OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales — Businessman and entertainment mogul Dr. Arnold L. Vegafria is committed to reviving the entertainment sector of Olongapo City, a region once known as a cultural hotspot.

Speaking to stakeholders at the Palace Hotel in Olongapo on Friday night, Vegafria recalled how the city was the entertainment capital of the country during the 1970s and 1980s, largely due to the presence of the US military personnel stationed at the former US Naval Base, now the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“I’m very proud to say that I spent a great deal of my formative years in Olongapo City. This is where I grew up, because my family was based here,” Vegafria shared.

He fondly reminisced about the city’s vibrant past.

“During my younger years, I have very vivid memories of how things were back in the day,” he said. “Of course, many of you will probably remember when the US military bases were still situated in Subic Bay, and we all know how much of an impact that had on our local economy.”

He noted that Olongapo was home to many clubs, shops, restaurants and bars and became known as the “Cradle of Pinoy Rock,” where some of the best Filipino bands, like Juan dela Cruz Band, Maria Cafra, Frictions and later, Arnel Pineda’s band, played regularly.

“Thankfully, even after the US bases were dismantled, the economy remained stable, thanks in part to the establishment of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which drew both tourists and locals with its duty-free shops and other businesses,” Vegafria said.