There is an ongoing debate within the CCP whether the Manila Film Center should be torn-down or not as the whole CCP complex will undergo a major re-development (it will be transformed into an arts village). Some quarters would like to retain is as a chapel cum memorial while others want it demolished due to high maintenance costs. As it is, the MFC is used as a venue for drag shows stagged by the Amazing Philippines Theater.
With regards to the ECP, when Johnny Litton took the place of Imee Marcos as executive director,(she ran for a seat in Batasan) all hell broke loose. The film fund dried-up and they started showing all these "skinefilcks" which caused an uproar and a lot of controversy. Soon after, FM ordered its abolishment.
Sayang. If only they could've made the film fund a viable undertaking, and if only the ECP wasn't too extravagant with the MIFF and the MFC, it could've worked, I think.
My prof. was there during the 1st MIFF and she described it as such:
"It was so surreal...Brook Sheilds and Ben Kingsley was there!"
BTW, I have a creepy ghost story regarding the Film Center...