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Take a virtual tour of the Manila Metropolitan Theater ahead of its April reopening

By Kara Santos Published Feb 15, 2021 3:53 am

The Manila Metropolitan Theater, the stunning Art Deco structure and cultural center of prewar Manila, is all set to reopen its doors this April 2021. 

Known as the "Grand Dame of Manila," the historic theater was designed by Juan M. Arellano and inaugurated in 1931. The Met was partially destroyed during the 1945 Battle of Manila and has undergone several restoration projects to bring it back to its former glory.

The most recent restoration resumed in 2015 under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). 

The Met is expected to host the quincentennial evening show on Apr. 27, 2021 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan. The grand reopening will serve as the Met’s maiden show after 25 years since its closure in 1996.

However, since we're still living in a pandemic, catching a theatrical show at the Met won't be a possibility for many people. 

Here's something that offers a glimpse inside for those who won't be able to visit or those who are just curious as to how it looks these days. You can now get a full view of the theater in 360° glory through the platform Pamana, a website that aims to preserve Philippine heritage and promote cultural tourism. 

The digital preservation project uses 360° immersive technology to document heritage structures within the Philippines, including churches, lighthouses, museums, WWII sites, shrines, ancestral houses, forts, other historical locations and more. 

The site currently features panoramic photography captured in December 2020 of the Met's main entrance lobby with its ornate grill doors as well as the main theatre area, which is looking sparkingly new.

"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," said NCCA chairman Arsenio "Nick" Lizaso.

Get a 360-degree view of the Manila Metropolitan Theatre here.

(Images via NCCA)