This landmark study of leaked World Bank documents published in 1982 went out of print in the 90's while the issues of consolidation of wealth and economic power raised here grow in relevance. The erosion of political autonomy in Third World nations remains a crucial issue. Clearly written, this book highlights the need to read more than American news in order to understand the history of the postwar era in the Philippines. The West's economic colonization of the globe is glossed over in much of the current Western media. Based on over 6,000 pages of secret reports, memoranda, and assessments of the World Bank's programs in the Philippines by Bank Philippines is a revelation of the ideals of Western hegemonic policy hidden behind euphemisms of "development" and "modernization." The book is an early attempt to debunk ex-Vietnam War policy architect and World Bank president Robert McNamara's 70's 'relief for the poor' rhetoric.

The (former US ambassador to the UN Jeane) "Kirkpatrick Doctrine" which claims, according to The Nation's David Corn, that right-wing authoritarian governments (which often are amenable to U.S. interests) are more likely than Communist nations to move toward democracy, justified US governmental support of authoritarian regimes. In outlining the patterns of the US led World Bank's complicity in the repression of Philippine people the book highlights a litany of mistakes in policy judgement, botched development and relief programs, corruption and repression to facilitate debt service. The hypocrisy of the Bank's self-mandated non-interference in politics is revealed as mere lip service to sustain their public relations image as an organization based upon democratic principles. After displacing many tenant farmers already living in primitive conditions, and creating unmanageable debt, rural development degraded into infrastructure support for government military counterinsurgency. A reign of terror was initiated during the occupation of the island of Samar during which many farmers were not informed that their farms had been designated as military "free fire zones," places where non-military personnel were shot on sight. Justifications for similar occupations of "unstable" territories by means of destructive force is reminiscent of McNamara's Vietnam-era thinking. The way to save the Philippine economy is by deconstructing it.

Urban development was botched even more, if it is possible, than rural. Aid for the very poor was never harmonized with the Bank's repayment requirements. Industrialization created little net capital growth and imposed wage and price restrictions, devaluation of currency, removal of protective tariffs (decimating preexisting national industries), and established control over labor unions aggravating the hardships of the poor. The projected debt service ratio in the Philippines rose to over 30% of total exports. The cure of structural adjustment loans was worse than the illness, if one can call it that, of lack of development. Martial law and the regimens of economic liberalization, further devaluation, depression of wages, increased taxes, and the installation of a pro-Bank officials in President Ferdinand Marcos' cabinet only served to increase the Philippine's political and economic instability, and did little to rectify their unfair distribution of wealth.

The Bank does not seem to have learned from its mistakes, but we may see what we can expect if the principles of free trade are permitted to reorganize the global economy. The political and social fallout of such policies on fragile economies may very well be an element of the political instability in many possible trouble spots now causing anxiety around the world. If poverty is an indicator of an unfair distribution of wealth, then the World Bank has contributed to the growth of that poverty with the resulting political instability. This book is a must for anyone interested in an alternative history of World Bank policy, and some background on the current rush to globalization. END

Well written guide with alot of information and contacts for dive locations throughout the Philippines, well worth the price even if just snokeling. Covers Malapascua in northern Cebu, Southern Leyte, best diving around, and Camiguin plus all the well known sites. Alot of good maps.

Must read book for those who want an inside look at what life in the Philippines was like from WWII thru the Marcos years. The novel is actually about a women and not about a part of Manila. It tells the tale of a wealthy family and one illegitimate offspring. It is a story of revenge, morality, duty and wealth. Woven into the fabric of the story is the impact of America on society and culture. It keep my interest throughout and was one of those hard to put down books.

Charito Planas fled the Philippines to the U.S. after being imprisoned under the Marcos regime. In the U.S. she was an outspoken critic of human rights abuses and of U.S. military and economic support for Marcos. She crossed the country numerous times to mobilize opposition and testified before Congress in the first hearings held on the U.S. military bases in the Philippines during the Marcos era. This is an important document in the histories of the Marcos era and the U.S.-based solidarity movements it inspired.

Having completed the book in an "oh-this-article-looks-interesting" fashion, I must say that so much goes into the definition for Filipino-American, and this book highlights many of the aspects of what "Fil-Am" really is. It is more than bloodlines and home of residence. It is more than being brown on the outside. Fil-Am encompasses the very essence of being bi-cultural. Every contribution to this book mirrors a portion of who Fil-Ams are as a people. For those Fil-Ams who are just beginning to look at themselves as a unique cultural entity and for those who don't have the privilege of being a Fil-Am though enjoy the ideas, the culture, and the sociology of being "brown", I highly recommend this book. It is as insightful as it is enriching. As a contributor to the book, I am proud to be part of such a wonderful collaborative work.

This book is a picture word book. It's great for building vocabulary. There are no grammatical explinations but over 400 basic Tagalog words. It is divided into subjects which includes Family, Food, Holidays, Games, Actions, etc. The words are in English, Tagalog, and Ilocano. Definatly a great help for builiding basic vocabulary in Tagalog, Ilocano, or English.

This is a gripping, yet heartwarming tale of survival in thestreets of Manila during World War II that unfolds during those tengrim hours between the attack on Pearl Harbor and the initial, devastating Japanese air strike at Clark Field in the Philippines. In a superb opening scene, author Wiley depicts vividly the strained and apprehensive emotions of a stunned and unprepared civilian population. Fires of Survival covers three years in the life of Elena Neville, a teenager during the war. Born of an American father, she and her brothers were allowed to live outside the civilian prison camps with their Swiss step-father, but under strict house arrest. Poignant scenes describe her contacts with fragments from American units just before their capture. These historically accurate touches provide sharp and valuable insight into the confusion that faced American and Filipino defenders on those last days before Manila fell. Other revealing segments describe the gradual emergence of the complex Filipino guerrilla movement and its bold risks. The story ends with graphic detail about the final days of Japanese occupation, much of it punctuated by fact-filled and rewarding quotations from Elena's war diary. Written from the author's first-hand experience and supported by careful research, this unusual book brings us an accurate view of both the Filipino and the European encounter with the Japanese. A passionate historical novel -- short, yet dynamic -- this tale is a must for those concerned with the plight of civilian populations faced with the cruelty and hardship of war.

Hard to put down! Really enjoyed this book. Learned much about the war and Japanese customs. Thank you Bonnie! The illustrations by Ruth Nanataki are worth the price of the book.

This is the book later republished under the title _Big Fleet Actions_. It is an excellent overview of the naval battles of Tsushima, Jutland and the Philippine Sea. While the Jutland section may have been overtaken by new analyses published later, the Philippine Sea section is a major account of this battle which is somewhat neglected in comparison with Leyte Gulf, 4 months later. Particularly illuminating is Grove's use of the battle to effectively demolish criticisms of aircraft carriers as "having half their aircraft devoted to self defense" by pointing out that the success of the US fighters in destroying the rebuilt Japanese carrier air force was a decisive victory in and of itself. Much better than Keegan's foray into naval history.

Incredible, must-own for those interested in the Art and Artifacts of the Northern Cordillera of the philippines, and Tribal Jewelry in general.