The Cultural Centre of the Philippines is located in one of Manila's neighbourhoods, Pasay City, which is part of the Manila metropolitan area. The centre was inaugurated in 1969 by President Ferdinand Marcos to to promote and preserve the arts and culture of the Filipino people and was designed as a cultural Mecca of Asia. Since its inauguration, the Centre has hosted Since its opening, the Centre has hosted the Bolshoi and Kirov Theatres of Russia, the Royal Danish Theatre, and the Danish Theatre, as well as groups from America, France, Germany and various cities in the Philippines. Each event held within the walls of the Center fully corresponds to its motto - "Faith, Beauty and Kindness".
Today, the Cultural Centre is dedicated to showcasing the achievements of Filipino art, inspiring the creation of works of art, inspires the creation of artworks based on traditional motifs, and helps make the arts accessible to all segments of the population. A big part of the Centre's activities is its work in establishing and supporting regional cultural centres. Its staff organise seminars, master classes, exhibitions, symposia and other educational events.
The main building of the Centre, built on the shores of Manila Bay, also also known as "Tangalang Pambansa", was designed by Leandro Locsin, the country's leading architect. It houses four theatre stages, a museum with ethnographic collections and changing exhibitions on Philippine Philippine art, exhibition galleries and a library on Philippine art and culture.
In 2005, the building was renovated in anticipation of the 112th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which was held in Manila. The facade of the building was cleaned and the marble decorations were replaced with Italian white limestone. The main fountain and the artificial lake in front of the building were also restored, an air conditioning system was installed and new carpeting was laid. The 88-hectare garden surrounding the Centre has been substantially renovated.
The main Theatre of the Centre is named after the singer Nicanor Abelardo, who gave new life to the genre of "kundiman" - traditional Filipino love songs. The capacity of the of the theatre is 1,823 people. Inside is the copper sculpture "Seven Arts," by Vicente Manansala. Ballets and operas are staged on this stage, symphony orchestras and other musical groups.
The Little Theatre is named after Aurelio Tolentino, a Filipino playwright of the early 20th century. With a seating capacity of 421 people, this theatre stages dramatic plays, chamber music, film screenings, etc.
The Huseng Batiut Studio Theatre is named after the writer Jose Corazon de Jesus, who created many poems, poems and song lyrics. This theater consists of two levels: the upper one has a gallery, and the lower one is occupied by a studio with a transformable stage.
Finally, the Francisco Balthazar Folklore Theatre is dedicated to one of the greatest poets of the Philippines. This stage, designed as an amphitheatre, hosts concerts of of popular music. Various religious leaders often give lectures here.
In addition to the theatre stages, the Cultural Centre houses a number of exhibition spaces. exhibition spaces. The Main Gallery, named after the great Filipino artist Juan Luna, large-scale events are held - its area is about 440 square metres. The Small Gallery, named in honour of painter Fernando Amorsolo, on the other hand, hosts smaller exhibitions and installations. Works by local artists are exhibited in the cosy Guillermo Tolentino Gallery.
In the coming years, the grounds of the Cultural Centre of the Philippines will undergo a massive expansion of its grounds and functions in the coming years. The plan is to divide the the current area into five clusters. The first cluster will be centred around souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, a visitor centre and a ferry pier will be built for guests arriving by boat and yacht. It will also house a museum of contemporary art. The second cluster, the "Reserve of Arts", will be entirely devoted to art, its "heart". will be entirely dedicated to art, and its "heart" will be the current Main Building of the Centre. The third cluster will connect the Second Cluster with other sites. It will house a hall with a capacity of up to 8,000 people, which can be used for various purposes, the Asian Music Gallery, the National Artists Museum and two small art centres. small art centres. In the Fourth Cluster, residential accommodation will be built accommodation for visiting artists as well as a transport interchange. There will also be a Design Museum, a Dancing Fountain and sculptural compositions. Finally, the Fifth Cluster will have residential units and retail space. It is planned that all these innovations will be completed by 2014.
