Most of the papers in this volume were initially presented at a lecture series “The Current Political and Economic Situation in the Philippines in View of 1992” held at the University of Hawaii in late April and early May 1991. Considered together, the lectures were intended to provide a political and economic overview of Philippine society approximately one year before the 1992 elections. In their presentations, all of the authors addressed issues pertinent to the elections, not a straightforward task more than one year in advance of the event itself.