Kulay Colorization

ESCOLTA, MANILA - 1899

Photo Restoration by Adlai Jan Garcia Jawid

Escolta Street, Binondo, Manila, Philippines, about 1899

Street in Manila lined with buildings with tile roofs, awnings shade lower stories, second stories overhang first floors with balconies and sliding window-gratings. Street filled with barouches. Album listing has caption: The Escolta - main business street.

In 1899, Escolta Street stood as one of the most important commercial avenues in Manila. Stretching along the northern bank of the Pasig River near the bustling district of Binondo, the street reflected both the elegance of the late Spanish colonial era and the uncertainty brought by war and political change at the turn of the century.

By this time, Manila had already experienced dramatic upheaval. The Spanish colonial government had collapsed following the Spanish-American War in 1898, and American forces had begun occupying the city. Escolta, once a calm promenade for merchants and wealthy residents, became a witness to the transition from Spanish rule to American administration. Horse-drawn carriages rolled past stone buildings while soldiers, traders, Chinese merchants, Filipino ilustrados, and foreign businessmen crowded its sidewalks.

The architecture of Escolta in 1899 was a striking mixture of Spanish colonial design and emerging European commercial influence. Elegant masonry buildings lined the narrow roadway, many featuring capiz shell windows, wrought-iron balconies, and arcaded walkways that protected pedestrians from the tropical heat. Shops selling imported fabrics, jewelry, perfumes, ci**rs, and luxury goods catered to Manila’s affluent classes. Chinese-Filipino traders dominated much of the commerce, making the district a center of trade and finance.

Despite its sophistication, the atmosphere in 1899 was tense. The outbreak of the Philippine-American War in February of that year cast uncertainty over the city. Escolta’s businesses continued operating, but conversations inside cafés and storefronts often revolved around politics, military movements, and the future of the Philippines. American troops could be seen patrolling nearby districts, while Filipino revolutionaries fought outside the city’s walls.

Transportation along Escolta remained lively. Tranvías, or horse-drawn streetcars, rattled through Manila’s busy streets, connecting commercial centers and residential districts. Vendors shouted in Spanish, Tagalog, Hokkien, and other languages, reflecting Manila’s cosmopolitan identity. At night, gas lamps illuminated portions of the avenue, giving Escolta an almost European character unusual in Southeast Asia at the time.

Even amid conflict, Escolta retained its reputation as the “Queen of Streets” in Manila. It symbolized prosperity, modern commerce, and urban sophistication during an era when the Philippines stood between colonial worlds. The year 1899 marked a pivotal moment in its history — a time when old Spanish Manila faded while a new American-influenced city slowly emerged around it.

SABONG - 1911

Photo Restoration by Adlai Jan Garcia Jawid

C**k fight, Manila, Philippines, 1911-1913

In the bustling city of Manila during the years 1911 to 1913, c**kfighting remained one of the most popular forms of entertainment among Filipinos. Known locally as sabong, the sport had already existed in the Philippines for centuries before the arrival of the Americans. During the early American colonial period, c**kfighting continued to thrive despite attempts by authorities to regulate gambling and public gatherings.

On Sundays and feast days, crowds gathered at c**kpits scattered around Manila and nearby districts. Men from different social classes—laborers, merchants, coachmen, government clerks, and even wealthy landowners—would assemble to watch specially bred fighting c***s battle inside circular arenas. The excitement of wagering money, combined with pride in raising strong roosters, made sabong deeply rooted in everyday life.

The c**kpits of Manila during this period were lively and noisy places. Vendors sold ci******es, native delicacies, and drinks while spectators shouted bets across the arena. The sharp clang of metal gaffs attached to the birds’ legs signaled the beginning of each match. Skilled handlers carefully prepared their roosters, feeding and training them for months before entering competition. A successful fighting c**k brought prestige and financial reward to its owner.

American officials often viewed c**kfighting with mixed opinions. Some colonial administrators considered it a distraction from productive labor and attempted to limit gambling activities. Nevertheless, the government also recognized that c**kpit licensing generated tax revenues. Because of this, c**kfighting was regulated rather than banned outright. Municipal authorities issued permits, collected fees, and supervised operations within the city.

Newspapers published in Manila between 1911 and 1913 occasionally reported disputes, large wagers, and crowded c**kpit events. The sport became especially active during fiestas and holidays when visitors from neighboring provinces traveled into Manila. C**kfights were not merely gambling spectacles; they were also social gatherings where friendships were formed, business deals were discussed, and local news was exchanged.

Despite modernization under American rule, Manila during the early 1910s still retained many traditions inherited from the Spanish colonial era, and sabong was among the strongest surviving customs. The sight of men carrying prized roosters through the streets, tucked carefully beneath their arms, became a familiar image of the city’s daily life.

By 1913, c**kfighting remained firmly embedded in Filipino culture. Although criticized by some reformers and foreign observers, the tradition endured because it reflected community identity, competition, and social interaction. More than a sport, c**kfighting in Manila represented a continuation of Filipino customs during a period of rapid political and cultural change under American occupation.

MALACAÑANG PALACE - 1876

Photo Restoration by Adlai Jan Garcia Jawid

Malacañang during Spanish rule, Manila, Philippines, 1876-1879

In 1876, Malacañang Palace stood as one of the most important symbols of Spanish colonial authority in the Philippines. Originally built in the mid-18th century as a country house along the Pasig River, the palace had already evolved into the official residence of the Spanish Governor-General by this time. Its location in Manila made it both a strategic and ceremonial center of governance.

During this period, Malacañang was not yet the grand structure seen today. Instead, it retained a more modest but elegant colonial design—constructed primarily of wood and stone, with wide capiz-shell windows, high ceilings, and spacious verandas suited to the tropical climate. The palace grounds extended toward the river, where boats would arrive carrying officials, visitors, and goods, making the Pasig River an essential artery of political and social life.

In 1876, the Philippines was under the rule of King Alfonso XII, and Malacañang served as the seat of Spanish administration. Within its halls, colonial policies were discussed and enforced, shaping the daily lives of Filipinos under Spanish rule. It was also a venue for formal receptions, where Spanish elites and local principalia gathered, reflecting the rigid social hierarchy of the time.

Though quieter in appearance compared to its modern form, Malacañang Palace in 1876 was a place of authority and influence. It stood not only as a residence but also as a symbol of colonial power—overlooking the river, connected to the city, and central to the unfolding history of the Filipino nation.