Windows from Days Gone By

Windows has a lot of stories to tell. You can just sit here and relax, inspire you as you compose your masterpiece, enjoy the breeze, or even a place where you could spy on the outside world. Our historical city still has a lot of old houses that date back from the Spanish colonial era.

In my stroll today I will share with you some of these old houses. I never paid attention to these houses until now. There is so much beauty in these houses and you would never notice until you slow down and look a little bit closer.

Similar to life, we sometimes never realize how much important are the people around us until we lose them. Until they are broken or dilapidated.

This house is just a couple of blocks away from our home. It was repainted maybe 15 years ago but is now showing wood starting to rot away. If you would notice the windows they are made from Capiz shells. These are very common for these houses and old ones are even sold for 1500 pesos or around $30 USD. Those in perfect condition sell for a much higher price.

At the top of the windows, you will see colored glass panes that give a nice glow when the sun shines thru them.

Aside from the capiz windows, there are also glass windows. I believe glass windows were much more expensive during this time.

You can expect to see these old houses after every block.

Metal grills are often seen with these old windows. I am just not sure when they started to use them because older houses do not have these grills. Maybe they started using these for safety reasons. My aunt's house also had this type of grill. I will share with you what happened to them one of these days.

This is a small clinic that has been properly restored and careful care has been given. As I recall my mother used to take me here when I was sick. I am glad that it is still being used now. It gives that nostalgic feel to it that adds charm to our city.

If we take care of our things or property, stories will be preserved and can be shared with future generations.

These are called "Ventanilla" and behind them are wooden boards that can be moved to let air inside the house.

Some are elaborately designed and usually owned by wealthy families.

I stumbled upon an old mansion just a few steps away from the clinic.

Slowly crumbling and has been taken for granted. Still, the windows tell a lot of stories. I love the colored glass on the sides and must have been very beautiful back in the day. I can imagine parties held here every night. Lovers sharing a romantic moment on the balcony. Today only ghosts from the past can be seen.

It is sad seeing a once majestic mansion slowly fading away. As we age we also slowly fade away but beauty can still be seen in us. Like that smile that you gave to a high school crush, those eyes that glittered that captured a heart and that kindness can soften even the hardest soul.

This stroll saddens me a bit. Seeing old houses in such a poor state. We do not know the stories behind them. Could be not enough funds for repairs or owners leaving for abroad. All these houses have different stories and we can only imagine what took place.

Some are in really bad condition but still occupied. Seems like nothing has been changed in this house. You would notice that the staircase is on the outside. My aunt told me that this is how the old houses were designed back then.

A lot of these houses have balconies and a good place to relax. I'm sure this balcony has seen better days. Today it is just a sad remnant from the past.

Still, some are in good condition and just need a little paint. This also has capiz windows with a wooden grill and screen to keep the mosquitoes outside.

Some have been renovated and modernized but you can still see remnants from the past. I would prefer restoration and not making a lot of changes to the original design.

These are just some of the remnants left from the Spanish colonial era. It is important not to forget where we came from. We must embrace and treasure our history. Without a past, we have no identity in the future. Take care and love what we have and the people around us. We do not know how important they are until it is gone.

Thank you for joining my stroll today. Taking this walk brings out a lot of emotion for me, sadness, hope, motivation, and maybe happiness on our next stroll.

See you again soon

Ryan and Mhel

All photos are original and taken with

Lumix GX85 and Olympus 45mm f1.8