MANILA, Philippines - There was once a time when almost all elementary schoolchildren?s field trips included a visit to the Nayong Pilipino in Pasay City. Now, this ?tradition? may crawl back into schools, and perhaps attract even college students, as a new complex opens its doors in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Inaugurated recently by President Macapagal-Arroyo, Nayong Pilipino sa Clark Expo is located in a 3.8-hectare portion on the former site of the controversial Expo Pilipino complex built under the administration of former President Fidel V. Ramos, which was later closed when Joseph Estrada assumed the presidency.

In her emotional address to visitors during the inauguration last month, Nayong Pilipino executive director Charito Planas revealed that while the compound was closed to people, termites feasted not only on the wooden structures, but also on the trees inside the complex.

But she noted that the new site is a celebration of recycling and resilience. ?From the termite-infested wood scraps, artists made renditions of the 14 Stations of the Cross now found inside the replica of Barasoain Church,? Planas said in Filipino. ?What remained of the former structures was made into the altar, lectern and benches used inside the church.?

Seedlings from the old Nayong were also transplanted into the new compound to replace some of the trees destroyed by the termites. Planas also disclosed that because of all these efforts, Nayong has yet to fully consume the P40-million budget allocated for the redevelopment of the site. ?Hirap na hirap nga kaming ubusin ?yon,? she added in jest.

The mini versions of various tourist attractions in the country showcased in the old Nayong are not found in the new compound, but a different learning approach was employed in the site to make it still interesting to explore.

The site is divided into ?pre-colonial? and ?colonial? portions ?to emphasize how talented, skilled and intelligent our ancestors were,? Planas explained.

In the colonial portion, visitors will find a chapel whose façade is a replica of the famed Barasoain Church. Reproductions of the ancestral homes of Apolinario Mabini, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and national hero José Rizal are also found in this section. A grand plaza complete with an elaborate fountain serves as the central area of this division.

Indigenous groups

The pre-colonial portion hosts the Maranao, Kalinga, Ifugao and Kapampangan Villages. These sections focus on the ingenuity and richness of the culture and tradition of indigenous ethnic groups.

Here, guests may marvel at a small replica of the Banaue Rice Terraces, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Visitors may also see architectural marvels such as the ?halipan,? a pillar that protects homes from rats, or the detachable stairs that prevent the encroachment of animals and intruders.

The rolling floor made of woven bamboo mats made cleaning homes a breeze for Filipinos centuries ago, while floating posts enabled houses to survive earthquakes in the olden days.

Ifugao and Kalinga families helped build their respective villages. They also live in the actual homes erected in the site. Traditions such as weaving and wood-carving are performed for the guests to see.

The indigenous families also earn by directly selling their crafts in cultural stores located in each village.

Cecile Guidote Alvarez of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts revealed that these families will play a very important role in the ?School for Living Traditions? that Nayong plans to put up inside the park. By teaching languages, crafts and traditions, the ?indigenous people transfer their cultural knowledge to the younger generations,? explained Alvarez.

Modules are currently being developed, and lessons are targeted not only at students, but also at out-of-school youth. As of this stage, Nayong plans not to charge any fees because the goal of the school is to keep Filipino culture alive.

To stress the need for such cultural resuscitation, Alvarez noted: ?Most Filipinos do not know how many indigenous ethnic groups there are, but they are familiar with the states that make up the United States of America.?

And to make cultural rediscovery easier for Filipinos, they may get in the park for free, unlike in the old Nayong.

Overnight villas are also available at a minimal fee, and conference halls may be rented for seminars or conferences.

Miles Casala of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation revealed that the Clark park is just the start of something big. A 15-hectare park is being developed along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City where attractions from each of the 13 regions of the country will be displayed. The foundation also plans to build a Nayong Pilipino park in every region of the Philippines.