Aside from bullfighting which was introduced here in the 17th century and revived by a Spanish cavalry officer in the 19th century, going to the theater was quite a popular pastime in Manila. In 1790, Teatro Comico was the most famous, rivaled by Teatro Arroceros which specialized in Tagalog plays and was located at what is now known as the Mehan Gardens.

Cultural life in Tondo seemed rather stimulating what with the Teatro Tondo which presented plays in Spanish and Tagalog. There was the Teatro Lirico de Tondo known for zarzuelas which were usually accompanied by famous musicians like master violinist Ignacio Morales. Binondo was not to be outdone; it had the Teatro Castellano and the Teatro de Binondo which was built on Teatro street in 1864. The proprietor of that well-appointed theatre was a certain Don Manuel Ponce de Leon who had it beautifully landscaped and had asked his engineer, Jose Bosch, to include a refreshments parlor and a billiard hall. “La Hija del Regente” translated from French was one of its unforgettable performances.

In 1862, the Teatro del Principe Alfonso was opened to the public and several foreign companies were hired to perform operettas, zarzuelas and three-act plays. On June 11, 1865, “La Conquista de Jolo” was staged there and it glorified the military campaigns of Governor Antonio Urbiztondo in the south, in 1750. Another play dedicated to the Spaniards who waged war in Jolo, “Una Pagina de Gloria” was presented in April, 1876.

Unfortunately, the Teatro del Principe Alfonso burnt down a few months after that but it was never proven that an irate Muslim had put it to torch.

The Teatro de Variedades became historical because in 1880, Jose Rizal received his first prize award for the allegorical play “Consejo de los Dioses.”

As it changed hands, it was later called the Coliseo Artistico and Spanish zarzuelas were performed there. The theatre was destroyed during a terrible typhoon in 1882. Previously mentioned were the Teatro Lirico de Quiapo, Tetaro Calderon and the Zorilla. During the Philippine Revolution, no one had the time nor money for theatrical performances.

Theater came to life again in the American occupation, the most spectacular was the Manila Grand Opera House which according to some sources was constructed on the former site of the National Cycle Track, by a road now called Rizal Avenue. Many historical events took place there like the inauguration of the First Philippine Assembly on October 16, 1907 in the presence of US Secretary of War, William Howard Taft who became the first American Civil Governor of the Philippines and later president of the USA.

Rizal Day programs were held at the Manila Grand Opera House as well as concerts by foreign and Filipino artists, zarzuelas and operas. The graduation of the first batch of university co-eds was held there and I always brag that among them were my maternal grandmother, Filomena Francisco the first woman pharmacist, and her sister Maria the first woman lawyer. Everyone in Manila wanted to get a glimpse of that unique breed of Filipinas so the Manila Grand Opera House was filled to the rafters. As the “beauty and brains” co-eds paraded on stage, the audience clapped and stomped wildly unhinging one of the opera boxes that hung precariously over the audience below.

(gemma601@yahoo.com)