New Trustee Of The Cultural Center of the Philippines
Cultural Center of the Philippines Welcomes Atty. Jose Tomas Syquia to its Board of Trustees
By GLAIZA LEE, Information Officer III, Cultural Center of the Philippines
Atty. Jose Tomas Syquia joins the CCP Board of Trustees. (Photo credit: Kiko Cabuena)
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Atty. Jose Tomas Syquia to its Board of Trustees. He took his oath of office on 28 Jan 2025, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the CCP’s leadership.
Atty. Syquia brings over two decades of experience in both the private and public sectors, with a specialised focus on corporate governance, securities law, government procurement, telecommunications, arbitration, mediation, and consultancy. His career in public service began in 1998 as a State Counsel at the Department of Justice. He went on to serve as Director at the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2001 and Executive Director of the Procurement Service in 2014.
In addition to his roles in government, Atty. Syquia has provided invaluable consultancy to several key government agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Budget and Management. He is considered an expert in procurement matters across multiple sectors.
A member of the Philippine Bar since 1995, Atty. Syquia holds a Juris Doctor from Ateneo de Manila University (1994). He also earned a Master of Laws in International Law from the University of Nottingham, UK (1996), and completed a Certificate in Procurement (EU Public and Advanced Procurement Law, Organisation, and Management of Procurement Systems) in 2012 from the same institution.
He is the son of the late Ambassador Enrique Syquia, a distinguished international lawyer, diplomat, and law professor who founded the renowned Syquia Law Offices – once the largest single proprietorship law firm in the country, with one of the most comprehensive private law libraries. Following in his father’s footsteps, Atty. Syquia continues to strive for excellence in both his professional and personal endeavors.
In expressing his excitement for this new role, Atty. Syquia shared: “I am honored to be part of the CCP Board of Trustees. The Cultural Center has long been a beacon of artistic expression, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success in fostering Filipino culture and creativity. I am committed to supporting the CCP in its mission to be a leading institution for the arts and culture in the Philippines.”
CCP New Trustee Atty. Jose Tomas Syquia with the CCP Department Managers during the Bids and Awards Committee Orientation held on February 13, 2025 at the CCP Blackbox Theater. (Photo credit: Kiko Cabuena)
As part of the CCP Board of Trustees, Atty. Syquia will work alongside Chairman Jaime C. Laya, Co-Vice Chairs Maria Margarita Moran-Floirendo and Carissa Oledan Coscolluella, President Kaye Tinga, and fellow Trustees Marivic del Pilar, Junie del Mundo, Isidro Consunji, Jonathan Velasco, Felix “Monino” Duque, and Atty. Gizela Gonzalez to further the CCP’s mission of promoting the arts and culture as the country’s premier cultural institution.
About the Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) was created in 1966 as a public trust for the preservation, promotion, enhancement, and development of Philippine culture. In 1972, it was transformed into a non-municipal public corporation.
The CCP has sought to embody the values of katotohanan (truth), kagandahan (beauty), and kabutihan (goodness). It emphasises the Filipino value of pagmamalasakit (compassion) that highlights the virtues of galing, galang, and dangal (excellence, respect, and integrity).
The CCP Main Building (Tanghalang Pambansa) was inaugurated in 1969 and has served as the country’s principal venue for showcasing the Philippines’ diverse culture as well as cultures from other parts of the world.
Since then, the CCP has continued to expand the reach of its programmes to recognise artistic excellence, discover and nurture Filipino artists, enhance interest and appreciation of Philippine arts, and create greater opportunities for cultural expression.