Jalosjos fantasy park named Gloria Judy Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 08, 2009
DAPITAN CITY, Philippines—The P1.2-billion theme park rising on a seven-hectare property here bears a familiar name—Gloria’s Fantasyland.
The brains behind Mindanao’s first world-class theme park, which targets children, is convicted child rapist and Arroyo ally, former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos.
Jalosjos has asked President Macapagal-Arroyo to grant him an absolute pardon so he could again run for public office 12 years after he was convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl. An absolute pardon would restore Jalosjos’ right of suffrage, which is the right to vote and be elected to office.
Malacańang on Friday said it would not be pressured into granting Jalosjos an absolute pardon just because he is planning to run for his old post.
It easily assumed that Jalosjos named the theme park after President Arroyo because the two are reportedly close.
The former lawmaker, however, said that this was not the case.
For locals here, gloria simply means happiness.
“Gloria’s Fantasyland is a fulfillment of my promise to make the less privileged experience such amenities as it is improbable for them to travel abroad,” said Jalosjos of the theme park which he calls the Disneyland of the Philippines.
Located near the Gloria de Dapitan Entertainment Complex, the theme park opened on Oct. 31, about seven months after Jalosjos was released from prison.
It boasts of brand new and imported rides like a giant roller coaster, mini train, choco cup ride, midi flume ride, carousel, Apollo, bumper car rides, horror house and swinger.
Promise to his daughters
In an earlier interview with the Inquirer, Jalosjos recalled how his young daughters from his present relationship repeatedly begged him to go with them to a theme park in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.
“Although I wanted to be with my daughters, I was not allowed to leave the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) compound without a court order,” he said.
To appease them, Jalosjos said he promised his daughters that he would build them an amusement park should the government approve the commutation of his jail term.
“I told them I would just make one for them so we could go there whenever they wanted to,” he narrated.
Fantasyland visitors
The former legislator, who, with his family also owns the posh Dakak Resort, said he expects many visitors to visit Fantasyland.
For this reason, he will start building a P1-billion, 12-story hotel to accommodate guests and tourists.
“Works are underway for the construction of the hotel and it is expected to start in the last quarter of the year,” Jalosjos said.
Aside from the hotel, the former lawmaker said two modern theaters will rise in the same complex.
“It is sad that even Dipolog City has no theater to speak of,” he said.
Backed by bank loans
Jalosjos said his projects here are backed by bank loans. This also includes the development of Dampa sa Dapitan Marine Park, just a few kilometers away from Dakak Resort.
“Dampa sa Dapitan opened recently and lies on a 2-hectare property and a 30-minute ride from Dipolog City,” he said.
Emelio Libando, Dapitan City tourism officer, said the marine park offers a river cruise and fishing activities.
Tourists can dine on the boat while cruising the 25-kilometer-long river which takes about an hour and 10 minutes, Libando said.
Jalosjos said Dipolog and Dapitan are the only places in Mindanao free from terror threats.
Two life terms
The Makati Regional Trial Court convicted Jalosjos in December 1997 of raping an 11-year-old girl, and sentenced him to two life terms.
While behind bars, he won reelection in 1998 and 2001. He was dropped from the rolls of the House of Representatives in 2002, when the Supreme Court affirmed his guilt.
Five years later, Ms Arroyo commuted Jalosjos’ sentence to 16 years, three months and three days.
The commutation, along with good conduct time allowance, allowed him to walk free in March, despite having served only 12 years. With a report from Marlon Ramos
