Mom's World of Arts and Happiness: Things You Should Know About PICC

Things You Should Know About PICC

For those who are always around the area of CCP complex, I would like to be believed that you have seen or noticed the grand structure that is near Star City that is the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). And just like you, you wonder what inside this building. I said wonder because I know that you are intimidated to enter this grand convention center.

There were few times that I have experience to visit the PICC, that’s during the event and when I watch the concert of David Bennot which is like 25 years ago. Situated at the heart of Manila, PICC is few minutes away from the airport, close to major hotels and exciting nightlife, malls and interesting tourist spots.

Let me take you inside the PICC when I revisited it a day ago,

Love the thousand ceiling droplights in the main lobby

Things you should know about PICC

First of all, it’s open to the public, you can definitely enter the PICC, so don’t be afraid.

PICC is celebrating its 40th anniversary and there will be a grand celebration on Sept 5, 2016

There is a restaurant inside that is open to the public. It’s open from 11 am – 2 pm

PICC has an official caterer for three years and that’s Via Mare who also manage the restaurant (talking about good food and good service plus fine dining)

Amorsolo Restaurant manage by Via Mare

Via Mare Corporation operates the Amorsolo, a fine dining restaurant located at the second floor of the PICC Secretariat Building and the PICC Cafeteria which are open daily from Mondays to Fridays at 11:00 am to 2:00 p.m.

There’s this Heroes Room where only the President of the Philippines could use. No other person is allowed to use this, well except me of course when I had the exclusive tour.

Heroes Room

The PICC meeting rooms and halls vary in size and capacity, but all share a high standard in terms of construction, technology, and capability. Even since its earlier days, all PICC event rooms have been equipped with premium sound tech, excellent lighting fixtures and artistic construction, making the event possibilities in this one-of-a-kind place both endless and timeless.

They have this room, where in interpreters used during special events like APEC (the last time was 7 interpreters, and they are doing it simultaneously)

You could walk on the same stairs, where Mother Teresa walks when she visited the Philippines in 1984

The PICC houses some of the master pieces made by National Artist

An Untitled Masterpiece of National Artist for Visual Arts - Arturo Luz.

The Main Lobby houses one of the country’s largest Jose T. Joya paintings, “Ang Pagdiriwang”. Measuring 5.5 x 7 meters, the huge masterpiece had to be painted onsite by the National Artist as no exits or entrances to the area could fit the work of art.

One of National Artist Arturo Luz’s most famous art pieces sits right at the centre of the PICC Courtyard. Entitled, “Anito” the stone sculpture was carved and created on the area where it stands.

PICC is an artwork in itself. Designed by National Artist for Architecture, Leandro V. Locsin, the Philippine heritage site was originally made up of 4 building modules: the Delegation Building, Secretariat Building, Plenary Hall, and the Reception Hall. The Forum was added in 2003 to accommodate the requirements of convention organizers for an exhibition hall.

With a floor area of over 65,000 square feet, the construction for the massive structure was undertaken in a short span of just 23 months, from November 1974 to September 1976

On average, PICC holds about 400 events in a year. The most frequent types of events held at PICC are government events, corporate and association meetings and graduation ceremonies. Among the most notable international events held at the PICC were the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Post Ministerial Conference and ASEAN Regional Forum (2007), the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (2012), and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in 1996 and 2015.
And for additional information , PICC also accept weddings and debut reception, well actually, any occasions on that matter that requires space

The canvassing for the snap Presidential Elections in 1986 was held at the PICC Plenary Hall. The historic walkout of the COMELEC tabulators on February 9, 1986 is said to have triggered the People Power Revolution.

Photo credits go to www.rappler.com

PICC has hosted some of the best local and international musical events, ranging from Lea Salonga, Ryan Cayabyab, Janet Jackson, Luciano Pavarotti, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Michael Buble, and even DJs Tiesto and Benny Benassi.
PICC has meeting rooms that also used for music events because of the way they were constructed, sound proof and all sorts of things

The grape-like chandeliers at the Reception Hall came all the way from Prague. Maintaining these beautiful light fixtures is no easy task, as each of the 7,000 globules and bulbs must be taken down, polished, and reinstalled.

Today, PICC is being expanded with the addition of two new buildings: the Museo ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which will house coveted art pieces from the collection of the BSP, and a new Trade Exhibit Hall to host corporate and association trade exhibits.