Balut: Fertilised Eggs and the Making of Culinary Capital in the Filipino Diaspora

In this book, Margaret Magat discusses how the Filipino delicacy balut, or cooked fertilized egg, has become a popular symbol of Filipino culinary culture and the Filipino diaspora. Josef Adriel de Guzman whose research is on food and migration, will provide us a taste of what the book offers.

Book Review

Brown Skin, White Minds: Filipino-American Postcolonial Psychology

Brown Skin, White Minds by E.J.R. David is about American colonialism and how it has influenced the Filipino psyche, affecting the identity, mental health, and the understanding of Kapwa. Dan Paolo Yema will provide his reflections on Filipino indigenous psychology as he discusses the salient points of the book.

Encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs and Customs: Volume 1

This book by Francisco Demeterio is useful and relevant to understand Filipino pre-colonial beliefs which are valuable in providing historical background and information to understand the development of Philippine society. Ma. Donna Rebong will give her insights into the book’s strengths and weaknesses.

Airport Urbanism: Infrastructure and Mobility in Asia

In Airport Urbanism, Max Hirsh embarks on a groundbreaking exploration of airport infrastructure within five Asian metropolises—namely, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. Drawing on these insights provided by the author, Juan Miguel Leandro Quizon will discuss the unique context in Manila and other airports in relation to the Filipino culture and urban mobility challenges.

Book Review

American Colonisation and the City Beautiful: Filipinos and Planning in the Philippines, 1916-35

This book provides a glimpse into the historical aspects of urban planning in the Philippines and the development of the built environment from 1916 to 1935. It places a significant focus on the efforts made by the Division of Architecture within the Bureau of Public Works and their role in advancing both national progress and the process of decolonization. Mar Lorence Ticao will delve into the specific case of Manila, considering its development journey and the obstacles it faced in that period.

Book Review

International Studies in the Philippines: Mapping New Frontiers in Theory and Practice

The book looks into the non-Western international relations of the Philippines, particularly with other regions in the Global South, examining both theory and praxis of diverse issues ranging from pre-colonial history and diplomacy to religion and agrarian reform in the Philippines. Ma. Jenina Nalipay will reflect on Filipino perspectives and how these were shaped and enriched based on their understanding of the international.

The Idea of Phenomenology

Husserl’s pre-phenomenological approach offers a valuable perspective for scrutinizing and reevaluating the phenomenon of “fake news” in the context of Philippine politics and exploring potential remedies to mitigate its impact. The problems associated with fake news might find their initial solutions in a fundamental reexamination of what qualifies as fake news. Mark Antony Jalalum will review the fundamentals that the book provides in laying out the groundwork for the potential development of an antidote, which forms the central objective to be explored through reading the IP.