In 2011, an article written by Tina Arceo-Dumlao for the Philippine Daily Inquirer laid out big changes happening at the Araneta Center, scheduled to "play out" in the next 5 years. Then today, this sight took my breath away. They're finally demolishing Cubao's New Frontier Theater.
New Frontier was once the country's biggest cinema sometime in the mid-80's. In fact, most major cinematic events outside the Cultural Center of the Philippines or the Film Center would be held here. Sharon Cuneta premiere nights were a dime a dozen here. The cinema used to approximate the "wattage" of movie stars, thus the Megastar was home here. New Frontier was inaugurated even earlier than Cuneta's rise to stardom - 1968 to be exact. What followed thereafter was an onslaught of cinemas: Remar, Coronet, Sampaguita, Cubao, etc.
The cinema hall's fate until now could be a metaphor about rises and falls. Where is Sharon Cuneta now, besides ungracefully dealing with her family's bashers in social media? Or you could "extend" the thought and consider a career rebirth - eventually. Unfortunately for the hefty actress, it's not going to happen under TV-5 because, obviously, the "kapatirans" haven't really soared.
Fast forward to the new millennium. For years, New Frontier has been a derelict establishment right in a bustling commercial hub. It has always been there occupying prime space.
The plan, according to the 2011 article, was to sort of reinvent the theatre; to breathe a new life to it. Since it has hibernated long enough, this news is very welcome. Check out the artist's sketch for what it was to become - but this was 3 years old! I do hope no one has changed his mind since then.
This is the Eye in the Sky!
