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14 Must-Read Books on Philippine History

Whether you're a history buff or simply curious about the country's past, there are several essential reads that can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of Philippine history. From renowned historians to insightful cultural observers, each author offers a unique lens into the Philippines' rich history. In this post, we will explore some of the most notable books on the subject.

A quick glance

  1. Looking Back by Ambeth Ocampo
  2. Rizal without the Overcoat by Ambeth Ocampo
  3. History of the Filipino People by Teodoro Agoncillo
  4. Culture and History by Nick Joaquin
  5. A Question of Heroes by Nick Joaquin
  6. An Anarchy of Families by Alfred McCoy
  7. History of the Burgis by Mariel Francisco and Fe Maria Arriola
  8. Conjugal Dictatorship by Primitivo Mijares
  9. Boxer Codex by Isaac Donoso, Ma. Luisa Garcia, Carlos Quirino, and Mauro Garcia
  10. Barangay by William Henry Scott
  11. Looking for the Pre-Hispanic Filipino by William Henry Scott
  12. In Our Image by Stanley Karnow
  13. State and Society by Patricio Abinales
  14. History of the Philippines by Luis Francia

These must-reads will take you on a time-traveling journey, unveiling the captivating history of the Philippines. Whether you're a history buff or just starting out, these books are bound to amaze and enlighten. Happy reading!

Featured books

Country Cooking: Philippine Regional Cuisines (Front Cover)

Country Cooking

“Micky’s culinary trek around our beloved Philippines had her documenting the recipes and cooking traditions of numerous towns and cities she visit...
$60
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Flavors of the Philippines (Front Cover)

Flavors of the Philippines

Flavors of the Philippines offers an introduction to Asia’s most comforting and pleasing cuisine. The earlier influences of Malay, Chinese and Span...
$40
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Philippine Food & Life By Gilda Cordero-Fernando (Front Cover)

Philippine Food and Life by Gilda Cordero Fernando

This is the story of food and how people live in the countryside of Luzon. When talk zeroes in on food one has eaten and smelled, simmering in the ...
$150
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Linamnam (Front Cover)

Linamnam: Eating One's Way Around the Philippines

From the blurb in the book’s back cover: A foodie couple eats their way around the Philippines in search of the proverbial Holy Grail. In this culi...
$45
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The Cabalen Kitchen The Best of Pampanga's Culinary Treasures With Maritel Nievera (Front Cover)

Cabalen Kitchen: The Best of Pampanga's Culinary Treasures

Pampanga has often been referred to as the food capital of the Philippines for producing some of the best-loved versions of local Filipino dishes, ...
$60
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Cocina Sulipena: Culinary Gems From Old Pampanga (Front Cover)

Cocina Sulipeña: Culinary Gems from Old Pampanga

Cocina Sulipeña is a cookbook that partakes of family history and social history. It presents hometown cooking from Sulipan in Pampanga, a town no ...
$70
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Heirloom Recipes of the Cordillera (Front Cover)

Heirloom Recipes of the Cordillera

Heirloom Recipes of the Cordillera documents the heirloom recipes from Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga and Apayao. This book is a proje...
$80
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Hikay The Culinary Heritage of Cebu (Front Cover)

Hikay: The Culinary Heritage of Cebu

Hikay takes the reader on a culinary trip around the island of Cebu. From seaside towns to mountain hamlets, from the city to the far barangays. It...
$150
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Flavors of Iloilo (Front Cover)

Flavors of Iloilo by Rafael J. Jardeleza, Jr.

“Having Ilonggo maternal roots from Jaro and Molo, we welcome this book honoring a rich culinary heritage. It includes favorite foods like baye-bay...
$60
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Atching Lillian's Heirloom Recipes: Romancing the Past through Traditional Calutung Capampangan (Front Cover)

Atching Lillian’s Heirloom Recipes

Atching Lillian’s Heirloom Recipes is wonderful collection of traditional cooking of Pampanga, the culinary capital of the Philippines. According t...
$75
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Namit Gid (Front Cover)

Namit Gid!

“Namit Gid!” goes beyond being a collection of recipes on which we, non-cookers, can rely. It isn't the only the book that provides comfort food to...
$65
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Negrense Heritage Cooking (Front Cover)

Negrense Heritage Cooking

From the Introduction: My aunt and godmother, Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, wrote about food and its history long before the advent of digital platforms...
$65
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My Ranaw Kitchen: Food for Peace in Muslim Mindanao By Assad Baunto (Front Cover)

My Ranaw Kitchen Lab: Food for Peace in Muslim Mindanao by Assad Baunto

“Six months after the end of the historic Marawi siege in 2017, I joined Assad to the scene of the destruction. His family home was gone, ruined by...
$25
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The Tausug Cookbook The Best of Home-Cooked Halal Tausug-Filipino Dishes (Front Cover)

The Tausug Cookbook: The Best of Home-Cooked Halal Tausug-Filipino Dishes

From the Introduction: “Sharing these Tausug recipes is a lifetime project. This book is a collection of our family recipes passed on from one gene...
$70
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