VIBAL Foundation joined Cebuanos in celebrating the Fiesta Señor and the Sinulog by launching its book, “More Cebuano Than We Admit: Aspects of Cebuano History, Culture, and Society,” on Jan. 8, 2023 at the Casino Español de Cebu in Cebu City.
Attended by Cebu’s notable educators, writers, scholars, art and heritage enthusiasts, businessmen and philanthropists, the event was not only a book presentation, but also a showcase of Cebuano dance, music and poetry.
“More Cebuano Than We Admit: Aspects of Cebuano History, Culture, and Society” is a collection of essays from 14 scholars who delved into the history, language, religious practices, architecture, writing, art, food and other aspects that give Cebu its distinctive character: from religious festivals and carnival pageantry, to the enduring majesty of church architecture, to the development of the local tourism and film industry, and even to the crowd-pleasing Cebuano version of the iconic lechon.
Edited by renowned Cebuanos—National Artist for Literature Dr. Resil Mojares and University of San Carlos Cebuano Studies director Dr. Hope Sabanpan-Yu, the book brings to light how Cebuano culture has left an indelible mark on the complex map of Philippine identity.
De La Salle University professor emeritus Marjorie Evasco describes this book as a delightful read and as a proud addition to the Vibal book series which delves into the social and cultural formations of identities that mark Filipinos.
For Professor Victor Sugbo from the University of Tacloban, the diverse voices in the book and their perspectives, plus a sampling of poetry by Cebuano writers, make the book an engrossing read.
Professor Thelma Arambulo from the University of the Philippines Diliman said the essays featured in the book prove that Cebu indeed is “one of the most singular places in the country in terms of historical, cultural, economic and political importance.”
“More Cebuano Than We Admit: Aspects of Cebuano History, Culture, and Society” is part of Vibal Foundation’s Academica Filipina+ series.
The interdisciplinary series pushes the boundaries of scholarly publishing with smart and thought-provoking works that explore the Philippine past and present.
Other titles in the series include “Bullfighting in the Philippines 1602–2022,” “Philippine Genealogy and Art History: The Luciano P. R. Santiago Reader,” “Púgot: Head Taking, Ritual Cannibalism, and Human Sacrifice in the Philippines,” “Boxer Codex, Second Edition,” “More Hispanic Than We Admit 1 to 3,” “More Tsinoy Than We Admit,” “More American Than We Admit,” “MoreTomboy, More Bakla Than We Admit,” “Sisa’s Vengeance,” “The World of Manila-Acapulco Galleons,” “Santo Niño de Cebú 1565–2015,” and “Salungat: A Soledad S. Reyes Reader.”