Look at These Photos of Life in the Philippines 60 Years Ago

Metro Manila today is a patchwork of bustling cities inundated with high-rise buildings, congested streets, and heavy traffic. It’s hard to believe that the Philippine capital was remarkably different just 60 years ago, when the country was adapting to a new way of life in the post-war era after years of colonial rule under Spain and the United States.

People shopped in stand-alone stores downtown, not the massive malls most flock to today, and kalesas (horse-drawn carriages) were still a mode of transportation alongside cars and jeepneys. Now, photos from this era provide a rare look into the Philippines of the past.

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Harrison Forman, an American photojournalist, traveled extensively around Asia in the mid-20th century and documented people’s lives through unassuming portraits. Besides the Philippines, he also visited Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The following photos, taken from the Harrison Forman Collection at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, offer a glimpse into what everyday life looked like in Manila in the 1950s and 1960s.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Rizal Park, Finance Building, Legislative Building, and Manila City Hall. — View of the Rizal Park, Finance Building, Legislative Building, and Manila City Hall. Photo taken between 1940 and 1950. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Pasig River waterfront in Manila. — Boats docked along the Pasig River waterfront in Manila in the 1950s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Manila Hotel. — View of the Manila Hotel from across the street in the 1950s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Built in 1909, the Manila Hotel is a five-star hotel rich with local history. For over a century, its grand interior has hosted foreign news offices, world leaders, and international celebrities.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. — Pedestrian and car traffic on the streets of Manila in the 1950s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

As captured on a building facade in the black and white photograph, San Miguel Beer is a characteristic Filipino pale lager produced by San Miguel Brewery. With a history going back to 1890, the home-grown brewery boasts the oldest beer brand in Southeast Asia.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Fort Santiago. — Students visiting Fort Santiago in Manila in the 1950s or 1960s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Fort Santiago is a citadel established by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century, in a walled area called Intramuros, in the then newly established city of Manila. Fort Santiago also served as key infrastructure under rotating colonial administrations over the years. It was used as a navy base by the British in the 18th century, became the U.S. Army headquarters in the late 19th century, and housed prisoners of war during the Japanese rule in World War II. Due to its rich historical significance, Fort Santiago is preserved as an important national landmark today.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Children. — Children at a window in Manila in the 1950s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Kalesas horse-drawn carriages. — Men riding horse-drawn carriages on a street in Manila in the 1950s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Kalesas, or horse-drawn carriages. — A variety of transportation on a Manila street. Photo taken between 1959 and 1961. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Kalesas, or horse-drawn carriages, were widely used during the colonial era until the early 20th century. Their numbers declined with the growing popularity of motorized vehicles after World War II. These brightly-colored carriages still exist today, though they now mainly function as tourist attractions.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. parking lot. — A parking lot in Manila filled with cars. Photo taken between 1959 and 1961. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. jeepney. — A jeepney on a Manila street in the 1950s or 1960s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

A portmanteau of the terms “jeep” (the military vehicle) and “jitney” (an American taxicab), the jeepney started appearing in the Philippines after World War II, to satisfy local public transportation needs. Having undergone several technical upgrades since their first incarnation, jeepneys remain a popular and distinctive form of transportation in modern-day Philippines.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Jeepney taxis. — Jeepneys in a Manila street. Photo taken between 1959 and 1961. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. school children. — A group of school children on a tour in Manila in the 1950s or 1960s. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Ayala Avenue in Makati. — Ayala Avenue in Makati. Photo taken between 1959 and 1961. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

One of the busiest roads in Metro Manila, Ayala Avenue traverses the Makati Central Business District.

Old vintage photos of post-war Manila Philippines in 1950s and 1960s. Escolta Street. — Activity on Escolta Street in Manila. Photo taken between 1959 and 1961. From the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Escolta was a major financial and commercial street that was once the “Fifth Avenue” of Manila. Many of the historic buildings were eventually abandoned or demolished, but some of those that remain have since been revived by local creatives.