By Erma Edera
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) should return the Manila Metropolitan Theater (MET) to the city government, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso urged.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko" Moreno Domagoso
(Manila City PIO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Domagoso said if the two government agencies could not revive one of the country’s oldest theaters, it would be better to just give it back to the local government.
“If you could not fix and maintain it, just give it to us, we will maintain it,” he said.
“Let’s be honest, the Philippine cinema is almost 100 years. The fact remains, Metropolitan Theater is still decaying,” he added.
The Mayor said he did not care if the agencies would ask money from them.
“It doesn’t matter if they ask money from us or it’s for free. From one pocket of the government lang ‘yan to another. No private individual would gain, profit from that,” he said.
The Manila mayor said the MET will be used as venue for cultural shows such as plays, vaudeville, and movie with lessons if the theater will be returned to the nation's capital.
“We will think of something to revive it, with the help of our friends in showbiz. Or I will dance,” said the former actor.
“It is true that Manila is very untidy, but our heritage and history are something others cannot take away from this city. I will invest on that,” he added.
MET opened its doors on December 10, 1931, a symbol of spectacular marriage between Paris and Manila. It made use of Filipino designs by architect Juan Arellano and designers Arcadio Arellano and Isabelo Tampinco.
In 2015, the NCCA acquired the 88-year-old Art Deco marvel from the GSIS for P270 million to embark on an extensive rehabilitation and conservation project. However, four years since, MET is still marred by informal settlers.
The art deco building was opened four times in 1931, 1946, 1978 , and 2010. It is now due to its fifth opening.