Juan Arellano was an architect, known for the Metropolitan Theatre, Executive House, the Manila Post Office Building and the Jones Bridge.

JUAN ARELLANO

Between 1913 and 1916, Juan Arellano partnered with his architect elder brother Arcadio Arellano, working on projects such as the Gota de Leche building in Sampaloc, Manila and the old Casino Espanol on Taft Avenue, Manila. He later joined the Bureau of Public Works just as the last American architects. He and Tomas Mapua were then named as supervising architects.

Arellano engaged in projects that have defined the American colonial and Philippine Commonwealth periods. He designed the Legislative building (now National Museum building), the Post Office Main building and the original Jones Bridge.

In 1927, he took a study leave and went to the United States where he was greatly influenced by Art Deco architecture. In 1930, he returned to Manila and designed the Manila Metropolitan Theatre, which was then considered controversially modern.

He continued to act as a consulting architect for the Bureau of Public Works where he oversaw the production of the Manila's first zoning plan. In 1940, he and Harry Frost created a design for Quezon City.

25 April 1888

to 1967

Family Links

The Manila Metropolitan Theatre is an art deco building built in 1935. During the liberation of Manila in 1945, the theatre we totally destroyed. After reconstruction it gradually fell into disuse in the 1960's. In the following decade it was meticulously restored. The theatre was closed in 1996 and again fell into decay.

Buildings associated with Juan Nakpil

This stamp also features the Manila Central Post Office which is a Neo-Classical style building designed by Juan Arellano in 1926. It was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in 1946, after the war.

Philippine Heritage Festival featuring Art Deco Theatres and Cinemas

#2890b 22 Dec 2003part of a se-tenant block of 4 in a

Souvenir Sheet

Philippine Postal Service, 109th Anniversary

#3133b 5 Nov 2007

part of a se-tenant pair