art deco

Far Eastern University: the Philippines’ Largest Art Deco Complex

Posted on August 27, 2010

Surprisingly, one can find an oasis of artistry in the chaos of Manila’s University Belt. Established in 1934 and recognized by UNESCO for its cultural conservation efforts, the Far Eastern University in Sampaloc, Manila is the largest Art Deco complex in the country, featuring architecture, paintings and sculptures of several artists during this art movement during the American occupation that celebrated symmetry, geometry, and the industrial age. HOW TO GET HERE: Alight at LRT-1 Doroteo Jose Station, or LRT-2 RectoRead More→

Manila Metropolitan Theater

Posted on November 2, 2008

Aboard the LRT before the train crosses the Pasig River, you won’t miss it: a lonesome structure with curious detailing on the busy intersection of Padre Burgos Street and Quezon Boulevard, once the “Grand Dame” of theater during the heydays of Manila before the Second World War. Meet the “Met”, the Manila Metropolitan Theater.  Designed in 1931 by architect Juan Arellano (1888-1960), this abandoned building is a prime example of Filipinized Art Deco, the geometric and decorative architectural style thatRead More→