GMA unveils marker of MET as National Cultural Treasure

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo yesterday led the unveiling of the marker declaring the Manila Metropolitan Theater (Met) as a National Cultural Treasure.

Wearing a red suite, the President arrived at the Met, located in Lawton, Manila, shortly before the 3 p.m. schedule of the historical event which, according to Presidential Adviser on Culture and the Arts Cecille Guidote-Alvarez was realized due to the efforts of Mrs. Arroyo.

“This day has happened because of the special concern of the President that a National Treasure like the Met should not remain sleeping but should be opened as a haven for the diversity of cultures of our country and the artistic genius of our people to be reflected,” said Guidote-Alvarez, during her talk regarding the project overview on the rehabilitation of the Met.

“So as the President has entered, outside is shown how some Manila youth, out-of-school and the urban poor communities are being well-behaved, care-giving in the poverty alleviation program, with free arts education. And likewise, this is finally the beautiful theater being revived in the 1930s. It was created by the Arellano brothers,” Guidote-Alvarez said.

She said the Met is now going to be opened because all efforts to revive it did not succeed until a tripartite agreement between the city of Manila, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, as well as the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) was carved and was operationalized with the P50 million that the President ordered released through the NCCA in order to make the necessary critical rehabilitation of the ceilings.

After the unveiling, the President was toured inside the theater by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Manila Cathedral Rector Monsignor Nestor Cerbo. She then left after about 15 minutes.

The marker reads: “The Manila Metropolitan Theater at Plaza Bonifacio, Manila, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum, by virtue of the powers vested in it by RA 4846, as amended by PD 374 and RA 8492. Done in the City of Manila, June 23,2010.”

In an interview at the Met, Gemma Cruz-Araneta, vice chairperson of the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission, said the Met is the second National Cultural Treasure in Manila.