An Introduction to Philippine History

by José S. Arcilla

Introduction to Philippine History gives an introductory overview of how the Philippines grew into a nation and how it achieved its independence. Conceived as "a story to be read, and not a calendar to be memorized," this concise narrative of Philippine history serves as a handy guide for understanding the important highlights of the nation's development.
Jose S. Arcilla, S.J., is a member of the department of history at the Ateneo de Manila University and is at present also the archivist of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. He finished graduate studies in the United States and in Spain. Farther Arcilla, who has authored "Aspects of Wester Medieval Culture", has published in professioal reviews both in the Philippines and abroad. He is the Philippine coordinator for the editorial staff of the "International Jesuit Encyclopedia" being published by the Institute of Jesuit History (Rome).

Genres: History, Nonfiction

141 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1999

Reviews

[Thomas Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really not a very good introduction to Philippine history, but I read it anyway to get at least some background information about the Philippines. It has virtually nothing about the Philippines before the Spanish colonial influence started in 1559. It has literally nothing about the Marcos regime (1966-1986) despite the fact that the book was written twelve years after that dictatorship. The author writes ''We have to wait a little while longer and allow time to give us the proper perspective before we can make an objective assessment of [the Marcos and Macapagal regimes].'' Wait for what? I'd like to know the real reasons he declined to include these years in his history. Also troubling was the Jesuit underpinnings (this was written by a Jesuit priest), e.g. colonialization of the Philippines as a win for Christ etc. A quick read, but why bother?

[Jerome Baladad · Rating 5 out of 5]

a grand introduction to anyone curious about Philippine culture and history!!!

[Gio Tiongson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to brush up on Philippine history for people who studied it in school. Keep in mind - the author is a Jesuit, so sometimes it could feel like there's bias towards a Christian narrative.

[José Angel Hernández · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the reviews Below have already noted that this particular introduction was written by a Jesuit priest and therefore this is the angle and the perspective that is given throughout this very short introduction. According to the author the Filipinos were nothing but a bunch of Barbarians until the Spaniards and Catholicism arrived, yet it is very difficult even for this author, to point out how impoverished the country became under the tutelage and guidance of this medieval institution known as the Catholic Church. The book is brief and is only around a 135 pages in length, is mostly made up of secondary sources and takes much of its primary evidence from the 55 volumes published in 1903 by Blaire and Robertson. I mention these sources because the author purports to be the archivist of the Philippine province of the Society of Jesus yet none of this material is included in this introductory survey. There are a few nuggets of information and some interesting analysis here and there, but the authors religiosity and apparent love of his own religion and Institution blinds what could have been an excellent introduction to the history of the Philippines. For this author the history of the Philippines begins and ends with Catholicism, and you can interpret its entire history through this lens. The problem with the perspective of course is that none of the negative aspects of this process is ever alluded to and one is left to wonder why such propaganda is assigned to college students in the Philippines...

[Monzenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to Philippine history - it's honest advertising in that sense. Hopefully readers would be interested in one or more moments which would lead them to meatier texts.

[Empanadani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really good overview of Philippine history to the 1960s (the book was published in 1970). The author has a good idea of relating history as a series of unfolding events rather than emphasizing specific events or following a strict timeline. It's a book of "development" rather than a textbook. The author does attempt to be objective which is a fruitless pursuit, and I do not trust the political view described in the book because there is not deep insights into the occurrences. After reading this, I have a good sense of the countries colonial history: more than 300 years under the Spanish, 40-ish years under the US Americans, a brief period under the Japanese before finally winning their independence. I am now more familiar with certain characters in the nation's history such as Jose Rizal and a greater appreciation of how cultures survive and adapt under colonialism.

[Gabriel Subaldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CAN"T READ

[Reynard]

IT'S NICE

[Jasher Rodelas]

to be read