After a six-month closure for a sweeping renovation, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) has officially reopened—marking the next chapter for the country’s iconic brutalist landmark as it approaches its 50th anniversary and prepares to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026.
Widely regarded as Asia’s first international convention center and a National Cultural Treasure, the PICC was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin and first inaugurated in September 1976. Nearly five decades later, the complex has been restored under the stewardship of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in collaboration with Leandro V. Locsin Partners, ensuring that every enhancement stayed true to Locsin’s modernist vision and National Artist I.P. Santos’ landscape design.
“We did our best to marry our duty to innovate, modernize, and update with our responsibility to preserve,” said PICC General Manager Atty. Nicolette Ann P. Cruz during the media tour on November 5.
Artisans and specialists meticulously cleaned and refurbished the structure’s concrete interiors through laser cleaning, while the 3,068-bulb chandelier in the Delegation Lobby was fitted with energy-efficient lighting. The marble floors were rebuffed, and worn slabs replaced. The 3,400-square-meter courtyard, one of the renovation’s most striking transformations, has been restored to its original pebble wash finish and now houses 20 APEC-donated sculptures under the watchful presence of Arturo Luz’s Anito.
Inside, both the Plenary Hall and Reception Hall have been refreshed while maintaining their original designs. Wood panels, ceilings, and doors were restored; seating was reupholstered and fitted with new brass seat numbers; and chandeliers were polished to their former brilliance.
The BSP art collection housed in the PICC—including masterpieces such as Jose Joya’s “Pagdiriwang” mural and Napoleon Abueva’s “Sungka Benches”—now benefits from improved lighting and museum-grade conservation standards.
Beyond restoration, the renovation also future-proofs the 12-hectare complex for the global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) industry. The upgrades include state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, high-definition LED screens, high-speed Wi-Fi, automated doors, and energy-efficient lighting. A new wayfinding and room-naming system was also introduced to meet international standards for accessibility and guest navigation.
Cruz noted that every intervention was a result of archival research, careful craftsmanship, and deep respect for Filipino modernism.
“The PICC celebrates a space where tradition meets modernization,” she said. “Our goal is to preserve what makes it iconic while ensuring it remains globally competitive.”
Since its completion in 1976, the PICC has hosted countless historic events—from the IMF–World Bank Meeting that inaugurated it, to global summits, presidential inaugurations, and major cultural milestones.
