Cultural Center of the Philippines

Encyclopedia : C : CU : CUL : Cultural Center of the Philippines

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The Cultural Center of the Philippines (or CCP) is located in Manila, The Philippines and was opened in 1969 to promote and preserve Filipino arts and culture, and to become a mecca of culture and the arts in Asia. Since its opening, it has showcased the Bolshoi, Kirov, Royal Danish ballets, as well as contemporary American, French, German, and Philippine companies.

The inauguration of the CCP gave Philippine culture and the arts a home. The CCP was created by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1966 through Executive Order No. 30 with the purpose of promoting and preserving Filipino arts and culture. It was formally inaugurated on September 8, 1969, starting a three-month long inaugural festival opened by by the musical , an epic portrayal of Panay Island, as its initial presentation. The Center's formal inauguration was attended by a number of international personalities, including Governor and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, who were representing President Richard Nixon.

Purpose

Since its establishment, the CCP has sought to embody its logo of katotohanan (truth), kagandahan (beauty) and kabutihan (goodness). The best artists from all over the country and around the world have graced the CCP theaters and galleries, enthralling Filipinos for over thrity years. The CCP is presently attached to the Office of the President and is under the umbrella of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as stipulated in Executive Order No. 80.

The CCP showcases Filipino artistic achievements, encourages the creation of original works inspired by Filipino themes and tradition and helps makes the arts accessible to all sectors of Philippine society. It also initiates and supports the establishment of regional or local cultural centers in cooperation with local groups and brings together its own resident artists and other artists from the various regions through the CCP Outreach Program.

Several companies representing the different arts reside within the CCP. There are four resident dance companies: Ballet Philippines, Philippine Ballet Theatre, the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. The Tanghalang Pilipino is the CCP's resident theater company. The CCP's resident music companies are the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, also the Philippines' national orchestra, the UST Symphony Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the National Music Competitions for Young Artists Foundation (NAMCYA).

The CCP also covers film and broadcast arts, as well as the literary and visual arts, encouraging the growth of aspiring artists in these fields through numerous workshops, seminars, anthologies, exhibits, symposia, as well as through competitions and awards.

The CCP's Cultural Exchange Program supports the growth and development of arts councils all over the country through workshops and seminars. In addition, the CCP also established ties with various international organizations such as the Association of Asia-Pacific Performing Arts Centers, the Conseil International des Organisations de Festivals de Folklore et d'Arts Traditionnels, the World Dance Alliance, and the International Theater Institute. Through exchange programs with these groups, Filipinos are able to appreciate different cultures as well as witness performances of highly-acclaimed artists from all over the world.

Performance Venues of the CCP

Tanghalang Pambansa (CCP Main Building)

Built on reclaimed land in Manila Bay, the CCP Main Building was designed by leading Filipino architect and National Artist, Leandro V. Locsin. It houses four theaters, a museum of ethnographic exhibits and a changing exhibit of Philippine art or ethnography, galleries, and a library on Philippine art and culture. It also houses the administrative offices and facilities of the CCP.

2005 Refurbishment of the Tanghalang Pambansa and the CCP Complex

The Tanghalang Pambansa and the CCP Complex were refurbished ahead of the 112th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Manila, whose opening and closing ceremonies were to be held at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. During the refurbishment, the marble façade of the Tanghalang Pambansa was cleaned and the marble trim which was installed during its refurbishment in the 1990s was replaced with travertine imported from Italy. During this particular repair, the bulding's main ramp was closed to traffic to prevent any untoward incidents.

The 2005 refurbishment also included the repair and upgrade of the Main Building's toilet facilities, the repair of its main fountain and lagoon, the installation of a new air-conditioning system, replacing the 36-year-old system which was installed in 1969, and the installation of new carpeting. The refurbishment also brought additional grounds lighting for the CCP Complex, upgraded interior roads, including one which enabled access to the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard. The landscaping of the 88-hectare complex was also extensively re-done.

The Philippine International Convention Center, which is located in the CCP Complex and was opened in 1976 for the Manila Summit of the IMF-World Bank, was also extensively repaired and refurbished.

This refurbishment was shouldered by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the offices of Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senator Francis Pangilinan, and Malabon-Navotas Congressman Ricardo Sandoval, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the CCP.

