The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has released photos of the newly restored Metropolitan Theater in Manila ahead of its much-awaited reopening this year.
Photos showed the MET now far from its horrible state. Its Deco architecture as well as its intricate facade and interiors have been restored which revived the glory of the once dubbed “most luxurious and decorative theater” in the Philippines.
The ceiling has been adorned with mangoes and bananas, representing two of the country's major produce.
“Doors of the newly restored MET will be open to all Filipinos from all classes of our society. For this is the people's theater,” NCCA Chairman Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso said.
The newly restored MET is set to be inaugurated this year.
“The inauguration of the new MET is the culmination of a long arduous journey,” he added.
“This has been made possible by the determined effort of a long line of individuals who share a common dream to bring back to life one of our nation's cultural treasures. We will strive to do our best to be worthy of this collective effort as well as the high expectations of our people,” he said, adding that he is honored that the realization of the dream to restore and rehabilitate the nation’s theater will happen under his watch.
The MET will host the quincentennial evening show on April 27 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan in 1521. This event will serve as its maiden show since it closed in 1996.
The NCCA and the City of Manila headed by Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso are working on a partnership to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the city at the Metropolitan Theater in June.
In 2015, the NCCA purchased the MET from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and started its rehabilitation and restoration, with the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) providing the necessary technical expertise.
The NCCA said representatives from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) were also consulted in the rehabilitation of the MET Main Theater.