A Mass was celebrated by the Saint Andrew Parish as the old town of Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija emerged as water at the dam receded. 

As of this writing, water at the dam receded down to negative 42 meters below the normal water level. As this happened, more and more of the old town, including the ruins of the church, cemetery, and municipal hall, have resurfaced.

"Yung pagkakalitaw ng lumang bayan natin siguro ay dahil ngayon ay ika-golden anniversary nito, "Mayor Roberto Agdipa of Pantabangan, said.

Visitors, including former residents, have begun to visit the site.

"Nababalitaan namin itong Pantabanagan at napapanuod sa news, pagkakataon na naming pasyalan to," Hervy Santos, a visitor, said.

"Basically yung krus na nakalubog, ngayon ay nakalutang na," Franco Santos, another visitor, added.

Visitors are allowed only until midday due to hazardous afternoon waves.

This presented an opportunity for boatmen like Totoy Aquino.

"Maganda rin ang kita," Aquino said.

According to the local tourism office, this marks the sixth time the old town emerged with the last sighting in 2020.

Due to the El Niño phenomenon, the "Old Pantabangan Ruins" are more visible. They have been declared a heritage zone by the local government.

"Ang lumang bayan po ng Pantabangan ay idineklara ng aming sangguniang bayan na maging isang heritages zone. So kapag heritage zone po kasi dapat natin protektahan ito, para makita pa ng mga susunod na henerasyon," Emisonia Gante, the tourism officer of Pantabangan, said.

Photography is permitted, with a request for visitors to respect and care for the area.