Isabelo de los Reyes, intent like the other propagandists on proving the Spanish colonizers wrong in their contention that there was no pre-Hispanic Philippine civilization to speak of, collected folkloric material from his native province of Ilocos Sur, Zambales and Malabon. Thus one finds in this translation, information on Ilocano religion, mythology, psychology, types, customs, and traditions; selected poems of the author's mother, poetess Leona Florentino; aspects of Zambales and Malabon folklore; and the story of Isio illustrating what Don Isabelo calls "administrative folklore." His efforts were duly recognized, for El Folklore Filipino won a silver medal at the Madrid Exposition, and prizes at the Paris and St. Louis (United States of America) Expositions.
