FILIPINO BOOKS, A thread that lists books on Filipino culture Options

[nenabunena]

Finding good, accurate, & dependable books on Filipino culture is difficult to come by because unlike English books where you can find a wealth of reviews & information on the internet, Filipino books are rare & usually unseen, even within Philippine society. So let's all help make each others lives easier by listing the books we all would recommend & why, & where to find them if possible.

So here is a a thread in which everyone can share Filipino books they would like to recommend, as well as post some summary & reviews to help all of us sift through & spread knowledge on Filipino culture. For the New Year, I have made a resolution: to spread Filipino knowledge via gift giving, & these gifts would all represent Filipino culture in 1 way or another, with each gift suitable for the individual recipient.

Also, don't forget to state if it's in English or Filipino, & for literature like Rizal, state which version is the best.


The very 1st book I would like to recommend is William Henry Scott's BARANGAY

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

This book presents a sixteenth-century Philippine ethnography based on contemporaneous sources. It does not attempt to reconstruct that society by consideration of present Philippine societies, or of features believed to be common to all Austronesian peoples. Nor does it seek similarities with neighboring cultures in Southeast Asia, though the raw data presented should be of use to scholars who might wish to do so. Rather, it seeks to answer the question: What did the Spaniards actually say about the Filipino people when they first met them? It is hoped that the answer to that question will permit Filipino readers today to pay a vicarious visit to the land of their ancestors four centuries ago.

Part 1 describes Visayan culture in eight chapters on physical appearance, food and farming, trades and commerce, religion, literature and entertainment, natural science, social organization, and warfare. Part 2 surveys the rest of the archipelago from south to north.

This book is essential as it's well researched, & easy to digest, in other words, it's for mass-consumption. It's primary focus are the Bisayans, followed by both the Tagalogs & the Mindanaoans.

Here is 1 review of Scott's book:

No review of mine would do justice to this groundbreaking book.

The author, Dr. William Henry Scott, taught my Asian Civilizations class decades ago. In his lifetime as a former Episcopalian missionary turned historian whose immersion in all things Filipino put the native-born to shame, he systematically chipped away at the misguided, knee-jerk notions and outright lies about Philippine history with an unprecedented scholarly approach that was informed by archaeology, linguistics and other disciplines.

I remember how roundly Prof. Scott criticized Zaide for the fake Code of Kalantiao the latter felt he needed to invent. The truth is much more fascinating, as the book shows, based as it is on a lifetime of painstaking research and work.

For a learned book, Barangay is an easy, entertaining read (for me, anyway) and should be required reading for all people of Filipino descent. It both informs and (even if Scott didn't set out to do so) empowers the Filipino, especially those among us who are tired of being beaten down by the prejudice and racism of the ignorant.

For someone who originally came to the Philippines ostensibly to convert people to his beliefs, Scott ended up offering a labor of love to his adopted people that celebrated who they truly are.

I cannot stress how vital this book is, every Filipino household should have this, for both parents & children alike. It is time for us to be aware of our roots & time for all of us to be a little more pro-active in spreading knowledge & genuine love for Filipino history & culture. How can you say that you love being Filipino when you have no drive or incentive to know more about yourself, your culture, your ancestors, & your neighbors?

This post has been edited by nenabunena: Jan 15 2012, 09:53 AM

[nenabunena]

I would like to add in this thread an architectural book on traditional Filipino Homes! Due to the many recent typhoons & flooding in the country, it seems that our traditional Bahay Na Bato is more suited to our calamity prone country. It is more resistant to floods, earthquake 7 typhoon, than the American/Western style 1 tiered dwelling. It also is suitable to our hot & humid climate, offering cool ventilation & brightly lit rooms via large windows & capiz decked windows. I would however prefer if the windows & doors were sliding as it conserves space. Most Filipinos have rather small houses, we need to be able to utilize what we have & the space that we have, not take up every imaginable space for unnecessary things. I find these traditional homes far superior to the homes most urban Filipinos live in.

It may be cheaper to buy this book in the Philippines than on Amazon because on Amazon, this book costs about $400-600.