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

The CCP Main Theater is named after Nicanor Abelardo who redefined the kundiman and elevated it to artistic heights thgouh his compositions such as Nasaan Ka Irog?, Bituing Marikit, Magbalik Ka Hirang, Kundiman ng Luha, and Mutya ng Pasig. The theater has four levels: Orchestra, Boxes, Balcony I, and Balcony II, and is able to accommodate a total of 1,823 guests. Upon entering the orchestra section, guests are greeted by National Artist for Visual Arts Vicente Manansala's brass sculpture The Seven Arts. The theater has a split orchestra pit floor and is equipped to meet the requirements of large theatrical productions such as ballets, operas, symphonic concerts, and other musicals. It also features a house curtain tapestry patterned after the Genesis (Simula) painting of the late National Artist Hernando Ocampo.

Tanghalang Aurelio V. Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

The Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, commonly known as the Little Theater, is named after the great Filipino playwright and dramatist whose works at the turn of the 20th century like Kahapon, ngayon, at Bukas depict his desire to see Philippine independence from its colonizers. The Little Theater is a conventional proscenium stage, designed for drama, chamber music, solo recitals, lectures, and film screenings, with a capacity of 421 guests. The stage curtain is a tapestry made in Kyoto, Japan, based on the painting of Roberto Chabet, former director of the CCP Museum (Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino).

Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater)

"Huseng Batute" is one of the many pseudonyms adapted by Jose Corazon de Jesus. He was crowned "Hari ng Balagtasan" and among his literary works is the nationalist poem Sa Dakong Silangan (In the East). He also wrote the lyrics to various songs including Contancio de Guzman's Bayan Ko (My Country) and Nicanor Abelardo's Kundiman ng Luha (Kundiman of Tears). The venue named after him is designed for experimental production and has two levels; the upper level serves as a Gallery, the lower level as a Studio which features a variable stage. As such, audience capacity varies depending n the size of the stage or acting area. The lone dressing room, which can accommodate five persons at a time, is situated at the Lower Studio Level leading to the Buffeteria. The lobby of Tanghalang Huseng Batute, also known as the Studio Theater, is highlighted by a work of the Paete Wood Carvers after the painting of National Artists for Visual Arts Carlos V. Francisco entitled Abuse of Spanish Authorities.

Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (CCP Folk Arts Theater)

More commonly known as the Folk Arts Theater, this covered proscenium ampitheater is where popular concerts are usually staged. It has a seating capacity of 8,458 in ten sections. The theater takes its name form Francisco Baltazar also known as Francisco Balagtas, revered as one of the country's greatest poets. Florante at Laura is one of his best known and most beloved works and his poetry Balagtasismo has shaped generations of Filipino poets. The popular debate in verse, balagtasan is also named after him.

The building was commissioned by First Lady Imelda Marcos in 1974 for the Miss Universe Pageant, which was to be held in Manila. The theater was built in ninety days and was designed by Leandro V. Locsin.

Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater)

The Tanghalang Manuel Conde, also known as the Audio Visual Room is named in honor of Manuel Conde, a leading figue in Philippine Cinema. Manuel Pabustan Urbano in real life, he directed Gengis Khan, the first Filipino film distributed worldwide by United Artists. He was best remembered for his Juan Tamad series in which he starred and directed. The venue is used for film and video screenings, lecture forums, seminars or as a mini-conference hall.

This venue has also been retroffitted with equipment with which to receive, and subsequently feature, satellite direct-to-home feeds of art and culture films and videos on the arts of the Philippines. The venue, also named Dream Theater, is part of the joint endeavor of the CCP and the Dream Broadcasting Service to promote art films in the Philippines.

The venue has a seating capacity of 100.

The National Arts Center (NAC)

Established in 1976 as a haven for young and aspiring artists, the National Arts Center (NAC) is tucked away in mythical Mt. Makiling, Laguna. Its various buildings and facilities are scattered over 13.5 hectares of the Makiling Forest Reservation and also houses the Philippine High School for the Arts, a government-run secondary educational institution for gifted young artists.

The NAC's unique location offers a perfect vacation hideaway and its laid-back and contemplative atmosphere sets the mood to relax, unwind and recharge one's energies. The view from the NAC, especially of Laguna de Bay, the largest freshwater lake in the country is especially breathtaking.

