Baguio Convention and Cultural Center
| Baguio Convention and Cultural Center | |
|---|---|
(2018-11-26).jpg) The convention center in 2018 | |
| Coordinates | 16°24′16″N 120°35′59″E / 16.4044°N 120.5998°E |
| Owner | Baguio city government |
| Operator | Baguio city government |
| Inaugurated | 1978 |
Former names | Baguio Convention Center |
Theatre seating | 2,000 |
| Enclosed space | |
The Baguio Convention and Cultural Center (BCCC)[1] is a convention center in Baguio, Philippines.
History
The facility initially known as the Baguio Convention Center (BCC) was built by then-First Lady Imelda Marcos. It was designed with an Igorot motif in 1977 under the Ministry of Human Settlements which was under Marcos.[2][3]
The land used to built the convention center was owned by the Philippine national government. Imelda's husband and President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 396 on February 27, 1974 to transfer the land to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on the condition a convention center will be built.[4]
The inauguration was marked by the hosting of the World Chess Championship 1978 which featured the match between then-Soviets Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi.[2][3] It opened with the seating capacity of 1,000 people.[5] It was widely believed that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos built the Baguio Convention Center specifically for the chess tournament.[6]
The Baguio city government acquired the property from the GSIS for ₱250 million in 2003 to be paid in installment. The Baguio government entered into an agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) was to pay its obligations to the city to the GSIS instead. However due to BCDA's own dispute with Camp John Hay's developers, it cannot remit payments and the GSIS attempted to repossess the convention center.[7][8] The dispute was resolved by 2012.[9][10][11]
Sometime after Baguio's recognition as a creative hub by UNESCO, the convention center adopted its current name.[3]
Facilities
The BCCC's hall has a total capacity of 2,000 people.[10][12]
References
- ^ "Baguio Convention and Cultural Center". Baguio City Website. Baguio City Government. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Cabreza, Vincent (January 3, 2007). "Gloria won't interfere in convention center woes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Inquirer Center Luzon. p. A14. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c Andanan, Janthrize Mari; Agbunag, Manette Sky (March 9, 2023). "Going Back in Time: Baguio Convention and Cultural Center". Baguio Public Information Office. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ Marcos, Ferdinand Sr. "P.D. No. 396". The LawPhil Project. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ "Chess Games Plan Checked; Commercial Flop is Predicted". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. August 14, 1978. p. 3. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ Cabreza, Vincent (February 5, 2023). "Chess icon Karpov recalls epic match in Baguio". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ "Baguio City Pays GSIS Php200m for Convention Center". GSIS. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ "Baguio moves to keep convention center". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 28, 2007. p. B11. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ "Baguio settles P316-M debt to keep convention center". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Bajenting, Johanna O.; Gom-os, Mae Fhel (November 5, 2017). "New convention center design out". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ Bajenting, Johanna O.; Gom-os, Mae Fhel (July 18, 2017). "Convention center rehab pushed". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ See, Dexter (December 28, 2017). "DPWH-CAR, City agree on Convention Center design". Baguio Herald Express. Retrieved July 23, 2025.