The Hills of Sampaloc recounts
the opening actions during the
early hours of the Philippine
American War on the Sampaloc-Santa
Mesa district in the eastern part
of the city of Manila. The spot
where the first shot was fired
is identified as a side road that
is now Calle Sosiego (not, as
is commonly believed, San Juan
Bridge), and the events (probably
accidental) leading up to it that
night, as well as the calculated
American attacks the following
day are described in detail, based
on official documents (Filipino
and American), newspaper reports,
eyewitness accounts and private
correspondence. "The
Hills of Sampaloc is a vulnerable
addition to the comparatively
small body of literature that
chronicles the beginning of
what was arguably the most important
of the colonial phases of this
country's modern history."
- Rudy Romero, Manila Meteor
"Legarda's
graphic and exact narration,
based on impeccable research
and scholarship with his happy
writing style and wry humor,
presents us with our history
as it should be so that we know
ourselves, where we came from
and where we want to go."
-Ma. Isabel Ongpin, Today.
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