Philippine Arena and Philippine Sports Complex June 2014 UPDATE

PHILIPPINE ARENA

 

PHILIPPINE SPORTS STADIUM

PHILIPPINE SPORTS CENTER

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Photos posted here are with permission to the owners.

Philippine Arena and Philippine Sports Complex April 2014 UPDATE

PHILIPPINE ARENA

PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMPLEX

Credits to the original owners of these photos ^^
Photos posted here are with permission to the owners.

Philippine Arena and Philippine Sports Complex FEB. 2014 UPDATE

*credits to the owner of these photos
*All photos posted here are with permission to the original owner


 INC Arena is planet's biggest

“The largest domed theater on the planet” is also the newest coliseum in the Philippines, and it’s nearing completion in Bocaue, Bulacan, to be unveiled – possibly with 50,000 people in attendance – to herald the centenary of Iglesia ni Cristo.

It was a riveting show on the Discovery channel as architect Andrew James guided the viewer on a tour of the amphitheater that occupies 34,000 sqm (its dome takes up 36,000 sqm, “the biggest roof space in the world”), coupled with the insights provided by Renato Solidum, earthquake expert of Phivolcs. The Philippine Arena, as it was referred to throughout the one-hour program on television, is touted as earthquake-proof even if it sits a mere 30 km from the (Marikina) West Valley Fault, even if  90 percent of the world’s earthquakes are generated ‘round the Pacific ring of fire. But then as Dr. Solidum put it, “earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do.”

This “record-breaking manmade marvel” started out as a plenary hall for the INC church and the contractors, San Jose Builders, were given 24 months to finish the job, “a deadline that we cannot move.” Quake-proofing the arena, said Mr. James, means flexibility in every inch of the structure but also ensuring the safety of people moving in and out and watching the show. Not only through “crowd management on a massive scale,” but also by making sure there are no bottlenecks, no panic, no stampedes when they make a mad dash for the exits – via the concourse and stairs -- during an emergency. Evacuation time: between four and six minutes.

Built 62 meters above the ground and looking like a crown (to the architect but like a giant clam to me), already the arena is whipping up waves of excitement among performers. As singer Julia Abueva said, “entertainment is big in the Philippines.” That’s why we need a big stage and a big theater (in this case, 140 meters from the back to the stage) for a big audience. Boxing fans could also dream of watching their idol Manny Pacquiao savage his next opponent in this structure that its designers brag as one that combines “majesty with intimacy.”

That said, let the earthquake expert have the last word: “We are ready to rumble with the tumble.” Without a stumble.

source: yahoo.com

Philippine Arena and Philippine Sports Complex Dec. 2013 UPDATE

 

*All photos posted here are with permission to the original owner

Discovery Channel 

MAN MADE TRAVELS: QUAKE PROOF

Demand for Arenas to feed Asia's MTV generation

Asia’s increasing wealth makes its population of youth, raised on a diet of MTV, a ripe target for visiting foreign entertainment acts.

The problem is a lack of suitable venues, says the architect behind a 50,000-seat stadium in Manila.
“They really want to enjoy themselves,” Populous senior principal Andrew James says. “You’ve got your 18 to 35-year-olds wanting to go out and have fun every weekend. They haven’t been brought up on sport. There’s a big demand for entertainment among these people.”

While sports venues in western countries – such as Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, which Populous designed for the 2000 Olympics – have largely provided the venue for touring large-scale music and entertainment acts, the lack of arena sports played in Asian countries means there are few equivalents.

However, the demand is there.

James estimates India could support at least eight mega-arenas and Indonesia at least two but the problem is making the business case for local private business to make the $200 million outlay for such a venue.
James is overseeing the construction of the stadium in the Philippines capital, which will be the largest of its type in the world.

The client is not the government – as would often be the case for an equivalent project in Australia – but a large church, the Iglesia ni Cristo.

“It’s a church but as it turns out, it’s exactly the same format as a 50,000-seat entertainment arena or mega-theatre,” James says.

The size of the arena is significant.

The Manila venue is much larger than most covered entertainment arenas, which tend to have capacity for only 15,000, he says.

“Once you get to 50,000 seats, the game changes economically,” James says. “All of a sudden, Lady Gaga’s saying ‘I’ve only got to sell those seats for $20 instead of $150 like I normally do’.”

Once you get to 50,000 seats, the game changes economically

The economics remain tricky. Unlike sports stadiums that are used each week and have a regular, predictable revenue stream, entertainment venues are a harder call.

But given the current state of affairs, and the lure of Asia’s emerging middle-class to big name acts, it’s only matter of time before the infrastructure appears.

“When Deep Purple played in India, they played in a field,” James says. “They set up a stage. There was just everyone standing in the field. They put up a fence made of hessian so people couldn’t see through.”

source: brw.com.au


The vast scale of the new Philippine Arena unfolds after 20 months of construction on the world’s largest arena
 
Populous Associate Principal Ron Van Sluijs who regularly travels to the site in Manila reports:

The Philippines is a country going through rapid economic development. Where one day there are scattered rusty corrugated metal roof farm houses surrounded by lush green rice paddies and mature mango trees, the next day the world largest indoor arena sits among them.

