The Manila Metropolitan Theater

Architecture students who volunteered for the cleanup attempt to remove the stickers on the wall of the Metropolitan Theater on December 12, 2015. The NCCA will continue to involve volunteer students and citizens in the restoration of the landmark.

The Forgotten National Treasure

Metropolitan Theater, commonly know as MET is making a big attention right now by revealing to us amazing interior design . The Metropolitan Theater is now in under-construction lead by Architect Lico, a heritage architect. He grew up admiring the beautiful structure, so he started the restoration of it.

“Buildings are not static nor timeless. So they have to evolve with the time,”

– Ar. Lico

Metropolitan Theater is the largest and most famous Art Deco building in Manila. It was designed by Filipino architect, Juan Arellano. It was first introduced to the public on December 10, 1931, with a capacity of 1670 seats.

In 1941 when World War II happened, the Metropolitan Theater still managed to survived but in a badly condition. After World War II, the missused function of Manila Metropolitan Theater started- from ice cream parlor,  boxing arena, basketball court, home for squatters and even gay bar.

In 1978, Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos, ended the multiple functions of Met and reconstructed it. This good condition of Met was only in short time period, the theatre closed after a arguement took place about the Met’s ownership and maintenance. The conflict was between the local government of Manila and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

2 days afterthe 84th inauguration anniversarry of Manila Metropolitan Theater, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA) formally started off the restoration of the MET – called “METamorphosis” – with a clean-up drive powered by architecture student-volunteers.

“We want the public to have a stake, to have a sense of ownership. The moment people start cleaning it; para silang naglilinis ng bahay (it’s like they’re cleaning a house). So you empower them to possess the building so nagkakaroon ng (they have) emotional attachment…it’s an act of professing allegiance to a heritage building,” Architect Lico (Rappler.com)

According to Architect Lico, the restrotation of Manila Metropolitan Theater will take up to five years to complete.  As of now, the project team is under pressure to complete the rehabilitation of the main theater itself, hopefully in time for the Met’s 86th anniversary this December.

“The Met will spark the regeneration of Manila as a cultural hub,” Architect Lico (Inquirer)

 

The photos are not mine.