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The Philippines Is Not a Small Country
This book is an exploration of the Philippines as a beautiful land, a home to a diversity of peoples, a nation-in-the-making, and a country at the heart of the world. Drawing from anthropology, history, contemporary events, popular culture, and the author’s field experiences and travels, the essays draw connections between nature and culture, self and society, the local and the global, as well as the past and the present in order to arrive at a deeper, fuller, critical, yet hopeful view of a country that is larger than many imagine it to be.
Published in 2020.
Published in 2020.
228 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
99 people are currently reading
1140 people want to read
About the author
Gideon Lasco
8 books25 followersGideon Lasco, MD, PhD is a physician, medical anthropologist, and writer. He is senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman's Department of Anthropology, research fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University's Development Studies Program, and honorary fellow at Hong Kong University's Centre for Criminology. He is currently based in Mexico City where he is doing comparative research on COVID-19 responses, and language studies at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
His collection of essays, The Philippines Is Not A Small Country, was published by the Ateneo de Manila Press in September 2020, and his ethnographic monograph on human stature, Height Matters, The Making, Meanings, and Materialities of Human Stature in the Philippines, is forthcoming with the University of the Philippines Press. He is also the editor of Drugs and Philippine Society (Ateneo Press, 2021), a collection of critical perspectives on drug use and drug policy in the country.
His collection of essays, The Philippines Is Not A Small Country, was published by the Ateneo de Manila Press in September 2020, and his ethnographic monograph on human stature, Height Matters, The Making, Meanings, and Materialities of Human Stature in the Philippines, is forthcoming with the University of the Philippines Press. He is also the editor of Drugs and Philippine Society (Ateneo Press, 2021), a collection of critical perspectives on drug use and drug policy in the country.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 90 reviews
January 1, 2025
Living in the same place all your life, with the same things going on around you, is staying all day in the coffee shop; you have gone accustomed to the environment that you no longer smell the potent aroma of brewed coffee wafting in the air.
Mr. Lasco (whose accounts of adventures on his blog I used to read years back as reference for going on my own minor hikes) offers in this essay compilation a delicate and matter-of-fact inspection of the makings of the self-deprecating attitude of many Filipinos toward their nation; his opinions based on his experiences as a physician, medical anthropologist, writer and mountaineer. Throughout this book are epiphanies, opportunities for re-learning truths and unlearning notions.
The immense task of reversing seemingly irreparable problems of national scale, as the book consistently implies, lies firstly and largely, in the people's understanding. If anything, it is on this basis that the Philippines is a small country. Ergo, this invitation to learn.
We, Filipinos, do say "Cheers!"
But originally and meaningfully, we say
**Highly recommended**
Mr. Lasco (whose accounts of adventures on his blog I used to read years back as reference for going on my own minor hikes) offers in this essay compilation a delicate and matter-of-fact inspection of the makings of the self-deprecating attitude of many Filipinos toward their nation; his opinions based on his experiences as a physician, medical anthropologist, writer and mountaineer. Throughout this book are epiphanies, opportunities for re-learning truths and unlearning notions.
The immense task of reversing seemingly irreparable problems of national scale, as the book consistently implies, lies firstly and largely, in the people's understanding. If anything, it is on this basis that the Philippines is a small country. Ergo, this invitation to learn.
We, Filipinos, do say "Cheers!"
But originally and meaningfully, we say
What our past should give us is neither a feeling of victimization nor entitlement but a dignity of a people that has suffered much -- but has overcome more.
**Highly recommended**
November 25, 2025
Incredibly well discussed and suited my style of non-fiction. pThough I do not agree with some of the arguably transphobic views, I resonated a lot with Lasco’s thought processes or at least where they were coming from. Fellow Filipinos, you need to read this.
4.5
“We are who we are because we forget.”
4.5
January 29, 2021
Filipinos are very specific people. We're generous, but at the same time display a pagkanya-kanya attitude. We're family-oriented, to the point where we prioritize our communities over our country. We're resilient, but we tend to repeat the same mistakes. We're urbanized, but our behavior hasn't quite adapted to it.
Yeah, this is a biased 5-star review. Admittedly, some essays weren't as thought-provoking as others and some felt like filler. But hey, I live in the Philippines and it's pretty great to have some representation amirite Jose Rizal?
Yet there's no denying that these essays shine when they highlight the subtleties of Filipino culture that we either take for granted or don't notice at all. From the informal economies of the kasambahay, to the institution of gift-giving and pasalubong, to the meaning behind those "bawal umihi dito" signs, this book helped me reflect on our culture and nationhood.
I enjoyed reading these essays and reflecting on the culture I was raised in. Would recommend to all my pares.
Yeah, this is a biased 5-star review. Admittedly, some essays weren't as thought-provoking as others and some felt like filler. But hey, I live in the Philippines and it's pretty great to have some representation amirite Jose Rizal?
