Here’s a peek inside the nearly finished restoration of Metropolitan Theater set to open in April

The National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) and the local government of Manila on Wednesday showcased the nearly finished renovation of the Metropolitan Theater.

The structure standing in Ermita, Manila, is almost ready to open its doors in April in time for the quincentennial commemoration of the victory of Mactan.

According to the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), the MET will be holding an evening show on April 27.

The opening night of the MET will also be the theater’s maiden show 25 years after its closure in 1996.

Marked as a National Cultural Treasure by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2010, the MET was designed by architect Juan Arellano and inaugurated in 1931.

It was partially destroyed during World War II. Although there were restoration plans in 1978 when First Lady Imelda Marcos ordered renovation under the supervision of Otilio Arellano, the theater closed down again in 1996.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, NCCA, and Manila City government have joined forces to work on the restoration and reopening of the abandoned theater. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News