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| Inside the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) |
Back in May 2017, a couple of hours before Lea Salonga's concert with the Brigham Young University Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, a very sudden heavy downpour occurred.
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| CCP Chairman Dr. Jaime Laya |
The rain was so heavy that it caused a slight delay to the concert, there were those that got stuck along the way in the flooded streets of Metro Manila which was not surprising. But what was shocking to see was the handful of orchestra seats inside the CCP Main Theater cordoned off due to leaks from above. The concert was a sold out affair so who knows where the ticket holders for those seats ended up eventually.
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| CCP President Margie Moran-Floirendo |
This incident from back in 2017 already drove home the need for major repairs to the CCP Main Building. A year later, an audit of the whole building was conducted to see what and where needs fixing. Events to raise funds were then held during the 50th anniversary celebrations that was abruptly cut by the pandemic.
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| Ongoing work at the 4th Floor |
Now at the start of 2023, the major repair and rehabilitation is in full swing. The CCP main Building is closed to the public and the performances have already moved to various venues like the nearby Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez and Metropolitan Theater. But during the institutional press conference held earlier this month, the press was toured around the building and was given a glimpse of the ongoing work there.
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| Bare ceiling at the Silangan Hall |
When the CCP reopened its doors, several venues inside like the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) and Silangan Hall at the 4th floor were already undergoing renovation. The tour showed that the ceilings of the Silangan Hall and the offices housed at the 4th floor have already been stripped exposing the wiring, drainage, and air vent systems that will be completely overhauled. There were plenty of warped ceiling panels and bumpy floors throughout the 4th floor indicating water leaks and corrosion of the drainage pipes.
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| Ceiling of the Silangan Hall kitchen |
The CCP Library, which has been closed since sometime October 2022, will be transferred over to the annex building which is just a stone's throw away. Some of the library's collection are still in boxes currently stored at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) awaiting its transfer to the annex building.
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| Library materials currently stored at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) |
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| Current state of Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) |
On the other hand, Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) has not been used at all since the reopening and work in it has already begun. Not sure if the Little Theater will still have an orchestra pit after all this rehabilitation. The orchestra pit has not been used for ages due to the presence of water in it. Not surprising since the CCP Complex is built on reclaimed land and the pit is among the lowest areas inside the building.
Even if the CCP Main Building is closed, the performances will definitely continue. The Institutional Presscon also laid out some of the productions on the horizon for 2023.
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| Lara Maigue with the PPO Wind Ensemble |
Announced are the music productions like Isang Gabi ng Sarswela (June 2023), Figaro, excerpts from the Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro (August 2023), and Wondrous Woodwinds (October 2023) to be held at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (Black Box), the CCP's newest performance venue.
Aside from the subscription series concerts at the Metropolitan Theater, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will also go on a tour with more dates in various cities in Luzon and the Visayas.
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| CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan |
Other projects include the Lola Basyang Animation Project and a Flamenco show schedules in September 2023. Also announced is the return of the Virgin Labfest and the Cinemalaya to be held in new venues this year.
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