CLARK FREEPORT — Nayong Pilipino executive director Michelle Aguilar-Ong will push for a major rehabilitation of the government-owned tourist attraction in Clark before the holding of the South East Asia games next year, targeting participants including domestic and foreign tourists.
Aguilar-Ong said she will include some popular activities in Central Luzon to be built inside Nayong Pilipino as added attractions, such as the Giant Lantern Festival in City of San Fernando and culinary expertise of Kapampangan folks, FIlipino culture and others.
At present, Aguilar-Ong said there are 15 different kinds of attractions there and “hoping to build more in the future.”
“Minsan hindi mo na kilala ang kapwa mo Filipino. So I think we will reintroduce our culture,” said Aguilar-Ong during her assumption into office as executive director of the Nayong Pilipino.
She said Filipino culture is important especially for Overseas FIlipino Workers who might have forgotten culture and tradition.
“A big number of our compatriots are deployed across the globe and Filipino culture will serve as a link to them,” she said.
Aguilar-Ong vowed to make a comprehensive review on the Nayong Pilipino operations and management to identify the factors which contributed to the deterioration of the government tourist destination in Clark Freeport.
“Initial meeting with the board is we need to assess kasi siyempre naiisip natin bakit never umangat ang nayong Pilipino so there must be a problem somewhere. Iyon nga lang hindi mo pa siya ma pinpoint kung saan, it’s my first day today sa operation sa field and I have to go through a lot of documents and papers and of course interview sa mga empleyado rito,” Aguilar-Ong told reporters during a press conference here.
Aguilar-Ong said she will seek an audience with the Department of Justice to be updated on the “landing issue” being faced by Nayong Pilipino.
“Nagbigay na ng opinion ang DOJ and OGCC which is the legal counsel of GOCC’s because nayong Pilipino is a government owned and controlled corporation I think we will set a meeting with them and see kung nasaan na ba ang paguusap ng ‘landing issue’,” Agubilar-Ong explained.-Jess Malabanan