Yet there's no denying that these essays shine when they highlight the subtleties of Filipino culture that we either take for granted or don't notice at all. From the informal economies of the kasambahay, to the institution of gift-giving and pasalubong, to the meaning behind those "bawal umihi dito" signs, this book helped me reflect on our culture and nationhood.
I enjoyed reading these essays and reflecting on the culture I was raised in. Would recommend to all my pares.
November 23, 2020
MUST READ FOR ANY FILIPINO!! Love reading and finding books by Filipino authors (there’s a ton on UP Press and Ateneo Press’ online bookstore so go check them out) But this book I loved in particular. I loved how Gideon Lasco found the cross sections of social sciences to discuss several issues our country faces. To create sustainable change and positive reforms, Lasco emphasizes how we must understand the root cause of the problem and understand our country and our people.
“What our past should give us is neither a feeling of victimization nor entitlement but s dignity of a people that has suffered much- but has overcome more.”
“What our past should give us is neither a feeling of victimization nor entitlement but s dignity of a people that has suffered much- but has overcome more.”
September 26, 2021
Went through a few essays at a time to take my mind off of things. I find myself agreeing with--and often seeing myself in--Lasco's prose and view of the world.
Not that big a fan of his liberal (i.e., not progressive ~enough~) politics though, chief among them being the emphasis on voting as the be-all and end-all of an individual's civic duty. Admittedly, that might be a mischaracterization on my part, but that's the impression I got whenever he talked about democracy.
I do get the sense, however, that he was sort of holding his tongue a bit. Most (all?) of these entries were written for the Inquirer, after all, which tries to cater to the mainstream/average Pinoy. And given that our Overton window skews significantly to the right--what with our centuries-long history of Catholicism and American ideological heritage--I can certainly imagine Lasco tempering his inner tibak, at least in writing.
The entries on Japan were a downer for me, I must say. While mostly grounded in truth, his reflections on punctuality and cleanliness continue the non-Japanese fetishization of Japanese culture. I need only think back to commuting daily from the suburbs of Setagaya all the way to Yotsuya for more than a year to remind myself that Japanese society doesn't run like clockwork, and their public spaces aren't always squeaky clean.
Still, I enjoy Lasco's writing. This would be a nice gift for the Fil-Ams in my life lol.
Not that big a fan of his liberal (i.e., not progressive ~enough~) politics though, chief among them being the emphasis on voting as the be-all and end-all of an individual's civic duty. Admittedly, that might be a mischaracterization on my part, but that's the impression I got whenever he talked about democracy.
I do get the sense, however, that he was sort of holding his tongue a bit. Most (all?) of these entries were written for the Inquirer, after all, which tries to cater to the mainstream/average Pinoy. And given that our Overton window skews significantly to the right--what with our centuries-long history of Catholicism and American ideological heritage--I can certainly imagine Lasco tempering his inner tibak, at least in writing.
The entries on Japan were a downer for me, I must say. While mostly grounded in truth, his reflections on punctuality and cleanliness continue the non-Japanese fetishization of Japanese culture. I need only think back to commuting daily from the suburbs of Setagaya all the way to Yotsuya for more than a year to remind myself that Japanese society doesn't run like clockwork, and their public spaces aren't always squeaky clean.
Still, I enjoy Lasco's writing. This would be a nice gift for the Fil-Ams in my life lol.
August 9, 2023
The book has a lot of sharp and interesting observations, and the author's anthropological insight plus the breadth of his travels gave me a lot to chew on and broadened my perspective on so many Filipino-isms.
However, I felt like a lot of the essays, for all their shrewdness, ended with trite, moralistic conclusions that felt a little bit like oversimplifications of all the wonderful complexities he had just finished laying out.
I also felt like the book as a whole could've been a little more curated. It took me ages to finish simply because I got bored of reading so many essays that scratched the surface but never went too deep on so many varied subjects. It was kind of overwhelming to learn about such a wide range of topics, but also frustrating because just as you want to probe and reflect deeper on one subject, the book had already moved on to the next.
Still, I think this is a good read for anyone who wants to understand and appreciate the quirks of Filipino culture, and ultimately an easy read if you don't expect too much of it.
However, I felt like a lot of the essays, for all their shrewdness, ended with trite, moralistic conclusions that felt a little bit like oversimplifications of all the wonderful complexities he had just finished laying out.
I also felt like the book as a whole could've been a little more curated. It took me ages to finish simply because I got bored of reading so many essays that scratched the surface but never went too deep on so many varied subjects. It was kind of overwhelming to learn about such a wide range of topics, but also frustrating because just as you want to probe and reflect deeper on one subject, the book had already moved on to the next.
Still, I think this is a good read for anyone who wants to understand and appreciate the quirks of Filipino culture, and ultimately an easy read if you don't expect too much of it.
October 4, 2020
Disclosure: The author has been my university professor.
