Readings in Philippine

History
First Semester
2024-2025
 Chapter 1:
Meaning and Relevance
of History
 Learning Objectives
• Explain history as an academic discourse;
• Apply historical methodologies;
• Discuss the development of historiography,
• particularly Philippine historiography.
• Discuss the importance of history in the creation of
national identities and development and make it
part of Filipino consciousness.
Chapter 1:
Meaning and Relevance of History
A. Meaning and Relevance of History
B. Distinction of Primary and Secondary
Sources; External and Internal Criticism
 A. Meaning and
Relevance of History
History
Traditional Understanding:
• Study of the past
• Chronological record of significant
events often including an
explanation of their causes
Modern Understanding:

• Came from Greek word “Historia” that

means “Knowledge acquired through
inquiry or investigation”
• Sources are oral traditions in forms of
epics, songs, artifacts, architecture,
memory etc.
“Ang kasaysayan ay SALAYSAY na may
SAYSAY sa SINASALAYSAYANG
SALINGLAHI.”
-Zeus Salazar
“Pantayong Pananaw” (Salazar, 1974)
Meaning of History

• History is concerned with the study of the

human past. (Barnes, 1963)

• History is not just the past but also and

principally the present and future.
(Medina)
Meaning of History
History
• can be divided into different branches as
follows:
• General history – which covers political,
economic, diplomatic and military history.
• Economic history – which includes economic
thoughts and economic system.
• Cultural history – which covers local and ethnic
history; social history and myth history.
Divisions of History
1. Pre-History
• period where no written records exist or
when the writings of people were not
preserved
• analyzed through fossils and artifacts by
Archaeologists and Anthropologists
2. History
• period when man started to write and
record events using a system of writing
• analyzed through wood carves, engraved
metals, written papyrus, written papers
Role of Historians
• To look at the available sources and select the most
relevant for history and subject of study
• To organize the past that is being created
• To seek for the meaning of recovering the past to
let the people see the continuing relevance of
memories (Historical Understanding)
 History as a “Social Science”

SCIENCE

NATURAL SOCIAL
-HISTORY
-ECONOMICS
-POLITICAL
SCIENCE
PHYSICAL BIOLOGICAL -SOCIOLOGY
-Physics -Zoology -ANTHROPOLOGY
-Chemistry -Botany -PHILOSOPHY
-GEOGRAPHY
-PSYCHOLOGY
Historiography
• “Writing of history” (Historical Writing)
• Based on critical examination of sources, selection
of particular details from authentic materials in
those sources and the synthesis of those details
into a narrative
• Done through “Historical Research” with the aid of
“Historical Methodology”
 History and Philippine
historiography
• Historiography is the art of writing. It also refers to the theory
and history of historical writing.

• The term historiography is rooted from the Greek word “historia”

which means past and “graphier” which means to write.
 The Development of Philippine Historiography

• For so many years, Filipino historians became

followers of a very rigid tradition in writing history – a
tradition based on positivism.

• Positivism – holds that historical knowledge and

interpretation ought to be based upon verifiable data
gathered after examination of documents through internal
and external criticisms
1. Choosing a topic.
2. Looking for data through Historical sources.
3. Determining the data as a Primary or Secondary
source.
4. Analyze the data through historical criticisms.
5. Writing the entire narrative.
Importance of History
• To unite a nation
• To legitimize regime and forge a sense of collective
identity through collective memory
• To make sense of the present
• To not repeat mistakes of the past
• To inspire people to keep their good practices to
move forward
Historical Timeframe of the Philippines

9000 BCE or
7000 BCE 21st Century

Pre-historic era Spanish era American era Contemporary era – present

Japanese era
 B. Distinction of
Primary and Secondary
Sources;
External and Internal
Criticism
Historical Sources
1. Primary Sources
• Produced at the same time as the event being
studied (Contemporary Accounts)
• Include documents or artifacts created by a
witness or participant of the event
• “Firsthand testimony,” “Eyewitness accounts”
• It may include diaries, letters, interviews,
photographs, newspapers
2. Secondary Sources
• Produced by authors who used and interpreted
primary sources
• Analyzed a scholarly question and often use
primary source as evidence
• Include books, theses, dissertations, journals,
magazines, knowledge of historians
• Written few years after the exact time of the event
Primary
Source A

Equals:

