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Conceived of as an introductory text to the Philippines, this reference work sets out to cover a wide array of topics from history to social identities to food in enough detail for readers to gain a basic understanding of the country and begin further research on topics of interest. Though a weighty task, this text nevertheless succeeds at covering a large amount of information in a fairly brief amount of space. Chapters are structured thematically--e.g., "Government and Politics," "Languages," "Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality"--and are further subdivided into more focused topics of interest. Chapters can be read independently from one another, and individual subsections within chapters can also be referenced on their own. Each subsection includes a list of resources that readers can consult for more information on a given topic. Scholars referenced include both Filipino/as and Westerners. For students or others wishing to begin learning about the Philippines, this invaluable resource can be referenced again and again as interest in different areas arises. The book can also be read straight through for a general overview of the country. A worthy introductory text by Abinales (Univ. of Hawai`i at Manoa).Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers, undergraduates, and two-year students.