Direk, a collection of essays on Filipino filmmakers, presents an accessible and provocative introduction to Philippine cinema. Notable Filipino critics write on the canonical Filipino film directors: Ronald Baytan on Ishmael Bernal; Patrick F Campos on Kidlat Tahimik; Clodualdo Del Mundo, Jr. on Manuel Silos, Eddie Romero, and Lamberto Avellana; Vicente Garcia Groyon on Peque Gallaga; Shirley O. Lua on Fernando Poe, Jr; Gil Quito on Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Lav Diaz; Anne Frances N Sangil on Mike de Leon; Agustin Sotto on Gerardo de Leon; Nicanor G Tiongson on Manuel Conde; Rolando B Tolentino on Lino Brocka; Noel Vera on Mario OHara; and Lito B Zulueta on Brillante Ma Mendoza. A compelling work, the first of its kind, it is filled with insight and critical provocation. The work is essential reading for all who are interested in film making in all its multiple aspects, and provides hitherto unavailable information on Philippine filmmakers and cinema.
The Promised Land tells of a warrior angel, anointed by God to punish those who have turned to evil and save those who suffer but whose faith never falter. Vengeance will rain down on those who do the bidding of the evil one. The land that God created has lost its purity and splendor due to the plague of filth and corruption brought by man. God is deeply hurt and disappointed by what Satan has done to Gods most precious creations and by these creations choice to embrace evil and turn their backs against the Lord. To stop evil from shrouding the world in its gloomy veil, God summons his warrior named Zorra. Armed with his faith and the power given to him by God, Zorra enters the world of mortals to destroy the evil that threatens to bring mankind apart. Zorras entry to the world leads him to Hampshire, England. He immediately notices the suffering of the Jews and the cruelty of the rich and powerful with King Richard, the ruler of England, as the worst of them all. Zorra knows King Richards demise is the key to restore peace in the kingdom. But God does not want King Richard to die; the former still wants to give the latter a chance to repent and change his ways. King Richard might resist, but Zorra is determined to end the kings cruelty to the Jews and save Gods chosen people from the rulers cruel hands. To do this, Zorra must return the Jews to Jerusalem, The Promised Land.
Women in a Global World V: From Health to Art, Economy to Politics offers an in-depth exploration of women's roles, challenges, and achievements across diverse domains in today's interconnected world. Edited by Zeynep Banu Dalaman, this volume gathers insights from leading scholars and researchers, dissecting the multifaceted issues impacting women globally and regionally. Organized into six sections, the book begins with the harsh realities of gender inequality, violence, and the institutional support available to women, including discussions on the effects of gender apartheid and misogyny. Moving to the realm of artistic and literary expression, it highlights female resilience and creativity, showcasing iconic figures like Grace Nichols and Paula Scher, and examining the evolution of women’s roles from traditional forms to modern representation. The third section delves into the unique vulnerabilities women face during disasters, including invisible labor and health challenges, while the fourth addresses the economic empowerment of women through employment initiatives, the hurdles of workplace inequality, and strategies for economic resilience. Health-focused topics in the fifth section bring attention to reproductive health, midwifery, and evidence-based practices that impact women’s well-being across life stages. Finally, the book examines women’s political and media representation, from the historical legacy of female leaders to contemporary issues such as gender quotas and gendered disinformation. By interweaving these perspectives, Women in a Global World V provides a profound understanding of women’s ongoing struggle for equality, creativity, and empowerment within a rapidly changing global landscape. Ideal for scholars, policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in the intersections of gender, society, and global dynamics, this volume is a vital resource for understanding and supporting women’s roles in shaping the future. Reviewers: Aziz Tamer Güler Ceren Avcil Elif Gençkal Eroler Emine Dilay Güney Fatma İlknur Akgül Feride Yiğit Ferma Lekesizalın Furkan Tozan Gökhan Ak Mine Demirtaş Nuran H. Belet Selime Büyükgöze Suat Dönmez Şenay Alsan Tülay Ortabağ
Focusing on the period between 1932 and 1968, this comprehensive study bridges the gap between recent political studies and available historiography, which generally conclude with the 1932 revolution. Dr. Brailey discusses the 1942 Japanese capture of Singapore that dragged a reluctant Thailand into World War II—a war Thai leaders believed was irrelevant to their national interests. He argues that this country, which had launched one of the East's earliest nationalist revolutions, had its political development reversed for a quarter century by the arrival of Japanese troops. Ironically, the Japanese presence in the region enabled most of Thailand's neighbors to promote their own development through decolonization. Dr. Brailey demonstrates that Thailand, once freed from post-war trauma, achieved a level of political freedom unsurpassed in Asia without seriously compromising its stability.
