Paskuhan Village

Last updated
Paskuhan Village
Avillagepampangajf.JPG
Location San Fernando, Philippines
Coordinates 15°03′01.4″N120°41′33.6″E / 15.050389°N 120.692667°E / 15.050389; 120.692667 (Star City)
Opened11 December 1990 (1990-12-11)
Owner Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority - SM Development Corporation
Theme Christmas handicraft
Northern Luzon culture (formerly)
Operating seasonYear-round

The Paskuhan Village, officially known as the Philippine Christmas Village [1] and sometimes known as Hilaga, is a Christmas-themed park located in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. It is operational year-round and is managed by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

Contents

History

Early operational history

The former owner of the land that the Paskuhan Village now occupies, Jesus Lazatin, sold the land to the Philippine Tourism Authority (now the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA) in 1989 so that it could be used to showcase the San Fernando's lantern-making tradition. [2] The theme park was conceptualized by then-Pampanga Governor Bren Guiao, then-Tourism Secretary Jose Antonio Gonzalez, and then-Center for International Trades, Expositions and Missions Director Mina Gabor [3]

Opened on December 11, 1990 by then-president Corazon Aquino, the Paskuhan Village showcased small and giant lanterns and other Christmas-related items inan effort to support local craftsmen and entrepreneurs. An "Environmental Consciousness Week" was held at the park in March 1993 to promote environmental awareness; proceeds were directed toward the Pinatubo Trust Fund and the Bahay Pag-Ibig nursing home. [4] During 1998, then-First Lady Amelita Ramos attempted to recreate the village as part of the "Florikultura '98" project of the Department of Tourism, but the plants withered and died the year after. [5]

Paskuhan Village also served as the venue of the Ligligan Parul or the Giant Lantern Festival from 1990 until 1998. [6]

Decline

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo as well as the establishment of shopping malls in Pampanga contributed to the decline of Paskuhan. [2] The Ligligan Parul festivities was moved to SM City Pampanga in 2000 and to Robinsons Starmills sometime after 2007. [6]

The Department of Foreign Affairs used to host a consular office which issues passports in Paskuhan until 2002. Paskuhan was converted to the North Philippines Cultural and Historical Village known as WOW Philippines in 2003, which showcased the culture of the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera regions. [7]

The Pampanga Mayors' League issued a resolution as early as 2009 to start the process to come to an agreement with the Department of Tourism so that the Mayors' League could acquire management and jurisdiction over Paskuhan. [8]

As of 2012, the Village was under significant financial strain; all shops, restaurants and other features were practically closed, with a budget of only 800 thousand pesos a month and only 24 workers left. By that time Paskuhan had discarded its Northern Luzon theme. [5] The Commission on Audit advised TIEZA to rehabilitate, privatize or handover the facility to the local government in a 2012 circular. [2] In the same year, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (lit.'Provincial Council') of Pampanga filed a resolution to establish a branch of Casino Filipino within Paskuhan, a plan opposed by the religious sector, militant organizations, and a parent–teacher association. [1]

Paskuhanvillagejf.JPG
The main buildings and shops of Paskuhan Village. October 2012.

2015 sale of Paskuhan

Four SM Group affiliates (SM Development Corp., Premier Central Inc., SM Prime Holdings and SEJ North Premier Holding Corp.) and Robinsons Land Corp. engaged in an open bidding for purchase of the Paskuhan Village on December 17, 2014. [1] The Pampanga provincial government had offered to buy the facility at book value [8] or acquire administration and operational rights over the property three days earlier. The San Fernando city government also filed a counter-proposal to the bid initially contested among the five firms. [1]

Premier Central Inc. won the bid and purchased two lots of the Paskuhan Village in May 2015 so that the facility could be redeveloped; however, the Village decayed further due to a sales dispute. [2]

House Resolution 654, which was filed by Pampanga Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr., called for an. investigation on Paskuhan's sale. [9] The sale was declared void on October 2, 2017 by Solicitor General Jose Calida. [10] The Committee on Good Government And Public Accountability of the House of Representatives had recommended the nullification of the sale for violating the Tourism Act of 2009, which prohibits the sale of state-owned cultural treasures and heritage sites. [2] The body also cited their findings that the right of first refusal entitled to the local governments of Pampanga and San Fernando was ignored. [8]

