The publication of this volume consisting of nine selections from the works of Dr. Cecilio Lopez in Philippine linguistics has long been overdue. It was intended to come out in 1973 on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday. However, the events that broke out after mid-1972 paralyzed for a long while work on this volume. This delay has not, however, diminished the importance and significance of this volume.

Dr. Lopez is not only the first and most durable Filipino linguist, he is also the first significant Filipino linguist. His studies of Philippine languages and dialects mark the beginning of the Filipino tradition in the scientific study of Philippine languages and dialects. 

Most of the works of Dr. Lopez in Philippine linguistics were published from 1937 to 1941 when he was with the Institute of National Language and after his retirement from the University of the Philippines in 1963. The nine selected articles are arranged in this volume chronologically according to their publication dates. The first article was published in 1925 and the last one in 1972. The nine articles are considered to be representative of Dr. Lopez’s various writings on Philippine languages and dialects.