Amadeo Y. Manalad : telling tadhana / Reuben Ramas Cañete.

Includes bibliographical references.

The book discusses the illustrations of the Filipino artist Amadeo Y. Manalad that depicted certain historical episodes narrated in turn in Tadhana: History of the Filipino People. Authored by President Ferdinand Marcos, the book, writes Professor Canete, aimed to "recapitulat[e] the history of the Philippines based on the perspective of a Filipino nationalist, but one who simultaneously was also is its unarguable leader, the President himself" (15). The book "form[ed] a pro-Filipino viewpoint about national history that rejects the imperialist attitude and colonial mentality....without being anti-foreign and anti-establishment" (15). Volume 1 and Volume Two, Parts One and Two of Tadhana were published between 1976 and 1980. The illustrations in the Tadhana book itself were done by Rod Perez Cruz, but President Marcos, writes Professor Canete, knew "keenly that his narration of Philippine history, if confined into print, would only be read by a small percentage of the Filipino population." The president ".....must have concluded that using the illustration format for newspapers in translating Tadhana into a more visual and comprehendible narrative would enhance the effect of this work, and popularize the rendition of history through a format that was already familiar to millions of readers" (16). --Ac.upd.edu.ph