Chapter 1, All in the Family Summary

The connection between the United States and the Philippines is both long lasting and complex. Since taking the Philippines as a "prize" in the Spanish American war, the U.S. has strayed from seeing the island nation as a conquest to be exploited, a guilty secret to be fixed, and a valuable strategic asset to be kept at any cost. The Filipino perception of the United States has also changed from occupying nation to protector over the years. Many famed historical leaders have found their lives inexorably linked to the Philippines. A partial list includes General Douglas MacArthur, William McKinley, William Robert Taft, explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and Teddy Roosevelt. The love/hate relationship between the two countries is explained in fascinating detail.

Originally a Spanish colony, the pseudo-Asian country of the Philippines has a remarkable...