MANILA – Google Philippines paid homage to the City of Manila’s 444th founding anniversary with the launch of Manila Reborn, a digital exhibit on the post-war reconstruction of the city featured on Google Cultural Institute.
It features pre- and post-war photos that have long been a part of the Filipinas Heritage Library’s Retrato Photo Collection, which were digitized and catalogued prior to Manila Reborn—but not on a platform as easily accessible as the search giant’s platform.
“Manila Reborn could have been released in digital form 10 years ago, but it would have lacked the added historical perspective provided by the last decade—when a lot of the technological developments and the booming of Internet culture began to take place,” Faye Cura, associate manager in charge of Filipinas Heritage Library’s special projects.
Most of the pictures were provided by Prof. Ricardo Jose, an expert on World War II – Pacific Theater, together with shots by Teodulo Protomartir, the notable Filipino photographer who first brought the 35mm format to the Philippines and popularized street photography; and photos of the Battle for Manila from the US Army’s collection.
While Manila Reborn celebrates the resilience and adaptability of Filipinos, Cura said that it also serves as reminder of the harsh realities of war and its massive influence on the environment, culture and on society.
“We want the viewers to understand that no one really wins in a war. It destroyed a lot of our heritage, books & artworks & buildings—which many young Filipinos today are not aware of,” she adds.
Founded in 2011, Cultural Institute is a product of Google which seeks to preserve important cultural material digitally and making it available and accessible to everyone. Manila Reborn is as part of the Remembering the Second World War collection, which is one of over 6 million items – photos, videos, and documents Google Cultural Institute have gathered as of 2013.
“There is an abundance of art, history and heritage that is only accessible to those who are fortunate enough to go see them,” said Gail Tan, Google Philippines Head of Communications and Public Affairs. “Through Cultural Institute, we hope to make these pieces of art, history and heritage available and accessible to everyone.”
