Arsenio H. Lacson of Manila

'He had everything, or almost everything going for him. His belly lusted for nothing except a good fight. He was as honest as they come, and of course he had vision.

'He is the quintessential political fighter, always in his corner, waiting for the bell. When that bell rang, you somehow knew that nobody as colorful, as intrepid, as breathless for action and performance, ever stepped into the political ring.'

• Excerpt from 'Here's the Score' by Teodoro Benigno

'He was tough, he was feisty, yet he was strongly principled... All these features of his unique character are brought to life in this biography... The subject's strength of character and obeisance to principles... as well as the highly detailed narrative of how he turned his beloved city into a fine example of proper governance, and began to loom large in the national imagination.'

• From the Editor's Note