This work was published in Manila in 1902, during the early years of the American colonial administration in the Philippines. Titled the "first English-Tagalog grammar ever published," it was created by Constantino Lendoyro, who had spent two decades involved in trade and commerce within the archipelago. The primary audience for the treatise was Americans intending a long residence in the Islands, particularly those in government service, business, or trade, as the author recognized the immense practical advantages of speaking a native language. The grammar utilizes an instructional method adapted for mature, foreign learners, explaining Tagalog's grammatical construction on lines similar to Western languages. It details the language's unique structure and discusses the deep influence of Spanish, which had resulted in a largely Spanish-based orthography, an advantage for new learners. The author also notes that Tagalog, while not spoken by the largest number of inhabitants, had become the predominant language of the most cultured sector of the population and the de facto lingua franca for educated natives visiting Manila.
The Tagalog language: a comprehensive grammatical treatise adapted to self-instruction and particularly designed for use of those engaged in Government service or in business or trade in the Philippines