Not so long ago, an American social scientist wrote an article about the Filipinos and the Philippines-
calling it a 'bounded culture." He was not alone in his opinion. Gunnar Myrdal thought the Philippines and countries similar to it to possess "soft cultures"; and a lady senator in the past administration initiated a campaign for the renewal of moral values. The present administration has adopted the same thrust.Indeed, the main argument of the unlamented dictators' declaration of martial law was that the Filipinos needed discipline. Many agreed with him-and still do.
This book is an argument to the contrary One walls away from this book with mixed feelings: in one way inspired by the fact that the people depicted in this work cane so much about the country; that they are even willing to die for it. Thousands of people who were persecuted, tortured and killed during the Marcos years presented their case in Hawaii and at least won legal justification. Documented cases of human rights lawyers, Basic Christian Community leaders and peace activists who have been salvaged before, during and after the Marcos years fill the leaves of the calendar.