.
Completed
in 1935, to the design of eminent Filipino architect Juan Arellano,
this supreme example of art deco architecture was once Manila's
focal venue for performances ranging from vaudeville to opera. It
fell into disuse in the 1960s, was meticulously restored in the
following decade, but has once again fallen into disrepair. But even
in the building's present state, it is still possible to admire such
art deco gems as the bronze statues of female figures placed along
the top of the facade.
The theater is immediately opposite the
Manila Central Post
Office, but is so isolated by the choked roads around it that it's all too easy to miss
its Art Deco magnificence.
(Paul C Whitman photo )