(Photo courtesy of PCO)
MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos inaugurated the 279-seat Likhang Filipino Theatre in Pasay City on Friday, providing Filipino artists with a new venue to showcase their talent and creative works.
The First Couple led the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the theater along Roxas Boulevard, located within the Likhang Filipino Creative Lab.
They later joined guests in watching a theatrical performance marking the venue’s opening.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the theater was designed to offer local performers and emerging artists an accessible space to stage productions without the extensive technical and logistical requirements of larger venues.
The facility is expected to provide more opportunities for Filipino artists to present original works and bring local stories to broader audiences.
The PCO said the initiative aligns with the administration’s efforts to develop the country’s creative industries and strengthen support for Filipino talent.
During his first State of the Nation Address in 2022, Marcos identified the creative sector as an area for development, emphasizing the need to support artists and protect creative workers, particularly freelancers.
The administration has also highlighted the industry’s potential to generate employment, contribute to economic growth, and improve the international competitiveness of Filipino creative enterprises.
The PCO said the theater’s opening comes as the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, providing another platform to promote Filipino culture and creativity across the region.
“As the Philippines chairs ASEAN this year, Filipino creativity is shared with the Philippines’ neighbors. ASEAN is also an opportunity for the Philippines to have regional cooperation with other countries, as it helps protect jobs, trade, and prices at home,” the PCO said.
Established in January 2026, Likhang Filipino serves as a year-round showroom, marketplace, and incubation hub for locally made products and creative enterprises.
The initiative is managed by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), which seeks to connect Filipino craftsmanship, design, and innovation with domestic and international markets.
Its Creative Lab also offers shared workspaces, training facilities, and collaborative opportunities to help artists, designers, and entrepreneurs develop their skills and creative projects.
Among those who attended the inauguration were former First Lady Imelda Marcos, National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes, PCO Secretary Lino Edgardo Cayetano, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, foreign and local government officials, and private sector representatives.
