Seeing an iconic photograph being colorized is a breath of fresh air. For most people, especially those who can hardly appreciate history, “black and white” means “boring”.
Therefore, digitally colorizing archival photos not only brings crucial historical moments back to life but also help our young students see history from a different perspective.
Special thanks to the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) for making a huge part of this collection available to the public.
In the words of Undersecretary Manuel L. Quezon III, this project aims “to take your humdrum, iconic photos and give them a new lease on life” as well as “create a package of materials that will be useful for practically all levels of schooling in a way that is accessible and free.”
Without further ado, here are 20 of the best colorized photos from Philippine history:
2. Dr. Jose Rizal treating a European patient as a lady watches on.
Source: Presidential Museum and Library’s Official Tumblr Page
At the age of 23, Rizal earned a degree in Medicine from Universidad Central de Madrid. He later pursued further studies in Paris and Germany to become an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).
The photo shown above has been the center debates among historians. Some say that it’s just a still from a lost silent film about Jose Rizal.
3. Studio photograph of three of the leading Filipino propagandists in Spain, namely: Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and Mariano Ponce.
Source: Presidential Museum and Library’s Official Tumblr Page
4. Dr. Jose Rizal’s mysterious stare.
Source: Presidential Museum and Library’s Official Tumblr Page
5. Dr. Jose Rizal’s iconic photograph taken in Spain (circa 1890).
Source: Presidential Museum and Library’s Official Tumblr Page
6. Malolos Congress in Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan, on September 15, 1898.
Source: Presidential Museum and Library’s Official Tumblr Page
7. Edward, Prince of Wales, with Governor-General Leonard Wood outside the Executive Building, Malacañang Palace.
Original photograph by American Philosophical Society Archives. Colorized photo by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
8. Philippine Executive Commission Chairman Jorge B. Vargas reads a message to the Kalibapi on September 20, 1943.
9. Filipino women sewing the silver stars on the last American flag.
Source: Presidential Museum and Library’s Official Tumblr Page
The “last American flag” in the Philippines was sent to the United States as a souvenir after the inauguration of the Philippine Republic.
The stars on the American flag were sewn by groups of Filipinas representing all provinces of the Philippines.They were supervised by former First Ladies Aurora Aragon-Quezon, Esperanza Limjap Osmeña, and Trinidad de Leon-Roxas.
10. The Philippine and American flags during the Independence Day ceremonies on July 4, 1946.
Source: Presidential Museum and Library’s Official Tumblr Page
11. Young Manuel L. Quezon wearing a uniform of a Major in the Philippine Army. During this time, he was aide-de-camp to Gen. Aguinaldo.
Colorized photo by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
12. President Manuel L. Quezon and First Lady Aurora Quezon welcoming schoolgirls and nuns in the Reception Hall of Malacañang Palace (circa 1940).
Colorized photo by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
13. President Manuel L. Quezon during the proclamation of the “National Language of the Philippines” on December 30, 1937.
Colorized photo by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
14. President Manuel L. Quezon and First Lady Aurora A. Quezon at the Palace Reception Hall on January 1, 1940.
Colorized photo by: Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
During the Commonwealth, New Year invitations would state that the President and First Lady would be at home from the afternoon until the early evening of January 1.
In the above photo, First Lady Aurora Quezon looks ghostly pale because women of that era put on a lot of white foundation on their faces.
15. Capt. Nieves Fernandez shows Pvt. Andrew Lupiga how she used her long knife to kill Japanese soldiers during World War II.
Colorized photo by Retropotamus
A former school teacher, Capt. Nieves Fernandez became the only known Filipino female guerilla leader in Philippine history.
16. Japanese defector Lt. Minoru Wada, at a B-25 waist position, directs a US airstrike, Philippines 1944.
Colorized photo by Retropotamus
17. President Manuel L. Quezon as he administered the oath of office to Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos in the Social Hall of Malacañang Palace.
Colorized photo by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
18. Digitally colorized photo of the late President Manuel Roxas.
Colorized photo by: Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
On March 10, 1947, President Manuel Roxas became the victim of an assassination attempt perpetrated by a barber named Julio Guillen.
19. President Manuel Roxas while signing the Constitution on February 19, 1935.
Colorized photo by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
20. President Ramon Magsaysay astride the official horse, Victory.
Colorized photo by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
