This volume, published in 1928, is a collection of historical stories and anecdotes about the Philippines, primarily focusing on life in Manila during the Spanish colonial era. The author, Percy A. Hill, an American "oldtimer" who settled in the Philippines after serving in the military during the early American period, compiled the narratives from his extensive reading of "mountainous chronicles of the Philippine friars". The book offers a unique historical perspective, blending the romance and drama of the Spanish-Filipino past with the sensibility of an American observer living in the Philippines in the 1920s. The text provides a contextual backdrop to the centuries of Spanish rule, detailing the social, political, and military life within the walls of Intramuros. Key themes include the profound influence of the Catholic religious orders (Augustinians, Recollects, Jesuits) , the immense wealth and corruption generated by the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade , and the constant struggle against foreign invaders and Moro pirate fleets who threatened the archipelago. The narratives explore the conflicts between Spanish Governors-General and the powerful clergy , as well as tales of martyrs and legendary figures central to the nation's spiritual and secular history. The book's relevance to local culture and national events lies in its preservation of detailed accounts of the pre-American Philippines, illuminating the complex, often dramatic, historical context inherited by the American administration. The preface, written by editor Walter Robb, highlights the character of the American "pioneers" who arrived at the turn of the century, providing a valuable snapshot of the American colonial experience that framed the period of the book’s publication.
Romance and adventure in old Manila