Court of Appeals judgment

The Court of Appeals of the Philippines' Fourth Division Decision, dated May 23, 2024, granted Aurelio Gonzales Jr.'s certiorari annulling Regional Trial Court, Branch 42, San Fernando, Pampanga's judgment. [11] The ruling allowed Gonzalez' intervention in the compromise agreement between San Fernando City and Premier Central, Inc.'s P939 million sale of Paskuhan Village. The "deed of donation" transferred 5,000 square meters of the 9.3 hectares sold to Premier Central, Inc. and a 2-story building to San Fernando, and a company would construct an amphitheater. Gonzales was granted the right to file complaints on the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority sale decision of Paskuhan Village to Premier Central Inc. (PCI) in 2014 for P939 million. [12]

Future plans

Following the annullment of the sale to Premier Central, San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago advocatedrged for the revival of the Paskuhan as a Christmas-themed park and the return of the Giant Lantern Festival to the venue; the city's plan to acquire the property was still being deliberated at the time. [8] As of July 2020, themajority of Paskuhan Village property was given back to the local government of San Fernando. In February 2021, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the former site for the construction of a Giant Lantern Festival-themed tourism and information center. [13]

City of San Fernando Giant Lantern and Tourist Information Center

On May 27, 2023, the City of San Fernando Giant Lantern and Tourist Information Center was inaugurated by Mayor Edwin "EDSA" David Santiago as testament to Kapampangan heritage and realization of SFP as Home of the Giant Lanterns.

The center’s lantern heritage exhibits are curated by Raphaelle Kalaw and Tourism officer Ma. Lourdes Carmella Jade “Ching” Pangilinan; the exhibits showcase works of art by Jude Pangilinan, Don De Dios, Rafael Maniago, Alvaro Jimenez, Noel Lopez Catacutan and Joel Mallari. The center also showcases the capiz lantern chandeliers, interpretations of Cesar Legaspi’s mural “Bayanihan” and drafts of award-winning giant lanterns from Teddy Aguilar, Efren Tiodin, and Cesareo Sason. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pampanga</span> Province in Central Luzon, Philippines

Pampanga, officially the Province of Pampanga (Kapampangan: Lalawigan ning Pampanga; Ilocano: Probinsia ti Pampanga; Pangasinan: Luyag/Probinsia na Pampanga; Tagalog: Lalawigan ng Pampanga, is a province in Central Luzon in the Philippines. Lying on the northern shore of Manila Bay, Pampanga is bordered by Tarlac to the north, Nueva Ecija to the northeast, Bulacan to the east, Manila Bay to the central-south, Bataan to the southwest and Zambales to the west. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, the regional center of Central Luzon. Angeles City is the largest LGU, but while geographically within Pampanga, it is classified as a first-class, highly urbanized city and has been governed independently of the province since it received its charter in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lubao</span> Municipality in Pampanga, Philippines

Lubao, officially the Municipality of Lubao, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 173,502 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angeles City</span> Highly urbanized city in Pampanga, Philippines

Angeles, officially the City of Angeles, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 462,928 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Fernando, Pampanga</span> Capital of Pampanga, Philippines

San Fernando, officially the City of San Fernando, is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 354,666 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacolor</span> Municipality in Pampanga, Philippines

Bacolor, officially the Municipality of Bacolor, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,066 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexico, Pampanga</span> Municipality in Pampanga, Philippines

Mexico, officially the Municipality of Mexico, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 173,403 people. It was also formerly known as Nuevo México during the Spanish period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santo Tomas, Pampanga</span> Municipality in Pampanga, Philippines

Santo Tomas, officially the Municipality of Santo Tomas, is a 4th class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 42,846 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant Lantern Festival</span> Annual festival in Pampanga, Philippines

The Giant Lantern Festival is an annual festival held in mid-December in the City of San Fernando in the Philippines. The festival features a competition of giant parol lanterns. Because of the popularity of the festival, the city has been nicknamed the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites</span>

The San Pedro Cutud Lenten Rites is a Holy Week re-enactment of Christ's Passion and Death which takes place in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parol</span> Filipino ornamental Christmas lantern

A parol is a Filipino ornamental lantern displayed during the Christmas season. Parols are traditionally constructed using bamboo and Japanese paper, and are illuminated with candles, oil lamps, or carbide lamps. Modern parols can be made using other materials such as plastic, metal, and capiz shells and are usually illuminated with electric lighting. Its most-common form is a five-pointed star, although it can come in various shapes and sizes. Large disc-shaped electronic versions of parols produced in Pampanga are known as "parul sampernandu", the phonetic spelling of parol San Fernando, owing to the city where these lanterns are a major product.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Angel University</span> Roman Catholic university in Angeles, Philippines

Holy Angel University is a private Catholic research university in Angeles City, Philippines. Founded in June 1933 by Don Juan Nepomuceno and Fr. Pedro Paulo Santos, who was later named as the Archbishop of Cáceres, is considered the first lay-founded Catholic school as well as the first co-educational Catholic high school. With a student population of over 21,000, it is the largest private institute of education with the largest student population in a single campus in Central Luzon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Fernando station (Pampanga)</span> Defunct station of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Northrail line in Pampanga

