This monthly event is organized by Filipinas Stamp Collectors' Club. When we found out that certain historic sites are part of the itinerary and that photography is allowed, me and 8 other members of Young Photographers Philippines (Yopho) decided to join.
We were particularly excited about the inclusion of the Metropolitan Theater among the sites. If you are a photographer, you need a permit to be able to shoot here. Other than that, you also have to pay a particular amount. That's really inconvenient.
But since this walking tour is in partnership with the city government of Manila, the permit was taken care of and the fee waived. That means a very good opportunity for us to practice long exposure/ low light photography.
I was impressed. When you look at the Metropolitan Theater from the outside, you think of it as a piece of junk waiting to be demolished. In many cases, I saw in the news the campaign of some groups to save historical sites like this against modernists who prefer to erect new buildings in these areas. I am one with development as well so I used to think it would be better to put them down and have more productive use of the space.
After seeing the Metropolitan theater's interior and the intricacies of its architecture and interior, I learned to appreciate it more. Perhaps selective demolition of old buildings will do. hahaha.
The tour took four hours all in all as it is not just walking under the hot sun of Manila but includes lectures as well. Mr Lawrence Chan accompanied us that day. He's a fine man who is very passionate about what he is doing. If you are the type who loves history or simply wanna learn more about the story behind these old buildings, the Manila heritage Walking Tour is simply a good place to start---- and you'll learn a lot about stamp collection too!!!
Manila Heritage Walking Tour is in cooperation with Manila Cityhall, National Commission for Culture and Arts, Museo ng Maynila, Arrocerros Forest Park, DEPED, Winner Foundation, Philpost, National Press Club, and the Intramuros Administration.
______________________________________________
if you are interested to join next months tour, feel free to
contact the organizers and have you slot reserved:
Mr Lawrence Chan : lawrencechan15@yahoo.com
his blogsite is www.renz15.wordpress.com
We were particularly excited about the inclusion of the Metropolitan Theater among the sites. If you are a photographer, you need a permit to be able to shoot here. Other than that, you also have to pay a particular amount. That's really inconvenient.
But since this walking tour is in partnership with the city government of Manila, the permit was taken care of and the fee waived. That means a very good opportunity for us to practice long exposure/ low light photography.
I was impressed. When you look at the Metropolitan Theater from the outside, you think of it as a piece of junk waiting to be demolished. In many cases, I saw in the news the campaign of some groups to save historical sites like this against modernists who prefer to erect new buildings in these areas. I am one with development as well so I used to think it would be better to put them down and have more productive use of the space.
After seeing the Metropolitan theater's interior and the intricacies of its architecture and interior, I learned to appreciate it more. Perhaps selective demolition of old buildings will do. hahaha.
The tour took four hours all in all as it is not just walking under the hot sun of Manila but includes lectures as well. Mr Lawrence Chan accompanied us that day. He's a fine man who is very passionate about what he is doing. If you are the type who loves history or simply wanna learn more about the story behind these old buildings, the Manila heritage Walking Tour is simply a good place to start---- and you'll learn a lot about stamp collection too!!!
Manila Heritage Walking Tour is in cooperation with Manila Cityhall, National Commission for Culture and Arts, Museo ng Maynila, Arrocerros Forest Park, DEPED, Winner Foundation, Philpost, National Press Club, and the Intramuros Administration.
______________________________________________
if you are interested to join next months tour, feel free to
contact the organizers and have you slot reserved:
Mr Lawrence Chan : lawrencechan15@yahoo.com
his blogsite is www.renz15.wordpress.com
dinadaanan ko yan every week going home from church, but ngayon ko lang nakita ang loob niyan. nice.
ReplyDeletegillboard. --uo. nakakatuwa no. parang eyesore sakin yan dati. ngyon ko rin lang na-appreciate nung nakita ko sa loob. sana irennovate.
ReplyDeleteWow, is this how it looks like inside? This is the one in Lawton, right? This place always struck me as scary but I'd love to see what's inside this one. Are people allowed to visit here anytime or is it only for that walking tour?
