IDA FLOR T.

ADRIATICO, RPm
CAS- Languages and Social Sciences and
Department
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE
HISTORY: INTRODUCTION
 •In this subject, Philippine History will be
viewed from selected primary sources in
different periods, analysis, and
interpretations.

•This aims to expose students to different

aspects of Philippine history through the
people who experienced the events
themselves. Rather than rely on
secondary materials such as textbooks,
which is the usual approach in teaching
Philippine history, different types of
primary sources will be used (written,
oral, visual, audio-visual, digital –
covering various aspects of Philippine
life (political, economic, social, cultural).

•The end goal is to enable students to

SUBJECT DESCRIPTION understand and appreciate our rich past
by deriving insights from those who were
present at the time of the event.
 CONTEXT ANALYSIS
considers the Content analysis,
following: 1. type of source
(written, oral,
1. historical context visual).
The following of the source (time
are applied in and place it was 2. author’s main
written and the argument compare
studying points of view
Readings in situation at the
time) 3. identify biases
Philippine
History: 2. the author’s 4. evaluate the
background author’s claim
3. source’s based on the
relevance and evidences
meaning today presented
•The subject will guide the students through their reading and analysis of the texts
and require them to write reaction essays of varied length and present their ideas in
other ways (debate format, power point presentation, letter to the editor of the
source, etc.)
•Students are given opportunities to analyze the author’s background and main
arguments, compare different points of view, identify biases and examine the
evidences presented in the document.
•The discussions will tackle traditional topics in history and other interdisciplinary
themes that will deepen and broaden their understanding of Philippine political,
economic, cultural, social, scientific and religious history.
• Priority is given to primary materials that could help students develop their
analytical and communication skills. The end goal is to develop the historical and
critical consciousness of the students so that they will become versatile, articulate,
broad minded, morally upright and responsible citizens.
 TOPICS/LESSONS:
Weeks 1-6
I. Meaning and Relevance of History, Distinction of Primary and Secondary Sources, External
and Internal Criticism, Repositories of Primary Sources, and Different Kinds of Primary Sources
II. Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources; Identification of the Historical
Importance of the Text; and Examination of the Author’s Main Argument and Point of View
Weeks 7-12
III. One Past But Many Histories: Controversies and Conflicting Views in Philippine History; Site of
the First Mass., Cavite Mutiny. Retraction of Rizal and Cry of Balintawak or Pugadlawin
IV. IV. Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural Issues in Philippine History Mandated Topics:
Agrarian Reform Policies The Philippine Constitution: 1899 Malolos Constitution, 1935 Constitution,
1973 Constitution, 1987 Constitution Taxation Other sample topics: Filipino Cultural Heritage
Filipino-American Relations Government Peace Treaties with Muslim Filipinos Institutional History of
Schools, Corporations, Industries, Religious Groups, and the like Biography of a Prominent Filipino
Weeks 13-17
V. Critical Evaluation and Promotion of Local; and Oral History, Museums, Historical Shrines, Cultural
Performances, Indigenous Practices, Religious Rites, and Rituals, etc.
 LESSON 1: DEFINITION,
QUESTIONS, AND ISSUES IN
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
 History: came from the Greek word: Historia
- means inquiry or knowledge acquired from
investigation
- study of the past as it is described in written
documents
- provides analysis and interpretation of the
human past enabling us to study continuity and
changes that take place over time
HISTORY: The study of life in
society in the past. Focus: story
of man in time
• It informs the present generation of
events that happened in the past. When
and how it happened.
• Helps to understand the existing social,
political, religious, and economic
conditions of the people
• Explains background of our religion
customs, and traditions among others
• The study of the past, the events that
happened in the past and the causes of
such events.
Below are the definitions provided by various
Historians:
• “History is the record of what one age finds worthy of note in
another” – Burckhardt
• “History, in its broadest sense, is everything that ever
happened” – Henry Johnson
• “The value and interest of History depend largely on the
degree in which the present is illuminated by the past” –
VsSmith
• “History is the story of man’s struggle through the ages against
nature and the elements: against wild beasts and the jungle and
some of his own kind who have tried to keep him down and to
exploit him for their own benefit” – Jawaharal Nehru
 HERODOTUS: Father of
History
-Defined History as learning
inquiry about the past of mankind