The Philippines Is Not A Small Country bridges together fields in the social sciences to provide its readers with rich insight about the many facets of Filipino culture that readers from the Gen-Z population may be unfamiliar with or have even come to forget in our fast-paced and ever-changing world.
Combining perspectives from history, geography, anthropology, and many other disciplines, the book is an accessible and imagination-stretching entry into the world of 21st-century Filipino cultural nonfiction and literature.
The Philippines Is Not A Small Country bridges together fields in the social sciences to provide its readers with rich insight about the many facets of Filipino culture that readers from the Gen-Z population may be unfamiliar with or have even come to forget in our fast-paced and ever-changing world.
Combining perspectives from history, geography, anthropology, and many other disciplines, the book is an accessible and imagination-stretching entry into the world of 21st-century Filipino cultural nonfiction and literature.
September 21, 2022
More than four months ago, in May 2022, I started reading this book. Everyone was on edge because of the then-upcoming Presidential Elections. I started reading this book which much gusto and unbelievable speed until the partial tallies started coming in.
I will be lying if I say that I wasn't devastated and heartbroken with how the election turned out. It affected my work and reading to a certain degree, rendering me sometimes useless and just aimlessly scrolling page after page, site after site. While some would laugh at this for being melodramatic, I wish we could also survive daily lives by laughing.
Today, I finished reading the book on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law that carried Marcos Sr. into power for 14 years. Almost four decades after the dictator was ousted, his son, Marcos Jr., spoke in front of the UNGA in New York.
Marcos Jr. is the 17th and current President of the Philippines.
Divided into seven (7) parts written in a very readable and concise form, The Philippines is Not a Small Country presents the pros and cons of being a Filipino from history, to culture, to modern times, and to how the Filipinos are similar but different from our cultures.
Indeed, "Pilipinas, kay ganda mo pero minsan kay hirap mong mahalin." (Our Motherland, the Philippines, you are beautiful, but at times you are hard to love.).
Mahirap ka man mahalin, mamahalin at pipiliin pa rin. 🇵🇭
A must-read and a must-have for all Filipinos!
----
"Our past is longer - and much - richer than how our textbooks have presented it."
"When it comes to civic consciousness and cultural knowledge, the country is your classroom."
"Every country, like every person, has a dark side, and we must accept the inconvenient truths about our nation and be willing to make the sacrifices they require of us. But they should never lead us to frustration, not just because of the brighter side that we sometimes refuse to see, but also because we can always do something to make our country a better place.
"A greater tragedy is when we no longer cry." (For ourselves or our country.)
I will be lying if I say that I wasn't devastated and heartbroken with how the election turned out. It affected my work and reading to a certain degree, rendering me sometimes useless and just aimlessly scrolling page after page, site after site. While some would laugh at this for being melodramatic, I wish we could also survive daily lives by laughing.
Today, I finished reading the book on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law that carried Marcos Sr. into power for 14 years. Almost four decades after the dictator was ousted, his son, Marcos Jr., spoke in front of the UNGA in New York.
Marcos Jr. is the 17th and current President of the Philippines.
Divided into seven (7) parts written in a very readable and concise form, The Philippines is Not a Small Country presents the pros and cons of being a Filipino from history, to culture, to modern times, and to how the Filipinos are similar but different from our cultures.
Indeed, "Pilipinas, kay ganda mo pero minsan kay hirap mong mahalin." (Our Motherland, the Philippines, you are beautiful, but at times you are hard to love.).
Mahirap ka man mahalin, mamahalin at pipiliin pa rin. 🇵🇭
A must-read and a must-have for all Filipinos!
----
"Our past is longer - and much - richer than how our textbooks have presented it."
"When it comes to civic consciousness and cultural knowledge, the country is your classroom."
"Every country, like every person, has a dark side, and we must accept the inconvenient truths about our nation and be willing to make the sacrifices they require of us. But they should never lead us to frustration, not just because of the brighter side that we sometimes refuse to see, but also because we can always do something to make our country a better place.
"A greater tragedy is when we no longer cry." (For ourselves or our country.)
January 14, 2023
Brings up some interesting topics to talk about but fails to say anything new or insightful about them. Most essays just end up being either twee sentimentality or various ways of saying 'this might possibly be bad, maybe?' or 'perhaps it would be nice if...?' with no follow-through. Came away from this book without having read anything particularly thought-provoking, and honestly just seems like it's empty calories in terms of content and writing.
Plus points for the obvious empathy and knowledge displayed in the writing and actually talking about (some) Filipino issues from a Filipino lens. Just wish the book was actually worth the gushing praise some people seem to give it in blurbs or other reviews.
Plus points for the obvious empathy and knowledge displayed in the writing and actually talking about (some) Filipino issues from a Filipino lens. Just wish the book was actually worth the gushing praise some people seem to give it in blurbs or other reviews.
