Expo Pilipino
Encyclopedia
Expo Pilipino was the Philippine National Centennial Exposition and centerpiece of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898. The 60-hectare entertainment park in Clark Freeport Zone
Clark Freeport Zone
Clark Freeport Zone is a redevelopment of the former Clark Air Base, a former United States Air Force base in the Philippines. It is located on the northwest side of Angeles City and borders the municipality of Mabalacat in the province of Pampanga. It is located about 40 miles northwest of...

, Angeles City
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...

, Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...

 is a celebration of the Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

's history, culture, and achievements in the past 100 years, as well as aspirations for the next millennium. This was a project of the National Centennial Commission (NCC) and the Philippine Centennial Exposition Corporation.

Its 35,000-seat capacity amphitheater is a favorite venue for concerts, ecumenical services and political rallies. In addition, the site is also the new home for the 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) Nayong Pilipino complex, a fully developed theme park featuring miniature attractions of the Philippines and its culture.

In early 2010, the site was relaunched as Clark Education City by the Australian International Training and Management group (AITMG). Initial construction of the campus cost $6mAUD and the site has capacity for 15,000 students. The institution delivers a range of Australian Government accredited vocational courses, English language and customised training. http://www.clarkeducationcity.com.au/

Budget

The construction of Expo Filipino entailed a total budget of Php
PHP
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 3.5 billion (US$ 63.64 million). Then President Fidel Ramos directed three Government Financial Institutions: the Social Security System (SSS), the Government Service Insurance System, and the Land Bank of the Philippines
Land Bank of the Philippines
Land Bank of the Philippines , also known as LANDBANK or by its initials, LBP, is a bank in the Philippines owned by the Philippine government with a special focus on serving the needs of farmers and fishermen...

 to lend a total of Php
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 1.4 billion (US$ 25.45 million) to the joint venture.

Issues

The project was criticized for the excessive amounts of money that went to its construction. Particular targets of criticism were: a Freedom Ring (more than Php
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 1.2 billion); a parking lot (Php
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 111 million); an entry zone (Php
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 118 million); display villages (Php
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  million); an artificial river (Php
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 76 million); and bridges on this river (Php
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 32 million).

Expo Filipino closed down in 1999, during the administration of former President Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...

, after sustaining heavy losses.

Reopening

On December 8, 2005, Expo Pilipino which has been mothballed for more than five years reopened as Clark Expo to host trade exhibits and cultural presentations headed by the Clark Development Corporation (CDC). The theme park reopening featured concerts, world-class furniture exhibits, carnival rides and major concerts.

CDC president Antonio Ng said the opening of the Expo Pilipino was realized due to the directive and full support of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in boosting tourism
Tourism in the Philippines
The Philippines, is an archipelagic country located in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. The Philippine archipelago comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean. The Philippines is a country that contains a myriad of different amalgamated cultures and influences...

 and investment activities inside the Clark Special Economic Zone, with her Administrative Order (AO) No. 63 issued on February 17, 2003, directing the transfer of certain assets and liabilities of the National Development Company (NDC) in First Clark Centennial Corporation (FCCC) to CDC.

In connection with the reopening of the theme park was the Clark National Duathlon Championships on December 19, and the holding of the annual district assembly of some 10,000 members of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Pampanga and Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...

 on December 23, 24 and 25. CDC spent some Php
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 2.5 million for the rehabilitation of the Barasoain Church
Barasoain Church
Barasoain Church is a Roman Catholic church built in 1630 in Malolos City, Bulacan. Having earned the title as the Cradle of Democracy in the East, the most important religious building in the Philippines, and the site of the First Philippine Republic, the Church is proverbial for its historical...

replica, amphitheater, trade halls and convention centers in the Expo Pilipino.

External links

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