ReplyDeletewow.. isa yan sa mga dream ko sa bucket list... makapasok sa metropolitan theater at magcapture ng mga pictures. ang ganda grabe.. kakainggit :D
ReplyDeleteRhodaline--they dont allow people to just walk in---it has to be arranged. so better join the walking tour---every 3rd Sunday of the month yun---it's free.
ReplyDeleteAxl G---so better contact the organizers of the tour para free and shoot,.hehehe
ReplyDeletehindi ba nirerenovate ang met theather ngaun? alam ko iooopen uli yan for plays, stuff, ung parang sa ccp.
ReplyDeleteWow... it is beautiful inside !
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your images.
Oliver---talaga? diko nabalitaan. sana nga. sayang naman.
ReplyDeleteSidney---??you sound familiar. hehehe
ReplyDeletehellowee, thanks for the info. hindi ko alam yan, samantalang sa intramuros ako nag-aral. =)
ReplyDeletenice! sana makapagpa-sked din ako dyan sa tour na yan...
ReplyDeletei've been to metropolitan threater twice when i was in high school. we watched 2 stage plays, ibong adarna and florante at laura... sana wag naman i-demolish ang site na yan... =D
Anna--ge--ikaw na ang estudyante.lol. meaning--don ka nag-aral.ah. yun nga-kasi di naman kasi open yan na pwede ka pumasok kung gusto mo. pahirapan.
ReplyDeleteMervin--at leats ikaw. naabutan mo palang bukas. galing naman.
ReplyDeleteAko din madalas ko nadadaanan yan pero hindi ko pa napapasok ang loob, pero di ba dyan nagso-show yung dating palabas sa 7?
ReplyDeleteanother travel blog!
ReplyDeletehaven't been able to tour churches a lot. nice pictures; i especially like the last part!
thanks for dropping by my site! :D
naks pagaling na ng pagaling ah? tamang tama may ipapaalala ako sayo ..pic greetings. ahahaha
ReplyDeletenaks pagaling na ng pagaling ah? tamang tama may ipapaalala ako sayo ..pic greetings. ahahaha
ReplyDeleteAh, every third Sunday?
ReplyDeleteKahit ba hindi photographer, pwede?
Cge I'll check the contact details at your blog.
I read your blogger profile. Nakakatuwa :)
I'm an English teacher, too and I've taught Koreans, from elementary to tertiary. I think I'll follow your blog. Thanks :)
wow..I've always wanted to take pictures sa Manila..goal ko talaga yun :) esp. Metropolitan Theater, hay, nakakalungkot isipin na yung ibang iconic buildings sa Manila hindi na na-restore tsk...
ReplyDeleteMokong---ewan lang. di ata e. paminsan -minsan ata me nag-ti-taping.
ReplyDeleteEd--yihh---I will be a fan of your blog. sure yan!!!
ReplyDeletekikilabotz----awww, sandali. kelan ba yun? di ata ako magaling gumawa ng pic greeting eh. panu ba? hahaha
ReplyDeleteRhodaline ---uo--pwede naman. kahit student. kahit sinu. time lang ang kailangan mo i-invest. the rest is up to them.
ReplyDelete....looks like we have a lot in common then. I will follow you too.
gracee--kaya nga. sana irestore--isa na ang Metropolitan Theater.
ReplyDeletearchitectures of all significant old buildings are impressive! guess the next time i am back to manila... i have new mission - to follow your heritage walking tour!!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad.. because it would cost a LOT to get it fixed... =(
ReplyDeletewe do have a lot in common, from movies to books as well. Frustrated nga lang pagdating sa photography *buntong hininga*
ReplyDeletenailagay ko na ang link mo sa blog ko :) good almost morning :) Planning to be on that tour with my boyfriend one of these days :)
fufu---you therefore have to stay here longer. looks like you already have a lot in your TO_DO_LIST for the Philippines....
