Twelve readings for High schoolers

In response to  a schoolteacher,  herself responding to an inquiry, here are 12 readings I’d suggest for a high school student. Actually, two lists, the first list is a set of online readings because books might be too expensive.

I. A list of readings for every high school student, because attention span is often short, and reading takes a lot of effort.

  1. The Journal of Antonio Pigafetta
  2. Homage to Luna and Hidalgo, by Jose Rizal
  3. Manifesto: “Sa Marahas Na Manga Anak Nang Bayan” ni Andres Bonifacio
  4. Mi Último Adiós, by Rizal (Nick Joaquin’s translation)
  5. The Philippine Revolution, by Apolinario Mabini/Ang Himagsikan Ng Mga Pilipino (‘La Revolucion Filipina’) sinulat ni Apolinario Mabini
  6. I Am a Filipino, by Carlos P. Romulo
  7. Open Letter by Tomas Confesor
  8. A Heritage of Smallness by Nick Joaquin
  9. The Masks of Filipinos by Teodoro M. Locsin
  10. An excerpt from her memoirs, on the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil
  11. Our undemocratic mentality by Manuel L. Quezon Jr.
  12. Beyond Binondo and Ma-Ling by Clinton Palanca
  13. Plus: The Philippine History Sourcebook, over 600 pp. of primary/secondary materials

II. Sibika/Civics

1. Sa Mga Kababaihang Taga-Malolos ni Jose Rizal

2. Decalogue, and the Kartilya ng Katipunan, by Andres Bonifacio

3. The True Decalogue, by Apolinario Mabini

4. Quezon’s Code of Citizenship and Ethics (in English and Filipino)

5. The Magsaysay Credo (in English and Filipino)

6. Letter to his son, by Jose W. Diokno

For advanced readers:

1.Rizal: The Tagalog Hamlet by Miguel de Unamuno

2. Cave and Shadows, by Nick Joaquin

3. Ermita, by F. Sionil Jose

4. Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista

5. Mga Nilalang Na Kagila-gilalas by Edgar Calabia Samar

III. The second list is an actual list of books, the basic shelf I’d recommend for everyone.

1. State and Society in the Philippines (Second Edition) by Abinales et al.

2. A Question of Heroes by Nick Joaquin

3. Light of Liberty: Documents and Studies on the Katipunan, 1892-1897 by Jim Richardson

4. Raiding, Trading, and Feasting: The Political Economy of Philippine Chiefdoms by Laura Lee Junker

5. Understanding Philippine Society, Culture, and Politics by Randy David

6. The Harold Augenbraum translations of Rizal’s novels (Penguin)

7. Closer Than Brothers: Manhood at the Philippine Military Academy by Alfred McCoy

8. The Hills Of Sampaloc: The Opening Actions of the Philippine-American War, February 4-5, 1899 by Benito J. Legarda Jr.

9. Marcos Martial Law: Never Again by Raissa Robles

10. Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage (Rev. ed.) by Jose Lacaba

11.To Suffer Thy Comrades by Robert Francis B. Garcia

12. Tikim, Doreen G. Fernandez

 

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Manuel L. Quezon III.

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