June 21, 2023
For the people looking for reasons why to love the Philippines
June 26, 2021
I read this beautiful little book on the sorrowful day of a former President's burial in the city where I live. Much has been written and said about the man who was the son of a hero and the first woman president of our country, but above all, we mourn because he stood for decency and the rule of law.
I think I am not alone when I say that the lack of these two essentials these past several years have somewhat dimmed (but thankfully, not yet extinguished) the flame of patriotism in several Filipinos.
That's why I'm so grateful to have read this book: a collection of articles written by physician/ medical anthropologist / journalist Gideon Lasco (he has a blog, too! http://www.gideonlasco.com ) . I have yet to encounter another book that had me tearing up at page 4 (I tear up a lot, as a book club pal noticed, hehe. It's my body's involuntary response when something touches me deeply).
Divided into chapters according to seven themes (Country and Nation are the best!), Lasco's writings offer opinions and observations well worth reading for their mix of academic learning and lived experience. I appreciate how he writes very simply, how he's able to connect complex concepts to every day realities that I've stopped paying to, while pointing out their historical and cultural significance.
Apart from making his readers learn more about their country and culture, reading Lasco's book is like ingesting a match to set aflame all patriots' hearts once again. I know that's why I wept at page 4:
"Every country, like every person, has a dark side, and we must accept the inconvenient truths about our nation, and be willing to make the sacrifices they require of us. But they should never lead us to frustration, not just because of the brighter side that we sometime refuse to see, but also because we can always do something to make our country a better place.
The power of hope lies in its ability to help fulfill its own promise... When you see hope in our government, you will be encouraged to vote. And when you see hope in our country, you will be encouraged to stay."
Now multiply that love and learning by 228 pages and you get this little gem: THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT A SMALL COUNTRY.
Lasco's words bring light and hope. I am reminded that we are many, we who choose to love our Inang Bayan, despite everything. I am reminded to put my hope in my countrymen, to see the good along with the bad. I learn from looking at our country through Lasco's loving gaze: unafraid to point out what needs to be changed ("We are who we are because we forget.") yet always, always with faith that we as a people can do better.
Leaders come and go. We will remain. And yes, in the words of Lasco: "I know enough of the Filipino people to say that we are capable of weathering any storm."
I think I am not alone when I say that the lack of these two essentials these past several years have somewhat dimmed (but thankfully, not yet extinguished) the flame of patriotism in several Filipinos.
That's why I'm so grateful to have read this book: a collection of articles written by physician/ medical anthropologist / journalist Gideon Lasco (he has a blog, too! http://www.gideonlasco.com ) . I have yet to encounter another book that had me tearing up at page 4 (I tear up a lot, as a book club pal noticed, hehe. It's my body's involuntary response when something touches me deeply).
Divided into chapters according to seven themes (Country and Nation are the best!), Lasco's writings offer opinions and observations well worth reading for their mix of academic learning and lived experience. I appreciate how he writes very simply, how he's able to connect complex concepts to every day realities that I've stopped paying to, while pointing out their historical and cultural significance.
Apart from making his readers learn more about their country and culture, reading Lasco's book is like ingesting a match to set aflame all patriots' hearts once again. I know that's why I wept at page 4:
"Every country, like every person, has a dark side, and we must accept the inconvenient truths about our nation, and be willing to make the sacrifices they require of us. But they should never lead us to frustration, not just because of the brighter side that we sometime refuse to see, but also because we can always do something to make our country a better place.
The power of hope lies in its ability to help fulfill its own promise... When you see hope in our government, you will be encouraged to vote. And when you see hope in our country, you will be encouraged to stay."
Now multiply that love and learning by 228 pages and you get this little gem: THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT A SMALL COUNTRY.
Lasco's words bring light and hope. I am reminded that we are many, we who choose to love our Inang Bayan, despite everything. I am reminded to put my hope in my countrymen, to see the good along with the bad. I learn from looking at our country through Lasco's loving gaze: unafraid to point out what needs to be changed ("We are who we are because we forget.") yet always, always with faith that we as a people can do better.
Leaders come and go. We will remain. And yes, in the words of Lasco: "I know enough of the Filipino people to say that we are capable of weathering any storm."
January 30, 2025
I bought and read The Philippines Is Not A Small Country expecting an anthology of essays about the Philippines, revelatory and honest, hoping that what I would read would make me miss home more and help me further understand the conditions of the Philippines and where I can go back to serve. The first section 'Country' did exactly that. Lasco wrote about landscapes, creatures, and people that I have not yet learned about, and he also wrote sociological critiques of the Filipino people that encouraged me to reflect deeper on ideas like "pantawid-gutom" and "utang na loob."
