level reportedly sustained through 1994.

• 1983

  Museum of Philippine Traditional Culture closes

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  The museum associated with the Office of the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities ceases operation at the park.

• 1972

  Nayong Pilipino Foundation is established

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  Presidential Decree No. 37 formally establishes the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, the organization responsible for operating the cultural park.

• 1970

  Park opens beside Manila International Airport

  [1]Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org

  The Nayong Pilipino cultural theme park opens in Pasay, presenting regional Philippine landmarks, cultural environments, and family attractions near the country's principal international airport.

A national cultural showcase and domestic tourism attraction that compressed Philippine regional heritage, landmarks, landscapes, and recreational experiences into a single theme-park setting.

• Cultural attraction · 1970

  Regional Philippine cultural zones

  The park's central offering was a geographic display of Philippine culture divided into Ilocos, Cordillera, Tagalog, Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao areas. Each zone used landscape design, replicas, and interpretive features to give visitors a compact tour of regional identities and destinations.

• Heritage attraction · 1970

  Landmark replicas

  Replicas and modeled environments represented recognizable Philippine sites, including Mayon Volcano, the Banaue Rice Terraces, Vigan traditional houses, the Chocolate Hills, and Magellan's Cross. These displays were designed for public education, tourism promotion, and visual discovery rather than as full-scale historical reconstructions.

• Leisure attraction · 1970

  Recreational facilities

  Beyond the cultural zones, the park provided an aviary, aquarium, lagoons, picnic spaces, and a children's playground. These amenities broadened its appeal from a heritage display to a family day-trip destination.

• Museum · 1970

  Museum of Philippine Traditional Culture

  The museum presented Philippine traditional culture under the auspices of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on National Minorities. It was part of the park's educational and cultural mission but closed in 1983.

• 1993Nayong Pilipino rehabilitation fundraising campaign

  Philippines

  Following government concern about deteriorating park facilities, Proclamation No. 273 directed the Nayong Pilipino Foundation to undertake a year-long fundraising campaign for rehabilitation.

  Outcome. The campaign was part of the park's attempted rehabilitation, but the site later faced continuing attendance, infrastructure, and relocation pressures.

  Source

• 2024

  Long-term lease and redevelopment agreementM&A

  Background

  The former cultural-park property became part of a new infrastructure and institutional redevelopment plan.

  Action taken

  San Miguel Infrastructure and PAGCOR signed a 25-year lease for a 15-hectare Nayong Pilipino Cultural Park property. Plans include renovation, infrastructure development, and a PAGCOR headquarters on a two-hectare parcel.

  Aftermath

  The agreement establishes a redevelopment pathway for the former site but does not indicate a restoration of the historic theme park's original operations.

  Source

• 2004

  Seasonal reopening of remaining attractionsOther

  Background

  After the 2002 closure, remaining facilities underwent limited clearing and renovation before the Christmas season.

  Action taken

  The site reopened briefly on December 12 with surviving regional areas, an aviary, children's facilities, picnic grounds, and lagoons.

  Aftermath

  The reopening was temporary; the old Pasay park subsequently ceased operations again.

  Reported clearing and renovation cost. PHP 600,000 (2004 reopening)

  Source

• 2002

  Closure and partial demolition for airport infrastructureStrategy

  Background

  The Manila International Airport Authority needed additional airport infrastructure to support NAIA development and meet aviation safety requirements.

  Action taken

  The original park was closed, and approximately nine hectares were used for a taxiway and service road associated with NAIA Terminals 2 and 3.

  Aftermath

  Several regional zones and landmark replicas were demolished. A limited reopening occurred in 2004, but the historic Pasay park later closed again.

  Source

• 1999

  Proposed relocation to ClarkStrategy

  Background

  Declining attendance and the long-term constraints of the Pasay location led to consideration of moving the cultural park to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

  Action taken

  Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz Araneta proposed relocating the attraction to the Expo Filipino site at Clark.

  Aftermath

  The proposal was shelved during the political crisis surrounding President Joseph Estrada's impeachment trial and did not immediately replace the Pasay park.

  Source

1. 1Old Nayong Pilipinoen.wikipedia.org