At the dawn of European colonialism, the Southeast Asian region encompassed some of the most diverse and influential cultures in early modern history. The circulation of people, commodities, ideas and beliefs along the key trading routes, from the eastern edge of the Mughal empire to the southern Chinese border, stimulated some of the great cultural and political achievements of the age. This volume highlights the multifarious dimensions of exchange in eight fascinating case studies written by leading experts from the fields of History, Anthropology, Musicology and Art History. Intercultural Exchange in Southeast Asia explores religious change at both ends of the social spectrum, examining the factors which led to or impeded the conversion of kings to new faiths, as well as those which affected the conversion of the marginal communities of mercenaries and renegades. The artistic and cultural refashioning of new religions such as Christianity to suit local needs and sensibilities is highlighted in the Philippines, Siam, Vietnam and the Malay world while detailed analyses of scientific exchanges in maritime southeast Asia highlight the role of local agents, especially women, in the transmission of knowledge and beliefs. The articulation and cultural expression of power relations is addressed in chapters on colonial urban design and the use of music in diplomatic exchanges. This book utilises rare and unpublished sources to shed new light on the processes, strategies, and consequences of exchanges between cultures, societies and individuals and will be essential reading for those interested in the cultural and political origins of modern Asia.

This two-volume work presents a comprehensive survey of all the ways people celebrate religious life around the globe. Religious Celebrations is an alphabetically organized encyclopedia that covers more than 800 celebratory occasions from all of the world's major religious communities as well as many of the minor faith traditions. The encyclopedia provides a complete reference tool for examining the myriad ways people worldwide celebrate their religious lives across religious boundaries, providing information on numerous celebratory activities never before covered in a reference work. Offering the most comprehensive coverage of religious holidays ever assembled, this two-volume book covers festivals, commemorations, holidays, and annual religious gatherings all over the world, with special attention paid to the celebrations in larger countries. Entries written by distinguished researchers and specialists on different religious communities capture the unique intensity of each event, be it fasting or feasting, frenzied activity or the universal cessation of work, a huge gathering of the faithful en masse or a small family-centered event. The work spotlights celebrations that currently exist without overlooking now-abandoned celebrations that still impact the modern world.

Explore the Philippines with the smartest and most insightful ebook on the market. Written with Rough Guides' trademark mix of honesty, wit and practical advice, this fully updated, stunningly illustrated travel guide brings you comprehensive coverage of all the country's unmissable experiences. Rough Guides authors have visited every corner of this vast archipelago, and whether you're diving in the turquoise waters off Palawan, exploring the iconic Chocolate hills on Bohol or climbing volcanic Mount Pinatubo, this new edition of The Rough Guide to the Philippines will show you the best places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and party along the way, with options to suit every budget. The guide is packed with colour-coded maps and easy-to-follow transport advice to help navigate your way from one spectacular island to the next. Make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to the Philippines.

Writing about the Virgin Mary in the Philippines is like writing about the sunrise. You are telling the readers what they already know, appreciate, and love. So when I was asked to produce a book on the Blessed Mother, I listened, and I was grateful that my friends felt that I was capable of doing this. But I did not write the book right away because I was sure it would be a twice-told tale. But the request haunted me. I had a deep sense of guilt—a feeling that this was something I should do and I wasn’t doing anything about it. I didn’t know exactly how to present anything really new about this beautiful peasant woman, the mother of God. Then I remembered my grandmother whom we called “Nana.” How she prayed for my Uncle Ern for thirty years! And how Uncle Ern finally came back to God—not only on his deathbed, but three full days after the doctors expected him to die. I also remembered other things that happened in my own family—stories that only I could tell and if I don’t record them, no one else will. Moreover, I keep receiving letters from both friends and strangers, telling me about the beautiful adventures they experienced with the Virgin Mary and the amazing answers they received from their prayers to her. These stories are all unique. No two people’s stories are exactly alike. And the way each one reacts when touched by the hand of God is unique. This reminds me of American writer William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, and one of his collection of stories called The Four Million, based on the population of New York City at the time he published it. He felt that if you could portray the soul of any one in that four million, you would have a drama that never happened before, and will never happen again. This gave me courage. If I could just tell the actual stories of real people and their contact with the mother of God, then every narration would be new.

This book focuses on the Philippines as a powerhouse in the Catholic and global migration landscape. It offers a wide-ranging look at the roles, dynamics, character, and trajectories of Catholic faith and practice in the age of migration through an interdisciplinary, religious, and theological approach to Filipino Catholics’ experience of migration and diaspora both at home and overseas. In so doing, the book introduces the reader to the hallmarks and characteristics of a contextual model of world Christianity and global Catholicism in the twenty-first century.

Direk, a collection of essays on Filipino filmmakers, presents an accessible and provocative introduction to Philippine cinema. Notable Filipino critics write on the canonical Filipino film directors: Ronald Baytan on Ishmael Bernal; Patrick F Campos on Kidlat Tahimik; Clodualdo Del Mundo, Jr. on Manuel Silos, Eddie Romero, and Lamberto Avellana; Vicente Garcia Groyon on Peque Gallaga; Shirley O. Lua on Fernando Poe, Jr; Gil Quito on Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Lav Diaz; Anne Frances N Sangil on Mike de Leon; Agustin Sotto on Gerardo de Leon; Nicanor G Tiongson on Manuel Conde; Rolando B Tolentino on Lino Brocka; Noel Vera on Mario OHara; and Lito B Zulueta on Brillante Ma Mendoza. A compelling work, the first of its kind, it is filled with insight and critical provocation. The work is essential reading for all who are interested in film making in all its multiple aspects, and provides hitherto unavailable information on Philippine filmmakers and cinema.