Getting food, water, and services to the millions who live in the
world's few dozen megacities is one of the twenty-first century's most
formidable challenges. This innovative history traces nearly a century
in the life of the megacity of Manila to show how it grew and what
sustained it. Focusing on the city's key commodities-rice, produce,
fish, fowl, meat, milk, flour, coffee-Daniel F. Doeppers explores their
complex interconnections, the changing ecology of the surrounding
region, and the social fabric that weaves together farmers, merchants,
transporters, storekeepers, and door-to-door vendors.