What brought this book from a 5-star beginning to a 3-star entire-book review is the body of much of the book that included a very wide range of Lasco's essays that had very little to do with the Philippines. At some point, I started to doubt if I was reading the same book I started. If I really wanted to read about the validity of the millenial experience, travel checklists, and the age of antimicrobial resistance, then I wouldn't have reached for this book. Unfortunately, it felt like Lasco knew he was onto something with his essays on Country and Nation, and he used this book publishing opportunity to squeeze in the corpus of his other essays that were irrelevant to the Philippines. I would have been much happier if 1/3 of this book was cut out.
What brought this book from a 5-star beginning to a 3-star entire-book review is the body of much of the book that included a very wide range of Lasco's essays that had very little to do with the Philippines. At some point, I started to doubt if I was reading the same book I started. If I really wanted to read about the validity of the millenial experience, travel checklists, and the age of antimicrobial resistance, then I wouldn't have reached for this book. Unfortunately, it felt like Lasco knew he was onto something with his essays on Country and Nation, and he used this book publishing opportunity to squeeze in the corpus of his other essays that were irrelevant to the Philippines. I would have been much happier if 1/3 of this book was cut out.
February 11, 2021
Gideon Lasco's essay collection, The Philippines is Not A Small Country, must be made essential reading for Filipinos.
The essays are on diverse topics: from his visit to Dachau concentration camp to the cleanliness programs of Singapore and Japan, from the uncontrolled sprouting of malls to the prevalence of dengue and deforestation, from Pokemon Go to our penchant for selfies and cyberbullying, from the lives of the kasambahay to the unjust treatment of farmers, from why we don't have a word for 'cheers' to our obsession with being tall and having fair skin, from fanaticism to Star Wars as a metaphor for today's government, from habal-habal rides to climbing mountains.
Lasco is a physician and an anthropologist and his essays remind us of how fascinating it is to explore and understand our identity as a nation. It is easy to lose hope and give up in these current times but we are called to persevere for the sake of this nation, which we should love more than any politician. My list of favorite books this year is already crowded but I wil make room for this book. More than any other book I've read this year, this makes me adore my country more and makes me realize my role as a citizen who can make a change.
The essays are on diverse topics: from his visit to Dachau concentration camp to the cleanliness programs of Singapore and Japan, from the uncontrolled sprouting of malls to the prevalence of dengue and deforestation, from Pokemon Go to our penchant for selfies and cyberbullying, from the lives of the kasambahay to the unjust treatment of farmers, from why we don't have a word for 'cheers' to our obsession with being tall and having fair skin, from fanaticism to Star Wars as a metaphor for today's government, from habal-habal rides to climbing mountains.
Lasco is a physician and an anthropologist and his essays remind us of how fascinating it is to explore and understand our identity as a nation. It is easy to lose hope and give up in these current times but we are called to persevere for the sake of this nation, which we should love more than any politician. My list of favorite books this year is already crowded but I wil make room for this book. More than any other book I've read this year, this makes me adore my country more and makes me realize my role as a citizen who can make a change.
February 18, 2021
a must-read.
January 17, 2023
Not super sure what rating I'll give this book. Maybe 3 stars. Ok naman maybe because it's my first time to read a non-fiction book containing essays from someone. I can't help but feel lang na most of the essays talk about wishing PH is like this and like that which everybody knows naman pero hanggang dun lang. He would say na "oh! Look at Japan they're super clean!" Or "Look at Iceland, they have this cool geothermal source of power, why can't PH do that?", I feel like we are still "small" as a country in the sense na we can't really compete with other countries kasi we can't even fix the basic stuff like the fact na madaming food poor pa rin sa Pilipinas and many children are malnourished, tapos yung test scores ng mga students natin sa math and reading comprehension is alarmingly low, dagdag mo pa diyan na we basically have no more democracy and people keep voting the same people again and again.
But siguro ok naman the first few essays If I had read this book by myself, baka I'd only finish 1/4 of it.
If I hadn't read this with other people, I probably wouldn't have fun reading this.
But siguro ok naman the first few essays If I had read this book by myself, baka I'd only finish 1/4 of it.
If I hadn't read this with other people, I probably wouldn't have fun reading this.
April 30, 2025
This essay book is a compilation of Gideon Lasco's essays featured in Inquirer and I loved it.
Each essay is full of substantial information, and I love how diverse the topics are.
What I love about Gideon Lasco's essays is that aside from talking about a specific topic or opening discourse, he also writes a call to action to help mitigate or even stop discussed problems.
This compilation of essays by Gideon Lasco talks about different topics grouped into categories: Country, Nation, Culture, People, Technology, Modernity and World.
This book is an eye-opener to new topics for me such as negative exceptionalism and gives me fresh new perspectives on topics that I'm already familiar about.
Below are my favorite essays:
1) To a Filipino Teacher
2) In Search of Local Histories
3) Modern life as a Performance
4) The Lost Art of Bedtime Storytelling
5) The World is Not a Checklist
Each essay is full of substantial information, and I love how diverse the topics are.
What I love about Gideon Lasco's essays is that aside from talking about a specific topic or opening discourse, he also writes a call to action to help mitigate or even stop discussed problems.
