This book marks the Quincentennial of the first circumnavigation of the globe by a Spanish expedition in 1522 and the 160th anniversary of the birth of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. In Philippine Chronicles: A Quincentennial Celebration, author Denis Lepatan shifts the focus from traditional stories of the victory at Mactan and the arrival of Christianity to the diverse ethnic groups in the Philippines, based on Antonio Pigafetta’s accounts from the early 16th century.

The book is organized into four sections, starting with a discussion of historical maps that feature the Philippines, including the 1529 Carta Universal and the 1734 Murillo-Velarde map. This is followed by a section that analyzes Rizal’s serialized essay, “Filipinas dentro de cien años” (The Philippines a Century Hence). The third section examines the Moros and other groups Pigafetta encountered, detailing the contemporary descendants of these communities. Finally, the book dives into Philippine languages and Rizal’s linguistic explorations.

Ultimately, this publication serves as an exploration of the concepts of people and language, encouraging further inquiry into Rizal’s thinking and the events that provide a window to the past.

Publisher:
Denis Yap Lepatan, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Service Institute, Philippines

Publication Date:
2021

Format:
Hardcover / 12.31 x 11.25 inches / 191 pages / Color

Language:
English

ISBN: 978-971-552-140-6