Life at the Metropolitan Theater

What a blessing it was for me to be invited by Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno to witness the Metropolitan Theater come to life once again and fully restored during the celebration of Araw ng Maynila. This was my very first experience to witness the glory of the theater and at a time when resilience and faith were celebrated in honor of all those who continue to serve in the middle of a pandemic. If there is one thing I have learned to value, and all because of my favorite story teller, my grandfather Peping Roces, it is the true-to-life stories with great human interest. While many of us know that the Metropolitan Theater has gone through a wave of both grandeur and disaster, ultimately, the most important parts to remember are the stories of lives that have loved, lost and fought to keep a national treasure alive. It is in this regard that I decided to get in touch with certain people who had tales to tell about the Grand Old Dame of Manila.

The Metropolitan Theatre was a real gem. A cultural kind. One that showcased the Philippines through the hearts and minds of Filipinos. While doing my research, I came across a photo of Conchita Sunico, Rosario Barrios Manzano and Mr. Boy Abunda hence, I decided to call my Tito Edu Manzano to inquire and lo and behold, I gained a treasure of stories as it turns out, Tita Nenita Manzano served as operations manager of the Metropolitan Theater. It was during our conversation that I learned how both Tita Nenita and Tita Conching devoted their lives to the theater through thick and thin, and most especially through “crunch time” as Tito Edu explained, when things were just so financially difficult. Tita Conching and Tita Nenita were women beyond their time, yet they were so close to their employees, regarding themselves as one family. This theater family loved one another so much that when the theater shut down, both Tita Conching and Tita Nenita went to the extent of adopting their employees, going door to door to find them temporary employment.

The Metropolitan Theater was so beautiful and utterly world class that it even had temperature controlled rooms for their costumes, headed by Mr. Henry Caballero, alongside pianos from Germany and art work by the masters such as Botong Francisco and Fernando Amorsolo. At this point in my conversation with Tito Edu and later his sister Tita Gigi, I found myself even more obsessed with stories on the MET that I decided to then call my former boss, a genuine lover of history, former Speaker Sonny Belmonte. It was here that I learned how his life developed around the theater, both as a reporter and then as a lawyer on the City Hall side of the MET, in an inner office with former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Barredo. When SB became GSIS president from 1986-1992, he recalled how much he wanted to restore the theater back to its glory days due to its rich history. However, conflicts with the City of Manila then, together with other issues on parking and jeepneys that went up all the way to the Quiapo bridge, did not enable him to do so.

A few years ago, I too had the chance to participate in heritage building in Intramuros and I will never forget how now Mayor Isko has been true to his word to a journalist (that being me ), not only in his understanding of city management but also his understanding of conservation. Research has taught me a lot but real stories from people, people who’ve actually built their careers in Manila, have enabled me to digest exactly how much of a treasure the Metropolitan Theater is, where many lives have contributed to its character.

How timely it was therefore, for the City of Manila, to celebrate its special day, honoring its heroes in such a historical place, putting together the feelings of the past and the present. The emotions we all undergo in this pandemic could be, in a way, the same emotions of the very same people who served and lived through much uncertainty back in the day when the Metropolitan Theater found itself in the middle of a crisis dealing with the same feeling of survival. To this day, I am still soaking it all up and these stories have given me a much deeper understanding of why our leaders do what they must to conserve a rich culture that forms part of who we are.

Survival is the story of the MET. It was built, destroyed, abandoned and, finally, restored. Survival is still our story today where in between it all, there exists that one gem well hidden but waiting for its time to shine. Trials and tribulations are part of life, but so is joy. Adversity polishes us in the dark days and we are continuously tested but, by putting God first and understanding that in due time, we too, just like the Grand Old Dame, will see our glory days once again.