CLARK FREEPORT— ‘Commercio Central’ is set to re-open this Christmas season with its new theme making it a ‘lifestyle market’ for guests who will visit the Freeport this coming holidays.
Clark Manabat, one of the organizers of Commercio, mentioned the soft opening will take place on October 26 while the grand re-opening will be on November 6.
With its second season, the lifestyle-weekend market at the Parade Grounds will feature some 50 concessionaires with additional kiosks that will showcase authentic Kapampangan dishes and products.
Manabat also mentioned that different goods from other provinces will also be available in the said event.
“Commercio will offer authentic Kapampangan foods like sisig, ihaw-ihaw and yung mga street foods. We also have products coming from other provinces like Ilocos yung kanilang empanada and also products from Baguio,” Manabat said.
Manabat furthered that during the grand re-opening people can expect a lot of new activities that will help to promote tourism here. He also mentioned that several competitions will be conducted which will be participated by different schools and barangays near this Freeport.
“Yung mga activities namin until December muna. We have singing and dance competition which is yung mga target participant ay yung mga school within Angeles City and Mabalacat City, then we will also have Battle of the Bands. Aside dun mayroon din drum and lyre competition. Ang mga participant ay mang gagaling from different schools and barangays. We have a team who are already coordinating with the schools and barangays para makakuha ng mga participant,” he said.
Accordingly, Manabat said that a lighting ceremony and a ‘Dinner for a Cause’ activity will also be held in December to support the Aeta community here.
Manabat added that with the vision of Commercio in promoting tourism, they are trying to reach out to Local Government Units (LGUs) to help different municipalities in promoting their local products through Commercio.
“We also ask support from the LGUs to raise awareness about the local products nung mga municipality sa Pampanga. With the support na rin ni House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Governor Lilia Pineda, we asked for their help if they can give us a way sa mga munisipyo to introduce to them Commercio para at least yung mga product ng bawat munisipyo mai-promote nila through Commercio,” Manabat said.