Into The Golden Age

As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Cultural Centre of the Philippines continues to loom large in the awareness of the Filipino people as the nation’s stronghold for cultural preservation and creative excellence—but one has to ask: how does it fare now, and where does it go from here?

- Marga Manlapig

Since 1969, it has served as the venue for some of the greatest live performances by some of the finest local talents. Cultural Centre of the Philippines is an institution that has withstood the test of time, as well as the changing tastes of a nation. And one has to ask: Where does the country’s stronghold of creativity go from here?

“Art matters in the life of every Filipino.” This has long been the vision of the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP) since it first opened its doors to the public in 1969. Indeed, for many Filipinos, the CCP is where they had their first experience of the fine and performing arts: school field trips to see the works of local masters displayed throughout its halls; a child’s ballet or piano recital; or perhaps even a breathtaking look at a masterpiece like The Nutcracker or an original Filipino performance like The Tales of the Manuvu.

Today, it continues to serve as the main performance area for some of the country’s leading creative companies. More than that, it has gone a step further by bringing its various programmes to provincial venues in a bid to educate and enlighten the people.