The iconic Manila Metropolitan Theater is set to open its doors this 2021 after a series of restoration efforts to revive the long-neglected art deco masterpiece.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) shared Monday a glimpse of the restored MET which is set to inaugurate this year.
The theater, which has been closed for 25 years, will house its maiden show since 1996 on April 27 with the quincentennial evening show to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the victory at Mactan.
Calling it the "people's theater," NCCA chairman Nick Lizaso said the MET would be open to all Filipinos.
“The inauguration of the new Met is the culmination of a long arduous journey. This has been made possible by the determined effort of a long line of individuals who share a common dream to bring back to life one of our nation's cultural treasures," Lizaso said in a statement.
"We will strive to do our best to be worthy of this collective effort as well as the high expectations of our people,” he said.
While it faced many challenges and was stalled several times, restoration of the MET was started by the NCCA after purchasing the iconic structure from the Government Service Insurance System in 2015.
It is among the Philippines' declared National Historical Landmark and National Cultural Treasure.
