Veteran character actor and Mowelfund President Rez Cortez expressed support for the city government’s vision to restore the Metropolitan Theater’s (MET) legacy, a creative hub for artists and performers.
On Monday, Cortez met with Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso, in which he made a pitch to make the venue more accessible for cultural and artistic events.
“Here in Manila, let us make the MET a center. Let us give those in the industry a chance,” he said in Filipino.
Cortez, who played the villain in dozens of films, added that this initiative could complement Manila’s goal of positioning the MET as a training and performance hub for the industry.
He also admitted there is a shortage of affordable venues for awards nights, stage plays, and film-related gatherings.
For his part, Domagoso echoed Cortez’s view, saying the MET remains one of the most symbolic landmarks in the country’s performing arts history.
“Let the local government run the Metropolitan Theater so that there will be an avenue for actors and actresses, stage plays, and all other cultural activities to thrive once again,” he said.
Domagoso shared that the city government has a standing bid to take over the operations and maintenance of the MET from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to make it more affordable and accessible for local productions that often struggle with high venue costs.
They both agreed to coordinate with industry leaders, including veteran actor and director Leo Martinez, in drafting a position paper to support Manila’s formal proposal to the NCCA.
