On June 28, Dr. Gerard Lico, consulting architect of the project, and his team accidentally discovered the Art Deco bas-reliefs by Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti that everyone thought were completely destroyed. In two to three years, the Met is expected to officially re-open its doors to the public. The restoration of the Metropolitan Theater (MET) is well underway and its metamorphosis from an old decrepit structure back to being the Grand Old Dame of Manila signals the revival of a Philippine architectural heritage. TEXT OLIVER EMOCLING PHOTOGRAPHY MIGUEL NACIANCENO. But it is slowly coming back to life. Various wall sculptures portray birds of paradise, a famous plant back in the day. For instance, the original color of the structure has yet to be uncovered. The theater was inaugurated on December 10, 1931, with a capacity of 1670 (846 orchestra, 116 in loge, and 708 in balcony). [1] Contents. No casualties were reported, but structural damage was estimated at 1.2 million pesos. This story originally appeared in Northern Living, June 2017. If you needed a place for dining, shopping or movie-watching, just go to Rizal Avenue or head down to Azcarraga Street (now Claro M. Recto). It begins with a slow pull, its facade greeting you with a lyrical prelude and inviting your steps into the cadence of a pianoforte’s tempo. After reconstruction by the Americans it gradually fell into disuse in the 1960s. Conceptualized in 1924, broke ground in 1930, and finally completed a year later, the Metropolitan Theater played host to different theatrical performances during its prime, which included zarzuelas, operas, and concerts. When it opens again, the shows it will exhibit won’t resemble its original acts. “It won’t be commercialized, but it will be more of a cultural hub and [a space where anyone can] appreciate the arts,” Lico describes. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attempted to revive the theater in 2010, but the project didn't push through. Pinasinayaan noong 1931, ang gusali ang isa sa mga pangunahing at tanyag na tanghalan ng mga dula bago sumapit ang Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig. "The sequences of events today, I believe, were orchestrated by the spirit of the Metropolitan Theater who led us to this discovery," Lico wrote in a Facebook post. Beyond the magnificent bits and pieces of Philippine popular culture, the Met has also been shaped by political history. Save. They depict the muses of Music, Tragedy, Comedy, and Poetry—apt for the theater where the best of Philippine performing arts was once mounted. On the awards night at the Manila Metropolitan Theater, however, the superstar broke the prediction and rose as the best performer. And that’s where the wealthy Philippine imagery comes in. On the topmost floor, poles signify bamboo shoots that resemble oriental elements. Find out more here. After reconstruction by the Americans, it gradually fell into disuse in the 1960s. Some say the souls of the men she left entombed at the Manila Film Center claimed hers as well. You always have to balance the idea of modernizing the structure while maintaining its identity,” Ong says. Third time lucky: An exclusive tour of the restoration works of the Philippines’ national cultural treasure words* & photos: MATTHEW COWAN T he Metropolitan Theatre — or The Met — in Manila is more than 12 months into a restoration project that will see performance art return to its stage once more. Your Guide to Thriving in This Strange New World, © 2018 Summit Digital . I'm interested in writing a paper on the Metropolitan Theater of Manila for my history class this semester. In 2011, the band Wolfgang held a concert here, then in 2016, the Met exhibited “London Biennale Manila Pollination.” Beyond that, the youth did not have any avenue for a personal encounter with the structure other than a project that had started in December 2015. We are people who easily forget. A year later, in February 2014, the decision of the Senate to transfer to the Film Center was put on hold by then Senate President Franklin Drilon. Its iconic pink paint has faded, while its windows are heavily dusted and broken. For the theater seats, the team referred to the iconic 1985 film Bituing Walang Ningning. We had to kill it as it was already destroying the foundation,” says architect Timothy Ong of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. “It was non-classical and it was Filipino Deco,” Lico says. Introduction History of the Metropolitan Theater Current Situation Statement of the Problem What are the possible ways to restore the MET and make it a great place not only for entertainment, but also for learning? Now undergoing restoration, the building is fenced with galvanized sheets. “During the process, we saw the interest of the public [in heritage],” Lico recalls. Cultural Renewal As it turns out, the missing reliefs were boarded up and covered behind the proscenium arch to give way for the air-conditioning ducts that were constructed during the theater's renovation in 1978. The Manila Metropolitan Theater (Filipino: Tanghalang Pangkalakhan ng Maynila, or MET) is a Philippine Art Deco building found near the Mehan Garden located on Padre Burgos Avenue corner Arroceros Street, near the Manila Central Post Office.It was designed by architect Juan M. Arellano and inaugurated on December 10, 1931. Manila Metropolitan Theater, 1930s, Manila, Philippines This one of a kind snapshot picture is from a small (4×6 cm) 127 film negative that is in my personal collection. Noticeable on the floor of the theater are holes where ducts used to emit cool air from the nearby Insular Ice Plant. Although its details are an amalgam of the original 1930s structure and of the reopened one in 1978, the ceremony spearheaded by then First Lady Imelda Marcos, the rich Art Deco details are still intact. If the restoration of the Manila Metropolitan Theater were a song, it’s the renaissance of a timeless kundiman that endures on the airwaves long after its notes were composed.. The Metropolitan Theater is at Antonio Villegas Street, Ermita, Manila. On the roof deck of the building, although some parts have faded, the original hand-painted tiles still adorn the walls of the deck; “70 Jim” is sculpted on one of the tiles, an unsolicited memory of decay. 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