Book excerpt: More than 2,000 years ago, our Filipino ancestors built the rice terraces out of the Cordillera Mountains in northern Philippines using a unique leadership philosophy. Comparing this stunning man-made structure with what we know today as the other Wonders of the Ancient World, many of which were built by either salaried skilled workers or slaves on orders by individual reigning rulers, the hand-made rice terraces stand out for three intriguing reasons: One, they were constructed by freemen. Two, no single leader was ever identified to have taken credit for building them. Three, they stood the test of time. This book paints an inspiring picture on how the so-called barbaric, naive, and uneducated ancient Filipino society has constructed and maintained a millennia-old magnificent edifice of elaborate beauty, which on the contrary speaks volumes of our great identity, unique leadership philosophy, and sustainable management ingenuity.