Customer Reviews

Palawan at the Crossroads: Development and the Environment on a Philippine Frontier

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As to contents, this book clearly described the history and culture of the indigenous cultural communities in the Province of Palawan from the logging concession era to the formulation of the environmental plan for the sustainable development of the province, while focusing on the behavior and condition of indigenous cultural communities. This gave me a better understanding of how the indigenous people, especially the Bataks, the Palawans and the Tagbanuas, struggled and adapt to the coming of various groups of migrants having completely different culture.

Since I am most interested in the study of the "Palawan" tribal group who mainly inhabits the both margins and isolated areas of the Mt. Mantalingahan Mountain Range, I was able to get good insights in Chapter 7 (Tribal Displacement, Deculturation and Impoverishment) of the book. This chapter could serve as one of the reliable basis for planning and policy formulation of development managers and policy makers, respective.

In terms of the style and technique in writing, the author was able to make reading of the book easy and manageable. Links between chapters were harmoniously done.

The author's mastery of the subject is indeed admirable. Dr. Eder's experiences in living with the indigenous people themselves, greatly contributed to the good understanding of the culture and social status of the various indigenous societies.

However, the book should have also considered some angles on local governance and environmental management. Probably, this could be another good book in the pipeline.

I would like to congratulate the author, publisher and marketers of this book for it brings a well-researched information for the use researchers, development managers and policy makers interested on the development of indigenous people. And especially at this point we are within the UN Decade of Indigenous Peoples amking the publication of this book very timely, too.