Due for completion in April 2014, the Philippine Arena will be the world’s largest indoor arena seating 50,000 people. Situated on a green field site north of Manila, the arena is of a scale not previously seen before in the Philippines, and will put the country on the world stage.

The Client for the arena is Iglesia Ni Christo who are building it as part of a community development which, when completed, will include an arena, a university, a stadium, a sports hall, a hospital, several hotels and residential accommodation.

Over the last 18 months, two shifts a day working from 7am to midnight, have kept the construction site buzzing with activity. A constant flow of concrete mixers, trucks with reinforcement steel, semi-trailers with huge pre welded steel components shipped from Korea, and many other trucks with materials and products from around the world have been pushing along a narrow dirt road full of pot holes that provides site access until the proper free-way ramps are completed.

The scale of the project has become the talk of the town. In recent months installation of the roof cladding has commenced and the true scale of the 65m tall 220x170m wide building has become evident.

For the full content, visit popolous.com

Iglesia ni Cristo Centennial Update

Under Construction:

1. Philippine Arena
2. Philippine Stadium
3. Philippine Sports Complex
4. EVM Convention Center
5. New INC museum
6. Legal Department building
7  Media Center building
8. New CEM building

Not to mention the construction of houses of worship in the Philippines and the buying of more properties as houses of worship and district offices abroad.

Philippine Arena and Philippine Stadium June 2013 UPDATE

 

 

 Credits to the original owner of these photos^^   

Malakas na impact ng Philippine Arena

NANINIWALA ang mga ekonomista na hahatakin ng itinatayong Philippine Arena ang pag-asenso ng Lalawigan ng Bulacan, partikular na ang Bayan ng Bocaue, kung sa bayang ito ititindig ang pinakamalaking arena/dome sa buong mundo.

Ang nasabing proyekto ay itinatayo sa Ciudad Victoria sa Barangay Duhat sa Bocaue at inaasahan na ito ay matatapos sa susunod na taon.

Sa isinagawang pakikipagpulong kamakailan ni Bulacan Gob. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado sa mga magsasaka ng Bocaue, sinabi nito na bukod sa Philippine Arena ay may mga itatayo ring ibang imprastraktura sa loob ng Ciudad Victoria.

Base sa naipalabas na detalye ni Jerry Caguingin ng investment and promotion unit ng Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office, ang mga itatayo pang imprastraktura sa loob ng Ciudad Victoria ay ang EGM Memorial Medical Center , New Era University Bulacan Campus, New Era University Sports Stadium Complex at EVM Convention Center.

Idinagdag pa ng gobernador na dahil sa mga pagawaing ito, ang presyo ng lupa sa paligid ng nasabing lugar ay biglang tumaas, na base sa natanggap niyang ulat ay unang nagkakahalaga ng P300.00 kada-kuwadro metro bago sinimulan ang mga pagawain at ngayon ay umaabot na sa halagang P7,000.00 kada-kuwadro metro.

Pinayuhan din ni Alvarado ang mga magsasaka ng Bocaue na huwag silang padalus-dalos sa pagbebenta ng kanilang mga lupang sakahan dahil bumibilis ang pagtaas ng halaga ng lupa sa Bocaue dahil sa investors na gustong lumipat sa nasabing bayan, kaakibat ng mga proyektong nagaganap ngayon sa Ciudad Victoria.

Bukod pa rito, ipinaliwanag pa ni Alvarado na namimintong maganap ang pagsasaga ng coastal road sa Bulacan na mag-uugnay sa economic zone ng Cavite sa economic zone ng Subic sa Zambales.

Sinabi pa ng gobernador na maraming palaisdaan na sa Malolos ang nabili para sa nasabing proyekto.

Sa mga kaganapang ito, tiniyak ng gobernador na maraming investors ang lilipat sa Lalawigan ng Bulacan dahil ang CALABARZON area ay halos puno na, kung saan ang daloy ng trapiko ay nagiging masikip na kaya ang investors ay sa Norteng bahagi na ng Kalakhang Maynila nakatutok ang pansin.

Dahil sa strategic location ng Bulacan sa Metro Manila at sa mga airport ng Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at ng Diosdado Macapagal airport sa Pampanga, sinabi ni Alvarado na hinog na hinog na ang Bulacan tungo sa mabilis na pag-unlad ng ekonomiya nito.

source: pinasglobal.com


Philippines Bid to Host 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup at the Philippine Arena

The Philippine-governing body of Association Football, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has sent a formal bid to host the region’s top football competition, the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup.

The bid of the fastest emerging football country in the Southeast Asian Region, the Philippines hopes that the construction of a sports complex housing the world’s arena in Bulacan could boost the country’s chances to stage the biennial meet in 2016.

According to PFF Secretary General Ed Gastanex in an InterAKTV interview, he was quoted as saying that the country have already made a formal bid on its intention to host the tournament.

The construction of the Philippine arena in Bulacan could help country in securing the hosting rights. Iglesia ni Cristo-owned facilities has an estimated construction cost of $213 Million is poised to become the world’s largest indoor-arena with a 50,000-seating capacity.

