Review of Oona Paredes’ book: “A Mountain of Difference: The Lumad in Early Colonial Mindanao” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Volume 46, Issue 02, June 2015, pp 332 - 334 (original) (raw)

Oona Paredes' book "A Mountain of Difference: The Lumad in Early Colonial Mindanao" provides a nuanced historical ethnography that examines the agency and identity of the Lumad people during the Spanish colonial period. Organized into six chapters, the text explores the complex relationships formed between the Lumad and various colonial authorities through historical narratives and analyses of social interactions, cultural conflicts, and autonomy. Paredes argues against reductive interpretations of cultural authenticity, highlighting the Lumad's sophisticated awareness and resistance to external definitions imposed by lowlanders and scholars.