Reading About the Philippines: Suggestions?: The Sequel

Two posts ago I asked for suggestions for good reads about the Philippines, non-fiction and non-military.  Since I still haven't received any such suggestions, I decided I had better prime the pump to get us started.  Here goes.  The Philippines has great newspapers with wonderful journalists.  I devour these when I am in country, and I check on them with some regularity when writing my monthly column for the VIA Times Newsmagazine.  Quite recently I have used the "Lifestyle" section of the Philippine Daily Inquire on line to read up on the current Cardinal Archbishop of Manila.  Pope Benedict had announced his resignation, so I wanted to know if there would be a Filipino contender.  There was, though a long shot, as described in "Manila Archbishop Luis Tagle: Filipino Most Likely to Become Pope" (Philippine Dialy Inquirer, Jessalynn G. de la Cruz, Jan. 7, 2012).  Note the date!  Pretty farsighted.  Another excellent source of good Filipino gossip ("tsismis") is <philSTAR.com>.  I'm still working on a list of books.  Suggestions?

Sundays in Manila Open for Comments

I have been looking for comments on this blog site and just discovered why there haven't been any.  I made the rookie mistake of not checking the settings to make sure that anyone could make a comment.  I would like to have any feedback on my April 19 post for reading suggestions.  I also raise questions on earlier posts.  You will find these in the Blog Archive on this page.  I welcome comments on any of these.  Also I will be adding a new post for the coming weekend.  My thanks for your visits and viewings and my apologies for not unlocking the comments window.  It is now open for business.  Just click on "no comments."  rhb

Reading About the Philippines: Suggestions?

A few weeks ago I received an email from someone who asked me for suggestions of books on the Philippines.  John (not his real name) had spent five months in Manila a few years back and formed an attachment to the people and the country, mainly in Metro-Manila.  He was there on business but got to know a number of his colleagues and their families socially, even being invited to attend a baptism and be a Ninong (godfather) to a new arrival. 

John recently read Sundays in Manila, which he enjoyed considerably, in part because in brought back pleasant memories.  I greatly appreciated hearing from him, and he set me to thinking when he asked me to recommend other, similar books about the Philippines.  He is looking for non-fiction, and he specified that he is not interested in books involving war.  I emailed back and recommended Nick Joaquin's Manila My Manila, and I promised to rummage about for other titles.  My list so far is, however, very short, so I am looking for some help.  Does anyone have some titles for me to pass along to John?  Please use the comments space to reply.

Remember Bataan Day

Bataan Day was actually three days ago, on April 8.  It marked the anniversary of the surrender of the United States Armed Forces Far East (USAFFE) to the Japanese on the Bataan Peninsula in 1942.  The memorial celebration began in Maywood, Illinois in 1943.  Maywood was then a little town outside of Chicago.  It's now part of the Windy City and brings to Chicago its celebration.  Young men from Maywood were among the first U.S. troops to be sent to the Philippines when war was expected.  When war actually came, they turned out to be just about the last U.S. troops to arrive.  They were among the 70,000 USAFFE troops to surrender, 12,000 American and 58,000 Filipino soldiers.  They were never forgotten by the "Maywood Mothers," who probably saved many of them by their letters and their political advocacy.  They stormed Washington and Tokyo.  To mark the occasion I am adding an article I have written about the Maywood Boys to my blog.  Also check the photo section.  rhb

New Chapter and New Sketches

Greetings.  I have added a new chapter entitled "Sundays in Manila."  It will explain the significances of the title of the book Sundays in Manila.  For some reason the sketches do not copy and paste, which is particularly unfortunate in this chapter because it contains three or four of my favorites.  To compensate I have added two sketches (See "Sketches") as well, including one from this chapter.  I am back at my desk and computer now, so entries will be more regular, at least 'till my next excused absence.  rhb 

New Chapter Excerpt

I have added a second chapter to the excerpts from Sundays in Manila.  Actually it is Chapter One.  The first 'chapter' is really the Preface.  Chapter One deals with my dawning and eclectic geography of the Philippines as well as my continuing attempts to understand exactly what happens when travellers cross the Ingternational Dateline.  I hopel you enjoy the added excerpt.  I will be away for the next five days but look forward to re-joining you on Apr.8.  In the meantime if anyone can advise me on the International Dateline, I will be grateful.  Salamat, ingat.  Thanks, see you soon.