After our Manila Post Office Building tour, we went straight to the old Metropolitan Theater in Manila – one of the most beautiful art deco buildings in Manila. I’ve been wanting to visit this building since 1995 when I’m just starting to publish online travel articles via Geocities.com but I’m not sure how to get a permit to get inside the old building.
Metropolitan Theater Manila
I learned that entering the building premises is prohibited but thanks to Mr. Lawrence Chan for organizing the walking tour and for securing the permit for the rest of the participants.
Metropolitan Theater Facade
This huge architecture was inaugurated on 1931 and just like the Manila Central Post Office building, this building was also designed by famous Filipino Architect Juan M Arellano.
Ballet Studio
The guide mentioned that the theatre has been now declared as a National Treasure by the Manila Historical and heritage commission. The theatre can accommodate a maximum of 1670 which includes 846 people for Orchestra followed by 116 in Loge and 708 in the balcony.
Beautiful Statue in the Grand Hall
The beautiful female sculptures in the façade of the Theater was a work of art of an Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti, who lived in Manila from 1930 until his death in 1958.
Everything is dilapidated except for the new chairs
Francesco Riccardo Monti also sculpted the relief depicting the Muses on the old Meralco building on San Marcelino. The theatre was severely damaged during the 1945 war for the liberation of Manila and it was restored back in 1978 by former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
Watch Out anything may literally fall
The theater was again closed following a dispute among the Manila City administration as well as Government Service Insurance System.
Inside the MET
The decoration that has been made on the front facade is absolutely stunning. Some of the walls inside the building are decorated with precast cement made by the House of Precast in Mandaluyong. When we went towards the back of the theatre, We saw that all the rooms in the building needs complete restoration.
Oriental Dancers Sculpture
We also had a chance to explore some of the rooms including the huge hall in the second floor that looks like an old grand salon with several chandeliers and wooden tiles.
Scary Hallway
Finally, we were able to visit the verandah where we saw some statues being placed. It was a show piece of the artistic skills. On the left side of the theatre also i found some sculptures that looks like a Siamese or Oriental dancers. These sculptures are located on both sides of the theatre.
The Grand Ballroom
This colonial building has all it takes to impress visitors. I was very excited to see the tiara that is domed with stylish minarets. The exterior of the building was made superior with the presence of whimsical rope designs.
Verandah on the 4th Floor
It was totally a different experience for me and this building is really quite different compared to other colonial buildings that i have ever visited. It has all it takes to be a National Treasure of Philippines.
View from the Verandah
The lobby walls as well as the interior of the buildings in the theatre were decorated with stylish relief carving of the Philippine plants. To add to the architectural beauty, there were Amorsolo ‘Murals’ on the lobby before which was titled ‘the dance’ as well as the ‘History of Music’ (now at the GSIS museum for safekeeping).
Beatiful Sunset View from the MET Verandah
The whole building was designed in an Art Deco style by architect Juan Arellano since the Art Deco style was one of the most sought after designs across the world at that point of time.
Travel Bloggers Exploring the Metropolitan Theatre Manila
Sadly, the building is now totally closed and all the rooms are all dilapidated and completely covered with dust. I must admit, I keep on imagining that the place was still beautiful while walking around the building. I tried to think that place was still busy but the creepy hall and worries about the our safety just cant help me concentrate imagining the place in its glorious past.
Exploring the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila was such a memorable experience for me. I really hope a real restoration will take place soon before its too late. Sadly, It was in the news that the theater was reopened last June 23, 2010 in which new chairs was installed but apart from those new chairs, the dressing rooms and the rest of the building looks like they are already falling into pieces.
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