Pugad Adarna (Executive House)

The Executive House is composed of several interlinked structures enclosing a swimming pool and garden. Situated on top of a ridge, each of the venue's nine rooms has a veranda with a commanding view of Laguna de Bay, Mt. Makiling, nearby towns and on clear days, even the skyscrapers of Makati and Ortigas Center.

Ideally used for family outings and intimate gatherings, the venue also has a kitchen and dining area/lounge which can also be turned into a function hall. All of the bedrooms are fully airconditioned with individual toilets. It has a total bed capacity of 34.

Pugad Aliguyon (Marvilla Cottages)

The Marvilla Cottages are a cluster of cottages linked by walkways. Each cottage has two rooms with varying bed capacities and a veranda where one could view the surrounding forests. Furnished with overhead fans, built-in closets, and toilets in each room, the cottages can accommodate up to 98 persons.

The venue is typically used for billeting participants of seminars, retreats, conventions, and other activities involving large groups.

Bulwagang Sarimanok (Clubhouse)

The Clubhouse has a large hall which has been typically used for wedding receptions, seminars, and conferences. Its solid appearance is complemented by the use of stones in its massive columns and hardwood all over, highlighting the rustic ambiance. The glassed-walled hall is surrounded by a veranda where guests may conduct group sessions, dine al fresco, or see the spectacular view of Laguna de Bay and the mountainside. It has a spacious kitchen and two-bedroom dormitory in its mezzanine, overlooking the parqueted hall.

Tanghalang Maria Makiling (NAC Open-Air Theater)

This is the only NAC structure visible from the nearby towns because of its plateau-like location on the center. It affords a 360 degree view of the outlying areas, including Crocodile Island, Talim Island, Crocodile Lake and on clear days, Mt. Banahaw and the mountains of Rizal.

The open-air theater/auditorium is ideal for concerts and conventions. It has a seating capacity of 1,800, including the concrete bleacher seats outside the theater.

Sightseers will find the spacious and tree-shaded grouds around the theater perfect for picnics. Evenings under the moon and stars are definitely enchanting, with twinkling electric lights as far as the eye can see adding to the magical experience.

St. Marc's Chapel

Set amidst towering trees and lush forest vegetation, the Chapel is an ideal setting for meditation and contemplation. Without any wall, one can truly commune with nature, pray and reflect in this unique, one-of-a-kind place of worship.

Designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin, the Chapel features a Cross truly unique and striking in its presentation. The outline of the crucified Christ was hollowed out from the concrete Cross, making the place an acceptable venue of worship even to non-Catholics.

Exhibit Halls

These are venues housed in the Tanghalang Pambansa Building.

Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery)

The CCP Main gallery is named after one of the greatest Filipino artists and figures of the Philippine Revolution, Juan Luna, whose most famous work is the majestic Spolarium. The Gallery is used for large exhibitions and located at the third floor, a rectangular space, has white walls and a floor area of 440 sq. meters.

Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo (Small Gallery)

The Bulwagang Fernando Amorsolo on the fourth floor is an intimate space for individual exhibitions and installations. It is named after the first National Artist for Painting who immortalized the quality of Philippine sunlight in his evocative paintings of the Philippine countryside. Amorsolo popularized the image of the beautiful and modest dalagang Pilipina (Filipino maiden) and was the first to extensively protray traditional Filipino customs and manners, fiestas, and occupations, such as fishing and farming. Many of his historical works have graced textbooks and calendars, shaping the visual imagination of many generations of Filipino children. The Gallery is a rectangular space with white walls and two columns on each end.

Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (Little Theater Lobby)

National Artist 'Carlos V. Francisco was among the first-generation modernists who, with Victorio C. Edades and Galo B. Ocampo, made up the pioneering triumvirate that led Philippine art to new directions. The Gallery bearing his name is located at the Little Theater lobby, opposite the Luz mural. It is a wall space with strips, measureing 4.8m by 19.8m and is ideal for large-scale paintings or wall-mounted works.

