Plaza Moraga

Plaza Moraga (at the foot of Jones Bridge leading to Rosario Street) - 1910-1920 Present Day Comparison Escolta after WWII Escolta Now Escolta Street - circa 1880's Escolta Street Now Estero de la Reina (Sta. Cruz district) - 1890's Estero de la Reina (Sta. Cruz district) now .

Bilibid Viejo, Manila

A wet, wet day on Bilibid Viejo sometime in 1900-1910..



Bilibid Viejo lives on in 2005. The 2nd house on the right, and the house behind the calesa on the left appear to have survived the ravages of time, but are hidden behind the foliage. The location is just behind San Sebastian Church.

First shot of the Philippine-American War (1899-1902)

Wounded American soldiers pose in front of San Juan Bridge in 1899.

Present day. San Juan - Sta. Mesa Bridge. Is that the same tree at the foot of the bridge now grown to maturity? I would like to think so..


As an aside, it was taught in Philippine schools that the first shot of the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) was fired on this bridge. But recently there has been some revisions, and the plaque commemorating this has been quietly moved from here, where it had resided for ages...

To here. Silencio Street corner Sociego Street near Santol Street, Sta. Mesa. Which back in 1899 was Santol Town, composed of "...half a dozen shacks." (Philippine War by McAllister Linn copyright 2000).

The location was a former blockhouse (not the residence in the photo), that existed here, where, depending on whose version is to be believed, Private Grayson fired on a Filipino soldier either unprovoked, or when he thought his life was in danger.

US soldiers cross over to the south bank of the Pasig in 1945

US soldiers cross over to the south bank of the Pasig in 1945






Present - A portion of the El Hogar Building to the extreme right serves as the reference point

Roxas Boulevard - Turn of Century

Here's another Then and Now comparison photo. This seems to have been taken early on, say about 1910? Luneta Hotel has not been built then.


And here's the present view. This photo was taken on the 14th floor of the Manila Hotel. The perspective is a little different, but the tall palms get in the way on the 4th or 5th levels of the original building.

Pacific Motors - 1928, Manila

How about a new Cadillac at Pacific Motors?!? Model 1928 lang nga!


Pacific Motors was located in the Regina Building on The Escolta, The building suffered only light damage during the war. The 4th floor was added prewar, and with the introduction of airconditioning, the exposed hallway on the 3rd floor was also covered up.

1930's Escolta, Manila

Present Day

Chinatown still, sometime in 1930s also

Chinatown still, sometime in 1930s also

Chinatown, sometime in 1930s

Chinatown, sometime in 1930s

Ayuntamiento Building sometime in the early 1900s - Before & After

Ayuntamiento Building sometime in the early 1900s

Bridge of Spain about 1902, and taken from the south bank of the Pasig - Before & After

Bridge of Spain about 1902, and taken from the south bank of the Pasig

Binondo Area.1898 - Before and After

Binondo Area.1898

Approach to the Bridge of Spain 1899 from New Town - Before and After

A pair of American tanks in the Plaza de Espana, around the corner from Calle Aduana.1945 - Before and After

A pair of American tanks in the Plaza de Espana, around the corner from Calle Aduana.1945

1930s Rizal Avenue corner Carriedo Street - Before and After

1930s Rizal Avenue corner Carriedo Street.

Same location shot around 2005.