Is it still worth saving the Metropolitan Theater in Manila?

The resurrection of the Met: Is it happening–finally?


I am actually very excited about the news that the Metropolitan Theater in Manila may finally be restored.  The cost though is very staggering, at a quarter of a billion pesos.  Also, when it is finally restored, can the building actually survive to maintain itself.  Its location is a bit iffy and I think they have to think of building a large carpark beside it if it wants to be a place where theater lovers go.  

No car park, no way theater lovers like me will go to that place. Everyone knows that place is like hell on earth for a commuter.

Furthermore, they will have to think of other uses for the building just to ensure that it gets regular rentals.  I am really sure they can think of some creative ways fo earning from the building.  It is a very historic building after all.

They will also have to think about the traffic problem especially as to how to get there!  And where to park! Since people who love theater and the arts normally have cars and will most likely not commute to that place.

Anyway, one problem at a time.  Let them get the budget they need first, and then plan how the money can be used properly.  

Remembering Papa

Papa died in 1989, long time ago na, but like the Chinese who pray to their ancestors, I also 'pray' to him when I need some advice.

I don't know if 'pray' is the right word, actually, it's more like just talking to him, usually in church na rin, kasi nga I realized, wala na pala akong older na male relative, who's still alive! No lolos, no uncles to go to for moral support!

You have to remember that Papa died, teenager pa ako, so as an adult, I have never really asked for his advice, kasi patay na nga sya. And I realized now, even adults pala need advice, and the only people who can give it to us are the ones who are much older than us, kasi nga, been there, done that na sila!

Anyway, I have been 'praying' to him, asking for advice, asking for ways to relieve the stress, and I feel he's still around, making things happen. Yes, I go to Mama din, but men think a bit differently than women, so mabuti na rin yung may male perspective on things.

When he was alive, Papa had a great sense of humor, and I have this feeling na everytime I'm feeling down, alam nya ang kiliti ko and certain funny things happen - usually involving boys I like in the gym.

I don't want to go into details but knowing that I was so stressed this week, ay grabe, within a span of 48 hours, natanggal ang stress ko with what these boys did. Parang way and above what they would usually do in an 'ordinary' day.

I think Papa just wanted to put a big smile on my face! Ako tuloy ang nagkandarapa, nganga! Don't know how to react!

I still feel very lucky to have parents who know how to put a smile back on my face!

How to Get to the Philippine Arena from Quezon City By Car

This post is for future reference for you guys who are planning to watch a concert or a sports event at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan in the future!

Do not leave Quezon City at 7PM like we did! We had to kasi coding ang car namin but if you can leave earlier, so much the better! DON'T use the Balintawak exit, better to use Mindanao Avenue and then NLEX. There's traffic but I heard Balintawak was much worse!

Actually, the worse part is ENTERING the Philippine Arena! I think it took us an hour just to enter it! Well, we can forgive the organizers this time because this is the first concert ever in the venue. But the next group who plans to hold a concert here should do something about easing the entry of the cars to the arena. One lang kasi kuya so just imagine all these cars and buses jostling to enter a very narrow entrance road!

And, I guess our INC brothers and sisters did not anticipate the utter lack of parking space!! Joskoday!! All the parking areas were full and we had no choice but to park na in the street leading to the exit!! I even saw cars parked very near the entrance na mismo ng Arena!! Siguro sabi nila sa guards, utang na loob kuya, ipapark nyo na kami, otherwise, we'd be parking in the expressway!

Apparently, 30,000 people came to watch Katy Perry last night, so kahit conservative estimate na lang na 2 persons per car, that's 15,000 parking spaces that organizers have to provide!

What if Taylor Swift concert yun or One Direction, di ubos ang 55,000 seats, and that would be a staggering 30,000 cars to accommodate!!

Wala ring central command sa parking, even the guards on foot had no idea where to lead the poor people who came late, like us, so pasensyahan na lang. Ang ibang kotse nga, sinampa na lang dun sa mga bermuda! We entered the venue at around 9PM na e and we were quietly panicking kasi the show might start na and we were still looking for parking!

So lesson learned, next time there is a show in the Philippine Arena, better to leave Quezon City at around 6PM to avoid panicking. If you live in Pasig or Mandaluyong, 5PM, if taga-Makati ka 4PM. If you live in Ayala Alabang, borrow Lucio Tan's helicopter!

If you are commuting though, I saw some buses pero mga lima lang ata yun! The rest of the audience brought their own ride.

My First Time at the Philippine Arena

Thank you to our INC brothers and sisters for building the Philippine Arena! It's beautiful, I love it!

The entrance is very dramatic! You go up these flight of stairs which are all lighted up and then a big screen welcomes you! Para kang nasa Cannes Film Festival!

Tapos maraming entrada, clearly indicated yung ticket section mo, di kayo parang sardinas at mga kaawa-awang tao like sa MOA Arena. Papasok ka na lang nga, pahirapan pa!

Tapos, the lobby is huge and there are signs everywhere to guide you. Marami ring ushers to guide you. But even then, Laura and I got lost pa rin! Medyo malaki kasi siya and with so many numbers to look at, ayun, naging dyslexic ang beauty ko at napunta sa ibang section!

Food is very cheap! Would you believe may 40 pesos na pagkain and water is just 20 pesos! O di ba, ok? Try mo magdala ng 60 pesos sa MOA Arena at Araneta at sa gripo ka iinom ng tubig at TomJones ka pa kasi super mahal ang mga concessionaries nila!

Ang parking na lang talaga ayusin nila. Tapos put more signs siguro to guide the motorists. Don't assume na alam na ng taong bayan where to park or go!

Tapos pala, if you have a driver, good luck din, kasi di ko pa naget where to drop people and to sundo them. Para kasing UP Diliman ang traffic directions nila, isang counter-clockwise na ikot, so if magsusundo ka and di kayo nagkaintindihan, ikot ka ng ikot - e traffic pauwi, marami cars, so coordinate well with your driver and leave clear instructions where to be fetched. I did not see a section kasi where you can drop your passengers e.

Good thing lang is one can stay and wait muna inside the Arena and wait for the people to leave. Malakas aircon, maraming celebrities kagabi, and as I said, maraming pagkain, even after the show! So kape kape na lang muna to avoid the rush of cars going home.

A Breathtaking View from the Philippine Arena!

The Katy Perry concert, being my first-ever show in the Philippine Arena, I am still getting used to the geography of the place. They have this section in the upper part, where, as you exit, you are greeted by this amazing view of the entrance of the arena! It was breathtaking to see and it would've been perfect if it were a cool summer night!

Since we were high up, we could see the mass of humanity below as they exited their respective sections. So this is how 30,000 people look like!