This second volume of Dean C. Worcester’s The Philippines: Past and Present continues the author’s detailed account of the islands during the period of American colonial administration. Worcester, who served in the colonial government, describes the land, peoples, government, education, and development of the Philippines from his official and personal perspective.
The book reflects the viewpoint of an American administrator deeply involved in shaping policy, including matters of public health, infrastructure, and schooling. As such it is both an informative survey and a partisan defense of American rule. Readers should weigh its observations against its evident bias. For those studying the colonial Philippines and American imperialism, the volume offers a substantial and revealing primary source.