The newly restored Metropolitan Theater in Manila was hit by a fire on Friday morning, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said in a statement that the fire began in a room on the first floor of Padre Burgos Wing, which was located in a building currently under the third phase of rehabilitation.
The fire reached the second alarm by 9:00 a.m., according to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, but the NCCA clarified that the fire did not reach other parts of the theater.
The fire became under control by 9:23 a.m., with the BFP declaring fire out by 9:41 a.m.
"Walang naitalang pinsala sa buhay o pag-aari, maliban sa ilang luma at bulok na mga kagamitan na tinanggal mula sa iba't ibang bahagi ng Tanghalan," said the NCCA in its statement.
(There are no damages to lives or property, except for a few old and rotting items that were removed from different parts of the theater.)
The commission expressed its gratitude to the BFP, fire volunteers, the Manila City Government, and other first responders to the fire.
According to the NCCA, the messages they received on social media following the incident further encouraged them to serve and revive the Metropolitan Theater.
The Manila Metropolitan Theater was designed by architect Juan Arellano and inaugurated on December 10, 1931.
It was later restored and formally reopened on December 10, 2021, 90 years after it was first inaugurated to the public.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973, and eventually a National Culture Treasure in 2010.
