Recommended Books of 2023

Often underreported in American history are significant events that forge a future path for U.S. and Philippine relations. In 2023, US-Philippines Society programs highlighted two highly informative historical books with American perspectives on U.S. foreign policy, focusing on key figures and groups at the turn of the century. “Bounden Duty” by Kate Baker and “1898: Visual Culture and U.S. Imperialism in the Caribbean and the Pacific,” by Taína Caragol and Kate Clarke Lemay are available to purchase via independent links provided below. For those inclined to tour historic sites in Washington DC, a book by Erwin Tiongson titled “Philippine American Heritage in Washington DC,” serves as a perfect guidebook connecting the Philippines with Washington DC.

Bounden Duty by Kate Baker

Bounden Duty by Kate Baker

Published in late October 2023, the book “Bounden Duty: Wars, Schools, and Empire in the Philippines,” chronicles the struggles and triumphs of American educators, collectively known as “The Thomasites” who ventured on a historic voyage aboard the USAT Thomas in 1901 from San Francisco to educate and build schools across the Philippine archipelago. Author Kate Baker reminds the reader of the intertwined histories of the two countries in the most intimate of circumstances.

Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez thanked Kate Baker during the October 24 launching of Bounden Duty held at the Philippine Embassy Washington DC, co-hosted by Sentro Rizal and the US-Philippines Society in celebration of the Filipino American History Month.

Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez thanked Kate Baker during the October 24 launching of Bounden Duty held at the Philippine Embassy Washington DC, co-hosted by Sentro Rizal and the US-Philippines Society in celebration of the Filipino American History Month.

Executive Director Hank Hendrickson recalled the important role played by the Thomasites in U.S. foreign policy from dealing with the repercussions of the Philippine-American War and to progress in the bilateral relationship. In many ways the American educators paved the way for outreach by the United States including the Peace Corps and educational exchanges during the 21st century.

1898: Visual Culture and U.S. Imperialism in the Caribbean and the Pacific

1898: Visual Culture and U.S. Imperialism in the Caribbean and the Pacific, by Taína Caragol and Kate Clarke Lemay. Contributions by Carolina Maestre, Jorge Duany, Theodore S. Gonzalves, Kristin Hoganson, Healoha Johnston, Paul A. Kramer, and Neil Weare.

A revealing look at U.S. imperialism through the lens of visual culture and portraiture

A hardcover with 150 artistic color illustrations, the book “1898” is a compendium of stories, paintings and photographs that capture the zeitgeist of that momentous year. That year was a turning point in America’s history as it dealt with its moral dilemma of whether to stay isolated or build an empire the idea of which troubled the nation’s conscience. America has always believed in freedom and democracy, but it found itself having to deal with subject nations of Spain that have now fallen into its lap.

“1898: Visual Culture and U.S. Imperialism in the Caribbean and the Pacific” challenges us to reconsider the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, and the annexation of Hawai‘i while shedding needed light on the lasting impacts of U.S. imperialism.

The book is a noteworthy supplement to the Exhibition of the original paintings and visual artworks at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC, April 28, 2023 through February 25, 2024.

Philippine-American Heritage in Washington, D.C.

Philippine-American Heritage in Washington, D.C.
By Erwin R. Tiongson

Journey into the Philippine-American experience in Washington, DC. Washington is famed for its place in the history of the United States, but few know its close connections with the Philippines. Philippine-American Heritage in Washington, D.C. by Erwin R. Tiongson