Coconut Palace The Coconut Palace is made of several types of Philippinehardwood,coconutshells, and a specially engineered coconut lumber apparently known asImelda Madera. Each of the suites on the second floor is named after a specific region of the Philippinesand displays some of the handicrafts these regions produce. The palace is located on F. Ma. Guerrero Street at theCultural Center of the Philippinesbetween the Folk Arts Theatre and the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Before becoming the official residence of the Vice President, the palace was used for wedding receptions.

The palace is shaped like anoctagon(the shape given to a coconut before being served), while the roof is shaped like a traditional Filipinosalakotor hat. Some of its highlights are the 101 coconut-shell chandelier, and the dining table made of 40,000 tiny pieces of inlaid coconut shells. Highlighted as one of the Cultural Center of the Philippines most striking structures for its architecture and interiors, the palace celebrates the coconut as the ultimate Tree of Life. From the coconut's roots to its trunk, bark, fruit, flower and shell, the palace's design, form and ornamentation echo these elements.

Philippine Arena

Populous, a global mega-architecture firm, designed the arena through their office inBrisbane, Australia. The arena has been master planned to enable at least 50,000 people to gather inside the building and a further 50,000 to gather at a live site or plaza outside to share in major events. The arena is a one-sided bowl. The lower bowl will be the most frequently used part of the building and the architectural design allows for easy separation of the lower bowl from the upper tier, by curtaining with acoustic and thermal properties. The seating layout of the arena is different from that of a standard arena where the stage is at the middle and is surrounded by seats. The seating of the arena closely resembles that of aGreek amphitheater, built in a semi-circle with the seats at the sides and front of the arena stage. The seatings are divided into three sections. Each of the sections are colored green, white and red the colors of the Iglesia Ni Cristo flag.

Malacaang Palace The original structure was built in 1750 by Don Lus Rocha as asummer housealong thePasig River. It was purchased by the state in 1825 as the summer residence for theSpanishGovernor-General. After the June 3, 1863 earthquake destroyed thePalacio del Governador(Governor's Palace) in thewalled cityofManila, it became the Governor-General's official residence. Aftersovereignty over the Islands was ceded to theUnited States of Americain 1898, it became the residence of the American Governors, with Gen.Wesley Merrittbeing the first.