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The Metropolitan Theater celebrated its 93rd anniversary with a grand performance entitled “Samot-Saring Bida: Bodabil ng Pag-Asa” last December 7, 2024 at its very own stage in Ermita, Manila.
Bodabil is the Filipino term for vaudeville, a form of entertainment popular in the Philippines during the 1910s to the mid-1960s. It was a source of mass entertainment in theaters, showcasing the different talents of its performers.
The Samot-Saring Bida: Bodabil ng Pag-Asa comprised of nine segments with performances ranging from song and dance to comedy, to magic shows. All performances are done by theater artists and other professional performers alike.
Leading the performers was “Miss Saigon” star, Izay Alvares, who paid tribute to Katy de la Cruz, known as the ‘Queen of Bodabil’ back in the 1900s. Puppeteer and ventriloquist Ony Carcamo also gave the audiences a performance with his puppet ‘Kulas’.
The show shared tidbits of information about the art form with each segment of the program. It showcased prominent figures, events, and other notable information that made the bodabil what it is today.
At the finale, the ensemble performed ‘Susulong Muli ang MET’ as a tribute to the historic theater’s anniversary. The Samot-Saring Bida: Bodabil ng Pag-Asa is a testament to the Metropolitan Theater’s greatness in honing Filipino talent and its resilience over the years.
“Hanggat may pusong tumitibok para sa sining, mananatili itong buhay,” said Isay Alvarez.