Pictures of Old Manila

An old photograph of the bustling street of Escolta in Binondo, Manila. Taken on the 4th of July, 1898. Manila and portions of the Philippine islands was at that time occupied by the American forces after defeating the Spanish squadron in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898 during the Spanish-American War. This section consists of 30 vintage pictures of people and places in and around old Manila, Philippines from the late 1800s to early 1900s.

The City of Manila was founded by the Spaniards on June 24, 1571. However, the area was previously settled by local Tagalogs as early as 1258. After a defeat of the locals led by its leader, Raja Sulayman III, the Spaniards build the walled city of Intramuros directly on the old settlement called Maynilà. It became the seat of power of the Spanish colonizers in the archipelago.

Today, Manila is generally used to refer to Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) it comprises 16 urbanized cities: the city of Manila itself, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and the municipality of Pateros. It has occupies a area of 636 square kilometers and a population of over 13 million -one of the most densely populated metropolitan area in the world. Metro Manila is the country's center of government, art, entertainment, education, research, commerce and industry.