Black and white photos of the Philippines from as far back as the late 1800s look shockingly modern with just a splash of color.
The Republic of the Philippines has a long and culturally rich history. The area has seen its share of conflict and political revolution, but has also long had its own unique culture that, since the mid 1500s, has been a unique blend of native traditions and outside influences.
However, the Philippines’ historical culture tends to be overlooked by many in favor of the more “major” East Asian countries like Japan and China. But, it’s hard to ignore the natural, architectural, and cultural beauty of the country when looking at these brilliantly colorized photographs that bring the Philippines of the late 1800s and early 1900s to life.
Apparently hand colorized by history enthusiast ES Sison and shared largely via his Facebook page showcasing his works, Kinulayang Kasaysayan, these photographs mostly portray everyday life in the Philippines of old, although some depict the war and conflict that took place in and around the country both before and during WWII. The site is an interesting browse for those interested.
Sison says he colorizes the portraits as a hobby in his free time and that an individual photograph can take anywhere from two hours to three days to fully colorize. The last time we spent three consecutive days volunteering to do anything of real social value, we’re pretty sure it was court ordered.
Source: Coconuts Manila
Images: ES Sison/Kinulayang Kasaysayan
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