This is the third installment of Making Philippine History More Interesting. It’s a chronological booklist for the study of our country’s history that will hopefully engage even the youngest children. Just click on the purple links found all throughout this article.

We started with a list of history books that can be used as “spines” that can give us a general overview of events. As you read about an interesting event or person, you can then zoom in on books with specific topics. You can get book ideas from our booklists featuring different historical time periods.

Our first list has books that feature life before and until Magellan came. We originally wanted to have two separate booklists for the Spanish era and the revolution against Spain. Sadly, there seems to be slim pickings for the Spanish era. Thankfully, there’s an abundance of materials for the latter. We’re releasing both in just one article.

Spanish Era

Si Segunda, Noong Panahon Ng Mga Espanyol

Historical fiction / Picture book / Filipino with English translation / Ages 4 and up (for English; for Filipino, depends on the child)

Segunda doesn’t want to learn prayers with the priest anymore. Instead, she wants to learn how to read and write. Her father then decides that she has to learn household chores that all girls must learn. My daughter and I had a nice discussion about the expectations on girls and women during that time.

Available here.

Great Lives Series: Mother Ignacia

Biography / English / Ages 8 and up

The introduction of the Catholic faith was a major part of our country’s colonization by Spain. One can say that it was their main tool! This biography of the founder of the first all-Filipina religious congregation gives a glimpse of life in 17^th century Philippines.

The book also provides a look into the Chinese-Filipino community that time, with descriptions of the Parian where they lived, and of Intramuros where they were not welcome.

Available here.

Great Lives Series: Gabriela Silang

Biography / English / Ages 8 and up

Gabriela Silang led an early revolt against the Spaniards in the 1700s in Ilocos. The book describes the injustices that Filipinos that time experienced from the hands of the Spaniards, especially the friars. This also covers the brief British occupation of Spanish Manila.

Available here.

Intramuros: The Walled City

Learn about and make the history of the Walled City of Manila come alive in this “cut-and-build” book. The author-creator chose to focus on the Intramuros of the 1800s. You can definitely use this in your homeschooling or afterschooling!

Available here.

Philippine Revolution

Cinco de Noviembre

Picture book / English / Ages 8 and up

A collaboration between Bookmark and The Negros Museum, Cinco de Noviembre is a historical tale based on a little-known (at least to Manila-based me!) “bloodless takeover of Bacolod by Negrense revolucionarios” on November 5, 1989.

The tale by Fr. Rene Javellana, S.J. tells an imaginative story of how a dramatic troupe, popular in town fiestas, could have helped the revolutionaries through their art. A beautiful book!

Available here.

Bayani Series

Picture book / Historical fiction / Filipino / Ages 6 and up

Bayani is a series of picture books from Adarna House about the fictionalized lives of some of our revolutionary heroes. It reminds me of the D’Aulaire history books about American heroes, though the Bayani books are much simpler. Each one is beautifully illustrated.

Ang Lakambini at Ako – The story of Gregoria de Jesus’ involvement in the revolution
Ang Kaibigan Kong si Mabini – The story of Apolinario Mabini as an exemplary student
Ang Maraming Ngalan ni Emilio – A fascinating story behind the different nom du plumes that revolutionary hero Emilio Jacinto used

All are available here.

Great Lives Series

Biography / English / Ages 8 and up

Choose from any of the biographies of our revolutionary heroes in this series by Tahanan Books. These were written by well-known writers and historians.

Andres Bonifacio
Antonio Luna
Apolinario Mabini
Emilio Aguinaldo
Jose Rizal
Juan Luna
Antonio Luna
Teodora Alonso

Available here.

Supremo: The Story of Andres Bonifacio

Biography / English / Ages 12 and up

Here’s a hard to find book about the life of Andres Bonifacio by Sylvia Mendez Ventura. It was the winner of the Gintong Aklat Award, Children’s and Young Reader’s Literature in 2002. It is a more comprehensive biography than the one in the Great Lives Series.

We got this as a gift, and you can probably find it at the next Manila International Book Fair.

Indio Bravo: The Story of Jose Rizal

Biography / English / Ages 10 and up

This book about Jose Rizal and “Supremo: The Story of Andres Bonifacio” are said to be companion pieces.

However, this was written by Rizal’s grandniece Asuncion Lopez-Rizal Bantug together with Supremo writer Sylvia Ventura. Excitingly, it was edited by Nick Joaquin (!) and illustrated by National Artist for Visual Arts, Ben Cab! Here’s a review about it in case you know where you can get a copy. Hopefully, the publisher will re-print soon!

(UPDATE: The publisher seemed to have heard our wish! It has now been reprinted and available at our shop!)

Dapitan School Boy: A Novel

Biography / English / Ages 10 and up

[2020 Update] A historical fiction based on the memoirs based on the memoirs of Jose Aseniero, one of Rizal’s students in Dapitan School Boy is a great companion book for Indio Bravo. The chapters about Rizal’s stay in Dapitan in Indio Bravo are really striking and capture children’s imagination. This book will give them more details and will bring them right there with Joselito the student and Jose the doctor.

Available here.

For parents’ reading:

Yes, we have to read too! It’s important for us to also have our own materials about the same time period that our children are learning about. This will add depth and knowledge to our discussions with them.

101 Stories On The Philippine Revolution

Ambeth Ocampo, a popular historian, writes about the Philippine revolution and its heroes in a way that makes the era more real. You may also read some of the essays to your children, if you deem it appropriate.

Available at Anvil.

The Series:

Just click on the links!

I – Making Philippine History More Interesting: A Chronological Booklist – Read about the value of studying history chronologically, as well as a list of suggested books for your history spine.

II – Before and Up To When The Spaniards Came – Read about Magellan, his slave Enrique, and other interesting stories from this time period.

IV – American Era to World War II – Take a peek at life during the American period and discover how Filipinos were able to quickly adopt the English language. There are also several wonderful chapter books about life during World War II.

V – Post World War II – Our country’s history after the second World War was highlighted with two intertwined events: Martial Law and the EDSA Revolution.