I'd like to recommend this book of Francisco Manosa titled Designing Filipino: THE ARCHITECTURE OF FRANCISCO MAÑOSA: book

DESIGNING

FILIPINO
THE ARCHITECTURE OF
FRANCISCO
MAÑOSA
Published by: Tukod Foundation

DESIGNING FILIPINO: The Architecture of Francisco Mañosa, showcase, for the first time, tropical and contemporary Filipino architecture as depicted through the eyes of Francisco " Bobby" Mañosa. He has been described as the most out spoken champion of an indigenous Filipino architecture. He has consistently explored new expressions of traditional vernacular forms many of which, apply new technology to familiar native material such as bamboo, "nipa", rattan and coconut. It reveals how the simplest indigenous materials can be transformed into distinctive exteriors and elegant interiors that nurture a contemporary Filipino lifestyle.


Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa distinctive designs for family residences, resorts, and institution structures have been described as "neo-vernacular". The architect himself simply says: " I design Filipino." His forms reveal deep roots in the past: The "bahay kubo", the peasant's simple thatch hut and the "bahay na bato", the colonial ancestral home, provide a springboard for new ideas. but Mañosa designs are built for present needs and reach into the future, expressing universal human and aesthetic values that underly the particularities of time and place.

Ten residentials projects, five Churches, four commemorative structures, 5 hotel/resort projects, five institutional projects, four international expositions and various industrial designed projects are featured under the following chapters:

I. Houses
II. Churches
III. Commemorative Designs
IV. Resort/Hotels
V. Institutions
VI. International Expositions
VII. Industrial Designs
VIII. The Design Firm

Each project is deeply explored with full colored photography through the eyes of renowned photographers, namely Chester Ong and Jonh Chua and Dic Baldovino and eloquently drawn plans taken fro the architecture archives of Francisco Mañosa & Partners.

DESIGNING FILIPINO: The Architecture of Francisco Mañosa, is a bold attempt at defining what is contemporary Filipino architecture. This book is an important addition to general, special and university libraries. It will also appeal to architectural students, professionals and anyone who is interested in contemporary Filipino design.


The book's specifications are as follows:

Size: 9 1/2" x 12". 256 pages with over 265 colored photographs and over 40 images of plans, elevations, sections, and perspectives.

BOOK ORDERS

For local orders, books are available at all "National Bookstore" and "Powerbooks" branches. You may also call us at (632) 842-7499; (632) 807-6916or email us at mail@manosa.com for a signed copy.

For international orders, Please email us at mail@manosa.com for payment information.

Here are some pics of an updated Bahay na Bato:http://www.femalenetwork.com/food-home/traditonal-filipino-style-progressive-pinoy

But for me a real Bahay na Bato is at the very least a 2-tiered home, having a traditional Filipino look does not make it a Bahay na Bato. The home is beautiful nonetheless.


Upon entering, guests are easily drawn to the main door, which is made up of an interesting mix of local hardwoods like kamagong and yakal. The adobe fence alludes to Spanish-colonial church belfries, while the contemporary door is framed with a traditional bahay na bato thick door jamb with keystone.



Save for accent blooms, the living room is bereft of unnecessary ornaments.



The double-height ceiling, and capiz sliding doors and windows (a fresh take on an old Filipino architectural detail) make the area more spacious than it really is. The owner's choice of furniture, traditionally Pinoy but made of lighter materials, helped in achieving a contemporary bahay na bato look.



The lanai holds an ornate bench and this sitting area looks out onto well-manicured greens and orchids in the garden.



The kitchen is simply furnished with rustic peasant pieces such as a long wooden table and bangko.



Upstairs, a fresh take on the traditional Pinoy altar lends a warm welcome to everyone. This prayer nook is decked with religious figures set against a stone backdrop and driftwood detail. A multicolored banig beneath it provides a spot for intimate spiritual experience and adds a speck of vibrancy in the area.



The master bedroom has oversized capiz windows, softened by beige beaded curtains and ventanillas reminiscent of ancestral houses.



Sliding capiz windows and ventanillas (sliding panels beneath the window sill) provide cross-ventilation in the master bedroom. The butaca chair is perfect for idle afternoons.







A functioning gamelan set can be found near the guest bedroom.



Pebbles mixed with traviesa (old railroad ties) form a trail leading to the lush garden.



Quaint Filipino batibot chairs of wrought iron and wood make for a pleasantly casual merienda area outdoors.


^^^Filipino traditional furniture can be quite cheap actually, just as long as you don't buy them in malls & such. But my main contention is to bring back the Bahay na Bato architecture, especially with the all pervading natural disasters lately.