Asia is one of the most rapidly developing regions in the world, and knowledge of the individual countries is crucial for our understanding of the area. The Republic of the Philippines, composed of a chain of islands in Southeast Asia, became a Spanish colony during the 16th century and was then ceded to the United States following the Spanish-American War. After independence in the 20th century, the Filipino people suffered under the 20-year rule of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, which ended as a result of a "people power" movement in 1986. Since then, the history of the Philippines has been marked by several more political coups, but a growing economy and democratic elections are increasing stability in the country.

Artemio R. Guillermo covers more than four centuries of Filipino history in this newly expanded and updated third edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Philippines, which contains more than four hundred entries on important persons, places, events, and institutions. An updated introduction with a detailed chronology precedes the dictionary and lays out the current situation in the region, while a comprehensive bibliography at the end of the dictionary leads the reader to additional sources. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Philippines.