Nothing compares to Manila back in its heyday. For now, the only way that we can travel back in time to see what Manila looked like when it was called the Paris of the East is through digital colorized photos. From lost structures and better-dressed citizens, here’s a glimpse into life in old Manila.
1890s: Old Quiapo Church
1898: The Puente de España or the Bridge of Spain
1900s: A Binondo scene
1900s: A group of children next to the Pasig River
1900: Two fruit vendors
1901: A Manila shopping district
1904: Filipino men ahead of a cockfight
1908: A scene outside the Manila Cathedral
1911: Vendors on a Manila street
1923: Children receiving child welfare work
’30s: A group of folk dancers
’30s: Paco Railway Station
1935: Cars parked outside the San Augustine Church
1945: Filipino school children in class
1945: Community members practicing bayanihan
1949: A busy street in Quiapo, Manila
1949: War-damaged University of the Philippines Manila
1949: Filipino boy and a dog
’50s: Jeepneys parked in front of billboards
1954: A marketplace in Manila
This story originally appeared on Esquiremag.ph. Minor edits have been made.