General Definition: HISTORY-

provides significant records of
events of the past, a meaningful
story of mankind depicting the
details of what happened to man
HERODOTUS
and why it happened.
 NATURE OF HISTORY:
To better understand History, It is
important to determine its very nature:

•History is a study of the present in the

light of the past
•History is a study of man
•History is concerned with man in time
•History is concerned with man in space
•History provides an objective record
of happenings
•History is multisided
•History is a dialogue between the events
of the past and progressively emerging
future ends.
•History is only narration, but it is also an
analysis
•Continuity and coherence are the
necessary requisites of History
•History is relevant.
•History is comprehensive
 HISTORY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE POPULAR DEFINITION OF HISTORY
TRADITIONALLY KNOWN AS THE STUDY AS THE STUDY OF THE PAST IS NOT
OF THE PAST. LEARNING HISTORY HAS WRONG, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT GIVE
OFTEN REQUIRED THE LEARNERS TO A COMPREHENSIVE MEANING OF THE
MEMORIZE EVENTS, DATES, PLACES, AND SUBJECT AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE
PEOPLE CHRONOLOGICALLY PAVING THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF HUMAN
WAY TO BOREDOM AND LOW DEVELOPMENT.
APPRECIATION OF THE DISCIPLINE.
ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
 “ NO DOCUMENT, NO HISTORY.”
- It means that unless a written document can prove a certain historical event, then
it cannot be considered as a historical fact. (Candelaria and Alporha, 2018)

• Like other academic disciplines, history made use of valid historical sources
which were not limited to written documents like government archival records
chroniclers’ accounts or personal letters.
• The unavailability of written documents invalidates the history of other
civilizations that do not keep written records but have passed on their history
from one generation to another by word of mouth. Others lost their records during
war or colonization.
• To restrict historical evidence as exclusively written is to discriminate other
social classes who were not recorded in paper.

• Nobilities, monarchs, the elite, and even the middle class would have their
birth, education, marriage, and death as matters of government and historical
record. But what of peasant families or indigenous groups who were not
given much thought about being registered to government records? Does the
absence of written documents about them mean that they were people of no
history?
 This gap was recognized by
historians who started using
other kinds of historical
sources. A few of these
examples are:

• Oral Traditions (epics and

songs)
• Artifacts
• Architecture
• Memories
Historiography: How was a certain historical text written? Who wrote it? What
was the context of its publication? What historical method was employed?
What were the sources used?). Thus, historiography lets the students have a
better understanding of history.
* the study of history itself
* an analysis of the interpretations of a specific topic written by past
historians
* the writing of history

History is the event or period and the study of it. Historiography is the study of
how history was written, who wrote it, and what factors influenced how it was
written.
 HISTORIOGRAPHY:
- is the history of history
- the study of history
- gives a better understanding of history

It answers the questions:

• What is history?
• Why is there a need to study history?
• For whom do we write history?
• How was a certain historical text written?
Who wrote it?
• What was the context of its publication?
• What historical method was employed?
• What were the sources used?
 “HISTORY SHOULD ONLY BE TOLD BY THE RICH AND
EDUCATED”
• One of the problems confronted by history is the
accusation that the history is always written by victors and
educated.
• This connotes that the narrative of the past is always
written from the bias of the powerful and the more dominant.
• This leads to the need of a more thorough historical
investigation instead of a narrative story of a hero versus a
villain
 RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

• Helps us understand people and societies

• Contributes to moral understanding
• Provides identity
• Studying History is essential for good citizenship
• Useful in the world of work.

History has played various roles in the past. It was used as a tool to
legitimize regimes and forge a sense of collective identity through collective
memory. Lessons from the past can be used to make sense of the present.
Learning of past mistakes can help people to not repeat them. Being
reminded of a great past can inspire people to keep their good practices to
move forward.
THANK YOU! ☺