Tomas Pinpin and Tagolog Survival in Early Spanish Philippines by Damon L. Woods

Four centuries ago, a Tagalog, Tomas Pinpin, wrote a book entitled Librong pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog nang uicang Castila. So unusual was this occurrence that the author was believed by some to be someone else, a Spaniard. But it was Tomas Pinpin, later a significant figure in the Spanish printing ministry, who produced this remarkable work.

This book seeks to provide an overview of Librong pagaaralan beginning with background material on what is known of Tomas Pinpin. One of the key issues tackled in this book is the reality of a literate Tagalog population at the time of the publishing of Librong pagaaralan. Otherwise, the publishing of Pinpin's work makes no sense. But it was published, and at a time when the Spanish friars were busily engaged in using printing as a means to expand their work also marked the entrance of Tagalogs into the printers since 1593, when Doctrina Christiana was published.

Perhaps most significantly, Pinpin's work was one of subversion. For all his expressed desire to help his readers become better Christians, Pinpin was instead seeking to help his fellow Tagalogs, manga capoua co Tagalog (as he wrote it), survive in the marketplace, a world dominated by the Spanish intruders. His goal was Tagalog survival in such a world.

Tomas Pinpin's book is a rich resource for social history. It is hoped that this book succeeds in interesting the reader in this remarkable man, his part in Philippine history, and his Librong pagaaralan nang manga Tagalog nang uicang Castila.

Paperback: 199 pages
Publisher: University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2011
Language: English
ISBN: 978-9715065856