The full piece in the image (above) is titled Billar Público. Cuadro de Costumbres Filipinas [Public Billiards. Scenes of Philippine Customs] (1859 / 1860) by English artist C. W. Andrews. It was published in the Philippine periodical Ilustracion Filipina. Our descriptions of Andrews and Ilustracion Filipina are in our previous installment 11.7.
This illustration depicts another common pastime in the Philippines during this period: billiards. This piece has some similarities to Billiard-Room in Manilla by Charles Wirgman, Andrews’ contemporary, which was published a year or two prior to this one. Wirgman’s illustration is in our previous installment 11.6.
The billiard table here appears to be a makeshift one housed in a hut-like structure for the townspeople to use and enjoy.
In the second image above, we have a closer look at the subjects on the left side of this drawing. The men gathered around the billiard table all wear work barongs likely made of a comfortable, breathable and durable material, like cotton, ramie or linen. Those with legs or feet visible are barefoot and wear knickers with the pant legs rolled up. The men with headwear either wear western straw hats or putong (head wrap). In the background are people carrying containers on their heads. They may be vendors selling food.
The third image above shows a closeup of the men on the right side of the table. The men are similarly dressed to their mates on the other side with work barongs, knickers, western straw hats and putong. A couple of onlookers on this side wear salakot (helmet-like headwear with wide brims) over their putong. They all appear to be shoeless.