Written with high school and undergraduate students as the target
audience, this volume is ideal for anyone interested in Philippine
history. It pieces together evidence from the precolonial era,
illustrating the country's relationship with its neighboring Asian
countries, its functioning social system, its widespread literacy, and
developed system of writing. Its discussion of the precolonial era
acknowledges the significant role women played in Philippine society,
one that changed significantly with the coming of the friars. Its
summary of over 350 years of colonial rule by Spain and almost 50 years
by the United States helps the reader to understand why the Philippines
is uniquely different from its Asian neighbors. It illustrates how
Filipinos responded to colonialization, their active participation in
the making of the nation and the shaping of Philippine society, and most
importantly, the courage and resiliency of the Filipino people.