The Star City management told yesterday that they would try to reopen this year after a fire razed almost 80% of the amusement park dawn of Wednesday.
“We will try to open this year. Depending on the assessments of our engineers,” said Ed de Leon, spokesperson of Star City owner Star Parks Corporation.
In an earlier statement, Star City management said it would be closed for a year and would not operate for the upcoming holiday season.
Atty. Rudolph Steve Juralbal, vice president for legal affairs of the Elizalde Group of Companies, said, “We’re targeting reopening about October next year. It’s necessary because the importation of rides takes time and the set-up of the park also.”
Star City fire left P1B worth of damage
Officials and the amusement park’s management estimated the cost of fire’s damage to be worth P1B.
The fire turned buildings, rides, offices, equipment, toys, and machines to ashes. Fortunately, no one died of the blaze, but some firefighters got minor injuries while putting out the fire.
Hundreds of regular and seasonal Star City employees were also affected and would face an uncertain future because of the fire.
Meanwhile, Filipino netizens expressed their happy memories with their loved ones at Star City.
“Tuwing magpa-Pasko, si papa madalas magaya mag-Star City, hindi naman siya nagra-rides. Gustong-gusto lang talaga manuod sa Aliw [Theater,]” April Neri said on Facebook.
(Every Christmas, my father usually asks us to go to Star City, but he doesn’t go on the rides. He just really likes watching shows at the Aliw Theater.)]
“After mo makuha mga aginaldo mo sa Pasko, isa sa plano niyo ang pumunta dito,” Dan Tauyan Jr., another Facebook user said.
(After you get your cash gifts for Christmas, you usually plan to go here.)
According to Star City management, about 80,000 people enjoy the park during peak season such as the Christmas holidays. Around 5,000 visits the park during weekdays and 20,000 during weekends when it is the off-peak season.
Many Filipinos hope Star City to reopen this year as going to the park is already part of their Christmas celebration tradition.