Fire of still undetermined origin broke out Friday morning at the Metropolitan (MET) Theater, but caused no major damage to the historic edifice.
The Manila Fire Department reported that the fire was tapped in at about 8:55 a.m. and was put under control one hour later.
In a statement, the MET management said nobody was hurt and only old and worn-out items were razed in the fire that broke out in one of the rooms on the ground floor that is still under renovation.
“The fire started in a room on the first floor of the Padre Burgos Wing that is being renovated under the Phase 3 of the project. The fire did not spread to other parts of the complex and to the theater),” read the statement posted on Facebook.
The MET management was also thankful for the outpouring of concern and the swift action of authorities to contain the fire at the “Grand Old Dame”.
“We thank those who expressed concern through social media. It only continued to strengthen our desire to serve more and to finally revive the theater,” it added.
The Bureau of Fire Protection was still determining the cause of the fire and the extent of damage.
MET, the oldest existing theater in the Philippines, is known for its deco designed by architect Juan Arellano in January 1930.
Its restoration began in 2017 with a budget of over PHP260 million and through the efforts of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), National Museum, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Manila City government.
The theater reopened to the public in December 2021.
In 1973, MET was declared a National Historical Landmark by NHCP forerunner National Historical Institute and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum on June 23, 2010.