Early operational history The former owner of the land that the Paskuhan Village now occupies, Jesus Lazatin, sold the land to the Philippine Tourism Authority (now the
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA) in 1989 so that it could be used to showcase the
San Fernando's lantern-making tradition. The theme park was conceptualized by then-Pampanga Governor Bren Guiao, then-
Tourism Secretary Jose Antonio Gonzalez, and then-Center for International Trades, Expositions and Missions Director Mina Gabor It was opened on December 11, 1990, by then-president
Corazon Aquino, the Paskuhan Village showcased
small and giant lanterns and other Christmas-related items in an effort to support local craftsmen and entrepreneurs. An "Environmental Consciousness Week" was held at the park in March 1993 to promote environmental awareness; proceeds were directed toward the Pinatubo Trust Fund and the Bahay Pag-Ibig
nursing home. During 1998, then-First Lady
Amelita Ramos attempted to recreate the village as part of the "
Florikultura '98" project of the
Department of Tourism, but the plants withered and died the year after. Paskuhan Village also served as the venue of the
Ligligan Parul or the
Giant Lantern Festival from 1990 until 1998.
Decline The
1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo as well as the establishment of shopping malls in Pampanga contributed to the decline of Paskuhan. The Pampanga Mayors' League issued a resolution as early as 2009 to start the process to come to an agreement with the
Department of Tourism so that the Mayors' League could acquire management and jurisdiction over Paskuhan. As of 2012, the Village was under significant financial strain; all shops, restaurants and other features were practically closed, with a budget of only 800 thousand pesos a month and only 24 workers left. By that time Paskuhan had discarded its Northern Luzon theme. The sale was declared void on October 2, 2017, by Solicitor General Jose Calida. The Committee on Good Government And Public Accountability of the
House of Representatives had recommended the nullification of the sale for violating the Tourism Act of 2009, which prohibits the sale of state-owned cultural treasures and heritage sites. The ruling allowed Gonzalez'
intervention in the
compromise agreement between San Fernando City and Premier Central, Inc.'s P939 million sale of Paskuhan Village. The "deed of donation" transferred 5,000 square meters of the 9.3 hectares sold to Premier Central, Inc. and a 2-story building to San Fernando, and a company would construct an
amphitheater. Gonzales was granted the right to file
complaints on the
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority sale decision of Paskuhan Village to Premier Central Inc. (PCI) in 2014 for P939 million.
Future plans Following the annulment of the sale to Premier Central, San Fernando Mayor
Edwin Santiago advocated for the revival of the Paskuhan as a Christmas-themed park and the return of the Giant Lantern Festival to the venue; the city's plan to acquire the property was still being deliberated at the time.
City of San Fernando Giant Lantern and Tourist Information Center On May 27, 2023, the City of San Fernando Giant Lantern and Tourist Information Center was inaugurated by Mayor
Edwin Santiago as testament to
Kapampangan heritage and realization of SFP as Home of the
Giant Lanterns. The center's lantern heritage exhibits are curated by Raphaelle Kalaw and Tourism officer Ma. Lourdes Carmella Jade “Ching” Pangilinan; the exhibits showcase works of art by Jude Pangilinan, Don De Dios, Rafael Maniago, Alvaro Jimenez, Noel Lopez Catacutan and Joel Mallari. The center also showcases the
capiz lantern chandeliers, interpretations of
Cesar Legaspi’s mural “Bayanihan” and drafts of award-winning giant lanterns from Teddy Aguilar, Efren Tiodin, and Cesareo Sason. File:Paskuhan_Village_Giant_Lantern_Tourist_Information_Center_marker1.jpg|Historical marker ==References==