George Ferdinand Becker, a geologist for the United States, was dispatched to the Philippines in July 1898 to assist the military governor, General E. S. Otis, shortly after the Spanish-American War. Remaining in the islands for fourteen months, Becker's ability to conduct geological field work was severely limited by the tumultuous political situation and the beginning of the Philippine-American War, where he noted that local associates of Emilio Aguinaldo "soon afterwards became 'war rebels'". Consequently, his field excursions often required a military escort, which he described as "more exciting than profitable". The resulting document, published in 1901 by the U.S. Government Printing Office , is an essential compilation of all known geological information about the archipelago at the time. Becker drew heavily upon the work of earlier Spanish, German, and Austrian geologists , integrating their findings on crystalline schists, volcanic rocks, and historical geology with his own observations, which were mainly restricted to areas near Manila Bay, Laguna de Bai, Negros, Cebú, and Jolo. The report was intended to be a vade mecum for geologists in the field and a guide to existing literature. This volume marks a pivotal moment in Philippine scientific history, serving as the foundational geological survey published under the new American colonial administration.
Report on the geology of the Philippine Islands