[Hot Off the Press] Aguardiente sa Lahat

New book Aguardiente sa Lahat explores the fascinating history of alcohol in the Philippines 

In every gathering and celebration, what is the one thing that will excite everyone? Alcohol! A new release from the Ateneo University Press unravels the story of alcohol and its consumption in the Philippines. 

Doepper’s previous book, Feeding Manila in Peace and War, 1850-1945 meticulously delves into the provisionment system that met the needs of Manila's ever-expanding population from the everyday hustle and bustle to the unforeseen disasters, and to the changing colonial regimes. Aguardiente sa Lahat shines a much-deserved light on the little-known history of alcoholic beverage systems in the Philippines before World War II. The book offers intimate and vivid observations on the integral role of alcoholic beverages as “social lubricators” and “bonding agents” since pre-colonial times. The book traces the significant shift in dominance between different kinds of alcohol, from artisanal alcohol produced in numerous provincial stills to a small number of industrial distilleries in the city. The author not only focuses on the processes related to the creation of these beverages but also the people involved in them, providing colorful glimpses of the tappers who readied tuba and basi for consumption, as well as the businessmen who aided in the development and distribution of beer in the market. It also explores the intense rise and pivotal influence of print advertising on the drinking tastes and habits of those in differing socioeconomic classes.   

Piecing together historical documents and images, along with the author’s signature astute analysis, Aguardiente sa Lahat provides readers with an in-depth and nuanced understanding of how drinking culture has changed over time. This book is an invaluable resource for historians, history enthusiasts, and anyone who has ever enjoyed a drink. 

About the Author

Daniel F. Doeppers is professor emeritus of geography and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He began work in the Philippines with comparative research on three provincial cities (Davao, Dagupan, and Dumaguete), later switching to an historical geographic approach to the globally important megacity  of Manila.  His topics have included social stratification and mobility, migration, the impact of the 1930s (and 1985) depression, along with the changing hinterland-provincial and international provisioning of the metropolis over nearly a century.

Aguardiente sa Lahat by Daniel F. Doeppers is published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press. The book retails at PHP 375 and is available at the Ateneo University Press Bookshop in Bellarmine Hall, and the Press’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.

Get your copy in paperback: Website│Lazada and Shopee