Inluded in the book are chapters of the coming of Ferdinand Magellan, Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Don Juan de Salcedo, Don Esteban Rodriquez de Figueroa, Governor General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa and the other conquistadores, because they are characters that are interwoven in the history of the land and therefore must be given their due in our historical life.
The book is lump into centuries, from Datu Payburong's grandson Datu Buyong Ampatuan in the 13th century, Datu Buyong Balan of the 14th century, Datu Disayaran of the fifteenth century, the first known Bornean settler to rebel against the Spanish occupiers in Panay, to his son Datu Bantugan one of the leaders in the Ba-ong revolt in 1586, of the late 15th century, to Datu Pangkug of the 16th century, Datu Mal-am Makiling of the 17th century and to the last recorded Datu of Suaga, Governadorcillo Don Lazaro Makiling in the 18th century.
The main feature of the book is not only on the discovery of the remnants of the datus who stayed and settled in Panay, but also in the discovery of some leaders of the 1896 revolution like Col. Eusebio J. Sanglap, Mayor Felix Serra, and Gen. Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro, who are direct descendants of the Bornean settlers in Panay.
The central figures also include two notable personalities, Fr. Tomas Santaren OSA, writer of History of the Datus and Gen. Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro author of Maragtas, the two original books which form part of the basis of the history of Panay. Other books relating to Panay which were published later were only excerpts, and copied or patterned from the work of the two.
Folk dancing is an essential unit of the total physical education program. At present all public and private schools in the Philippines include folk dance instruction in their physical education classes. Folk dancing was never taken up by large numbers until recent years. The revival of interest and the increased popularity of our native folk dances must nave been brought out by the success of the performances of the different folk dance groups in the country and abroad.
Our folk songs and dances have been handed down to us our heritage. They evolved during a time about which have very written historical records. Except for the pioneering work of Mrs. Francisca Reyes Aquino, Philippine folk dance literature is unquestionably meager in this country. The publication of a book containing instruction in dancing is very appropriate at this time since it will meet the needs of many teachers and leaders in the physical and dance fields.
This includes two short stories written in Hiligaynon: Ang Dalaga nga Makibanwa ("The Country Girl") and Ang Anak sang Sacristan ("Child of the Sacristan).
The book gives a wealth of historical data on Iloilo City on 1566 to 1898, and situates it in the context of the history of elegiac Panay as well as that of revolutionary Philippines. Notably, the book mentions the story of the Ilongo volunteers fighting against the Katipunan (hence Queen Maria Cristina of Spain calling it La Muy Noble Ciudad), growth of the sugarcane and textile industries, and the emergence of Graciano Lopez Jaena and the Propaganda Movement.
Iloilo, the Most Noble City by Rev. Fr. Policarpo F. Hernandez, ObA is a well-written and excellent piece of scholarly historical research.
Professional historians, history students, researchers and enthusiasts will profit much from reading it. While the basic frame of interest is the valuable contributions of the Augustinian Order in Iloilo, generally unknown, and therefore, unappreciated, the book will be of much help in the study of Iloilo history.
The songs in this book were chosen from among five hundred songs gathered from the different islands of the Visayas. To get these songs field trips were made to Panay, particularly the Aklan Valley, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol and Negros. The people who sang them were from cities, towns and remote barrios, none of them professionals but all possessed with a love for singing.