This book is an absorbing account of secret operations and political intrigue in wartime Thailand. During World War II Free Thai organisations co-operated with Allied intelligence agencies in an effort to rescue their nation from the consequences of its 1941 alliance with Japan. They largely succeeded despite internal differences and the conflicting interests and policies of their would-be-allies, China, Great Britain and the United States. London's determination to punish Thailand placed the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) at a serious disadvantage in its rivalry with the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The US State Department, in contrast, strongly supported OSS operations in Thailand, viewing them as a vehicle for promoting American political and economic influence in mainland Southeast Asia. Declassification of the records of the OSS and the SOE permits full revelation of this complex story of heroic action and political intrigue.
From the moment Carrie Cairncross enters Port Vernon's strange August fog, she wonders whether curious events are merely coincidences or indications of a deeper mystery. When Carrie and her friends Booj and Greg discover a magical shadow that takes them wherever they wish to be, they anticipate a week full of adventurous fun. However, they are totally unprepared to find themselves in the middle of a plot to steal the earth's animals, unpredictable journeys to past and future worlds, time and space warps emanating from their town, a ruthless search for eternal youth, and sinister forces that threaten to destroy the fabric of time. Help has been sent from the distant future in the form of a powerful horned man who can alter time as well as his appearance. Only Direk's incapacitating sensitivity prevents him from setting foot outside to resolve the increasingly bizarre situation. When Carrie brings Booj, Greg, Direk and herself face to face with the mystery's terrible source, she learns whether her newly found courage is real or only another fleeting effect of the time and space warps. And she realizes that her own actions can make a world-or two worlds-of difference.
What happens when climbing the ladder of success means compromising everything you believe in…including yourself? This debut novel by an actress and pageant title holder gives a window into the hidden rungs of that ladder, and on the pain that comes with slipping and falling. Cleo is young, beautiful, talented and--until lately--lucky in love. But in the cut-throat world of international beauty competitions, she has to make the biggest decision of her life. She passionately wants to see how far she can go and what she can achieve. And to prove her estranged film director father that his family has done better than just survive without him. Her road is riddled with frustrations, dashed hopes and the age-old question--what is the price of fame and fortune? As the competition heats up, Cleo must navigate the dirty tricks contestants use to turn the odds in their favor. And ultimately, she must ask herself: How much is her own integrity worth? Set against the rich backdrop of Manila's glittering urban life, Queen of the Universe is about remembering who you are in the dizzying world of beauty contests and celebrity, told by an international influencer, model, actress and former Miss Universe.
From Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sulak Sivaraksa comes this look at Buddhism's innate ability to help change life on the global scale. Conflict, Culture, Change explores the cultural and environmental impacts of consumerism, nonviolence, and compassion, giving special attention to the integration of mindfulness and social activism, the use of Buddhist ethics to confront structural violence, and globalization's threat to traditional identity.
There has long been considerable debate about the nature of non-Western IR theory. Most attempts to understand such a phenomenon begin by taking a top-down approach on a country by country basis. Instead, this book takes a bottom-up approach, involving specialists from a range of Thai universities, revealing the contours of the Thai IR community. It examines the state of various sub-fields under the IR rubric in Thailand such as foreign policy analysis, security studies, international political economy and area studies, and how Thai thinkers in these fields have contributed to IR as a discipline and IR theory development in Thailand. In doing so, it identifies factors unique to Thai academia which have hindered the development of an indigenous-sourced theory as well as exploring the similarities shared with other non-Western contexts that have posed an obstacle to the creation of a more general non-Western IR theory. Providing both an in-depth insight into the specific phenomena of Thai IR theory, and a broader perspective on the challenges of formulating non-Western IR theory, this book aims to push the debate on non-Western IR theory forward. It will be of particular interest to readers looking for a better understanding of IR theory in Thailand, but also for those more generally looking to formulate and characterise non-Western approaches to the discipline.
In Beyond a Western Bioethics, physicians Angeles Tan Alora and Josephine M. Lumitao join eight other contributors to provide a comprehensive exploration of bioethical issues outside of the dominant American and western European model. Using the Philippines as a case study, they address how a developing country's economy, religion, and culture affect the bioethical landscape for doctors, patients, families, and the society as a whole. American principles of medical ethics assume the primacy of individual autonomy, the importance of truth-telling, and secular standards of justice and morality. In the Philippines, these standards are often at odds with a culture in which family relationships take precedence over individualism, and ideas of community, friendship, and religion can deeply influence personal behavior. Pervasive poverty further complicates the equation. Contributors move from a general discussion of the moral vision informing health care decisions in the Philippines to an exploration of a wide range of specific cases: family planning, care of the elderly, organ transplants, death and dying, medical research, AIDS care, doctor-patient relationships, informed consent, and the allocation of scarce health-care resources. Written for both students and professionals, the book provides a much-needed perspective on how medical ethics are practiced in a developing nation, and it successfully challenges the wisdom of global bioethical standards that do not account for local cultural and economic differences.
