The voluminous book provides a range of international theories and methodologies in analytical folklore investigations, and a classification scheme based on genre is offered as the system of taxonomy for Philippine traditional materials. Lopez counts on the regional folklorists to refine the classification according to the texts of their respective areas. The different genres, too, are explained and examined in another part of Lopez's study. The reader will definitely find interesting and useful, the illustrative examples for each genre.

Widely practiced but not always understood, the Filipino martial arts have a rich history and distinctive character that have not fully been documented until now. Written in the context of Philippine history and culture, Filipino Martial Culture uncovers the esoteric components of the Filipino martial arts and the life histories of the men who perpetuate them. Included are: the history of turbulence and war in the Philippines from prehistoric times to the present day; the culture of the Filipino martial arts, including warrior ethos and worldview, spirituality, folklore, and weaponry; biographical sketches of eighteen Filipino masters and descriptions of their respective fighting styles; and a comparative study of the ethos, ideology, and development of the Filipino martial arts in relation to the considerable martial traditions of India, China, and Japan. In the course of his research, internationally renowned martial arts master and scholar Mark V. Wiley traveled the globe, interviewing top masters and recording their life histories, thoughts, and anecdotes. In addition, he collected 320 historical photographs and illustrations, including step-by-step sequences of the masters demonstrating the distinctive techniques of their particular martial styles. A classic reference for practitioners and researchers alike, this Filipino martial arts book is as much a definitive anthropological textbook as it is a practical guide to Arnis, Kali, Eskrima, and the other martial arts of the Philippines.

“I know of no other work that succeeds beautifully in weaving together a history of the development of Filipino folk dance over the twentieth century, an outsider’s insider’s account of one of the top two folk dance companies in the Philippines, and a sensitive, wide-ranging reflection on how a ‘foreign’ (in this case, Japanese) dancer learns to become Filipino in bodily movement and sensibility.” — From the Foreword by Reynaldo C. Ileto

Intended to fill a void in critical writing on Philippine musical literature - reflective and analytical discussions of important markers in contemporary Filipino musical life.

"This book is a first reader in Philippine dance, observed through forty-five years of viewing, reviewing, and doing. It is one observer's understanding of what, where, or how is dance, and who makes it and why we dance. It attempts to answer these questions, aware that more questions ought to be further asked."--BOOK JACKET.