Background of the Author

Renato Constantino
 Professor Renato Constantino, was the Filipino nationalist and scholar par excellence.
Born on March 10, 1919, he dedicated his life to the cause of Philippine National
Sovereignty, democratic rights, peace and social justice.
 Constantino, in addition to being a historian, worked in foreign service for the Philippine
Mission to the United Nations and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
 Constantino studied at the University of the Philippines, where he was the youngest
editor of The Philippine Collegian, the university's student publication. He wrote
editorials criticizing President Manuel Quezon, which drew the President's attention
when he responded to the article in one of his speeches.
 When World War II broke out, Constantino fought in Bataan and was part of an
intelligence team spying on the Japanese. During the war, he also worked as a journalist.
 His name is inscribed on the Wall of Remembrance at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga
Bayani for his academic contributions to the fight against the Marcos dictatorship
(Monument of Heroes).