BUILDINGS are created for a reason and in time, their significance may either wane or flourish. Some will be preserved while others will be torn down to make way for new buildings as a reflection of the changing times. Those that are being preserved have built a reputation that makes them worth saving. One such building that is being restored is the Metropolitan Theater or the Met, nicknamed the 'Grand Dame' of Manila.

Construction began in 1930 under the supervision of the architecture firm of Pedro Siochi and Co. The principal architect was Juan Arellano, one of the first pensionados in architecture. He was also known for his other major projects such as the Legislative Building and Manila Central Post Office Building, among others. The Met was formally inaugurated on Dec. 10, 1931.