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The 1890s were a defining decade for the Philippines with its people being faced with great upheavals. The country was still under Spanish rule after 300 years of colonialism but under the surface, a spirit of revolution was boiling. These photos are snapshots of the country's diverse people as they were on the edge of transformation as they were caught between a fading empire and an uncertain future. You will see wealthy, European-educated Ilustrados in Manila but also uncolonized indigenous peoples of the mountains, two contrasting sides of the same culture. Filipino people are a complex mosaic of class, ethnicity, and tradition, who all stood united as they moved towards becoming an independent country.

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#1

Portrait Of A Filipina From Bais, Philippines, 1890

Woman in traditional attire standing in an elegant room, showcasing lifestyle in the Philippines in the 1890s.

Filipinas Nostalgia Report

Final score:
9points
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    #2

    Malaysia. Luzon, Mixed-Race Tagales, Bisaya Of Manila, Circa 1890s

    Two Filipino women in traditional 1890s clothing, one seated holding a bird, showcasing historical Philippines fashion.

    Bibliotheque nationale de France Report

    Final score:
    9points
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    #3

    A Muslim Family, Philippines, 1890-1907

    Group portrait of Filipino people in traditional 1890s attire, showcasing cultural contrasts in the Philippines during the 1890s.

    Special Collections Library, University of Michigan Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    #4

    A Wealthy Mestiza (Mixed Filipino Woman) Of The Upper Class, 1899

    Filipina woman in traditional dress with long hair posing indoors, representing the Philippines in the 1890s era.

    Internet Archive Book Images Report

    Final score:
    8points
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    #5

    Native Filipino In A Traje De Mestiza, Philippine Islands, 1899

    Young Filipino woman in traditional dress seated, showcasing fashion in the Philippines in the 1890s with vintage backdrop.

    Internet Archive Book Images Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    #6

    Traditional Ensemble Called The "Traje De Mestiza", Philippines, Around 1890s To Early 1900s

    Old black and white photo of a Filipino family dressed in traditional and formal attire in the Philippines 1890s.

    Witty-Connection-105 Report

    Final score:
    8points
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    #7

    Filipina Women, Pampanga, Philippines, Circa 1890s

    Filipino women in traditional clothing carrying pots and preparing food outdoors in the Philippines in the 1890s.

    BIBLIOTECA DIGITAL HISPANICA Report

    Final score:
    8points
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    #8

    Cocoa - Nut Venders, Philippines, 1890s

    Three Filipino women in traditional attire sitting on the ground with baskets of fruit in a 1890s Philippines scene.

    naturalhistory Report

    Final score:
    7points
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    #9

    Filipina Resting In A Hammock, Manila, Phillippines, Circa 1890

    Two Filipino women in traditional clothing resting on a hammock under a nipa hut in the Philippines in the 1890s.

    Theodor Ziegler Report

    Final score:
    7points
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    #10

    Sr. Cardenas And His Family, Philippines, 1890s

    Family portrait from the Philippines in the 1890s, showing traditional clothing and rural garden setting with stone fence background.

    Newberry Library Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST

    The clothing in these images tells a profound story all on its own. Notice the delicate, translucent piña fabric worn by the elite, a symbol of status and a masterpiece of local artistry. Contrast this with the intricate, hand-woven patterns of the highland tribes, each design a connection to ancestral identity. The garments here are a visual map of the era's social landscape, revealing a society where indigenous heritage, Spanish influence, and a uniquely Filipino identity were all woven together.
    #11

    Filipino Family, Ten People, Posed, On Lawn, 1899

    Filipino family in the 1890s outdoors, showcasing traditional clothing and lifestyle in historic Philippines.

    Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress Report

    Final score:
    7points
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    #12

    A Filipino Belle, Manila, Philippine Islands, 1899

    Young Filipino woman in traditional 1890s clothing sitting thoughtfully by a table in a vintage room, Philippines 1890s.

    Library of Congress, Library of Congress, R. Y. Young Report

    Final score:
    7points
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    #13

    Filipino Maidens, Cavite, Philippine Islands, Circa 1899

    Two Filipino women in traditional attire standing by an old stone wall in the Philippines in the 1890s.

    Library of Congress Report

    Final score:
    7points
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    #14

    Ilocana Ladies From Santa Catalina, Ilocos, Philippines, 1900

    Group of Filipino women in traditional dresses posing outdoors in the Philippines during the 1890s era.

