People’s Park in the Sky

Introduction

People’s Park in the Sky is a historical urban park and it’s one of the most popular and most visited tourist attractions in the province of Cavite. It is located in Tagaytay City and it’s just a two hours drive from Metro Manila. People’s Park in the Sky offers tourists a breathtaking 360-degree view of Taal Volcano, Taal Lake, Tagaytay Highlands, and the surrounding municipalities of Tagaytay City and the surrounding provinces.

According to its past history, People’s Park in the Sky was established during the presidential term of the former late Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the 1980s. During the Marcos administration, former First Lady Imelda Marcos decided to build a mansion or palace on top of the 630 meters Mt. Sungay which is locally known as Mt. Gonzales and is the highest point in Tagaytay City. The mansion was planned to accommodate and host the visit of US President Ronald Reagan in November 1983. Construction of the People’s Park began in the year 1981 at the site of the Bureau of Air Transport Radar Station which is considered as a government-owned land. The local farmers living on the mountainside were asked to relocate to a different area and after that, the mountaintop was flattened by bulldozers and other heavy equipment in construction. Also, the roads were built for the purpose of enabling supplies to reach the summit of Mt. Sungay. Nevertheless, the construction workers have a difficult time because the place was very steep.

Later, the construction of the mansion was accelerated by the announcement of US President Ronald Raegan that he intended to visit the Philippines in November 1983. At one point more than 1000 workers were laboring around the clock to finish the project in time. However, the much-anticipated visit was canceled because of the need for US President Ronald Raegan to be in Washington to deal with Congress regarding the national budget and other issues. Aside from this, US President Ronald Raegan president decided to defer his trip because of the rising concern among several advisers as well as First Lady Nancy Raegan about instability in the Philippines where government forces confront the anti-government demonstrators. For this reason, the project was immediately stopped and presently the incomplete scaffolding at the mansion remained intact and can be seen by visitors.

According to some estimates, 10 million dollars was spent on the unfinished project. It was never completed and the place fell into disarray and became a symbol of the surfeit of the Marcos era. As the years go by the Palace in the Sky became an urban park and was eventually renamed People’s Park in the Sky and opened to the public. Since then it has become one of the most visited attractions in Tagaytay despite being unfinished. In January 2020, the Taal Volcano erupted and the ashfall covered much of the Peoples Park Tagaytay. Nevertheless today, the People’s Park is open to all visitors who want to take a quick break from the busy city life and see from the distance the Shrine of Our Lady Mother of Fair Love, the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the child Jesus and the Doppler Radar station of PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).

Name: People’s Park in the Sky
Location: Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines
Features: amazing view of Taal Lake and Tagaytay Highlands

My trip to People’s Park in the Sky

It was Sunday when I travel to Tagaytay via the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and after three hours of a road trip, I finally arrived at the People’s Park in the Sky. I walk for a few meters to reach the main entrance gate and pay the entrance fee amounting to thirty pesos. After that, I continued my walking and as I look up at the sky I noticed that the weather is fair, and it was not very cold or hot. Also, I can see lots of tourists going up on the sidewalk and they prefer to walk rather than have a jeepney ride going to the viewing deck of the park. I think walking is a great physical exercise and it has great benefits for the body.

Then after some time, I feel like I’m a little tired because the place is a little far from what I thought and I feel like I’ve lost the bulalo I ate earlier. Nevertheless, I continue walking at a slow pace and minutes later I found myself at the viewing deck of Peoples Park Tagaytay where I can see numerous tourists taking pictures and videos of the spectacular surrounding. Also, I can see a huge pineapple statue and a wishing well where tourists can have a nice photoshoot. Without a doubt, I have a good time and an outstanding 360-degree overlooking view of the famous Taal Volcano, Taal Lake, and Tagaytay Highlands. The place is clean and well-maintained.

