IT is said that architecture is the art of building beautifully, a fixation of man’s thinking and a record of his activity. If there is one building here in the country that has served as an important symbol of our heritage and a record of our culture’s highly diverse activities through the years, it is no other than the Manila Metropolitan Theater, or more fondly called the MET.
Anyone who has ever passed by Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila has probably seen the MET at one point or another; but its decrepit state in recent years has hardly encouraged passersby to give the heritage building even a second look.
Almost figuratively left for dead, the MET has been given a new lease on life when the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) bought the MET recently and convinced the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to approve the restoration budget of P9.48 million.
So now, the MET is getting a much-needed makeover and I, along with several other Filipinos I’m sure, cannot wait to see it restored to its former glory.
The Art Deco-style building was built in 1931 and was one of the shining beacons of style and culture in Manila at the time. Over the years the MET has played host to countless plays, musicals, zarzuelas, concerts, and even award shows. But this rich history has come with its own heavy baggage—from a destroyed roof and damaged walls courtesy of World War II to ill-management that led to its current dilapidated state—making the recent efforts truly Herculean in nature.
A METamorphosis through the bayanihan spirit
Although the MET was once given a face-lift when former First Lady Imelda Marcos served as Metro Manila’s governor, the initiative did not last long and the theater was again abandoned. There have always been plans to revive the MET, by the national government and the city of Manila, but nothing ever came of it for one reason or another. This is exactly why the NCCA has been nothing short of a godsend for the once-glorious MET.
“Rehabilitating the MET will restore dignity to the crown jewel of Manila theaters after years of neglect and despair,” commented Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad on the planned renovation.
The NCCA has laid out a strategy that encourages participation within the community and the youth. The Facebook page METamorphosis was created for this particular purpose, and it seems to be working with almost 5,000 likes as bragging rights. While the page offers visitors information about the MET, it also serves as a sign-up sheet for the first step of the remediation—a biweekly cleanup made up of volunteers that range from students to young professionals and baby boomers. This ragtag team of self-proclaimed conservationists has started their crackdown on decay last December and the slots have been filled up to February.
Arch. Gerard Lico said, “By cleaning up the MET, by rendering sheer labor through the bayanihan spirit, one is devoting time and effort, and professing optimism and allegiance to the belief that the MET is important and that it should be revived.”
Reviving and beautifying old structures
While I have criticized the way real -estate developers have handled heritage sites in the past, I am quite impressed by how much they have changed in the last couple of years. It seems that they have finally realized that there is something to be had from the rehabilitation of historic properties.
Recent news of the old Manila Times building having been refurbished into an apartment surprised me in a good way. I applaud GSMS Property Holdings for making the decision to repair and renovate the historic TVT building instead of tearing it down in place of another skyscraper or mall.
In San Fernando, Pampanga, the local government recently renovated the city’s unused transport terminal into a shopping center that celebrates local trade and industries. Not only is this 10-year project promoting the upcycle of old structures but it is empowering the local community, as well.
“This first-ever one-stop shop of the provincial government is a very noble project and a big boost for our small and medium entrepreneurs,” said Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice Chairman Rene Romero on the subject of the project. I have to admit that these recent stories about restorations are making me excited. As much as I like the sleek and innovative designs of new developments, there is something to be said about the beauty that is unique to old buildings—they are snapshots of our history, a history that’s rich and beautiful.
Our role as industry leaders gives us the opportunity to give these types of projects a voice that will get more people to take notice. With the people from the NCCA, the San Fernando government and real-estate developers like GSMS Property Holdings, it is getting easier to promote the preservation of our country’s smorgasbord of historic buildings and other such structures. But, aside from this, it is our duty as Filipinos to make sure that we take care of our heritage sites, so that present and future generations can witness Filipino artistry at its finest.
Image credits: Corteco8–Wikipedia, METamorphosis Facebook page
1 comment
If the Philippines wants to attract tourists to Manila and elsewhere then it needs to act to restore significant old buildings to their former glory and at a lower level many buildings look like they have never been repainted in the last 50 years. Frankly at the moment Manila would be better off if a bomb hit it and the whole city was rebuilt to follow modern urban plans.