Colorize photo a little Filipina child amidst the ruins of liberated Manila, 1945

Little girl holding a small Philippine flag and selling bananas, possible to GI soldiers who just liberated Manila from the Japanese during WWI.  Building in the foreground is the Aduana in Intramuros, a historic landmark involving the first Spanish settlement in the city, but was used extensively as a Japanese garrison during their occupation. Manila was among the most devastated cities during the war. This was caused mostly by artillery shells and bombing by American liberating forces as they eliminated all Japanese resistance, often reducing into rubble those that have been identified as Japanese holdouts.  There have been speculations that had the U.S. waited for the surrender of Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese occupation forces in the Philippines would have peacefully laid down their arms, sparing Manila from the utter destruction.  But it is said that Gen. Douglas MacArthur had to fulfill his "I shall return" promise at all cost, as he felt he owed that much to say "I have returned" to Filipinos and not say they were forgotten.  MacArthur returned to the Philippines in Oct 1944 and the Battle of Manila that reduced the city to ruins was from Feb - Mar 1945.  Japan surrendered in August of that year.

Colorized a "mini-bus' for commuters in the Quiapo commerical area, ca 1949 a modified jeep

This is Quezon Blvd. corner Hidalgo St. The bus came from Plaza Miranda/Quiapo Church area and turning right to Quezon Bridge bound for an Evangelista street in Bangkal, Makati, which at that time was undeveloped.

Manila Post Office in ruins after the Battle of Manila in 1945

Restored and colorized a photo taken by John Tewell for Life/Time after WWII, depicting the Manila Post Office as it was entirely gutted and the Jones bridge in the foreground destroyed as desperate Japanese forces went on a killing spree and destroying everything in its path including landmark buildings like the Legislative Buldg, the Manila Cathedral, and the Post Office bldg colorize here.  They eventually surrendered to the liberating forces of Gen. MacArthur during the Battle of Manila 3Feb -6Mar 1945.

 

Post-war Philippines, a magazine stand in Quiapo, Manila, ca early 1950s

 A magazine stand on Rizal Avenue corner Claro M. Recto Avenue, Quiapo, Manila. Colorized from a 1949 photo by Jack Brims & John Tewell for Life/Time magazine.  Note the price of a Life magazine with a Peso-Dollar exchange at 1:1

Rosario, colorized vintage photo of my mother (1927 - 1989) taken just a few years before I was born

Rosario, restored and colorized photo of my mother Cirila "Rosario"Valdepenas Yadan (1927 - 1989) taken ca 1946/47

Finally got hold of flatbed scanner. Every home should have one to digitize and electronically store vintage family pics.  This one is a portrait of my mom taken after WWII that devastated Manila.

Below is another colorized Bob's studio photo of my mother circa 1952-54.

Rosario, restored and colorized photo of my mother (1927 - 1989), taken ca 1954/55. Philippines