Also, I can see the impressive view of the green mountains from a distance, the shrine and statue of Jesus, the shrine of our lady mother of fair love which was built in the 1970s and has become a place to visit by many devoted, an unfinished mansion, and a Doppler weather radar system. At the second-level viewing deck, I can see visitors renting binoculars for a closer look at the stunning Taal Volcano. The wind is so refreshing here and a breath of fresh air is rejuvenating. Moreover, the view is surreal and this is what I miss in Tagaytay. Even so, I’m a little bit disappointed to see how the park was wasted. The incomplete scaffolding of the palace remained intact and it somehow reminds me of Colonial Africa’s ostentatious mansions.

From my perspective, I hope the government will renovate and make the park even more beautiful so there are more tourists coming in and it will help the local tourism industry. As I continue to roam the place, I have a conversation with one of the visitors named Ray and he told me that this is the second time to visit the park because the last time he visit it was so foggy that he didn’t enjoy much of the surroundings. So today, it’s a great place for sightseeing and he told me that every second has passed the park never fails to awe.

Later, I take a rest at one of the small huts at the picnic grove area and I ate my packed food. I stayed at the Peoples Park Tagaytay for two hours and before I exit the park, I buy some souvenir items located at the bottom of the park. Indeed, I definitely recommended to any park lovers and families to visit People’s Park in the Sky as it’s worth the money and time.

How to Go to People’s Park in the Sky

By commute

Option 1:

1. From Don Aldrin Bus Terminal in Pasay City, ride a bus bound to Tagaytay and drop off at Olivarez jeepney terminal or Olivarez Plaza Tagaytay.
2. From the Olivares jeepney terminal, ride a jeep going to Peoples Park Tagaytay.

Option 2:

1. From Pasay City, ride a jeepney that has signage of MOA (Mall of Asia) and tell the jeepney driver to drop you off near the Heritage Hotel Manila. 
2. Then just beside the Heritage Hotel Manila, ride a jeep going to Dasmariñas, Cavite. 
3. Then from WalterMart Dasmariñas ride a bus going to Tagaytay and tell the bus driver to alight you at the crossing in Tagaytay. The bus fare is 30 pesos.
4. From the crossing in Tagaytay, ride a jeep that has signage of Peoples Park. The jeepney fare is 25 pesos for each person. Then ride a mini tricycle going to People’s Park in the Sky. The tricycle fare is 15 pesos for each person.

By private car

1. From Muntinlupa City, take the South Luzon Expressway and exit at Santa Rosa, Laguna.
2. Then continue driving along Nuvali Boulevard and Santa Rosa Tagaytay Road.
3. Afterward, make a left turn going to Tagaytay – Calamba Road and later turn left going to People’s Park in the Sky.
   
   
   
   

Reminders and Tips:

• The entrance fee to Peoples Park in the Sky is 30 pesos per person. Meanwhile, their operating hours start from 7 am in the morning up to 5 pm in the afternoon every day.

• Parking is available for people who have their own vehicles. The parking fee for a private car is 30 pesos.

• The picnic table is 100 pesos and the photo session with the horse is 30 pesos.

• Using of camera drone inside the park is allowed because we also saw someone flying a camera drone during our visit.

• Littering and drinking alcoholic beverages are strictly not allowed inside the park.

• Put your trash in a designated trash can to maintain the cleanliness of the park.

• Kids are allowed to go inside regardless of age. Even so, always supervise accompanying children and important belongings.

• There’s a cafeteria at the park that sells rice with a meal at an affordable price. Nevertheless, if you want to lessen your expense then you can bring your own food inside the park.

• After exploring Peoples Park in the Sky, I highly suggest you go to other tourist attractions at Tagaytay City such as Tagaytay Picnic Grove, Sky Ranch Tagaytay, Museo Orlina, Puzzle Mansion, Mahogany Beef Market & Bulalohan, Sonya’s Garden, Paradizoo theme farm, Nurture Wellness Village, and Balay Dako.

• Last but not least, you can buy souvenirs near the entrance gate of the park.
  
  
  

There you have it, park lovers. One step at a time and one day you’ll be at the place you always wanted to be. Predominantly, I aim that this People’s Park in the Sky blog has been practical to you and made you consider visiting this amazing park in the upcoming days.