People's Park in the Sky

The building at the top of Mount Sungay, the highest point in Tagaytay, was begun in 1981 as a mansion; work was hurried for a planned state visit by President Reagan in 1983 and stopped when that visit was cancelled, leaving only the skeleton. What was left - a large concrete shell with a viewing deck, empty rooms and unfinished floors - was turned into a public park in 1986, and it is now a curious kind of monument: a ruin that was never a building, with a chapel, a shrine, souvenir stalls and telescopes installed around it. The reason to make the climb is the view, which is the most complete panorama available of Taal Lake and its volcano, with the caldera rim running away on both sides and, on clear days, Manila Bay and the Laguna lake visible in other directions. Cloud closes it regularly, and the wind at the top is strong enough to be memorable.

History

Construction of a mansion on Mount Sungay, the highest point in Cavite, began in 1981, and the summit was levelled from 752 to 709 metres. Work was hurried for a planned visit by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in November 1983 and stopped when the visit was cancelled, leaving only the skeleton, which became a public park in 1986 (Wikipedia, People's Park in the Sky).

Highlights

• The unfinished mansion - the concrete shell and its empty rooms.
• The panorama - the fullest view over Taal and the caldera.
• The viewing deck - the platform at the summit.
• The stalls and shrine - what has grown up around the ruin.

When to go

November to May, in the morning before cloud builds over the lake. Weekdays avoid the Tagaytay weekend crush.

Good to know

The building is an unfinished shell, not a restored site, and there is little interpretation. Cloud frequently hides the view entirely. Entry, parking and the ride up are all charged separately, and vendors are persistent.

Nearby

Tagaytay's ridge restaurants are below; Taal Lake and the volcano are in the caldera.

Key facts