Product Description
This book is an excellent blend of information for serious orchid growers as well as orchid enthusiasts who may have plants of Philippine origin in their collections. It documents both the popular, well-known species and those of botanical interest in a format designed to aid in identifying species found in collections. Descriptions are accompanied by more than 300 color photos.Amazon.com Review
Jim Cootes knows orchids so well that two species have been named after him. The author notes in his stunning Orchids of the Philippinesreveal that he has even found a pure white flower, rare as a snowleopard: "An albino form of Dendrobium fairchildiae." This volumeconsists of an exhaustive and hypnotic listing of over 300 species oforchids--plants native to the archipelago, which have been discovered andclassified by Cootes and others over decades of research.

Each entry includes a vivid color photograph and a series of subcategories,including growth habits, petals, habitat, and distribution. The roots ofbotanical names are traced for descriptive meanings. Occasional notesallow the author's voice into the proceedings, and the prose is ofteninadvertently poetic, as in this description of the habitat of theBulbophyllum antenniferum: "It normally grows as an epiphyte, usually onthe trunks of trees, but has been observed by the author growing onrocks in dappled light." Orchid enthusiasts beware: most of theplants shown here can only be grown in greenhouses. --Emily White ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

the more i know, the more i appreciate and admire
"The Orchids of the Philippines" is one of a few books on indigenous Philippine orchids currently available.The more comprehensive ones are hard-to-find and very expensive.This book is priced just right.It contains morphological, cultural and geographical info on famous Philippine orchids and their lesser known relatives.

I am not a botanist so I cannot claim that this book covers the latest-and-greatest Philippine orchid genera and/or species.I am, however, a great lover of our own native orchids and I know about the more common and popular ones.This book, written by a non-Filipino, about Philippine orchids, continues to educate me, a Filipino.The more I know about our own native orchids, the more I appreciate and admire their beauty, diversity, and rarity!

Curiously, the word "orchid" has no direct Tagalog translation. ... Read more

Product Description
This innovative ethnography takes a new approach to the study of Philippine sugar. For much of the late colonial history of the Philippines, sugar was its most lucrative export, the biggest employer, and the greatest source of political influence. The so-called "Sugar Barons"--wealthy hacendero planters located mainly in Central Luzon and on the Visayan island of Negros--gained the reputation as kingmakers and became noted for their lavish lifestyles and the quasi-feudal nature of their estates. But Philippine sugar gradually declined into obsolescence; today it is regarded as a "sunset industry" that can barely satisfy domestic demand. While planters continue to think of themselves as wielding considerable power and influence, they are more often seen as vestiges of a bygone era.

Michael Billig examines sugar's decline within both the dynamic context of contemporary Philippine society and the global context of the international sugar market. His multi-sited ethnographic analysis focuses mainly on conflicts among the various elite sectors (planters, millers, traders, commercial buyers, politicians) and concludes that the most salient political, economic, and cultural trend in the Philippines today is the decline of rural, agrarian elite power and the rise of urban industrial, commercial, and financial power. His reflections on his relationships with informants in the midst of the politically charged atmosphere that surrounds the sugar industry provide a candid look at the role of the observer who, try as he might to remain impartial, finds himself swept into the vortex of policy debates and power plays. Barons, Brokers, and Buyers will be of great interest to scholars and students of political economy and economic anthropology and to anyone interested in contemporary Philippine society. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you're conducting business, traveling for pleasure, or even relocating abroad, one mistake with customs or etiquette can leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. International travelers, now more than ever, are not just individuals from the United States, but ambassadors and impression makers for the country as a whole. Newly updated, redesigned, and resized for maximum shelf appeal for travelers of all ages, Culture Shock! country and city guides make up the most complete reference series for customs and etiquette you can find. These are not just travel guides; they are guides for a way of life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

wish i didnt buy it
this book was good back in i dont know say the 50s but today in the philippines no. this book is out dated

Good for a starter
Much, but not all, of the information in this book is difficult to apply to my wife and her siblings being, what I would consider, "modern" Filipinos. However, it does provide a great deal of insight into where many of the current social mores came from. Just because they may not apply in every case doesn't mean a visitor should be unaware of them altogether. I've not had a problem with being "too polite" yet and you're not going to be dealing with "modern" Filipinos the entire time unless you never leave Makati. Even then, some of the older Filipinos place great value on some of the old things. What it did for me, more than anything, was give me more appreciation of the Filipino culture; where it came from, what it lost, and what has been kept. Just keep in mind this book is only a primer, not a bible. The key to being a visitor in any country is always, be polite, be flexible and stay positive.
As for comments some may consider "anti-American" it may be culture shock to those who think the U.S. has always been fair to the Filipino. Even 100 years after the U.S. occupied the Philippines there exists a state of denial among many. Read Renato Constantino, THE MISEDUCATION OF THE FILIPINO.

This book ain't nothing but trash!
Truthfully, I wouldn't even give it a 1 star! This stuff ain't true about us new breed of Filipinos. This book is a bit outdated. Don't even read it!
Just for example about the opening of present issue. It may be true to some but not all of us. And so does any other country. This is not a very helpful book.

