Gordon on Disyneyland rumors: We can make our own
“Why don’t we make our own?” was Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon’s response when asked about the possibility of theme park giant Disneyland coming to the Philippines.
During an INQ&A interview on Tuesday, Gordon responded to netizens hoping that the rumor of a Disneyland in Subic is true.
The rumor resurfaced when former President Benigno Aquino III visited Walt Disney executives earlier this year.
“Noong araw pag nagpunta ka dun hindi porket nag-MOU (memorandum of understanding) ka or gusto mong dalhin dun mangyayari yun (It doesn’t mean that if you have a memorandum of understanding or if you want to bring it to your country, it will happen),” Gordon said.
The former chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) pointed out that existing Disneyland theme parks are in countries with big populations and among the world’s best airports.
“So kailangan maganda ang airport natin,” he said, recalling anecdotes of people who were stranded in local airports because of various reasons.
READ: Amid Naia congestion, Gordon pushes for Clark, Subic development
“Perhaps because of our population, tumataas ang ating ekonomiya baka makuha mo ang Universal Studios, baka makuha mo ang Disneyland,” Gordon said, before adding, “Why don’t we make our own?”
The senator explained that there are already local attractions in Subic such as a tiger safari and a marine park.
“Ayoko ang animals in captivity but it’s an experience sa mga tao. Popular na popular yun (I don’t want animals in captivity but it’s an experience for the people. It’s very popular),” he said.
“You don’t have to get Disneyland. Konting advertiser lang yan marami na. Ang important magkaroon ng hanapbuhay (ang mga tao),” Gordon said.
(You don’t have to get Disneyland. Just get advertisers and local attractions will proliferate. What’s important is that we generate jobs for the people.)
Gordon was interviewed over INQ&A, INQUIRER.net’s weekly political talk show broadcast live every Tuesday at 8 to 9 p.m. via Radyo Inquirer 990AM, INQ 990 Television (Digital Terrestrial Television) and INQUIRER.net’s Facebook and Youtube accounts. CDG/rga
