Comprehensive Critical–Analytical Review

“Hybrid: A Proposal for a New Form of Government in the Philippines", the book by Maria Gloria R. Adan is one of the first book I have read that involves concepts and theories in politics. With that, I found the book intriguing because of its unique perspective on governance reform and presents a comprehensive vision for the nation’s future political development. The proposal to merge Parliamentary Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, and Federalism into a Hybrid Model leads me to curiosity and invites critical thinking, encouraging readers to question the effectiveness of the current political system. Similar to what the society desire, the book effectively lays out foundation for why change is necessary where it calls for an action and a guide for the community and its future leaders.

One of the book’s strengths is its relevance to young Filipinos, especially students like myself who are eager to understand our country's governance. This paints a picture of a nation where youth engagement is important for change, which made me reflect on my own actions on how can I shape the future. The book calling for an action can empower younger generation to take responsibility for political change rather than remaining gullible to the state of our government. The author successfully connects with the youth by addressing their potential to create meaningful change. This personal connection makes the book more than just a political discourse, rather, it becomes a rallying movement for youth involvement.

The proposal of political concepts in this book is culturally relevant to the current situation of the government that is why I truly appreciate the governance model as it also provides Filipino cultural values. The acknowledgment of personal relationships in leadership and the cultural inclination towards forgiveness resonated deeply. These reflections made the book feel relevant and personal rather than just theoretical. Author’s understanding of Filipino culture enriches the narrative, grounding the Hybrid Model in a context that feels familiar. This cultural connection makes the proposed reforms feel more achievable.

From my knowledge I have gained in my education, I am aware to the concepts provided in this book but as I dive more on Hybrid, it enhances my thinking and awareness to the concepts like Parliamentary Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, and Federalism and how these political concepts shapes the society. However, the book’s deeper concepts can sometimes feel overwhelming for readers like me because of unfamiliar jargons, concepts, and political theories. Simplifying complex ideas would make the text more understandable without sacrificing its intellectual rigor. Still, the author has been able to introduce the general concepts by simplifying them and giving examples or applications to our country. As a college student, this kind of book with depth of research can be inspiring as it develops our mindset and critical thinking so we can be prepared to face challenges, be lawful and rightful as an adult in the society in the future.

Reading this book brings me to a realization that the author firmly analyzed her proposed model by understanding the state of the country’s government and applying concepts that is valuable for a better vision of this government. Her knowledge of Parliamentary Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, and Federalism is well-researched, as they effectively explain the strengths and weaknesses of each system while applying them to the Philippine government and society. The author not only critiques the current Presidential system but also proposed a structured alternative, showcasing their ability to think critically about national issues. Even so, the concepts of Parliamentary Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, and Federalism was recognized from what is experienced in other countries, the author could have possibly relate these concepts or how these concepts can address or lead to the distinctive sociopolitical challenges of the Philippines like political dynasties, regional inequalities, voter’s behavior, populism, and crisis management. These challenges can abruptly affect the circumstance of every people.

Nonetheless, the exploration of global governance models provided valuable insights, demonstrating how other nations have balanced power and accountability where the idea of the author was made. The comparative analysis made the proposal of the author more practical and sensible to readers in order for them to understand more how these models could be adapted for the Philippines. The logical flow of the chapters made it easy to follow the progression of ideas. Each section built on the last, creating a cohesive narrative. With this being said, I believe that the structure of the book is well-organized with each chapter dedicated to a specific aspects of the Hybrid model and the state of the Philippines.

In terms of writing style, the author employs a formal and persuasive tone with relatively understandable information for the readers. The use of historical narrations and cultural reflections puts a personal touch showing that the book is also based from the experience as a Filipino. The formal tone works well for presenting serious ideas but risks alienating younger readers. More conversational style of writing to the parts of the book can be done especially in giving situational basis or examples of circumstances in applying these concepts to make readers more intrigued and be relatable. On the other hand, the author has been able to cite concepts and resources which explains the solutions more supporting her proposal making the book credible enough.

My overall impression in understanding the book by Maria Gloria Adan is a book that grabs the attention of the readers because of its bold and ambitious ideas about reforming the Philippines national governance and leadership. With the style of writing and tone of the author in this book, the complex ideas and concepts in the field of politics have been understandable on my perspective. The author has been able to highlight the importance of being truly aware to the situation of our government as it greatly affects our lives and our rights. As a student and a citizen, this book serves as a valuable resource for being open to political innovation and improvement giving a sense of possibility to imagine a better future.

Understanding these concepts more, I look forward and curious on how will the government improve if these concepts will be actually implemented in the Philippines. Other than initiating actions and recalibration by the community, how will this plan can be initiated by those people with position and power to shape the form of the government. When will the Philippine government realize and prepare to reform the governance that will actually bring equality, justice, and peace to the nation. Those are the questions that I have after reading this book hoping for an actual development of the Philippines. It is an honor to have the chance in reading this book which improves my critical thinking and perspective to the governance in this country.