Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas

The Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (English: Francisco Balagtas Theater), formerly known as the Folk Arts Theater, is a theater located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Manila, Philippines. It is a covered proscenium amphitheater owned by the Cultural Center of the Philippines that was a popular venue for concerts during the 1980s and 1990s.[1][2] The theater, named after Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas, has a seating capacity of 8,458 in ten sections and features a broad fascia with a single column-to-column span of 80 metres (260 ft). It is the largest single-span structure in the country, with a 100-by-100-metre (330 ft × 330 ft) roof resting on eight monumental columns.[2] In her book "Cultural Center of the Philippines: Crystal Years," Visitacion de la Torre described it as a sheltered plaza with a roof that "appears to float, creating the impression that the building is a dream on one's tender hands."[2]

Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas

Folk Arts Theater
The Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas in 2019
Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas Location in Metro Manila
Address	Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Malate Manila Philippines
Coordinates
Operator	Cultural Center of the Philippines
Type	National
Capacity	8,458
Construction
Opened	July 7, 1974 (1974-07-07)
Architect	Leandro V. Locsin

The Tanghalan was commissioned by then First Lady Imelda Marcos in 1974 for the Miss Universe 1974 Pageant, which was to be held in Manila for the first time. It was built in record time of seventy-seven days in time for the pageant and was designed by Leandro V. Locsin.[2] It was originally built to seat an audience of 10,000. It was not air conditioned and was designed to allow natural breeze to flow through.[2]

The theater was inaugurated on July 7, 1974 with an extravagant cultural showcase dubbed "Kasaysayan ng Lahi", which featured a military parade by personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It hosted the international pageant in the same month where Amparo Muñoz of Spain won the title. In 1978, the theater was the venue of the first Philippine Folk Festival, and the first Metropop Song Festival. It was also used as one of the venues of the Manila International Film Festival, as well as the annual Lenten folk presentations, misas de gallo and an Alamat series depicting Filipino legends or epics through dance and drama.[2]

The theater has hosted many popular musical acts of the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, including Janet Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Paula Abdul, Puerto Rican group Menudo, British pop group 5ive, Pearl Jam, Mr. Big, James Ingram, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and Regine Velasquez, as well as the magician David Copperfield.[2] The Folk Arts Theater is also used as a site by different religious groups. Day by Day Christian Ministries, a large international religious organization, has leased the area since 2005. They have dedicated the Theatre as Bulwagan ng Panginoón (English: Hall of the Lord).[2]

The building also houses the main office of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists Foundation and the Printmakers Association of the Philippines. The building is expected to be torn down in the future, subject to the development of the Complex.