DON’T look now but the Philippines is set to become the mecca for art and culture in Asia. For all our vaunted creativity, profuse diversity and open society, we sorely need a focal point for aspiring artists, social entrepreneurs and dreamers. This is where the CCP story unfolds. And if you haven’t been to CCP, barring personal constraints, you’re not Filipino.

Without serious competition, the Cultural Center of the Philippines is our premier arts institution mandated to conserve, develop and promote arts and culture. For all her excesses, Ms. Imelda Marcos can be credited for founding this entity on Sept. 8, 1969. Back then, grandiose plans and big infrastructure had more chances of being realized.

Straddling an 88 hectare property of reclaimed land along the famed Manila Bay, it was not surprising that real estate disputes arose with court cases miring the development as is wont to happen in the country. In 2002, the Supreme Court (thank God) finally decided the land ownership issue in favor of CCP, clearing away doubts and making development possible.

Recall the opening up of Fort Bonifacio courtesy of FVR without which we would not have Market, Market, the High Street and Serendra, the Fort, the towering buildings and massive relocation of profiled institutions. Not to mention housing for the uniformed personnel and other collateral benefits. It is time we bid out Camp Aguinaldo.

There is a two-volume master development plan formulated under the leadership of Nestor O. Jardin, president of the CCP. For the greens, they will be tickled pink with at least 50-percent land use devoted to parks, gardens, mini-coves, walk ways and access roads. For the business class, the commercial and office cluster surrounded by artsy and dynamic structures makes great economic sense. For the artistic and cultural community, what more can they ask for? There is more—Mr. Jardin’s centerpiece is a big, big nature park right in the center in symphony with a forest reserve. Any great city in the world deserves its own great park. Naming rights are now available starting with Luneta Park II with our penchant for series.

Socio-civic clubs and leadership training organizations like the Manila Jaycees are poised to support and cooperate innovatively. Residential condos can be available for patrons watching a performance or for students of arts. The bike section will not be revived in the form we know it.

It is more than about hubs. Without the financial stability since CCP has to generate 50 percent of the funds for its budget, there will be no chance to build a new theater, an activity area along the coastline and a cinema complex dedicated to Filipino classics and indie films. How I wish I can condense the whole plan into this column space for all to see and savor.

A little quirk is that the area is sitting in both cities of Manila and Pasay. A tripartite memorandum of agreement was signed to ensure no petty squabbles take place.

Remember Boulevard 2000 covering 1,500 hectares of reclaimed land that includes Asiaworld, Macapagal Highway, Mall of Asia, GSIS and the rest including the upcoming Entertainment City. Just imagining the possibilities makes one dizzy. Lurking behind these projects is the not-so-invisible Pinoy hand—the bureaucracy, the crab mentality, the shooting of our feet and the human fight for goodness against greed, self-interest and pride.

Pride can be a good thing only if exercised collectively. With the bad news surrounding, we need more pockets of good news and Mr. Jardin is leading the way with the total development of the CCP. Call centers can lead the way for new business models with agents the new English-speaking class. OFWs and new habits with new electoral preference can change politics. Avant garde art and cool culture can take us out of the moral morass and allow us to breathe and dream again. Humble and driven, acknowledged as a premier artist in his own right, Jardin’s garden may yet be our mecca.