Pasilyo Victorio Edades

Situated at the east end of the Fourth Floor, the Pasilyo Victorio Edades is a bracket-shaped space where the works of new talents are usually displayed. It is often used for exhibits of panoramic works, photographs, drawings, prints and works on paaper. The hallway was named after National Artist for Painting Victorio Edades who pioneered Philippine modern art. The longest wall measures 2.4m high x 18.8m wide.

Pasilyo Guillermo Tolentino

Along Balcony 1 on the Third Floor, the Pasilyo Guillermo Tolentino is used for regional art works or for exhibits in line with cultural agreements. The hallway is named for National Artist for Sculpture Guillermo Tolentino who created the Bonifacio Monument. It is a wall space with white panels, slightly convex and measures 2.4m high x 30.2m wide.

Pasilyo Vicente Manansala

Located at the Second Floor, it is similar in size and shape as the Pasilyo Guillermo Tolentino. The Gallery is named after National Artist and painter Vicente Manansala, a member of the Thirteen Moderns and Neo-Realists and who was at the forefront of the modernist movement in Philippine art.

Satellite Venues of the CCP

In response to the need to widen its audienceship for the arts and to bring its programs closer to the people, the CCP has established a programmatic partnership with the Assumption University in Antipolo and De La Salle Santiago-Zobel School (DLS-SZ) in Alabang, Muntinlupa. As CCP’s Satellite Venues in the East and in the South, these institutions commit to benefit from the exchange of goodwill and assistance through move-over productions, performances and artistic training workshops. Eventually, the center hopes to establish another satellite venue in the Northern part of Metro Manila.

The DLS-SZ Angelo King Center for the Performing Arts

De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School established the Angelo King Center for the Performing Arts in 2000 with the aim of supporting the holistic development of its students. The Center pushed the development of theatrical and musical talents on campus. Activities, which have been organized at the Center, have been facilitated by highly acclaimed organizations including the UP Theater Arts, Centerstage, and the Royal Academy of Dance.

The Center also has a Ps150 million theater equipped with state-of-the-art lights and sound facilities imported form Germany. Inaugurated in November 2000, the theater has a seating capacity of 1,052 with balcony and orchestra sections, a two-level lobby, an orchestra pit, four air-conditioned dressing rooms, costume cabinets, a docking area, sixteen fly battens, two motorized curtain systems (vertical and horizontal), and comfort rooms. This is the only theater of its kind in a high school campus and is the only one located in this part of Metro Manila.

The Assumpta Theater, Assumption University-Antipolo

The Assumpta Theater was constructed in 1999 and inaugurated in 2001. It has assumed a name to live by Assumption Antipolo’s vision of erecting a major cultural seat in the eastern part of Metro Manila which would serve as a venue for cultural education and development not only of its students, faculty and parents but also for members of the outside communities and schools neighboring municipalities of the Rizal Province.

The Assumpta Theater is home to modern light and sound equipment, 17 manual fly battens, a manual curtain system, a spacious stage area, an orchestra pit, fully air-conditioned dressing rooms, a docking area, stage wings, three-level seating arrangements, a lobby, and comfort rooms. The house area can accommodate 2,001 guests.

Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino (CCP Museum)

The Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino is an integrated humanities museum established in 1988. It gathers together the works of Filipino traditional artists and preserves Filipino artistic traditions; studies and interprets these to provide a deeper understanding of Filipino national culture evolving with and for the people; and strengthens the people's awareness of the integral, dynamic role of creativity and artistic expression in national life and culture.

A permanent exhibit entitled Diwa: Buhay, Ritwal at Sining showcases significant Filipino artistic traditions and explores the development of Philippine art and aesthetics in the socio-cultural context.

Another important permanent exhibit is the CCP Collection of Traditional Asian Musical Instruments from the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, Thailand, China and South Korea.

The CCP Museum also presents special changing exhibitions, provides curatorial assistance, and organizes workshops on indigenous art forms.

References

• [History of the Cultural Center of the Philippines]
• [Perfomance Venues of the Cultural Center of the Philippines]
• [Cultural Center of the Philippines Gets Facelift for IPU Meet]
• [Bravo! Bravo!]

External links

• [Cultural Center of the Philippines official website]
• [ABS-CBN News - Grand plan to change face of Cultural Center complex]
• [ABS-CBN News - ‘Commercialized’ CCP embraces the poor]

 

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