San Fernando station is an under-construction elevated North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) station located in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivencio Cuyugan</span> Filipino politician

Vivencio Baron Cuyugan Sr. was a Filipino politician, boxer, and one of the founders of the socialist guerrilla group Hukbalahap. He was born in San Fernando, Pampanga, to Saturnino Pamintuan Cuyugan and Antonina Yutuc Baron. He studied in the United States where he supported himself through professional boxing and became known as the "Big Brown Filipino." He was appointed Municipal Vice-President of San Fernando in 1927, and later elected to the same position in 1931. He was later elected the first Municipal Mayor under the Philippine Commonwealth, the first socialist mayor of the Philippines. Together with Pedro Abad Santos, he was among the co-founders of the Socialist Party of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Panlilio</span> Filipino politician and priest

Eduardo "Among Ed" Tongol Panlilio is a Filipino former Roman Catholic priest and 31st Governor of Pampanga from 2007 to 2010. He was suspended from his priestly duties upon announcing his intention to run as governor. He was elected governor in May 2007 in a three-way race against incumbent governor Mark Lapid and provincial board member Lilia Pineda. In February 2010, following a recount of votes due to an election protest, the Comelec ruled that Lilia Pineda had won the 2007 election over Panlilio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesis Transport</span> Bus company in the Philippines

Genesis Transport Service, Inc., is a provincial bus company in the Philippines, operating routes connecting Metro Manila to Central Luzon and Northern Luzon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurelio Gonzales Jr.</span> Filipino politician (born 1962)

Aurelio "Dong" Dueñas Gonzales Jr. is the congressman of the 3rd District of Pampanga in the Philippines. He was formerly a member of Lakas-Kampi-CMD but switched to PDP–Laban in the 2016 Philippine general elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pampanga Giant Lanterns</span> Professional basketball team in Pampanga, Philippines

The Pampanga Giant Lanterns, also known as Pampanga Giant Lanterns – AMG3 Construction for sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in the province of Pampanga. The team competes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) as a member of the league's North Division. They are one of five teams based in the Central Luzon region and split their home games between Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando and AUF Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lilia Pineda</span> Filipino politician

Lilia Garcia Pineda, also known as Nanay Baby, is a Filipino politician who has been serving as Vice Governor of Pampanga under her son Dennis Pineda since 2019. She previously served as Governor of the province from 2010 until 2019 as Mayor of Lubao from 1992 until 2001. Pineda was a close ally of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the latter's presidency from 2001 to 2010.

Edwin "EDSA" David Santiago, also known by his initials EDSA, is a Filipino politician and professional mechanical engineer who served as the mayor of City of San Fernando, Pampanga from 2013 until 2022. He previously served as Vice Mayor under Oscar Rodriguez from 2004 until 2013, and Councilor from 1988 until 1998.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Manabat, Ashley (2 March 2017). "House probes 'questionable' sale of Paskuhan Village to SMDC". Business Mirror. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Orejas, Tonette (20 October 2017). "Paskuhan Village: Decaying heritage site". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  3. Manabat, Ashley (16 January 2015). "SM buys Pampanga's Christmas village". BusinessMirro. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  4. "Filipiniana Night at Paskuhan Village". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corp. March 28, 1993. p. 18. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Paskuhan Village, a park bereft of joy". December 16, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Orejas, Tonette (December 24, 2016). "San Fernando still PH Christmas capital". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  7. Cervantes, Ding (June 18, 2003). "Paskuhan Village to give way to cultural-trade center". Philstar.com . Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Manabat, Ashley (17 October 2017). "House voids Paskuhan Village sale". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  9. Flora, Ian Ocampo (31 August 2017). "Ex-Tieza chief questioned over Paskuhan Village". Sun Star Pampanga. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. Arcellaz, Princess Clea (17 October 2017). "San Fernando mayor: Revive Paskuhan Village" . Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  11. Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (June 22, 2024). "Gonzales: CA recognizes right to intervene in Paskuhan Village sale". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  12. "CA Allows Lawmaker To Intervene In 'Irregular' Sale Of Paskuhan Village In Pampanga". politiko.com.ph. June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  13. Hernandez, Jerry (11 February 2021). "San Fernando breaks ground for a giant lantern, tourism center". The Manila Times. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  14. Pangilinan, Ching (June 5, 2022). "Behind the CSFP Giant Lantern and Tourist Information Center". SunStar . Retrieved September 27, 2024.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Paskuhan Village at Wikimedia Commons