Through the Philippines – The Philippine Capital, Old and New

Written in 1920, the author contrasts “Old Manila” under Spanish rule and “New Manila” under the Americans. He subscribes to the notion of “Three Manilas”; 1) “The Spanish City” inside Intramuros, 2) “The Nature City” of nipa houses, carabaos and fishing boats and 3) “American Manila” with its planned buildings and modern houses. The later he speculates will someday be one of the most “beautiful cities of the East”. The population of Manila in 1920 was about 300 thousand. Then, as now, business was done mainly by merchants of Chinese origin with the Escolta, the principal shopping street. What would the  Author say about Manila today?  – BB

(Source: The American Historical Collection at Ateneo University)

Download: Through the Philippines – The Philippine Capital, Old and New