Skip to content

Curtain call for Philam Life Theater?

By Pablo A. Tariman,VERA Files

Pianist Sofya Sulyak takes a bow with PPO Conductor Olivier Ochanine
Pianist Sofya Sulyak takes a bow with PPO Conductor Olivier Ochanine

When award-winning Ukrainian pianist Sofya Gulyak and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra ended their “Elegantly Brahms” concert at the Philam Life Auditorium in Manila Wednesday, many in the audience knew it wasn’t just the musicians who were bowing out.

So was the iconic and much-cherished Philam Life Auditorium, which will be demolished after serving for 52 years as the venue of the most memorable performances the country has seen.

“Elegantly Brahms” is the last major musical event to be held at the Auditorium. Its parent company, Philam Life, the country’s premier life insurance company, is moving to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and Mall of Asia starting April.

Philam Life has sold the site to mall developer SM Development Corp. (SMDC).

Philamlife Auditorium by Vincent Go
Philamlife Auditorium by Vincent Go

Known for its excellent acoustics, Philam Life Auditorium on United Nations Avenue in Ermita is a 780-seat theater whose acoustics were done by Bolt, Beranek & Newman, which also did the acoustics of the Sydney Opera House, United Nations Assembly Hall in New York, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, Cultural Center of the Philippines and Baltimore’s Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

The Philam Life building was designed by Filipino architect Carlos Arguelles and built in 1961. The Urban Roamer website said, “The building was built in accordance with the International Style of architecture, a style that emerged after World War II that emphasized on the building’s ‘natural’ beauty …rather than relying on decorative facades.”

Although many expect the site to be turned into a shopping mall, SMDC hasn’t actually decided what to do with the Auditorium, said SM Group of companies vice president for marketing and publicity Millie Dizon.

“They are still in the planning stage” as far as the Philam Life Auditorium is concerned, Dizon said.

Sources familiar with the negotiations with SMDC said initially, there was a plan to renovate the entire building and save the theater, but it was scrapped after further study showed it would cost billions of pesos.

The idea of the theater being turned into a shopping mall has alarmed the classical music community. PPO’s music director Olivier Ochanine has launched an online petition asking the theater’s new owner to spare the auditorium.

Tenor Otoniel Gonzaga and soprano Camille Lopez perform at Philamlife auditorium
Tenor Otoniel Gonzaga and soprano Camille Lopez perform at Philamlife auditorium
“This is one of the best performance halls in the entire Philippines and must be saved,” the petition, which has so far netted an initial 3000 signatories, said. “It has some of the best acoustics for Manila’s orchestras, choirs, and solo musical artists and its destruction would be a gigantic loss for Filipino culture and heritage. We must stand together to protect this, our most acoustically ‘sound’ performance venue. Let us make this one of the biggest uprisings Manila has seen.”

“This is by far the best hall I’ve sung in,” said Arthur Espiritu, the first Filipino tenor to sing at the La Scala di Milan. Espiritu ranks Philam Life Theater’s excellent acoustics second only to the little theater in Carnegie Hall.

Many musical icons made their mark at the Philam Life Auditorium.

In the early ‘70s, opera icon RenataTebaldi, reportedly a rival of the equally great Maria Callas, figured in a memorable recital at the Philam Life Theater and cracked in a Manon Lescaut aria. Instead of being booed, she was showered with “Bravas.”

The great black contralto Marian Anderson
The great black contralto Marian Anderson

The great black contralto, Marian Anderson, also sang at Philam Life. The first Filipino winner of a voice competition carrying her name, tenor Otoniel Gonzaga, also sang there with soprano Camille Lopez Molina.

On Jan. 22, 1969, eight-year old piano prodigy Cecile Licad made her orchestral debut at the Philam Life with the University of the East Student Orchestra under the baton of Col. Antonino Buenaventura, now a National Artist for Music, playing Avery’s Concertino Based on Familiar Tunes.

Licad went on to reap honors, including the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal that launched her international career.

Another recipient of the Leventritt Gold Medal, violinist Pinchas Zukerman, also performed at the Philam Life Auditorium in the ‘90s.

Espiritu has a sentimental attachment to the theater because it was where he made his Philippine debut in August 2010 with soprano Rachelle Gerodias, and his second concert with baritone Andrew Fernando and Rachelle that December.

“If this theater goes, part of my life goes as well because I would never be able to tell this story of my debut recital to my kids because it’s no longer there,” Espiritu said. “Philam Life Theater has become a fixture in my life as a singer.”

Impresario Joseph Uy, who has brought first-rate artists to the Philam Life Theater from Zukerman to John Aler, said, “The acoustic of the theater is a natural wonder. I believe that the architect never in his wildest dream thought of building a theater of this grandeur. I used to tell people that the theater is alive and full of passion. It supplements the artists in making love to music. It caresses every note before transmitting the sound to the audience.”

Music Impresario Ray Sison of the ROS Music Center exalts the clear and distinct sound coming from the artists on stage even if one is seated in the last row.

