Philippine Center

The Philippine Center is a building that houses the Philippine Consulate General in New York City. It is located at 556 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, three blocks south of Rockefeller Plaza and north of the New York Public Library."Visit of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Participate in the 2005 World Summit - High Level plenary session of the 60th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, United States of America, 12-15 September, 2005", Press Kit, Office of the President, Government Mass Media Group, Bureau of Communications Services, Manila, September, 2005.]

History

The Philippine Center was created under Philippine Presidential Decree No. 188 on May 10, 1973. It was purchased by the Philippine Government from the Knights of Columbus on October 29, 1973, at the cost of $2,250,000.00 with an additional $1,500,000.00 to buy-out an existing lease on the building. The present ownership of the Philippine Center is in the name of the Republic of the Philippines. In 1993, the Philippine Government offices that are housed within the facility started paying rentals to the Philippine Center on a regular basis, in addition to nominal fees charged for the use of function rooms. Since its early operations, the Philippine Center has become the venue for community and business meetings, forums, receptions and weekly art exhibits featuring Filipino artists and groups.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made an historic first official visit to the Philippine Center on September 15, 2005.

tructure

The Philippine Center in New York has seven floors. It has the "Kalayaan" Hall (Freedom Hall) which is the main reception hall, a hall annex, a library at the second floor, and an art exhibit area at the first floor lobby. The rest of the floors are used by Philippine Government offices.

Purpose

The Philippine Center was created to:
*consolidate, integrate and coordinate all activities in the New York area for all Philippine Government offices and agencies
*nurture, promote and propagate Philippine culture
*encourage foreign tourists to visit the Philippines
*expand foreign markets of Philippine products
*enhance the image of the Philippines
*house within its premises all the offices and agencies in New York of the Philippine Government

Philippine Government offices

The following government offices are housed in the New York Philippine Center:
*The Philippine Consulate General in New York
*The Philippine Mission to the United Nations
*The Special Trade Representative
*The Tourism Attache
*The Commission on Audit (International Audit Division)

Art Collection of the Philippine Center in New York City

From June 3 to 15, 2007, the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Center Management Board exhibited, for the first time, the New York Philippine Center's collection of the work of Filipino master artists. The collection includes works by National Artists of the Philippines, namely: Hernando R. Ocampo, Vicente Manansala, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz, Ang Kiukok and Jose Joya. The works of Manuel Rodriquez, the father of Philippine printmaking, Venancio C. Igarta, Hugo C. Yonzon II, Malang, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Angelito Antonio, Norma Belleza, Eduardo Castrillo and Juvenal Sanso were also displayed. This is the first official art collection exhibit held by the New York Philippine Center after more than 34 years. The art collecting project of the New York Philippine Center begun since its opening on November 14, 1974. Some art masterpieces were donated by the artists themselves. The public exhibit was officially presented as "Pamana: Modernong Sining" (A Heritage of Modern Art), to celebrate the 109th anniversary of the Philippine Independence.Endaya, Imelda Cajipe (artist and independent curator) and Cecilia B. Rebong (Philippine Consul-General). "Pamana: Modernong Sining" (A Heritage of Modern Art), An Art Exhibit from the Collection of the Philippine Center in New York, Printed Catalogue, The Consulate General of the Philippines, Philippine Center Management Board, and PCGNY.net, June 11, 2007]

ee also

*Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz
*Philippine Independence Day Parade
* Filipino-American
* New York Filipino Film Festival
* Overseas Filipino
* Philippine Declaration of Independence
* Philippine National Bank
* Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company
* Lauro L. Baja, Jr.
* Rafael M. Salas
* Balikbayan box

References

External links

* [http://www.pcgny.net Consulate General of the Philippines, New York, PCGNY.net] , retrieved on: 12 June 2007
* [http://philippinetourism.us/offices/ny.htm Philippine Tourism Office, New York, PhilippineTourism.us] , retrieved on: 12 June 2007
* [http://pw1.netcom.com/~pnbnyc/pnbnyc.html Philippine National Bank, New York Branch, Netcom.com,] retrieved on: 12 June 2007
* [http://www.philamchamber.org/content/?p=48 Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, New York, PhilChamber.org] , retrieved on: 12 June 2007
* [http://www.philippinecentersf.com/ Philippine Center, San Francisco, California, PhilippineCenterSF.com] , retrieved on: 12 June 2007