How The Philippines Looked Like A Century Ago

"Old Philippines 1898-1930 Second Edition sa pag-awit ni Conching Rosal" - That was how Youtube user junevi2000 put the title of this particular video on Youtube. When you watch the video, you cannot help but feel nostalgic and sentimental, and yet, it leaves you wondering how different it was in those years. The video features a collection of photographs by one Alfredo Villanueva, showing some of the most popular places in the Philippines between the years 1898 and 1930, namely :

• Intramuros
• Fort Santiago
• Pasig River
• Escolta
• Calle Cayetano, Binondo Manila
• Binondo Church
• Ermita
• La Insular (Cigarette) Factory, Manila
• Compania General de Tobacos de Filipinas, Manila (1920-1930)
• Luneta
• Plaza de Cervantes, Maynila, 1899
• Plaza Carlos III Maynila, Circa 1900
• Tutuban Station
• San Juan Bridge
• Santa Cruz
• San Sebastian Church
• Sto Domingo Church
• Church of Paete, Laguna
• Pampanga
• Malolos, Bulacan
• Calle Real, Iloilo, Panay
• Cebu Bay
• Pardo, Cebu
• San Nicolas, Cebu
• Custom House, Cebu
• Tagbilaran, Bohol
• Davao in Mindanao

The pictures also exhibit the attire of our people during those times. The influence of our Spanish colonizers is very evident from the way they dressed. It is like watching a period movie, but more authentic. There was also great emphasis on the background music played on the video. The uploader made extra effort in including a lengthy biography of the singer, Conching Rosal in the description of the video. The songs performed by Ms. Rosal here were "Kundiman ng Magandang Diwata" and "Mutya ng Pasig". Conching Rosal was one of the greatest Filipino Sopranos of all time, whose musical and theatrical career spanned thirty years. Some of her most memorable achievements include the Opera "Madame Butterfly" (1967), "Aida" and the lead role in the Zarzuela "Ang Kiri".