By the late 1800s, Spain had lost control over the Philippines, and with her major defeat by the American fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay, totally relinquished her hold on the colony.
But freedom would not come so easily, for the Filipinos eventually found themselves under their erstwhile ally, the Americans.
Under the new conquerors, Manila spread outwards, roads and bridges were built, and schools taught the Filipinos Western culture and proficiency in a new language - English.
Democratic processes were introduced; and neo-classical government edifices rose around the old city. But the outbreak of World War II soon halted all that.