MANILA, PHILIPPINES (1911)🇵🇭🇵🇭

Original Image Caption:

Manila, Philippines. Members of a Filipino family with an elderly woman holding a small child, a young boy with a cigarette in his mouth, and two women.

Photo by Oswald Lübeck (1883-1935)

in World Travels, 1911/1913

Image Archive of Dresden, Germany

This circa 1911 photograph by Oswald Lübeck, captures a Filipino family in Manila, Philippines. The composition includes five individuals: an elderly woman holding a small child on her left side, a young boy standing with a cigarette in his mouth, and two women. 

The women are dressed in traditional attire with patterned skirts and butterfly-sleeved blouses, characteristic of the Philippines at the time. The young boy stands barefoot, wearing a simple long shirt, with a casual demeanor that contrasts the formal attire of the women. 

This photograph reflects traditional Filipino everyday attire, notably the "baro’t saya" worn by the women. The baro’t saya (literally "blouse and skirt") is a classic Filipino dress with origins in the Spanish colonial period. The butterfly sleeves and elegant, layered skirts (saya with tapis) are distinctive features that highlight Filipino craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibilities of the time. This attire was once a symbol of Filipino identity, especially among women, representing modesty, grace, and cultural pride.

The butterfly-sleeved blouse, which evolved into the "terno" in the early 20th century, became a national symbol, embodying elegance and resilience. However, as Western clothing styles became more widespread in the Philippines, this traditional attire gradually fell out of everyday use. Today, the baro’t saya and terno are mostly reserved for formal events, cultural festivals, and performances, where they serve as a reminder of the country's rich heritage and the colonial influences that shaped Filipino identity.

This photograph thus captures not only a family moment but also an important piece of cultural history. It offers a rare view into the everyday lives of Filipinos during a time when traditional attire was still prevalent, making it a valuable historical and cultural document.

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