 Aside from the Philippine Arena, another football stadium will be built also beside the arena, which is expected to accommodate at least 20,000 people. The two venues will be added with another facilities such as the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City and the Cebu City Sports Complex in Cebu as possible venues of the tournament.

source: philnews.ph


POC eyes INC-owned stadium as training site

THE PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee has shelved a plan to build a sports center in Clark Field, Pampanga, shifting its focus on the sprawling Philippine Arena which is nearing completion in Marilao, Bulacan, as the training hub of national athletes. 

A world-class sports facility owned by the Iglesia ni Cristo and situated next to the north-bound lanes of NLEx, the Philippine Arena is being built on 7.5 hectares of land and will have a dome of 3.6 hectares. It is said to be the largest multipurpose arena in the world.
“We temporarily shelved the idea of putting up a sports center in Clark Field,” said POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. yesterday. “We’re seriously looking at the facilities of the Iglesia ni Cristo.” 

The local Olympic body has long wanted to have its own training center with the former United States Air Force base seen as a possible training venue for athletes, apart from the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. 

Cojuangco said the regular turnover of officials in Clark Field has prevented the POC from pushing through with the ambitious project. 

Aside from the Rizal complex, athletes have been training at government-owned facilities like Philsports in Pasig City and Teacher’s Camp in Baguio. 

The Philippine Arena, which is expected to be completed in the middle of next year, in time for the INC’s 100th year anniversary, is the crown of a huge complex where a hospital, school and stadium are also being built. 

“Instead of building a new sports center, let’s try to arrange something for the athletes there,” said Cojuangco. 

The Philippine Arena has a seating capacity of 55,000 while the construction of the entire complex is worth P9.4 billion, an enormous amount that even the government cannot afford for a sports facility. 

source: inquirer.net

Philippine Arena and Philippine Stadium Feb. 2013 UPDATE

 



Credits to the original owner of these photos^^ 


Next 'Tourism Mecca' in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan - Development is making its way in Bulacan alongside plans of the Regional Development Council 3 (RDC) to establish the next "Tourism Mecca" of Central Luzon in this province.
In line with this ambitious plan, the RDC approved last Wednesday proposed Central Bulacan Tourism Loop project presented by the provincial government at the joint meeting of the Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure Development (SCID) and the Special Committee on Tourism (SCOT) held at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center.

Governor Wilhelmino N. Sy-Alvarado, chairman of the SCID of RDC III, said the project intends to improve the tourism road networks of the province and a poverty reduction intervention to promote the general welfare of the Bulakenyos through the implementation of efficient and effective Tourism Development and Promotion Programs.

He said the project aims to capitalize on the opportunities and socio-economic development impact that the on-going construction of the Philippine Arena in Bocaue town.

The Philippine Arena - also known as the "Ciudad de Victoria in the province is expected to become a huge tourist destination for it will include the biggest dome in the world, a tertiary hospital, university, sports complex and other facilities.

He said that when finished, the Philippine Arena could accommodate at least 65,000 people. It is being built on a 70-hectare parcel of land in Bocaue and parts of Sta. Maria town.

Alvarado said the project will directly affect the socio-economic activities of the influence area including that of 7 municipalities and 29 villages with an aggregate total population of 162,200.

"It won't be long now and the world be focused on the Philippines, and of course particularly the province of Bulacan. This will definitely spur growth and development in the area," Alvarado said.

The Philippine Arena is being rushed for the centennial anniversary celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo church in 2014 and could possibly be the next venue of the APEC Summit in 2015.

Arlene Pascual, head of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, presented the proposed Central Bulacan Tourism Loop Project which will be executed in cooperation with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) through the DPWH-DOT Tourism Convergence Program.

source: yahoo.com


Prices of Agricultural Lands in Bulacan Rise

BOCAUE, Bulacan—Prices of agricultural lands in Bocaue have increased drastically due to the economic growth the town is expected to experience once the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC or Church of Christ) finishes building its Philippine Arena there, Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan province said on Tuesday.

During a forum on post-harvest loss or reduction of palay (unhusked rice) held at the Bocaue municipal hall, Sy-Alvarado said reports reaching him showed that before the indoor arena’s construction began, the price of farmlands in the town was P300 per square meter, before ballooning to P7,000 per sq m as construction progressed.

The Philippine Arena is the INC’s centerpiece project and is expected to be completed within 30 months in time for the religious organization’s centennial in 2014, according to a report by Jerry Caguingin of the investment and promotion unit of the Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development.

The indoor arena has a seating capacity of 50,000 to 55,000, a floor area of 74,000 sq m and its dome measures nearly 36,000 meters, making it the world’s largest. Its construction cost is estimated at $212 million or approximately P9 billion.

The Ciudad de Victoria, where the Philippine Arena is being constructed, will be home to the EGM Memorial Medical Center, the New Era University-Bulacan campus, the New Era University Sports Stadium Complex and the EVM Convention Center.

The governor advised the town’s farmers to consider any offer to buy their land very carefully, saying that once the indoor arena and other structures within its vicinity are built, the value of real-estate properties will increase.

source: businessmiror.com.ph