Jose Rizal, a pivotal figure in Asian history, played a crucial role in the fight for freedom alongside contemporaries like Sun Yat-sen and Gandhi. His influential novels and poignant last poem sparked the first nationalist revolution in Asia, ultimately contributing to the establishment of the first Asian republic. Rizal's legacy as a patriot and polymath is marked by his profound impact on the quest for independence in the Philippines and beyond.
"Into the Mountains" recounts the horrifying and heroic experience of the March 20 hostages. It provides the first book-length look into the tragic but ultimately triumphant saga of Father Rhoel Gallardo and his companions at the hands of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf. It also situates the bandit group's brazen terrorism with stories from a former Abu Sayyaf urban assassin, a long time Basilian immigrant, a legendary Christian vigilante, and an interfaith dialogue pioneer. The Epilogue brings the story up to date, with stunning revelations that pose uncomfortable questions about the fate of the Dos Palmas hostages and the entire Abu Sayyaf kidnapping enterprise.