Publications
Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines: 16th to the 19th Century. Quezon City, Philippines: University of the Philippines Press.
From the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, Spanish missionaries collected, studied, and made records of Philippine medicinal plants and herbs that Filipino traditional medical practitioners or herbolarios had been prescribing since the precolonial period. Because the herbolarios left no writings about their practices, the missionaries’ works are our primary sources for studying Filipino traditional medicine.
Based on these works, Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines, 16th to the 19th Century by Ma. Mercedes G. Planta gives us an intimate and dense portrait of a defined medical tradition, and so, documents an important component of ways of life and epistemologies that Filipinos can recuperate and benefit from. Today, when access to health and medical care remains beyond the reach of most Filipinos, Planta’s lively and scholarly invitation to reflect on a particular aspect of Philippine culture and harness its potential is a triumph of history as “usable past.”
This book received the Best Book in Science Award in the 37th National Book Awards by the National Book Development Board in 2018.
Based on these works, Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines, 16th to the 19th Century by Ma. Mercedes G. Planta gives us an intimate and dense portrait of a defined medical tradition, and so, documents an important component of ways of life and epistemologies that Filipinos can recuperate and benefit from. Today, when access to health and medical care remains beyond the reach of most Filipinos, Planta’s lively and scholarly invitation to reflect on a particular aspect of Philippine culture and harness its potential is a triumph of history as “usable past.”
This book received the Best Book in Science Award in the 37th National Book Awards by the National Book Development Board in 2018.
| Title | Faculty Involved | Year |
|---|---|---|
| The Filipino worldview through art, images, and objects. From indigenous cultures to the 19th century | Ruel V. Pagunsan, Ph.D., Kristyl N. Obispado, Ph.D. | 2025 |
| Marcos Lies (Revised Edition) | Larah Vinda B. Del Mundo | 2025 |
| More Pinay Than We Admit 2: The Filipina Emerges from the Margins | Ma. Luisa T. Camagay, Ph.D. | 2025 |
| Dictionary of Philippine Mythology (Diccionario Mitológico de Filipinas) | Maria Bernadette L. Abrera, Ph.D. | 2025 |
| A Visual Guide to Philippine Ancient History | Vicente C. Villan, Ph.D. | 2025 |
| 1521 Revisited: The Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, Volume 4 | Ian Christopher B. Alfonso, Ph.D. | 2025 |
| Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines, 16th to the 19th Century, Revised Edition (2024) | Ma. Mercedes G. Planta, Ph.D. | 2025 |
| Essential Truths Series: Martial Law Era | Kristoffer R. Esquejo, Ph.D., Karl Friedrik K. Poblador, Ph.D., Janet S. Reguindin-Estella, Ph.D. | 2025 |
| Munting Aklat ng Baybayin | Ian Christopher B. Alfonso, Ph.D. | 2024 |
| Ilaya-Ilawod: Ang Bayan sa Harap ng Hamon ng Kolonisasyon | Janet S. Reguindin-Estella, Ph.D. | 2024 |
| AGOS: Currents of Faith in the Diocese of Kalookan | Kerby C. Alvarez, Ph.D. | 2024 |
| Pioneering Women’s Health: University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1900s-Present. | Ma. Mercedes G. Planta, Ph.D. | 2024 |
| Mga Sasakyang Pandagat ng Pilipinas - Picture Book | Maria Bernadette L. Abrera, Ph.D. | 2024 |
| Tahanan, Tanggulan, at TagpuanL Kasaysayang Pampook ng Bayan ng Looc | Kristoffer R. Esquejo, Ph.D. | 2024 |
| Kasaysayan Panlipunan ng Maynila, 1765-1898 | Ma. Luisa T. Camagay, Ph.D. | 2023 |
| Medal for Valor: Courage, Gallantry, and Heroism | Rowena Quinto-Bailon, Ph.D. | 2022 |
| Guerrilla Days in the Philippine South 1942-1945 | Ricardo T. Jose, Ph.D. | 2022 |
| Identity and Independence: Filipino Women in Times of War and Peace | Santillan, Neil Martial R., Emmanuel Jayson V. Bolata, Francisco Jayme Paolo A. Guiang, Magallona, Diego Vicente A., Francis Justine M. Malban, Dondy Pepito G. Ramos II, Aaron F. Viernes, Patrick James B. Serra | 2022 |
| Hindi Lang Basta Bata: Mga Pananaliksik at Panunuri sa Kasaysayan at Panitikang Pambata | Emmanuel Jayson V. Bolata | 2020 |
| Unraveling the Past: Readings in Philippine History | Ma. Luisa T. Camagay, Ph.D., Francisco Jayme Paolo A. Guiang, Francis Justine M. Malban, Dondy Pepito G. Ramos II | 2018 |
| Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines: 16th to the 19th Century. Quezon City, Philippines: University of the Philippines Press. | Ma. Mercedes G. Planta, Ph.D. | 2017 |
