(11 Aug 2021) In early August, a Philippine-published book made it to the top of Amazon’s list of “Hot New Releases.” With its intimidating title, “Boxer Codex: A Modern Spanish Transcription and English Translation of 16th-Century Exploration Accounts of East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific”—whew!—even its publisher was surprised the tome entered the number one slot in the “Hot New Releases” list under the category of historical study reference.
Vibal Foundation heir and Executive Director Gaspar Vibal attributes this success to what he describes as the pan-Asian appeal of this late 16th-century Spanish text that not only concerns itself with early modern Philippines but also China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. “This goes to show,” he adds, “that it is possible after all for a Philippine publisher to be seen worldwide and to ride to the top of the Amazon lists.”
The sumptuously bound and illustrated manuscript contains a collection of eyewitness accounts of various cultures and places in East and Southeast Asia.
More details and photos from the book can be found here.
