Photos: James Ong
In the tradition of cultural landmarks like Sydney Opera House and New York’s Metropolitan Opera, the Cultural Center of the Philippines is conducting tours of the iconic building, designed by the late National Artist Leandro Locsin, and completed in 1969 to the tune of PHP50 million. It was a pet project of Imelda Marcos and she is said to have knocked on the doors of the country’s prominent families and businessmen to raise funds for its cost. “Carpets, draperies, marble, artworks to decorate the interior of the theater and even cement were all donated,” according to Wikipedia.
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The tour doesn’t include an Imelda Marcos sighting.
The tours will be led by part-time ushers and has two types: educational, which involves a walk-through of the entire building; and technical, which shows you the backstage areas. For those who want to take it light, there’s also a standalone tour of the CCP Museum, which features a permanent display of traditional Asian musical Instruments, as well as the DIWA: Buhay, Ritwal at Sining exhibition hich showcases significant Filipino artistic traditions and explores the development of Philippine art and aesthetics.
Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boluevard, Pasay City; +63 2 832 1125. Tue-Fri 10am-6pm, prior registration required. PHP100/pax minimum of 30 participants (educational tour), PHP300/pax minimum of 10 pax (technical tour), PHP50/pax (CCP Museum) minimum of 20 participants. Individual and small group tours are also available, but at the prevailing group rates.
