I received an email from Mickey(my colleague) about some old pictures of Manila year 1960's and I was surprised, its really different from today, this is my first time seeing this kind of pictures. I've been staring with this pictures every now and then, the feeling of reminiscing the past looking back at the old times is very unstressful. Imagining Manila right before its way way more beautiful than today. How sad that my countrymen wasnt able to preserve the beauty of our birthplace.
The environment was still very clean, Based on the old mobiles, Studebakers, Buicks & Pontiacs.There were no Metro Aides, Bayani Fernando Cleaners, and stores cleaned their areas. Pedestrians were also very disciplined. Very little “hukays” and
Manholes were clean and were clearly visible to pedestrians. People were so disciplined. Take a look at the Pedxings. The streets were shiny, much like the streets of Singapore now.
1953 Ford on the street going through Jones Bridge leading to Binondo...(photo above)
LYRIC Theatre (in the photo below), IDEAL, STATE, ODEON were the best theatres. Environment inside and outside ....absolutely clean. There were no
double parking allowed and drivers followed. Streets didn’t have 2 policemen and 4 Traffic Aides for each corner. You’d be safe even if you held a clutch
bag while shopping. Manholes were covered well and during those days,..as clean and polished, much like those you’d see in Champ
Elysee’. We could beat Paris
Pasig River was very clean.(photo above) The photographer must have taken this photo October to December timeframe. But Pasig , during summer would have
beautiful water lilies, tiny Quiapo’s floating amidst white, yellow and purple water lilies. Water from our rich and abundant rivers were emerald green and blue. Napakalinis and walang amoy. In fact, I know for a fact that a lot of private yachts would pass through our Pasig River from various parts of Rizal, Malabon and Marikina It was beautiful.
Shown is the old Agrifina Circle near the old Congress Building and Manila City Hall ..
If you’d take an L5 plane or a Piper Cab and take pictures of Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) from above, you’d be so proud to say, that the place
is much better than Cote ’ d Azure. Environment was just so very clean, air was refreshing, and take a look at the sea....wasn’t that a gift given to us during those days?!
Sidewalks were not extended to suit the pedestrians. Quiapo Church was a blessed monument, Nagbibigayan ang mga drivers. Bihira ang nag-gigitgitan.
Avenida Rizal was a treat to everyone. There were no prostitutes nor body-brokers. Avenida was not a fickle place. It was not a “now a bistro boulevard,
tomorrow a street; now a tiangge or night market and tomorrow a bistro boulevard”. It was a simple avenida where everyone enjoyed to see what was
“now showing”, what movie was “extended showing”, and if Otis or Good Earth had a big sale !!! It was just a big clean place.
1960 Dodge on the street.
Ayala Avenue in Makati City was just like Wilshire Boulevard . Clean and no pollution. You can walk and enjoy the sun. Napakalinis. Walang masyadong Trash bins pero walang basura sa paligid, walang smoke belchers, walang tricycles ....
