This book by Renato Constantino aims to focus on the people’s history of the Philippines and break free from the prevailing narratives at the time (some of which persist until today) and it can get surprisingly in-depth. It is also a required reading for History GE in certain universities such as UP. If you are able to get a physical copy of the book I would recommend you to get one because it’s more easier to check the sources by flipping from one page to the next if you’re interested.

Anyway, this book made me aware of what my education had neglected to teach me and even challenged my assumptions. That of our historical figures, our institutions, heriarchical systems and economic decisions. And most importantly, the role of the educated middle class, the primary audience of social media like Reddit and probably this one as well. I believe that anyone who is a part of this stratum in the Philippines should read this. The actions of certain people in our history showed me how our personal interests, no matter who we are, does not make us immune to bias, hypocrisy and sanctimony, clouding our ideas of what is right and wrong. It certainly is true that we must learn history so that we do not repeat the same mistakes.