This compilation of essays by Gideon Lasco talks about different topics grouped into categories: Country, Nation, Culture, People, Technology, Modernity and World.
This book is an eye-opener to new topics for me such as negative exceptionalism and gives me fresh new perspectives on topics that I'm already familiar about.
Below are my favorite essays:
1) To a Filipino Teacher
2) In Search of Local Histories
3) Modern life as a Performance
4) The Lost Art of Bedtime Storytelling
5) The World is Not a Checklist
August 3, 2025
Favorite essays:
- Rediscovering our maritime consciousness
- Let our native flowers bloom
- (Un)protected areas
- Politics in the air we breathe
- Pagkakanya-kanya
- In search of walang kamag-anak
- Unlimited rice, empty stomachs
- Why some Kalinga men don't want a tattoo
- The myth of the lazy poor
- Street vendors and the right to the city
- Cyberbullying is worse than bullying
- The ghosts in our shells
- Mall country
- The lost art of storytelling
- Dengue and deforestation
- Gambling and late capitalism
- The Philippines at the heart of the world
- Our Latin American connection
- On child sacrifice
- Japanese punctuality, Filipino time
- Culture of cleanliness
- Rediscovering our maritime consciousness
- Let our native flowers bloom
- (Un)protected areas
- Politics in the air we breathe
- Pagkakanya-kanya
- In search of walang kamag-anak
- Unlimited rice, empty stomachs
- Why some Kalinga men don't want a tattoo
- The myth of the lazy poor
- Street vendors and the right to the city
- Cyberbullying is worse than bullying
- The ghosts in our shells
- Mall country
- The lost art of storytelling
- Dengue and deforestation
- Gambling and late capitalism
- The Philippines at the heart of the world
- Our Latin American connection
- On child sacrifice
- Japanese punctuality, Filipino time
- Culture of cleanliness
February 21, 2023
i realllllly wanted to like this more than I did, but it just fell short. the book is a series of ~2-page-essays that meditate on the culture, politics, technology, etc. of, largely, the Philippines (obvs). while the essays themselves were centered around thought-provoking and discussion-worthy topics (“pasalubong” practices, empathy and memory as a nation), I felt that they raised vague, unanswerable questions more than they offered any meaningful insights. maybe that was the point (the essays were short and felt very personal/reflective), but I just wanted him to dig deeper!!
July 28, 2021
Initial thoughts (bc I would love to expand on this to encourage people to read it). Empathetic, complex insights in our society. This is not meant for a binge reading—in fact, I would like for you to pause after a couple of essays and self-criticize, or observe for yourself the society the author frames. Finally, it’s inspiring.
I’ll add more to this soon!
I’ll add more to this soon!
October 29, 2025
there are days when we get stuck in the perspective of preconceived notions, or spiral into the rabbit hole of negative thinking about the Philippines, and consequently, Filipinos. given the current state of our nation, i’d be more surprised if you haven’t.
‘the Philippines is not a small country’ is an essay collection that forces us to confront this reality (and more) so that we can formulate our own thoughts and engage in productive discourse. at the end of the day, it aims to make us believe that the Philippines is not “small” and shouldn’t be treated as such; in fact, there’s more to this country (and our culture) than we can ever imagine.
i’d say this is required reading for EVERY filipino. with the entries spanning various topics from the Philippines’ total island count, the tradition of buying “pasalubong”, habal-habal, cyberbullying and the slow and corrupt justice system, to our love for rice, traveling, social media aesthetics, and selfies; there’s definitely something that’ll stick with you in the days, weeks, months, and hopefully years to come.
most essays were written from 2015 - 2019. while it’s disheartening to see that some of the issues present then are still wild and rampant a decade later, reading about them now becomes an eye-opener to any kind of progress that might have occurred. like what we tell ourselves when studying for exams, reading a few chapters, or running a few kms without stopping - progress is progress no matter how small; and we must take time to acknowledge and appreciate how we’ve been able to move forward.
that being said, i’d like to challenge us all to not stop at just reading and reflecting. instead, i encourage us to also do our part in ensuring that we do something about anything in this book that sparked anger, empathy, joy, sadness, or frustration. use those emotions and turn them into action — be it supporting an environmental foundation or animal shelters, engaging in regular discourse about the current political landscape, visiting new local destinations, taking small steps to lessen trash output, reconnecting and reaching out to friends online, and even just being a little bit kinder to other people — these small actions eventually snowball into bigger outcomes. who knows, maybe in our lifetime we get a glimpse of a Philippines that’s way “bigger” — better, and learns from history.
