For our Austronesian ancestors, the sea surrounding their islands did not confine them but rather connected them to new lands, new experiences, and new possibilities. Even as an island may be a point of origin for such journeys, it can yet remain the place to which seafarers return with new learnings to apply at home. In Insular Yet Global: Selected Essays by Fernando Zialcita, one of the country’s most distinguished anthropologists embarks on an exploration of the archipelagic character of Filipino identity. In this collection of essays—written over two decades and compiled and curated at the suggestion of Dr. Jorge Mojarro of the University of Santo Tomas—the author delves into how the Philippines, despite its geographical isolation, has continuously engaged with and adapted to external influences, creating a unique cultural milieu. His nuanced approach argues against the notion that embracing globalization means discarding local heritage, or the tendency to view all forms of Hispanic influence as something to be rejected in favor of a “pure” Filipino culture.

1. Philippine essay (English). 2. Philippine essay (English) ? 21st Century. 3. Globalization in literature.