Government officials were all praises for Ciudad de Victoria and its centerpiece, the Philippine Arena, as they voiced their support for the facility.
House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, who was also present during the groundbreaking ceremony for the arena last year, was astounded, claiming he has seen the outside of the place several times but was amazed by its sheer size when he stepped inside.
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, meanwhile, remarked that it is a great honor to be part of the inauguration ceremony, and said she envies Bulacan governor Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado for “hitting the jackpot” with the arena – said to be the biggest of its kind on the planet.
“I wish we have something like this in Ilocos Norte,” she said.
Her brother, Senator Bongbong Marcos, said the Philippine Arena will serve as an i
nspiration to aspiring athletes and artists who wish to perform on a world-class stage. Marcos added that even without an event, people are certain to flock to the Philippine Arena as “it is a tourist destination by itself”.
Former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid, now Chief Operations Officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), said that the Ciudad de Victoria is the first approved “tourism enterprise zone” in the Philippines, while the arena is a mega-structure that is recognized around the world. Lapid expects Ciudad de Victoria to boost the country’s medical and educational tourism through the soon-to-be constructed hospital, school and other facilities which will “increase employment and generate more income opportunities”.
Secretary Mary Anne Lucille Sering of the Climate Change Commission remarked that it will have a very large impact on Philippine sports, while Cavite Representative Lani Mercado, together with son Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla, both expressed wonder and pride for Ciudad de Victoria, which they said is a potential tourist attraction.
Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla, on the other hand, said he was overwhelmed with the number of people inside the Arena, and said that the place showcases what the Filipino is actually capable of doing.
