"Based on three decades of anthropological field research. Chinese Traders in a Philippine Town addresses two aspects of a provincial town in the Philippines. First, it examines the town's Chinese trade community as composed of individuals and families who follow commercial ends with varying degrees of success by means of a wide range of competitive tactics. Second, it describes changes the town has experienced during recent decades and how these have been to a large degree the result of long-term, commercial strategies followed by substantial Chinese entrepreneurs."--BOOK JACKET.