Colorized photo of Edith Nakpil, taken ca 1956

Here'my colorized take of a photo of a young Edith Nakpil (1935 - 2009), taken ca 1956,wearing an original 'Salvacion Lim-Higgins' creation. She bagged the title of 1956 Miss Philippines. became the First Lady of Davao as the wife of Gov. Francisco Rabat.and eventually served as assemblywoman of the defunct Batasang Pambansa under President Marcos. She was among the Blue Ladies of Imelda Marcos, herself a title holder of Rose of Tacloban, and 1952 Muse of Manila under then Mayor Lacson.

The Philippines is steeped in a tradition of beauty queens turned politcos. Edith Nakpil, Imelda Romulados and Maria Kalaw Katigbak who was a 1931 Carnival Queen turned Senator. Then there was Rosemari "Baby"Arenas, former Pearl of the Orient, became a socialite with power connections due to her alleged romantic involvement with President Ramos.

Niña Mestiza China, siglo XIX, Colorized vintage portrait of a Filipina-Chinese, ca 1890s

Another colorized vintage portrait of a Filipina, This time a Chinese-Filipina, taken by Francisco van Camp, ca 1890s. Entitled Niña Mestiza China, siglo XIX, this was downloaded from Flikr and is is part of the photographic archives of the Museo National de Antropologia, Madrid Spain. No story behind the photo, other than the fact that the subject was relatively fair-skinned wearing the traditional baro't saya that have become standard wear for women being photographed in studios from the 1840s to the early 1900s.

Dutch Photographer Francis van Camp is considered one of the pioneers of Phillipine Photography at around the time that national historic artist Juan Luna took up the hobby in Europe under the mentorship of various European photographers.

It's interesting to note that the Dutch actually attempted to colonize the Philippines and wrest it from Spain in 1646, during the 80 Years' War in Europe (1568 to 1648) but failed in the spectacular series of see battles of La Naval de Manila (148 - 1652) attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary in a war that was essentially between Catholic Spain/Philippines and Dutch Protestants 

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Grace Kelly portrait, ca 1956, colorized

A vintage portrait of a Filipina mestiza taken in 1875

A vintage portrait of a Filipina mestiza, colorized from a photo titled "Mujer de la clase rica" translated as "A woman of the wealthy class", ca 1875.  The photo is considered as among the oldest Philippine photo of the peninsular class in 19th century Filipino society. Taken by the Dutch photographer Francisco van Camp, who was well known in the Philippines for his extremely refined portraiture.  This photo of a woman with an almost other-worldly grace well deserves the attribution "one of the most beautiful images in 19th-century photography."

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.

Ansel Adams, Trailer Camp Children, 1944. Colorized by Alex Y. Lim

Colorized a photo by Ansel Adams, Trailer Camp Children, 1944, on assignment with Dorothea Lange for Fortune in San Joaquin Valley, CA sold at Christie’s in 2000 for $8,225.  A relatively rare photo from Ansel known for his nature photographs. 

Girl with dove, Gitz Guerin, ca 1890s colorized by Alex Y.Lim

Undated photo by Fitz Guerin, part of his photo ancienne collections downloaded from several online  sites. 

Doris Eaton (1904 - 2011), last of the Ziegfield Girls of the roaring 20s

Colorized a vintage portrait of Doris Eaton, the last of the Ziegfield Girls who passed away in 2011 at age of 106.  The 1st version has her photo during her latter years superimposed.

Ansel Adams (1902 - 1984), colorized from a photo by J. Malcolm Greany, ca 1950

John Malcoln Greany (1915 – 1999) was an American nature photographer and friend of Ansel Adams who made positive influence in his career as a photographer. In 1936 he went to Juneau, Alaska, joining Alaska explorer and promoter Bernard R. Hubbard on an expedition along the Taku River. Greany settled in Juneau in 1938 following his marriage to his wife Irene. During World War II he worked for the U.S. Army as a photographer. His photographs of the inhabitants of Attu Island in 1941 represent the last and virtually the only documentation of life on the island, since the inhabitants of Attu were deported when it was occupied by Japanese forces, and they never returned. After the war Greany worked for public agencies in Alaska and later for the U.S. Forest Service in Montana. His photographs appeared in Time and National Geographic. Greany was a friend of Ansel Adams, with whom he collaborated. (From Wikipedia Commons).

Mother and her Children, colorized from a photo by Ftiz Guerin ca 1890s

Fitz W. Guerin (1846-1903) a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the American Civil War, moved to St. Louis after the war and started learning photography as an assistant to a number of noted pioneer photographers of the time. In 1876 he opened his own studio and in 1878 he won an award at the 1878 World Fair in Paris and served  several times as the president of the National Photographic Society   Here is his Mother and Children I colorized from an undated photo.  Given his death in 1903, it could have been taken anywhere between 1876 and 1900.