CDC formally opens museum, 4D theater

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2015/07/21/cdc-formally-opens-museum-4d-theater-420148
• Tuesday, July 21, 2015

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT— The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has formally opened its latest and most technologically advanced tourist attractions here, priming up this former military facility as a complete travel and business destination in the country.

CDC has opened on Thursday the Clark 4D Theater at the same time re-opening the Clark Museum which was recently renovated. Both attractions are housed in the same building near the Parade Grounds here. Civil and architectural works for the project cost P11.32 million.

Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. of the Department of Tourism, who graced the opening of the facility, described it as a “museum that lives to teach, and fun.”

He was accompanied by CDC president and Chief Executive Officer Arthur P. Tugade, Mabalacat City Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, officers from Clark Investors and Locators Association, representatives from hotel, restaurants, travel and tourism industry, and other Clark stakeholders.

The feature presentation at thew 4D Theater is the 18-minute documentary titled “Risen From The Ashes.” The film is complemented by corresponding seat movements, lightning and rumbling sounds, smoke, foam and other visual effects in scenes that depict war, volcanic eruption and ash fall.

The film traces Clark’s history from its Aeta ancestry, the discovery by the American troops, the impact and recovery from World War II, the effects of Pinatubo’s eruption, its transformation from a military base to an economic enclave.

Tugade said that Clark’s newest attractions are windows to the continuing history of Clark Freeport Zone and the Metro Clark area.

Tugade also said that the facilities also speak of a new world of social and economic advances and shows hints of continuing progress in the future.

Tugade told Jimenez that the new tourist attractions in Clark are gifts to the Kampangan and likewise a tribute to the heritage of the Filipino people.

The Clark Museum tells of the Filipino spirit of bravery, industry and ingenuity – of a nation’s sovereign will – running through a narrative across four galleries. Every gallery begins with an introduction that connects the narrative.

Gallery 1 begins the story with geology and geography:

Clark’s location between 2 volcanoes, also the home of the Indigenous Aetas.

Gallery 2 provides a glimpse of the culture and thriving communities that reigned in the region before the bases came, focused on its crafts and festivals.

Gallery 3 tells the military base and how the Filipino nation gradually moved to control the base lands. Gallery 4 is about the Clark Freeport, the Filipino nation rising to face the challenges of the bases withdrawal and the calamities of volcanic eruption and floods.

Both the Clark Museum and Clark 4D Theater were soft-opened in January this year in time for the conduct of Senior Officials Meeting 1 of the Apec Summit.

The Clark 4D Theater and Clark Museum are open from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday serves as maintenance day. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. while the theater is airing documentary films about Mt. Pinatubo and Clark, which starts at 9:00 am to 9:20 am, 10:40 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., and last showing is at 3:10 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.