The encyclopedia was first published by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 10 volumes in 1994. Since then, these volumes have been used in many schools as principal source book for data on the Philippine arts.

To make the work even more attractive to the computer generation, the CCP, in a joint venture with DPSI, has now come out with this multimedia CD-ROM edition. For this edition, the editors again verified and validated data, correcting whatever needed to be corrected, and added whatever was lacking. They also decided to update the biographical entries of those who received the National Artist Awards and those who passed away since 1994. All other entries followed the cut-off date of 1992 set by the first edition.

Where the 1994 edition divided all data into 10 volumes, this CD-ROM comes in two discs, divided thus:

DISC 1

• Peoples of the Philippines
• Philippine Music
• Philippine Dance
• Philippine Literature

• Philippine Architecture
• Philippine Visual Arts
• Philippine Film
• Philippine Theater

Disc 1 contains master essays on 51 ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines, arranged alphabetically from Aeta to Yakan. Each essay gives essential and succinct information on the group--- its history, economy, political system, social organization and customs, and religious beliefs and practices. The essays also integrate discussions of the group's architecture and community planning, visual arts, literary arts, and performing arts.

The rest of Disc 1 and 2 focus on the seven arts. Information on each art form can be accessed through the following sections: historical essays, forms and types, aspects of production, major works, artists and organizations, and references. For Philippine music, there are two additional sections: groups and instruments.

To maximize the multimedia capabilities of CD-ROM technology, several exciting features have been added in this edition.

• VIDEO GALLERY presents short clips from Filipino film classics, original Filipino works in dance, and highlights from Philippine Theater masterpieces.
• MUSIC EXCERPTS contain audio samples from Philippine ethnic instruments and Filipino classical, folk, and popular music.
• There is also a video tour of the San Agustin Church, one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.
• The Manunggul Jar, one of the oldest artifacts of Philippine artistry, can be viewed from various angles.
• Viewers can also zoom in on the details of Juan Luna's Spoliarium, or enjoy a panoramic presentation of Carlos V. Francisco's Filipino Struggles Through History, a mural housed at the Manila City Hall.