Kalesa ride, horse carriage. Crisologo Street. Ilocos. Vigan. Philippines. A kalesa (also caritela/karitela) is a horse drawn ca
Kalesa ride, horse carriage. Crisologo Street. Ilocos. Vigan. Philippines. A kalesa (also caritela/karitela) is a horse drawn calash used in the Philippines. It was one mode of transportation introduced to the islands in the 18th century by Spanish colonisers, and was initially reserved for only nobles and high-ranking civic officials.[1] These are today rarely used in the streets except in the tourist areas of old cities and some rural areas. Composer Ambrosio Del Rosario composed the original music and National Artist of the Philippines Levi Celério wrote the lyrics for a song entitled Kalesa, in honour of the vehicle. The word, also spelt calesa as in the original Spanish, is related to the terms calèche and was already in Spain prior to its colonisation of the islands. The term ultimately descends from an Old Church Slavonic word meaning "wheels." A kalesa looks like an inclined cart, and is drawn by a single horse. It has two round wheels on each side and two rows of seats that can accommodate four persons. The driver sits on a block of wood located at the front of the cart near the horse. When the kalesa was introduced in the 18th century, it grew into a significant mode of transportation in the islands. Rich, educated Filipinos known as the ilustrados used the kalesa for personal travel as well as for the transport of goods to nearby areas. During the American Occupation, the City of Manila was teeming with kalesas, but these declined in popularity after the devastation of the Second World War.
Size: 3969px × 2600px
Photo credit: © Sergi Reboredo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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