The Philippines

The record of the Filipinos is said to be full of contradictions and their history, a paradox. Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil, distinguished writer, explains the roots and manifestations of these contradictions and makes the history of the Philippines more understandable and less of a paradox in a series of eleven essays contained in this book. Writing on such topics as Manila, Philippine politics, and the Filipino woman and drawing heavily on her extensive knowledge of the country's history, Ms. Nakpil renders a portrait of the Filipinos, who she happily concludes, knows what they are "despite overlays and pockets of Hispanization and Americanism." Manuel D. Baldemor complements the text with woodcuts inspired by Philippine folk life.