ABOUT THE WORK

In this depiction of a Manila arrabal, Sofronio Y Mendoza explores the darkly fascinating city. Each arrabal of Manila seemed to have its own “characteristic distinction.” Malate was full of clerks and seamstresses; Sampaloc, of printers and laundresses. Ermita was famed for its embroidery; Pasay, for its betel nuts. In Sta. Ana were the summer villas of the rich.