    The New York Public Library Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST
    #15

    Iggorote Woman & Child, Philippines, Circa 1890s

    Young Filipino woman holding a child wrapped in traditional cloth, representing the Philippines in the 1890s contrasts.

    Bain News Service, publisher Report

    Final score:
    7points
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    #16

    Portriat Of A Wealthy Filipino Lady, Manila, Philippines, 1890's

    Filipina in traditional 1890s attire holding flowers, looking into a mirror in a vintage room in the Philippines.

    JOSEMEIJITCAPA Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST
    rand0m_1 avatar
    Ran D0m!
    Ran D0m!
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is late 1900s–early 1910s

    0
    0points
    reply
    #17

    Upper Class Tagalog Women, Philippines, 1890s

    Two Filipino women in traditional 1890s clothing, showcasing cultural fashion contrasts in the Philippines during the 1890s.

    jerisad Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST
    #18

    Mixed Race Filipina, Circa 1890s

    Filipina woman in traditional 1890s attire standing beside an ornate curtain, showcasing Philippines culture and history.

    BIBLIOTECA DIGITAL HISPANICA Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST
    #19

    Filipinos Planting Rice, Philippine Islands, Between 1890 And 1925

    Filipino farmers planting rice in flooded fields with hillside houses and forest in the background in 1890s Philippines.

    Frank and Frances Carpenter Collection Report

    Final score:
    6points
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    #20

    Filipino Gymnastic Performers, July 4th, '99, Cavite, P.I., 1899

    Crowd gathered outdoors under trees in the Philippines in the 1890s, showcasing cultural and historical contrasts.

    Library of Congress Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST

    There is a complex story in the gaze of the photographed people, especially since they are being photographed by a foreign lens during a time of immense political tension. In some faces, you might see curiosity; in others, a quiet defiance or an unreadable stillness. Each person is navigating a world of immense change, and their direct engagement with the camera is a powerful, human moment that cuts across the century, inviting us to wonder what they were thinking as the shutter clicked.
    #21

    Portrait Of Two Mohammedan Datto Men, Philippine Islands, Between 1890 And 1923

    Two Filipino men from the 1890s wearing traditional clothing and headgear, showcasing cultural contrasts in the Philippines.

    Frank and Frances Carpenter Collection Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #22

    Mascot "Maine", Cavite, Philippine Islands, Circa 1899

    Group of Filipinos in traditional clothing with a man and dog on a street, showcasing the Philippines in the 1890s contrasts.

    Library of Congress Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #23

    Spanish-Filipina Mestiza (Mixed Filipino Woman), 1899

    Filipina woman in traditional 1890s attire standing by an ornate pillar, showcasing fashion in the Philippines 1890s.

    Alden March Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    rand0m_1 avatar
    Ran D0m!
    Ran D0m!
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Possible dtae for this is 1880s–early 1890s

    0
    0points
    reply
    #24

    Jose Rizal, Filipino Nationalist, Writer And Polymath Active At The End Of The Spanish Colonial Period, 1890s

    Black and white portrait of a Filipino man in formal 1890s clothing showcasing the Philippines in the 1890s contrast.

    wikipedia Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #25

    Two Ilocano Women, Wife Of Sr. Cardenas And Her Sister, Philippines, 1890s

    Two Filipino women in traditional 1890s clothing seated outdoors, reflecting the Philippines in the 1890s culture and fashion.

    Newberry Library Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
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    #26

    Albay Wagons, Philippines, 1899

    Rural scene in the Philippines in the 1890s showing traditional carabaos pulling wooden carts near thatched huts.

    Alden March Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #27

    A Filipino Lwoman Wearing The Maria Clara Dress, 1897

    Young Filipino woman in traditional 1890s attire, showcasing cultural fashion from the Philippines in the 1890s.

    barongsrus Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #28

    Transportation Of Army Supplies By Carabao (Water Ox) Cart, Phillippine, Circa 1899

    Man riding a carabao pulling a heavily loaded wooden cart in a street scene from the Philippines in the 1890s.

    US Army Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #29

    Carabao With Sled, Philippines, 1899

    Young Filipino boy riding a water buffalo attached to a wooden plow, showcasing rural life in the Philippines in the 1890s.

    Alden March Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST

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