The fourth floor houses a branch of the Sentro Rizal cultural center, featuring the "Cocoon" metal furniture collection by Filipino designer Ann Pamintuan, a native of Davao City.

From 1943 and during World War II, the building housed the Office of the Resident Commissioner and served as headquarters for the Philippine Commonwealth government-in-exile.

In 1998, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Philippine government and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) to lease the building as a community center; this agreement was not implemented due to funding constraints.

[2] On November 18, 1974, Napoleon Lechoco Sr., an attorney residing in Oxon Hill, Maryland, took Philippine Ambassador to the United States Eduardo Romualdez and economic attaché Mario S. Lagdameo hostage at the main chancery building.

The following morning, after the Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. acceded to his demands, Lechoco Sr. surrendered to police and was taken to St. Elizabeths Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

[6] In 1983, one week following the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, three individuals approached the entrance of the main chancery building and threw two incendiary devices into the lobby.