A Forethought For The Manila Met

Dela Cruz, Aletha Jasmine C.
Torres, Angelique Anne F.

JRN203
A forethought for the Manila Met
For the next 2 months from today, the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA) will embark a huge milestone for the lover of art and architecture: the
restoration of what once was the glory, the astonishing, the Grand Dame of Philippine
Theater, The Metropolitan Theater of Manila.
Amid its glorious restoration, the Metropolitan Theater of Manila had reached its
peak and imposing its great faade at the Mahan Garden at the corner of Padre Burgos
Avenue and Arroceros Street in Manila and now dubbed as Manilas Forgotten National
Treasure.
NCCA, the arts council of the Philippines, expects at least 50 student volunteers
every week to help in the rehabilitation of the historical landmark every weekend
pioneering from December 12, 2015. The clean-up drive, titled METamorphosis, was
one of the first steps the cultural agency will undertake to restore the Met.
Architect Gerard Lico, head of the restoration team, said that it would take at
least two years to fully transform and restore the theaters look from its former glory.
They are assessing the damages of the landmark to fulfil what needed to be done such
as fixing the leaks and retrofitting the building.
Today the Metropolitan Theater continues to struggle for existence, a victim of
scant public appreciation of our talented architects outstanding works and the lack of
historical consciousness and aesthetic sense of some, wrote Lourdes R. Montinola in
the book Art Deco in the Philippines.
In 2010, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo teamed up with former
Manila mayor Alfredo Lim for the renovation of the theater. After a year, the theater has
welcomed a Wolfgang concert but unfortunately closing its doors again.
The theater was closed considering its lack of conditioning due to the conflict of
ownership between the city government of Manila and the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS). The NCCA acquired the Met from GSIS for PHP270 million
and the cultural agency expects an additional budget of PHP270 million for the said
reviving of the place.
This was not the first time that the Metropolitan Theater closed its doors to its
people. Time went by and the grandeur and facade of the Met became a forgotten
treasure of our country, it was left to rot, the ceiling started to fall off, the floors was
covered in dust, the walls are already vandalized and the windows are starting to
collapse one by one. The glorious building is now vacant and everyone had their eyes
focused in restoring its beauty.
During the Japanese occupation, the theater was active in showing its support to
the guerilla underground movement. There was an incident when Manila Symphony
Orchestra was held in the Met but it was cancelled immediately after the performing
musicians backed out because they were scared of the Japanese.
After the World War II ended, there were some circumstances where the Met has
been misused and sacrilegious acts were done in it. It was used as a boxing arena, a
low-quality motel bar, a gay bar, a basketball court and used as a home for informal
settlers. After those outgrowth, the then First Lady Imelda Marcos had to step in and
restore the beauty of the theater. The restoration was headed by Otilio, the nephew of
Arellano.
The first show staged after its first revitalization was Isang Munting Alamat, a
poetry, song, and dance presentation by Kabataang Barangay which showed the
Filipino roots. It was followed by numerous series of events in the 90s, including the
musicals Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Both musicals were the incredulous
works of several people with musical composition by Ryan Cayabyab and libretto by
Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature.
Before it was renowned as a historical landmark, the Metropolitan Theater was
hailed for its stunning architecture and design, and was one of the first Art Decos in the
Philippines which was inaugurated in December 10, 1931. Its structure gained such
praises that it was called as an architectural masterpiece. Its exterior crowned by a wall
gently curved at the top, against which rose a series of pinnacles (interpreted as Muslim
minarets by others). The entrance resembled a proscenium. On the lower half were
doors with iron grills depicting stylized birds of paradise, and on the upper half was a
large window of colored glass. (CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Volume 3)
To match its outstanding facade, several sculptures made by the artist Francesco
Riccardo Monti adorned the exteriors of the majestic place, including statues of women
who seems like it guards the local theater and its beauty. National Artist for visual arts,
Fernando Amorsolos oeuvre also lit up the view at the ends of the balcony with his The
Dance and The History of Music. Unique lightings were used such as bamboo-shaped
crystal lamps shined the way to the auditorium. The theaters ceiling was designed by
Arcadio, Juan M. Arellanos brother, who filled the ceiling with crafted Philippine wood
with brilliant tones.
The grandeur there was once will soon be felt as soon as the restoration process
will be completed to welcome fresh drama productions, films, operas, and zarzuelas.
just like it did in the 1930s. The Grand Dame of Philippine Theater will go on board to
restore its name as the Philippines home for art and theater.

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Dela Cruz, Aletha Jasmine C.

Torres, Angelique Anne F.

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