ReplyDeleteKUMAGCOW--sana maghanap nalang ng international sponsors.hehehe
ReplyDeleteRhodaline---saya namang malaman nyan.hehe. about the tour---go for it!!!
ReplyDeleteung last photo parang yung sa music vid ng sponge cola. .ung gemini....galing mo naman...saya ko naman nakameet ako ng photographer hehe
ReplyDeleteSendo---uo--pero nung nagkita tayo ni diko manlang naklick yung camera ko. wala tuloy tayong remembrance jahit isa.hahaha
ReplyDeletelove the pics. and I love Metropolitan Theater although once lang ako nakapunta dyan :)
ReplyDeleteDino---at least na-experience mo na. parang basura lang tingin ko dyan dati--nung napasok ko don ko na appreciate talaga.
ReplyDeletei had a chance during my college years to watch a couple of plays at the met, and i know how quaint the theater was. i wish someone would be really serious in reviving it to its full glory.
ReplyDeletedocgelo--mukhang mahal nga lang talaga to pag nirenovate. bat kaya napabayaan.
ReplyDeleteWoah! Ang gaganda ng mga kuha mo pre parang nasa isang movie ang scene...Sana makapunta din ako jan...
ReplyDeletewhoa! astig! i i knew about this... i'll definitely be one of the first to sign up. ive been seeing it from outside and actually so eager to see the interior.
ReplyDeleteenvy!
Jag--uo.naimagine ko na may play dito na tipong phantom of the opera....
ReplyDeleteCreepy! Iphotoshop mo lagyan mo ng ghosts hehehe
ReplyDeletetama ka dyan. mukha talagang basura un sa labas pero sa loob ayos naman. Btw, i'll be having my first DSLR na rin courtesy of my Ninong. hehehe tanda na nagparegalo pa. :D
ReplyDeleteglentot--buti nga di ako arunong magphotoshop. if not, andyan na yung ghost.lol
ReplyDeleteBino--best ninong yan!!!anung brand? sana nikon.lol
ReplyDeleteyeah Nikon D3000. yehey!!! :)
ReplyDeleteBino---yihhh---pareho tayo. welcome to nikon world. nikon baby ka na rin!!!!!
ReplyDeletei got emails before for me to join in this tour kaso nasa province pa ko noon kaya di ako makasali. now that i am in manila siguro makakasama na rin ako dito.
ReplyDeleteLawstude---hmmm. diko alam kung saan ka work e. parang mas marami pako info kay Dom. naisip ko tuloy bigla, me pagka-mysterious si lawstude. hehehe
ReplyDeleteI've never been inside the Metropolitan Theater so I'm glad to see them here. As a lover of old world architecture, I'm all for its complete restoration.
ReplyDeleteAnd if only the Philippine can afford it, I wish the Intramuros would be rebuilt just as how it looked before the war. Things that are very much a part of our cultural and national heritage are oftentimes forgotten.
The Nomadic Pinoy --nice point, even the Intramuros. maybe one day the Philippines would have enough money to do so...I hope
ReplyDeleteive always dreamed na makapasok dito. and i wish na maayos to ulet. screw gsis for letting it rot like this. tsk tsk
ReplyDeletehmmm..d ko to alam, baka nadaanan ko na to. nag-Old manila walk na ako on my own pero sa Intramuros lng. I wanna try this tour too in near the future. :)
ReplyDeleteayos ah. mysterious. parang phantom of the opera dating hehe :)
ReplyDeleteawesome!! di pa ko nakakapasok dyan kahit taga manila ako noon hehehehe
ReplyDeleteAzrael Coladilla---and now it;s closed to the public. join the tour Az.
ReplyDeleteThe Met will never look like a "piece of junk" to me, whether seen from outside or the inside. It's actually a national treasure. Irresponsibly handled and shamefully left to dilapidate. The "development" you say does not necessarily portray establishments of high rise buildings or whatever in place of the Met. To me development is revival of the theater and not demolition. Demolishing would seem like we're letting go of our culture, our heritage.
ReplyDeleteSorry to sound sappy. Cheers from 2015.