Practical and funny but dated
The book is very useful mainly for it's practical tips.My Filipina partner agreed with most of the issues I looked up for advice.If you get asked to be a godparent for a filipino child read this book before you say yes or no!The writing is down to earth and we found it quite funny though friends in the Philippines said some of the ideas were a bit old fashioned.

Three things I learned from this book
I am a Filipino-Canadian, and I'm grateful for this book because it gave me valuable insights into Filipino culture (and myself):

- hiya = shame. Much of what Filipinos do and don't do is motivated by the avoidance of hiya.

- amor proprio = face. Filipinos try very hard to avoid making other people lose face in the slightest.

- utang na loob = debt to another after receiving a gift. Receiving a gift is bittersweet for Filipinos because the giver has some control over you now. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Graceful and Rich Collection of Essays about Pinoy Cooking
This is an excellent book on Filipino cooking, and the cultural associations and history in various food traditions. The Philippines has many cross-cultural influences and it's interesting to have a knowledgable writer walk the reader through pancit coming from Chinese influence (noodle dish) and why it's a common birthday food (noodles are eaten for luck and long life in Chinese culture), and the variety of foods eaten at Noche Buena (the traditional Christmas Eve midnight feast Filipinos eat), the appearance of certain food in Filipino literature, etc. It will certainly make you hungry! Well written, I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
In Manobo and English. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduces the geography, people, weather, natural resources, transportation, and economy of the Philippines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

It's the Philippines
Alot of info here on my favorite country so not a bad read. It tells you all the cool things in Philippines most tourist will want to see. Stay away from Boracay, go to El Nido, Palawan, or Bohol. very relaxing.

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
i was very please with the product that i bought. it not only was in prestine condition, it was delievered to me straight away - actually coming a week early.
i would definatly recommend buy from this seller.

MABUHAY, PHILIPPINES!
A MIGHTY FINE BOOK WITH GOOD NARRATIVE AND FANTASTIC PHOTOS.I TRAVEL OFTEN IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND THIS BOOK ACCURATELY CAPTURED THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND. IT IS A NICE COMFORTABLE READ, ESEPCIALLY WHEN YOU'RE PLANNING YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE AND WHAT TO DO AND SEE NEXT.SALAMAT PO AND MABUHAY FROM AMERICA! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
"I am very grateful for this book. This most interesting, extremely enlightening, very socially and nationally relevant and most challenging book, sometimes even shocking in its revelations, is worth hundreds of professional lectures and books in terms of educational value on common sense morality, practical religion and culture. To know the seriousness and the causes of the undeniable maladies that have inflicted the Filipinos' split personality and damaged culture and the possible solutions, this book is a must reading for every Filipino and every human who are concerned with uplifting humanity." -Manolo O. Vano, Author and Professor of Philosophy, University of the Philippines ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Transgendered males in Sulu (the southern Philipinnes)
Mark Johnson, who lived in the in the southern Philippines as a child of missionary parents, undertook ethnographic fieldwork in the predominantly Muslim, Tausug-speaking town of Jolo, Sulu. His somewhat difficult-to-read book is focused on ethnic and post-colonial national identities within uneven globalization as much as it is about sexuality and gender.

Johnson shows that the prestigious "modern" American term "gay" has been appropriated by stigmatized transgendered male homosexual stylists to distance themselves from the negative and socially circumscribing implications of the derogatory traditional term "bantut:" -- thoughreacting with disgust to the suggestion that gays in America exchanged what they regarded to be mutually exclusive penetrating and penetrated roles.

Johnson systematically analyzes forty life history interviews of "parloristas" (males working in beauty parlors). He also presents data from survey research from larger nongay samples.

The Sulu "gays" did, however,resist anysuggestion that "as men they were in any way physically deficient or incapacitated." In contrast to some writings about some transgendered roles, Johnson is unequivocal that the transgendered males he studied have male sexual partners. Their performances of beauty and what is believed to be American modernity do not seem to be attempts to become women and retrreat to the domestic sphere of demure housewives.

Sympathetically researched as the book is, Johnson's book is sometimes fuzzy from his conscientious hedging of assertions and difficult to read because of the number of topics (and theories) he wants to address.

Beauty and Power : Transgendering and Cultural Transformatio
I felt this book gave a good understanding of the traditional versus modern life i the Phillipines.I felt this book could have been written better but it wasn't so, I only gave it 2 stars ... Read more

Product Description
Invidious distinctions on the basis of race and overt racism were central features in American colonial policy in the Philippines from 1898 to 1947, as America transported its domestic racial policy to the island colony. This collection by young Filipino scholars analyzes American colonialism and its impact on administration and attitudes in the Philippines through the prism of American "racial tradition," a structural concept which refers to beliefs, attitudes, images, classifications, laws, and social customs that shape race relations and racial formation in multiracial and colonial societies. The dominance of this tradition was manifested in the wanton prerogatives of the U.S. Congress and others who helped to carry out colonial policy in the region. ... Read more