President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared the Manila Metropolitan Theater, popularly known as the Met, a National Cultural Treasure following the reopening of the once derelict theater in Manila on Wednesday afternoon.

The Met is the second cultural and architectural landmark in the city to receive such distinction from the National Museum. The first landmark was the mural painted by Carlos “Botong” Francisco at Manila City Hall's Bulwagang Katipunan.

Arroyo, wearing a red dress, was all smiles as she led the unveiling of the marker of National Museum at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

She was accompanied by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Gemma Cruz-Araneta, vice chairperson of the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission and executive assistant to Mayor Lim, Presidential Assistant on Culture Cecile Guidote Alvarez and entertainment icon German Moreno.

Lim, for his part, thanked the President for helping renovate the “grand dame” of Manila’s theaters in a short message he gave during the unveiling of the marker.

According to Lim, the President has donated some R 150 million for the Met project.

“We would like to extend our warmest welcome to President Arroyo who had been so gratuitous to us in helping the restoration of the Met. Thank you for gracing the opening of the Met,” he said.

After the unveiling ceremony, Arroyo, who stayed inside the theater for 20 minutes, was treated to a “bodabil” show performed by local stage performers.

Meanwhile, Araneta admitted that there is still much to be done to bring back the Met’s former grandeur.

She, however, assured that the restoration of Met was now 45 percent complete and work was being done round-the-clock.

Araneta said they intend to seek the help of Escuella Taller, an Intramuros-based school whose students have skills in restoring historical sites.

“We will ask their help in restoring the Met’s façade,” she said.

She said that German Moreno was planning to do a fund-raising project to gather more funds to spruce up the theater.

Mayor Lim said his administration was pursuing the project to provide a culture and arts venue for the masses.

The Met, which was constructed in 1931 by architect Juan Arellano, was able to accommodate 1,670 people, 846 seated in the orchestra, 116 in the loge and 708 in the balcony sections, during its heyday.

The art deco style theater however was almost ruined during World War II. It was it was rebuilt in 1978 by former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

The Metropolitan theater's condition deteriorated and decayed in the early 90's before it was finally closed down in 1996 following a long-running dispute between the Government Service Insurance System and the City of Manila over its ownership and management.

In 2004, the GSIS and city government finally agreed to set aside their differences, and, with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, signed a tripartite agreement on the structure’s restoration.