Manila Metropolitan Theater

The Met's facade during its pre-war glory. © Flickr/John Tewell

If anyone was to be asked 'What is the most beautiful theatre you've seen in Manila?' probably the answer is the Metropolitan Theater, or simply the Met. The Met hosted several operas, plays, and concerts of pre-war Manila. Situated across Plaza Lawton (now Liwasang Bonifacio), this magnificent Art Deco gem is considered as the 'Grand Dame of Manila's theatres' for its ornate architecture.

A front elevation of the Met. © Arkitekturang Filipino

The Met is one of the few surviving examples of art deco architecture in the Philippines. The theatre is an example of Philippine art deco for its native designs and carvings. Built in 1931 by Juan Arellano, architect of many Manila landmarks such as the Post Office Building, the Legislative Building, Jones Bridge and among others. 

The Met sometime after its reconstruction during the 1970s. © Manila Symphony Orchestra 

The Met was inaugurated on December 1931 and has a seating capacity of 1,670 (846 in the orchestra section, 116 in the loge section, and 708 in the balcony section). During its prime, the Met was home to the Manila Symphony and also home to operas, vaudevilles, and zarzuelas. Its stature as the 'Grand Dame' made the Met a gathering place for Manila's 'alta sociedad' or high society.

The Met's exterior adorned with intricate art Deco tiles inspired by indigenous designs. © Tumblr/Indio Historian (Indio Bravo)

The Met's facade was a stunning piece of art. Its exterior is adorned with intricate designs inspired from Philippine flora. The sculptures within the Met was done by Francesco Riccardo Monti, an Italian expatriate who also made the statues atop the University of Santo Tomas' Main Building and the mourning angels atop the Quezon Memorial. 

One of the Met's bronze statues depicting Siamese dancers. The statues were sculpted by Italian expatriate Francesco Riccardo Monti. © Philippines Blog 

The neglected proscenium of the Met. © Cosplay Rune

The Met's intricate facade is seen through its grills and stained glass windows. © Gustavo Thomas Theatre

The Met's art deco architecture is simply one of a kind. Minarets inspired from Islamic architecture gave it a Filipino touch. © Philippines Blog

Unfortunately, Manila was ravaged by war and most of Manila's buildings were obliterated, including the Met. It was reconstructed again during the Marcos administration in the 1970s, but ownership disputes between the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the City Government of Manila made the Met be closed once again. Calls for reconstruction were made by heritage enthusiasts to save this magnificent gem. It is sad to see the Met (and other heritage structures) being neglected by our own people. When will we Filipinos learn how appreciate our heritage? 

The Met in ruins after the Liberation of Manila in 1945. © Tumblr/Manila 

Manila Central Post Office Building

Manila Post Office Building's most famous photo, along with the grand Jones Bridge. © Arkitekturang Filipino 

The Post Office during the American Occupation. © Arkitekturang Filipino 

 The Manila Post Office Building stands proudly along the banks of the Pasig River and has witnessed many of the nation's historical events, from the American occupation to the Battle of Manila in 1945 up to the present time. Its elegance made Manila the 'Best City in the Far East'. Constructed in 1925 and designed by the great Juan Arellano, together with American Ralph Doane and fellow Filipino Tomas Mapua, is built in neo-classical architecture, which is one of the greatest examples of American colonial architecture in the Philippines.

The foundations for the Post Office Building is being started. Take note of the newly-built beaux-arts Jones Bridge in the center which makes the Post Office and the Jones Bridge a perfect match.  © Arkitekturang Filipino/John Tewell 

The Post Office building was only one of many government edifices envisioned by the famous American urban planner Daniel Burnham. His plan was to pattern Manila after Washington DC and make it the 'Paris on the Prairie'. According to Filipino urban planner Paulo Alcazaren that "He (Burnham) placed the National Capitol at the Luneta with supporting offices around it, and even more government offices in a string composed of the National Library, the National Museum, the National Exposition Building (the Philippine equivalent of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC), and finally the National Post Office by the river". The Burnham Plan of Manila was not able to be realized because of then Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon making a new capital of a much-larger and grander scale which is now Quezon City. 

Aerial view of the northern part of the city as construction for the Post Office Building is underway. © Lougopal.com/Manila Nostalgia

The Post Office Building sits along the banks of the Pasig River and by the Plaza Lawton across. It is flanked by the Manila Metropolitan Theatre to its northwest, two bridges spanning the Pasig River, the Jones and the Sta. Cruz (now MacArthur) bridges which serve as entry to the then-grand Taft Avenue with its tree lined walkways. The Post Office Building has a rectangular shaped mast adorned with fourteen Ionic columns and has two semi-circular drums on both sides has an atrium in the middle which provides natural light and ventilation.

The Post Office Building taken from P. Burgos Drive in 1941. © Flickr/John Tewell

A perspective of the Post Office Building drawn by its architect, the great Juan Arellano. © Arkitekturang Filipino 

After its completion in 1931, the Post Office Building won praises abroad, as far as New York from the famous Mckim, Mead and White.

Aerial view of the City of Manila and the Post Office Building, after its completion in 1931. © Lougopal.com/Manila Nostalgia

The Post Office Building survived its pre-war beauty until in 1945, the Battle of Manila occurred. The building became a Japanese fortification because of its massive size and thick walls. Artillery from the American forces bombarded the Post Office until the Japanese had retreated towards the Walled City of Intramuros.

The Post Office's facade during the Battle of Manila in 1945. Manila was the second most devastated city after Warsaw. © Flickr/John Tewell 

Aerial view of the ruined Post Office Building from the Pasig River. The Metropolitan Theatre can also be seen. © Lougopal.com/Manila Nostalgia 

 The liberation of Manila in March 1945 had cost more than one hundred thousand civilian deaths and eighty percent of Manila's buildings were destroyed. Government edifices such as the Legislative Building, Manila City Hall, University of the Philippines and the Post Office Building were either burned or obliterated. Manila's reputation as the 'Most Beautiful City in the Far East' was completely wiped out within a month of fierce fighting.

The Post Office Building during the Philippine Independence Day Parade in July 1946. © Lougopal.com/Manila Nostalgia

The United States aided the Philippines with some $400,000,000.00 of war damage payments, another $120,000,000.00 for public works and left a total of $100,000,000.00 of war surplus. 

The Post Office Building after its reconstruction, c.1950. © Lougopal.com/Manila Nostalgia

In 2012, a government official said that there are plans for converting the Post Office Building into a five-star hotel. The group behind the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, which was also a post office, is in talks with the Department of Finance. The Philippine Postmaster General explained that the maintenance cost of the building is too much and due to advancing technology, fewer people are sending mail the traditional way.

The Post Office Building in the present time. © Philippinetrivia.com