The Real Maria Clara

We all know that Maria Clara was a figure in Dr. Jose Rizal's Novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Rebel) which are written by him during the Spanish colonization in the Philippines to wake the sleeping hearts of patriotism of the Filipinos during that time he was also the national hero of the Philippines until this present day. To give you a brief story about Maria Clara she is the love interest of Crisostomo Ibarra in Noli Me Tangere which he changed his name to Simoun in the later book that is released after the Noli Me Tangere which is El Filibusterismo which is obviously Leonor Rivera in real life this photo was undated but if we will base the quality of the photo was taken on the timeline which is the late 1880's. Although Rizal had many love affairs with different women it is said that Leonor Rivera was the apple of the eyes of Dr. Jose Rizal until his death.

Photo Source: Old Manila Facebook

Native Police

In a world where guns and bombs are the primary weapon of the police and the military to protect their dominions there was also a time a hundred years beforehand that the police carries a sword instead of guns because there is no guns that is handy before for the reason that it was not yet invented till the early 1910's. Here is a photo of 2 policeman wearing a traditional "guardia" attire carrying a sword this photo was taken in Bohol in the year 1898.
















Photo Source: Old Manila Facebook

Beautiful Cathedrals and Churches

We all know that almost 90% of the people living in the Philippines is a Catholic that is why there are many beautiful cathedrals that is built in the Philippines particularly in the Spanish era and most of them are still existing despite of the natural calamities that has been present throughout the years like earthquakes, storms and last but not the least its age.Here are some of the photos of the cathedrals and churches during the Spanish era and American era.

                                                    Quiapo Church 1900's

                                                  Church of the Franciscans 1890's

                                    Prisoners of war at San Miguel Cathedral, Manila 1899
                                               

Quiapo Church 1946

Photo Source: philippine-history.org and The Old Manila Facebook Page

Summer Capital of the Philippines Back in the 1950's

We all know when the summer season arrives in the Philippines the number one destination where tourists and wealthy people go to break away from the hot climate during the month of March which is the start of summer in the Philippines is Baguio where the cool breeze coming from the mountain tops soothes the heat on our body while we are in metro. A cool summer destination to all the foreigners and locals out there who wants to have fun in higher grounds.
If you do not want any tan and want to be fairer this summer this is probably the best place you can go.




Photo Source: Old Manila Facebook page

Here in Escolta

This picture was taken in the late 1890’s to early 1900’s an old picture of Escolta located in Manila during the ending of Spanish regime in the Philippines and the entrance of the American regime in the country it is one of the places in the country that is remarkable when it comes to trade during that era. We all know Manila is the capital of the Philippines but what we do not know or we know little is the details that Manila had its physical beauty and the splendor of its people.

                                              An old train station in Escolta, Manila 1890's

                                                              Escolta July 4, 1898

 

Edited picture of Escolta Road 1900's

 Regina Building in Escolta, Manila 1920's

Drying the Laundry

Today drying clothes is such an easy job to do you just get an electronic dryer, plug it into the socket put the clothes inside the dryer and turn it on and the machine will dry the clothes on its own. Effortless. Unlike yesterday when moms used to call their little daughters to stand on a wood which serves a dryer back in the time when there still no electricity and when the life is not yet fast paced just like today. You must put an effort in doing the household chores because all of them must be done manual because there is no gadgets and machines that is ran by electricity before.

Classic Beauties! Part 1

Here is a compilation of some of the winners of the prestigious Miss Philippines from the first winner of the title up to the 1937 winner. All credits go to manilacarnival.blogspot.com for the photos.

 The First Winner of Miss Philippines held in the year 1926. She came from Lemery, Batangas and was born sometime in 1906. Married to Juan Nakpil a National Artist for Architecture in the Philippines she also has a daughter whose name is Edith who is also a winner for the 1955 beauty contest.

The winner of the Miss Philippines 1927 which also known as "Manila Carnival"  back then she represented her school which is Centro Escolar de Senoritas. This beautiful lady was hailed in Gumaca which is located in the province of Quezon and after her reign as a beauty queen she pursued teaching as her career.

Photo Source: manilacarnivals.blogspot.com