‘the Philippines is not a small country’ is an essay collection that forces us to confront this reality (and more) so that we can formulate our own thoughts and engage in productive discourse. at the end of the day, it aims to make us believe that the Philippines is not “small” and shouldn’t be treated as such; in fact, there’s more to this country (and our culture) than we can ever imagine.
i’d say this is required reading for EVERY filipino. with the entries spanning various topics from the Philippines’ total island count, the tradition of buying “pasalubong”, habal-habal, cyberbullying and the slow and corrupt justice system, to our love for rice, traveling, social media aesthetics, and selfies; there’s definitely something that’ll stick with you in the days, weeks, months, and hopefully years to come.
most essays were written from 2015 - 2019. while it’s disheartening to see that some of the issues present then are still wild and rampant a decade later, reading about them now becomes an eye-opener to any kind of progress that might have occurred. like what we tell ourselves when studying for exams, reading a few chapters, or running a few kms without stopping - progress is progress no matter how small; and we must take time to acknowledge and appreciate how we’ve been able to move forward.
that being said, i’d like to challenge us all to not stop at just reading and reflecting. instead, i encourage us to also do our part in ensuring that we do something about anything in this book that sparked anger, empathy, joy, sadness, or frustration. use those emotions and turn them into action — be it supporting an environmental foundation or animal shelters, engaging in regular discourse about the current political landscape, visiting new local destinations, taking small steps to lessen trash output, reconnecting and reaching out to friends online, and even just being a little bit kinder to other people — these small actions eventually snowball into bigger outcomes. who knows, maybe in our lifetime we get a glimpse of a Philippines that’s way “bigger” — better, and learns from history.
May 1, 2021
It's quite rare to look inwards when aiming to gather perspective but with this book Lasco is able to provide the reader with just that. 'The Philippines is Not a Small Country' is a book that is able to bring the reader to a certain degree of understanding of a situation in the few short pages that comprise each individually essay (that make up the book). Each essay is incredibly thought-provoking and compelling and written in a way that I believe only someone as well-learned and travelled as Lasco could have written it. I'm especially compelled by the scope of Lasco's knowledge and interests, he's a very impressive individual.
What I believe to be Lasco's best quality in writing this book is his ability to properly contextualize our nation's struggle on a much more macro level. One term he uses in the start is that of 'negative exceptionalism', which he describes as "the phenomenon of thinking problems and negative as being unique to one's country". This phenomenon, although not mentioned throughout the rest of the book is what I believe to one of the core foundations of which the book stands. The way Lasco talks about the world and the Philippines relation to it just makes sense and it's rare to see it covered in this medium.
I thoroughly the book, I particularly enjoyed certains parts of the technology, modernity and the world sections. In these chapters are essays that I believe should be shown to far greater audience than this book has yet to rally. It's not so much that I think they are so amazing for their content. I believe they should be shown because of the symbolism they represent and the thought process Lasco used to frame his arguments.
It's a very worthwhile read. It's not perfect that's for sure. It can be repetitive and I would have liked him to at least attempt to offer some solutions at the end of the essays instead of ending on a lyrical note like each of the essays do but I understand each one was written beforehand for a different medium. Apart from that there is no notes section, it's hard to take everything he's saying at face value with there not being a transparent check and balances behind it. At the end of the day however, these are just personal criticisms, read the book yourself you won't regret it.
What I believe to be Lasco's best quality in writing this book is his ability to properly contextualize our nation's struggle on a much more macro level. One term he uses in the start is that of 'negative exceptionalism', which he describes as "the phenomenon of thinking problems and negative as being unique to one's country". This phenomenon, although not mentioned throughout the rest of the book is what I believe to one of the core foundations of which the book stands. The way Lasco talks about the world and the Philippines relation to it just makes sense and it's rare to see it covered in this medium.
I thoroughly the book, I particularly enjoyed certains parts of the technology, modernity and the world sections. In these chapters are essays that I believe should be shown to far greater audience than this book has yet to rally. It's not so much that I think they are so amazing for their content. I believe they should be shown because of the symbolism they represent and the thought process Lasco used to frame his arguments.
It's a very worthwhile read. It's not perfect that's for sure. It can be repetitive and I would have liked him to at least attempt to offer some solutions at the end of the essays instead of ending on a lyrical note like each of the essays do but I understand each one was written beforehand for a different medium. Apart from that there is no notes section, it's hard to take everything he's saying at face value with there not being a transparent check and balances behind it. At the end of the day however, these are just personal criticisms, read the book yourself you won't regret it.
October 15, 2023
Lasco, as a newspaper columnist, has a keen sense of contemporary developments, both mundane and complex. He discusses them in a profound, insightful, and hopeful way while being wary of romanticizing. The book is at its strongest whenever it highlights the links that the Philippines has to other nations and cultures, indicates facts about the country that challenge perspectives of it as small and insignificant, and emphasizes the fragility of human memory. Indeed, the Philippines can be seen as the heart of the world, and its people must have a heart for the world.
Although Lasco can be too optimistic at times for my taste, I appreciate where he is coming from and certainly relate to his sentiments. This is essential reading for those who love the Philippines — its people and diversity and its flaws and weaknesses — and are willing to put in the work to change it for the better.
