Nayong Pilipino sa Clark

I haven’t been to Nayong Pilipino ever. Yes that’s true. Even when I’m still a kid, I haven’t been there. Since the park was already located in Clark, I think it would be a good time to visit it since we’re already here. After the Hot Air Balloon Festival, we went and took a glimpse at the miniature replicas of our scenic and historic Philippine landmarks.

It’s a torture to get out from the Hot Air Balloon’s Festival area. It was too hot and people are cramming to exit from the Clark Freeport field. It was too crowded and traffic jam is everywhere.

Since we didn’t have our car of our own and we don’t have an idea how to get there except on the sign at the street that directs the way to Nayong Pilipino. We asked a traffic enforcer and he told us that there’s no public vehicle that goes directly to the Nayong Pilipino but we can ride a jeep then just ask the driver to drop us off at the nearest stop going to Nayong Pilipino. So we did.

After minutes of waiting, a jeep passed by and without any idea if this will go to the nearest stop to Nayong Pilipino, we hopped in. We asked the driver and he told us that he will drop us off at the street going to the Nayong Pilipino but we still need to walk for a kilometer to get there.

After a 15 minutes ride, it’s time to walk!

After 20 minutes, we had finally arrive at Nayong Pilipino.

It was an exhausting 1KM walk, but I think it was more than a kilometer. We paid for the entrance fee and looked for the nearest washroom. For Nayong Pilipino sa Clark rates, click here.

But before anything else, this Filipino folklore caught our attention.

Presenting si Malakas at si Maganda!

A few steps from there is a restaurant / sari- sari store, we grabbed some refreshments and had a rest for awhile while the others went to the washroom.

After a couple of minutes, we started our Nayong Pilipino tour!

We were able to pass by the replica of rice terraces and a mountain. I’m not sure if that’s a replica of Mt. Mayon, but it doesn’t seems like.

Moving on, we headed to the Ifugao Village.

My friend was frightened when she saw those statues. Nakakagulat naman kasi, parang nakaabang sa amin.

And these boards caught our attention.

Funny but make sense. 😉

And on the other side of the village is the wood carver. (Machete, ikaw ba yan?) 😉

The wood carver at work. He works with raw woods and transforms it into a sculptures and wood artwork.

Wood carving (xyloglyphy) is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool held in the hand, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object. The phrase may also refer to the finished product, from individual sculptures, to hand-worked mouldings composing part of a tracery.

Philippine woodcarving has a long tradition. Some carvings are merely decorative, but many carved objects and motifs have a symbolic meaning.

The tradition of wood carving in Baguio is said to have originated in the Ifugao barrio of Hapao in the town of Hungduan. Many of the Ifugaos would stay in the forest carving wood for days. The Ifugao wood carvers of Hapao are generally acknowledged to be the best in the Cordillera region.

Paete is also known for all kinds of woodcarvings, especially santo figures. – wikipedia

Few steps from the Ifugao Village is the Aeta Village.

The Aetas live in the northern part of The Philippines on the island of Luzon. Historians and anthropologists debate precisely when and how they migrated here, the consensus being that they crossed from the island of Borneo between 20 and 30 thousand years ago, using a land bridge that was partially covered by water around 5,000 years ago – the remaining part of which is now the island of Palawan. Whatever the migration path was, they are without doubt among the first – if not the first – inhabitants of The Philippines. Traditionally a hunting/gathering people, the Aetas are still among the most skilled anywhere on Earth in jungle survival. – peoplesoftheworld.org

There are stores here that sell Aetas souvenirs like flute and small flute (that sounds like a bird), pana and big pana! Hehehe…

A few steps from the village is the Lagoon. The Lagoon is an amusement area. It  features activities such as boating, fishing and an area will be devoted for bubble balloons for visitors to enjoy.

Just a few steps from the Lagoon is the Colonial Plaza and the replica of Intramuros.

And at the hallway, there’s the mini statue of Andres Bonifacio.

We walked a few steps from the hallway and we’re already at Dr. Jose Rizal’s House Replica. The house is a replication of the original house of Dr. Jose Rizal with complete furnishings from the period.

And just beside it was Apolonario Mabini’s house. It was too crowded and I forgot to take a picture of it alone. It was an authentic recreation of Mabini’s house, complete with period furnishings and decorations.

And right beside Intramuros was the Emilio Aguinaldo’s House Replica. It was a replica of his house along with appointments and furnishings, characteristic of the day. Aguinaldo was considered to be the first president of the Philippines, also the youngest president of the country.

And inside Emilio Aguinaldo’s house, this bicycle is so classic. How to drive this one? 😉