Philippine International Convention Center

Philippine International Convention Center
Sentrong Pangkumbensyong Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas
General information
Type	Convention center
Architectural style	Brutalist
Location	Vicente Sotto Street, CCP Complex, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates	14.554257°N 120.982618°E / 14.554257; 120.982618
Construction started	1974
Completed	1976
Inaugurated	September 5, 1976
Design and construction
Architect	Leandro Locsin
Website
http://www.picc.gov.ph/

The Philippine International Convention Center (Filipino: Sentrong Pangkumbensyong Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas, or PICC) is a convention center located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. This state-of-the-art facility has been the host of numerous local and foreign conventions, meetings, fairs, and social events.

The PICC served as the office of the Vice President of the Philippines until 2005. It also previously housed the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

History

Presidential Decree No. 520 authorized the Central Bank of the Philippines (now Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) to construct an international conference building, acquire a suitable area for that purpose, and organize a corporation to manage a conference center. Thus, the PICC was organized under the Corporation Code.

The construction of the state-of-the-art PICC Complex was undertaken in a short span of 23 months, from November 1974 to September 1976, with Leandro Locsin as architect, who was subsequently named a National Artist.

From its inception to the present, the PICC has also hosted the annual Awards Night of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), the Philippine equivalent of the Oscars, mostly at its Plenary Hall.

On September 5, 1976, the PICC, Asia's first international convention center was officially opened to the world when it hosted the 1976 IMF-World Bank Meeting.

Presidential Decree No. 995 created the Batasang Bayan to function as a legislative body before the Interim Batasang Pambansa convened in 1978. So on September 21, 1976 on 4th Anniversary of the birth of the Bagong Lipunan (New Society) the Batasang Bayan held its inauguration at the PICC. For the first time, the PICC was used to house a legislative body from 1976 to 1978.

The PICC is dedicated to the task of bringing peoples and nations together and providing a place where they can meet and exchange ideas that may perhaps open doors to better world understanding and peace.

As a venue of meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and special events, it caters to organizers of international, regional Asia Pacific, and local events by providing highly advanced conferencing equipment and facilities and, most importantly, friendly, efficient, and professional service.

Philippine International Convention Center was the venue of Miss Universe 1994.

In March 2011, Bro. Bo Sanchez, founder of Light of Jesus Family, transferred "The Feast" from Valye Verde Country Club to PICC. The Feast PICC has an attendance of 16,000 at the Plenary and Reception Halls Combined. Also they held November 2013 Kerygma Conference here.

External links

• Philippine International Convention Center