MANILA, Philippines โ The Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with technology leader MinebeaMitsumi to deploy the revolutionary SALIOT (Smart Adjustable Light for the Internet of Things) lighting system at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
This strategic infrastructure modernizes the nationโs premier convention venue just in time for the high-profile 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.
As world leaders and international delegates converge in Manila, the DOTโs installation of the SALIOT system introduces unprecedented operational agility and aesthetic precision to the PICC’s historic spaces.
Crucially, the advanced lighting network is configured to precisely illuminate four large Filipino masterpieces housed within the complex.
The deployment beautifully intersects with the PICCโs recent comprehensive restoration. Originally built in 1976 under the direction of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos as part of her vision to establish Manila as a global cultural and diplomatic hub, the iconic convention center represents a monumental chapter in Philippine design.
Designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin, the structureโs brutalist architecture has been meticulously renovated to its full, authentic glory. Its bold raw-concrete forms and historic public spaces are now illuminated by next-generation IoT technology, balancing mid-century structural power with future-forward visual engineering.
“Seeing the PICC renovated to its full glory, paired with MinebeaMitsumiโs SALIOT system, bridges our rich architectural heritage with modern operational efficiency,” stated DOT Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay.
“It allows us to cast the perfect light onto our finest National Cultural Treasures, ensuring our historic convention center delivers a visually stunning, world-class experience for international delegates as we host the 49th ASEAN Summit,โ she added.
The SALIOT light installation was made possible through the facilitation of the DOT-Philippines Japan Tourism Investments and Business Development.
Masterful Illumination of Artworks in the PICC
The core breakthrough of the SALIOT system lies in its ability to deliver customized, non-destructive, and variable light to historic masterpieces without requiring physical alteration to Locsinโs structural grids:
โข Pagdiriwang by Jose Joya: SALIOTโs remote color-temperature adjustments (2700Kโ5000K) fine-tune the ambient white balance on this gargantuan, vibrant abstract mural, showcasing Joyaโs thick paint textures and festive depth precisely as intended for global dignitaries.
โข The Grid by Arturo Luz: Technicians can use SALIOT’s motorized zoom function to dynamically alter the beam distribution angle (10ยฐ to 30ยฐ) from the floor, accentuating the geometric shadows and minimalist elegance of Luzโs iconic linear steel and concrete structural works.
โข Dambana ng Pasko by Napoleon Abueva: Through the SALIOT system, Abuevaโs large molave artwork is blanketed in warm, low-UV illumination that emphasizes organic wood grains while protecting the materials from long-term degradation.
โข Balanghay by Toym Imao: The system creates focused, isolated visual vignettes along the delegation corridors for celebrated paintings and brass sculptures, including works by contemporary master Toym Imao.
“By equipping the PICC with SALIOT, we are providing a smart, safe, and highly sustainable infrastructure solution that respects, protects, and accentuates its magnificent, newly restored brutalist design and the irreplaceable art masterpieces within it,” said Yoshihisa Kainuma, Representative Director, Chairman & CEO of MinebeaMitsumi.
“Our partnership with the Department of Tourism ensures that the nation’s premier venue reflects the peak of global technological innovation,โ he added.
Driving Global Event Readiness and Safety
The 49th ASEAN Summit demands rapid, flawless venue transitions between multilateral plenary sessions, high-security bilateral rooms, and televised international press conferences.
By replacing traditional static lighting with the smartphone-controlled SALIOT system, the DOT and PICC can now execute complex lighting changes from the ground via Bluetooth Mesh technologyโreducing room turnover times from hours to minutes.
This partnership aligns directly with DOTโs mandate to foster eco-conscious, tech-forward modernization across the country’s landmark tourism and MICE assets.
By eliminating the reliance on heavy scaffolding and high-ceiling labor for lighting adjustments around invaluable artwork, the initiative significantly advances workplace safety for PICC’s technical teams while shrinking the venueโs carbon footprint through high-efficiency LED automation.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay (fourth from the left), together with officials from MinebeaMitsumi and the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), poses for a photo in front of the SALIOT-lit painting, โPagdiriwangโ by Jose Joya.
