11/27/22, 10:15 AM 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) – SwirlingOverCoffee

Before celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Philippine

International Convention Center (PICC) invited various
bloggers to take an exclusive tour inside the halls of the
historical venue. Here are 10 things to know about PICC, Asia’s
very first international convention center:

1. The Main Lobby houses one of the country’s largest Jose T. Joya paintings, “Ang Pagdiriwang”.
Measuring 5.5 x 7 meters, the huge masterpiece had to be painted onsite by the National Artist as no
exits or entrances to the area could fit the work of art.

2. PICC is an artwork in itself. Designed by National Artist for Architecture, Leandro V. Locsin, the
Philippine heritage site was originally made up of 4 building modules: the Delegation Building,
Secretariat Building, Plenary Hall, and the Reception Hall. The Forum was added in 2003 to
accommodate the requirements of convention organizers for an exhibition hall.

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11/27/22, 10:15 AM 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) – SwirlingOverCoffee

3. With a floor area of over 65,000 square feet, the construction for the massive structure was
undertaken in a short span of just 23 months, from November 1974 to September 1976.

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11/27/22, 10:15 AM 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) – SwirlingOverCoffee

4. On average, PICC holds about 400 events in a year. The most frequent types of events held at PICC
are government events, corporate and association meetings and graduation ceremonies. Among the
most notable international events held at the PICC were the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Post
Ministerial Conference and ASEAN Regional Forum (2007), the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of
Governors of the Asian Development Bank (2012), and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings
in 1996 and 2015.

5. The canvassing for the snap Presidential Elections in 1986 was held at the PICC Plenary Hall. The
historic walkout of the COMELEC tabulators on February 9, 1986 is said to have triggered the People
Power Revolution.

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11/27/22, 10:15 AM 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) – SwirlingOverCoffee

6. PICC has hosted some of the best local and international musical events, ranging from Lea Salonga,
Ryan Cayabyab, Janet Jackson, Luciano Pavarotti, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Michael Buble, and even
DJs Tiesto and Benny Benassi.

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