Manila Metropolitan Theater
The Manila Metropolitan Theater , also Met (German: Theater der Stadtregion Manila ) is located in the Ermita district between the city fortress Intramuros and the Pasig River , at the confluence of the Padre Burgos Drive on Quezon Avenue in Manila . It is the largest theater in metro Manila and the Philippines .
history
The history of the Manila Metropolitan Theater goes back to the early 1920s, when Manila was known for its cultural scene and was not only considered the "Pearl of Asia", but also as the "Milan of Asia". Numerous internationally known artists made guest appearances in Manila at this time. The Manila Metropolitan Theater was founded in 1924, but the ensemble did not have an adequate theater and found its first home in the Gabaldon Schoolhouse in Mehan Garden. The American city planner Manilas Daniel Burnham was looking for an architectural design that could meet the requirements and found it in the design by the Filipino architect Juan Arellano. The architectural design was an Art Deco style buildingthat should offer space for around 1,700 visitors. It was decorated with stained glass above the main entrance. The facade has numerous playful elements such as the numerous smaller minarets and a viewing platform has been installed on the roof. The Met was inaugurated in 1931, but in 1945 the building was destroyed during the Battle of Manila . The building was not rebuilt until the 1970s with the support of Imelda Marcos ; the Met was able to reopen in 1978. At the beginning of the 21st century, however, there were only sparse funds for the operation of the house until the then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo provided the operator of the house, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), with 50 million pesos for the renovation and to finance the operation of the house.
Web links
- History of the Manila Metropolitan Theater on the homepage ( Memento from June 23, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
Coordinates: 14 ° 35 ′ 39 ″ N , 120 ° 58 ′ 50 ″ E