Philamlife Bldg by Vincent Go
Philamlife Bldg by Vincent Go

Music critic Antonio Hila, who is one of the signatories of the Ochanine petition, said the theater’s impending demise showed the total absence of the much vaunted public and private collaboration in the arts.

“The truth is the arts need a passionate patron, probably as passionate as Imelda Marcos. We all die a little death, when an institution is erased just like that after a business transaction,” he said.

“I guess this is the same scenario that happened to Rizal Theater and the intimate Molina Hall named after a National Artist. This country has more affinity with basketball courts than performing arts theater. I will grieve its loss, a heavy one for me. I can only hope the government will build more good venues for the performing arts, or provide the leadership,” Hila added.

Meanwhile, the theater’s full grand Steinway piano, to be donated to the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, has reportedly been auctioned off.

Requests for farewell concerts have also been turned down. “They want the theater to go quietly,” said an insider.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)

Published inArts and CultureVera Files

35 Comments

  1. LCsiao LCsiao

    Di ba pu-pwedeng i-petisyon ito sa Korte Suprema bilang isang national patrimony para hindi matuloy ang paggiba?

  2. chi chi

    Nakakalungkot naman ito, historical site na halos ang Philam Life Theater tapos magiging ordinaryong tindahan na lang ni Sy. Privately owned yata yan kaya mahirap pigilin.

  3. LCsiao LCsiao

    E di ba yung Manila Hotel nga muntik nang maibenta dati ni Tabako sa isang Malaysian consortium. Napigilan lang dahil pumunta ang losing bidder (Emilio Yap) sa SC noong si Narvasa pa ang CJ.

    Tapos idineklara ng SC na sa Filipino firm lang pupuwedeng ibenta ang hotel dahil ito’y isang national patrimony.

  4. vic vic

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6-fA1yP854
    Second only to the CN tower as the Tourist attraction, this is during its time, the most expensive Castle in Canada…98 rooms, built in 5 hectares , took 3 years to build by 300 workers, at the cost in l911 of $ 3.8 and was taken over by the city when the owner, one of the richest family can no longer afford to pay the Property Tax which accumulated to $27000 thousand due to depression…it was about to be demolished when the Kiwanis Club decided to operate it…during the war, its secret tunnels were utilized as secret factories for war sonars and other materials for war efforts…In 2011 the City took over the operation of the Castle and it is undergoing and Exterior Renovation…if you come and Discover Ontario, Drop by and check this Castle by the Hill…Casa Loma in Toronto…check the you tube and you will be amazed…it is not hunted as the myth goes…the sound and noise that was long rumoured were those of Horses that have their Barn under ground in the tunnels that were made Fit for the King’s Horses…

  5. chi chi

    LCsiao, pinoy naman yata ang may-ari ng SM na Sy.

  6. vic vic

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0nIV3qwnLA

    this Great Historical Landmark in the middle of the City could be a hunted House After all…many movie Scenes been shot at this location and several documentaries been taken including this Ghost Trackers…but don’t let this discourage you, this is still the must See historical landmark to discover…it is open to the public in a guided tour or individual…Sir Henry and his wife resided on the castle for the first ten years after its completion when its ownership changed hands…

  7. chi chi

    vic, I’ve been there but only seen the outside, yes it’s impressive from where I looked.

    Maybe that well- intentioned politicians could start a petition to make Philam Life stay or declare it as national patrimony as mentioned by LCsiao, nice sana.

  8. vic vic

    Yes chi, it is an impressive architectural landmark and it is undergoing an exterior restoration at the moment. It was designated as historical landmark so it could be no longer subjected to any intervention. Many landmarks been designated but it takes convincing the authorities that it could be be sustained and maintained by civil societies. Casa Loma been operated and kept afloat by the Kiwanis club until it was taken over by the City lately under its wing. just for its during the lean years was too expensive. now it is money making tourist attraction. And a proud landmarkoc our City. Right smack downtown.

  9. MPRivera MPRivera

    kayo naman. kelan ba ngakaroon ng interes ang mga ‘yan na i-preserba ang ating mga national heritage?

    lahat nga, di ba pinag-isipan nilang perahin? pagkatapos, di baga’t sila sila lang ang nagkakaalaman kung saan saan ginastos o pinagparte parte ang pera?

    mabibilang sa tatlong daliring putol ang matino sa mga nakapuwesto sa gobyerno.

    tandaan n’yo ‘yan. kahit ipaputol ko pa ang ulo (ng kapitbahay) ko!

  10. chi chi

    Mags, sundan ko lang yang sinasabi mo tungkol sa ating mga politicians at elected officials. Korek ka, paano nila maiisipan na isalba ang Philam Life Theater at iba pa sa kamay ng mga negosyante at gawing historical site kung napakaabala nila gaya nito. Basahin mo buo at maiintriga ka rin tulad ko, sana hindi totoo. (Hehehe…tsismis na rin).

    Leave our daughter, Heart’s parents tell Chiz — http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/03/19/13/leave-our-daughter-hearts-parents-tell-chiz

Leave a Reply