Although Lasco can be too optimistic at times for my taste, I appreciate where he is coming from and certainly relate to his sentiments. This is essential reading for those who love the Philippines — its people and diversity and its flaws and weaknesses — and are willing to put in the work to change it for the better.
August 19, 2022
The Philippines is indeed not a small country if the breadth of topics in this book is proof enough. I love how much Gideon Lasco loves the Philippines.
One star off only because almost every essay ends with an imperative, and after xx essays, it's overwhelming to think of how many things we have to fix as a country.
Still, it doesn't eclipse how the book is a reminder of how there is so much to love about the Philippines, that there are still people who love it too, that we get so many things painfully wrong but the things we get right are just marvelous -- no small thing at all.
One star off only because almost every essay ends with an imperative, and after xx essays, it's overwhelming to think of how many things we have to fix as a country.
Still, it doesn't eclipse how the book is a reminder of how there is so much to love about the Philippines, that there are still people who love it too, that we get so many things painfully wrong but the things we get right are just marvelous -- no small thing at all.
September 24, 2024
Actual Rating: 4.5
My initial questions while reading this book were, "Why isn’t this part of the required reading in school? Why are we not dissecting the essays compiled in this tiny white book? And why aren’t we talking more about this?"
The Philippines is Not a Small Country is a collection of short essays that gives us a hundred of reasons why, indeed, our country is not so small after all. From historical and anthropological background to cultural and societal norms in both traditional and modern contexts, Lasco have explored it all. The writing was easy, accessible, and digestible to any types of readers (whether you read or like non-fiction or not), and yet it offers depth and provokes one's thoughts and beliefs.
Personally, there were many essays that put me in deep thought and a few that hit home. However, as is common with literary compilations, there were some that either missed the mark or held my interest the least. Nevertheless, it's a book that I would definitely recommend to everyone. You can read this in one go or savor each essay and each part at your own pace (as I did).
My initial questions while reading this book were, "Why isn’t this part of the required reading in school? Why are we not dissecting the essays compiled in this tiny white book? And why aren’t we talking more about this?"
The Philippines is Not a Small Country is a collection of short essays that gives us a hundred of reasons why, indeed, our country is not so small after all. From historical and anthropological background to cultural and societal norms in both traditional and modern contexts, Lasco have explored it all. The writing was easy, accessible, and digestible to any types of readers (whether you read or like non-fiction or not), and yet it offers depth and provokes one's thoughts and beliefs.
Personally, there were many essays that put me in deep thought and a few that hit home. However, as is common with literary compilations, there were some that either missed the mark or held my interest the least. Nevertheless, it's a book that I would definitely recommend to everyone. You can read this in one go or savor each essay and each part at your own pace (as I did).
April 16, 2022
What I appreciate about collections of essays is that you don't necessarily have to read it in one go, since the themes are usually a mix. But this one -- I read this one after the other, I guess it's because the context and topics are so familiar, and obviously interesting. Good read :)
May 8, 2023
From our geography to the social issues of our country and the world, there was never an idle moment in reading this book. I always find it admirable when writers write with two sides of a coin in mind—not to play safe, but to strike a balance—to let you see that, as Jonathan Edwards has put it, "there are always two sides to every story." Giving you, in turn, the perfect prompts for contemplation.
Gideon Lasco's thoughts and perspective can be both a source of inspiration and envy. All I'm thinking of and hoping for right now is the same attentiveness to nuances and empathy he has for the Philippines and the world.
Gideon Lasco's thoughts and perspective can be both a source of inspiration and envy. All I'm thinking of and hoping for right now is the same attentiveness to nuances and empathy he has for the Philippines and the world.
April 7, 2024
This man is my favorite liberal. he loves the word "inculcate."
May 31, 2025
One of the most powerful non-fiction books that I read this year as it tackles a wide perspective of our country — the Philippines.
I highly recommend everyone to read this one.
I highly recommend everyone to read this one.
September 9, 2025
This was such a unique read: a compilation of first-person essays on wide-ranging subjects, written originally as a weekly column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Gideon Lasco's voice is steady and measured as he ponders the world through his own cultural lens. As an anthropologist, he takes the familiar and makes it strange again, and demystifies the strange by rendering it familiar. I do not know much about the Philippines except for baseline information I learned in school or as a reporter, so I also learned a lot about aspects of the archipelago's history that never made it into the history books. Even if I wasn't aware of certain details, these short essays are also micro-meditations on all aspects of humanity, from the history of tattoos to cleanliness, crime and punishment to sniffing food before eating. The topics are hyper specific yet also super relatable, and got me thinking I could one day write my own essays on this topics! Lasco's observations are keen and sometimes quirky, addressing specific groups--from school children to government workers--with equal measures of compassion and critique. Bravo, Gideon. I look forward to reading your next collection!
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