The “Grand Dame” of Manila officially reopened its doors to the public.

The Manila Metropolitan Theater (otherwise known as the Met) was inaugurated on December 10, 1931, making it the oldest existing theater in the Philippines. Throughout the 90 years since its establishment, it was subsequently dubbed both a National Cultural Treasure and a National Historical Landmark.

Last December 10, 2021, NCCA Chairman Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso spearheaded the theater’s ribbon cutting event to commemorate its reopening, which led to a program—both virtual and and physical—graced by an illustrious collection of Filipino artists such as pianist Raul Sunico, the Ryan Cayabyan singers, and the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

Outfitted in Art Deco, the theater has been home to many local and global talented artists including singers, dancers, choreographers, performers, composers, musicians, and much more. The eye-catching mural depicting a vibrant display of flowers and sunshine is one of its most memorable structures, and it’s impossible to miss the murals by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo that adorn the lobby.

“This is our cultural link to the glorious past,” says Lizaso of the Met. “[A]nd it should open the door to our people’s thriving cultural future.”

The Manila Metropolitan Theater is located at the corner of Padre Burgos Avenue and Arroceros Street, near the Manila Central Post Office and Merhan Garden.