Clark International Airport

The newly built terminal building of Clark International Airport has been hailed as one of the top six finalists in the 2021 World Selection of the prestigious Prix Versailles Architecture and Design Awards under the airport category.

Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp (LIPAD), the private sector consortium in charge of the airport’s operations and maintenance which assuming operations of the facility in August 2019, announced the great news at a press conference. CEO Bi Young Chungunco said: “The distinction is very timely because it comes at a time when ... we Filipinos are in great anticipation of better times and hopefully, the decline of the pandemic.”

The terminal’s construction was made possible by the collaboration of Casas Architects and the international design firm Populous for its interiors, after being handed over by MegawideGMR Construction Joint Venture which built the exterior shell structurally designed by Budji+Royal Architecture+Design (BCDA). The terminal’s world-class architecture is another collaboration between BCDA and award-winning Hong Kong-based architect William Shu of Integrated Design Associates, who served as principal architect of the project.

This four-level terminal has an area of 110,000 sqm and has the capacity to accommodate eight million passengers annually. Its design was inspired by the natural formations and surrounding landscapes of Pampanga with uniquely Filipino materials.

“We hope that through this new terminal building we can help uplift the mood of our countrymen, and soon when travel is relaxed, Clark International Airport will be there to delight passengers and [serve] as a fitting testament to Philippine capacities,” Chungunco added.

“Clark International Airport will be there to delight passengers and [serve] as a fitting testament to Philippine capacities”

This year we have seen the completion of the restoration of Manila’s art deco jewel, the Metropolitan Theater (MET). Designed by Architect Juan M Arellano, the MET was inaugurated in 1931 and had been the centre of the country’s performing and visual arts scene for some time.

Amid the city-wide lockdowns brought upon by the ongoing pandemic, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts was able to secure the said structure as a venue for filming some productions that were made available online through its Facebook page.

“We are happy because after many years of unfortunate events that greatly damaged the theatre ... it has stood strong against all these adversities. These tell us that MET is not just about arts, culture and beauty. Rather, it is also about resiliency, strength and hope,” says NCCA Chairperson Arsenio Lizaso. “MET is just like us Filipinos—resilient, strong and hopeful even in the face of many challenges our country is facing. The restoration of the MET brings us hope that someday, like her, we will rise and be beautiful again as a nation.

The most anticipated offering at the MET this year is its inaugural fulllength musical production Lapu-lapu: Ang Datu ng Mactan, in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Victory of Mactan. Playdates of the said production are still to be announced.

“We hope that after this pandemic, the MET will become a centre to preserve another cultural heritage—our traditional Filipino theatre and art forms such as komedyas, sarswelas, epikos, and bodabils as well as our other intangible cultural heritage such as traditional folk dances and indigenous music.”