Featuring footage shot just before WWII, Library Films’ CROSSROADS TO THE ORIENT (:08) presents rare color images of Manila and the Philippines. As the opening credits of the film explain, the Philippine Islands suffered severe war damage and the islands Zombanga and Jolo were included (:20). However, the way of life on these islands did not change much and the scenes depicted in this film, which were shot before the war, will accurately display life on these islands. The capitol of the Philippine Islands is a city called Manila (1:08). The old city is encircled in a wall built by the Spanish in 1517 (1:24). Steamers from around the world meet along the city’s waterfront and country side is riddled with rice fields (1:45). The volcanic crater of lake Taal is the only place in the world where both a mountain exists in a lake, and a lake exists in a mountain (1:58). There are over a hundred islands in the Philippines group (2:31), Zombanga being one of them. This entire city rests on stilts above the water (2:53) and streets are crafted with bamboo (2:56). As firewood is a necessary commodity, it is brought in from other islands (3:44). Food and clothing are bought and sold as, weekly, natives from surrounding islands come (4:12). The people mainly rely on fish, coconuts and rice for food and meat is a rarity (4:35). Exotic fruits like the durian, are a special delicacy of the islands (4:55). As much of this world is cut off from modernization, people live similarly to the ways of their forefathers (5:10). A custom to be depicted is a village wedding (5:28). The bride is escorted by villagers to the wedding place and each villager wears their best sarong (5:31). The gong ringer is shown wearing typical attire including silks and close fitting trousers (5:42). A unique tradition is the filing down and blackening of teeth (5:58). In the ceremony, a priest solidifys a contract between the bridegroom and bride’s father (6:53). As the ritual ceremony ends, music and dancing begin (7:15). Typical dancing includes sharp angular movement (7:33). After the wedding, guests return to their islands (8:11). The design and color of their ship’s sails indicate from which tribe and island they have come from (8:25). Most of the men are pearl fishers (8:25) and whole families will live, eat and sleep on the boats (8:51). This short film concludes and it has been a picture of life on the Philippine Islands (9:35).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
