Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President and Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran Floirendo, Presidential sister Irene Marcos-Araneta, art patron Juan V. Laya and Ignacio Gimenez, scholar of the National Artist for Theater Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero led the ribbon-cutting of a new edifice and the unveiling of its logo at the CCP grounds last Thursday afternoon.
Everyone was thrilled because after eight years of waiting, the state cultural center has inaugurated its new venue for artists’ performances.
Named after the philanthropist and businessman Ignacio Gimenez, the Black Box Theater, also known as the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (TIG), was formally opened to the public.
In a press brief, the CCP Corporate Communication Division said that the donation of the building to the CCP by Gimenez was to honor Guerrero, his mentor and his way of giving back to the Filipino people, and to encourage local business community leaders to engage more in Philippine theater.
According to Emily Abrera, a former officer and member of the CCP Board of Trustees, the talk with Gimenez started in the year 2015 under the administration of the late president of the land, Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.
“I remember when we met up with him, we had turon (sweet, crispy banana rolls) for merienda,” chuckled Abrera in her speech at the opening of TIG to suggest the austerity of the CCP in meeting with bigwigs.
TIG will be the slated venue of the CCP Special Concert Series, Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Anak Datu,” CCP Triple Threats, “Ang Dakilang Teatro ng Daigidg,” Repertory Philippines (Rep)’s “Carousel” and the exquisite “Ternocon.”
Also present during the inauguration were other officials of CCP and some of the members of the Board of Trustees like Michelle Junia, also known in the culture and lifestyle circles as Nikki Junia, Atty. Orna Kapunan, among others.
The Black Box Theater or the TIG is located at the corner of Sotto and Jaladoni Streets inside the CCP grounds.