Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Olongapo Looked Like in the 1970s

Olongapo is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines, located in a lowland area near the head of Subic Bay. It was heavily damaged during World War II. Olongapo became a municipality in 1959 and a chartered city in 1966. The Philippines gained independence after WWII, but Olongapo was governed as a part of the United States naval reservation. The United States evacuated the base and turned it over to the Philippines in 1992.

The city thrived and grew rapidly in the 1980s, the government provided modern color-coded transport to the citizens, integrated Solid Waste Management system, crime rates were declined and the city became a ‘Model City’ from ‘Sin City’.

Here below are some stunning color photos that show what Olongapo looked like in the 1970s.  These photographs were take by Edgar Lawrence.

#1 Magsaysay, looking toward the Main Gate

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#2 Note D’Wave Club (round blue & white sign)

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#3 Outside of the NAVBASE Subic Main Gate, looking back across the bridge toward Olongapo

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#4 Magsaysay Street

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#5 Olongapo street scenes

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#6 Kong’s was the only restaurant in Olongapo that was popular with US military personnel

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#7 Olongapo street scenes

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#8 The Victory Liner terminal

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#9 Closer still to the Main Gate, but looking back away from it

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#10 Traffic circle where Manila Avenue runs into Rizal Avenue

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#11 View from the bridge from the Subic Main Gate to Olongapo

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#12 A little farther down the street but looking forward (towards Rizal and Magsaysay intersection)

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#13 Around the corner onto Magsaysay

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#14 Olongapo street scenes with the burned-out Pauline’s Club at right center (it burned in late 1968 or early 1969)

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#15 Rizal Avenue from bridge across creek toward traffic circle

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#16 Rizal farther towards Magsaysay Street looking back

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#17 The Apple Disco (not a true disco) and the Purple Haze Club (at right with the curved projection above the entrance)

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#18 View from the bridge from the Subic Main Gate to Olongapo

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#19 Olongapo street scenes

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#20 Del Rosario Enterprises

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#21 Magsaysay Street

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#22 Pussy Cat Nite Club

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#23 Rizal farther towards Magsaysay Street looking back

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#24 Rizal farther towards Magsaysay Street looking back

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#25 Looking toward the Rizal and Magsaysay intersection

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#26 Magsaysay Street

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#27 Manila Avenue heading towards Kalaklan

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#28 Olongapo street scenes

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#29 Magsaysay Street

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#30 Plaza Hotel. The building with the white arches on top is actually another hotel, the Marmont

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