Manila in the 1970s: A Glimpse into the Past

By Jonathan Shih

Manila in the 1970s was a city of contrasts—a place where old traditions, postwar architecture, colorful public transportation, and rapid urban development existed side by side. Looking at photographs from the decade offers a fascinating glimpse into a Manila that was already busy and energetic, yet noticeably different from the city we know today.

One of the most striking features of 1970s Manila was its streets. Rizal Avenue, one of the city's major commercial thoroughfares, was filled with jeepneys, buses, taxis, private automobiles, pedestrians, and storefronts. Photographs from around 1972 show colorful jeepneys crowding the avenue, each decorated with distinctive paint, chrome, signs, and route markings.

Quiapo and other central districts were equally lively. Streets were lined with small businesses, department stores, banks, restaurants, theaters, and neighborhood shops. A photograph of Carlos Palanca Street in 1972, for example, captures a dense urban landscape of pedestrians, vehicles, overhead electrical wires, and commercial signs.

The architecture of Manila during this period also reflected several generations of the city's history. Art Deco and postwar buildings remained prominent in older commercial districts, while newer concrete office buildings and developments were beginning to reshape the skyline. The city's major avenues—including Avenida Rizal, Taft Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, and Quezon Boulevard—were already important centers of movement and commerce.

Transportation gives perhaps the clearest picture of everyday Manila. Jeepneys dominated many streets and served as an essential form of public transportation. Their colorful appearance became an unmistakable part of the city's visual identity. Cars and buses shared crowded roads with pedestrians, creating scenes that feel both familiar and distant to modern eyes.

The decade was also a period of significant change for the Philippines. Manila was experiencing continued urbanization and modernization, while political and social events were shaping everyday life. The photographs, however, often focus on ordinary moments: people walking to work, commuters waiting for transportation, shoppers moving through busy streets, and families going about their daily routines.

Today, these old photographs serve as more than nostalgic images. They are visual records of a city in transition. They preserve the appearance of streets, buildings, vehicles, advertisements, clothing, and everyday life that might otherwise be forgotten.

Manila of the 1970s may look unfamiliar in many ways, but the photographs reveal something timeless: the city's streets were already full of movement, character, and human stories. For anyone interested in Philippine history, these images provide a remarkable window into the past—and a reminder of how dramatically Manila has evolved.