Primary
COMPARISON Secondary
Source B
Source

Primary
Source C
Drill: Identify whether Primary or
Secondary Source
1. “Batas Militar: Martial Law Under President
Ferdinand E. Marcos Full Documentary”
2. “La Revolucion Filipina” of Apolinario Mabini
3. National Historical Commission of the
Philippines YouTube Channel
4. Historical Data Papers from National Library
of the Philippines
5. “War Memoirs of Jose P. Laurel” by Jose P.
Laurel
Drill: Identify whether Primary or
Secondary Source
1. “Batas Militar: Martial Law Under President
Ferdinand E. Marcos Full Documentary”
2. “La Revolucion Filipina” of Apolinario Mabini
3. National Historical Commission of the
Philippines YouTube Channel
4. Historical Data Papers from National Library
of the Philippines
5. “War Memoirs of Jose P. Laurel” by Jose P.
Laurel
Drill: Identify whether Primary or
Secondary Source
1. “Batas Militar: Martial Law Under President
Ferdinand E. Marcos Full Documentary”
2. “La Revolucion Filipina” of Apolinario Mabini
3. National Historical Commission of the
Philippines YouTube Channel
4. Historical Data Papers from National Library
of the Philippines
5. “War Memoirs of Jose P. Laurel” by Jose P.
Laurel
6. “Brains of the Nation” by Resil B. Mojares
7. “A Question of Heroes” by Nick Joaquin
8. “Anting-anting ni Manuel Quezon” at National
Museum of the Philippines- Museum of
Anthropology
9. “Veneration Without Understanding” by
Renato Constantino
10. Homo luzonensis ecofacts (fossils) unearthed
by UP Archaeological Studies Program
Primary and Secondary sources should be evaluated
its validity and credibility by asking these questions:
1. How did the author know about the given details?
Was the author present at the event?
2. Where did the information come from? Is it a
personal experience, an eyewitness account etc.?
3. Did the author conclude based on a single or
multiple source?
In terms of historical reliability,

Primary source:
• The closer the date of creation, the more reliable
one.

Secondary source:
• The more recent, the more reliable one.
Historical Criticism
1. External Criticism
• Verification of authenticity by examining physical characteristics;
consistency with the historical characteristics of the time when it
was produced, and materials used.
• We can ask the following questions:
-when it was written?
-where it was written?
-who was the author?
-why did it survive?
-what were the materials
used?
-where the words used were
being used those times?
2. Internal Criticism
• Looks at the truthfulness and factuality of the
evidence by looking at the author of the source, its
context, the agenda behind its creation
• It looks at the content of the source and examines
the circumstance of its production
• We can ask the following questions:
-was it written by eyewitness or not?
-why was it written?
-is there consistency?
-what are the connotations?
-what is the literal meaning?
-what is the meaning
of the context?
7 factors in evaluating through Internal Criticism
(Howell and Prevenier, 2001):
1. Genealogy of the document
2. Genesis of the document
3. Originality of the document
4. Interpretation of the document
5. Authorial authority of the document
6. Competence of the observer
7. Trustworthiness of the observer
Rizal did not write “Sa
Aking Mga Kabata”
“First Voyage Around the
World”
(“Primer Viaje en Torno del Globo”)
SPAIN PORTUGAL
Historical background
• Written by Antonio Pigafetta
in one of the five ships that
first circumnavigate the world
• It covers the time when
Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet
“Armada de Molucca” started
the voyage (1519) until it was
successfully went back to Spain
• The copies of this account was presented by
Pigafetta to Pope Clement VII, King Francis I’s
mother, etc.
• His original diary was lost and
not known in what language
it was written
• Survived in 4 manuscript
versions; 1 Italian
(Carlo Amoretti) and
3 French
MARCH 17, 1521 (originally March 16)
• Arrival in “Zamal” (Samar) particularly in the island
of “Humunu” (Homonhon)
• Magellan called it “Acquada da li buoni Segnialli”
(Watering place of God Signs)
• The district was called “Las Islas de San Lazaro”
(Islands of Saint Lazarus)
MARCH 18, 1521 (originally March 17)
• Magellan and his men landed in Humunu and saw
by native boatmen from Suluan Island who gave
Magellan went back to
them foods. Portugal with Enrique (1511)

• Transaction made through Magellan’s slave

interpreter, “Enrique” (of Malacca)

MARCH 22, 1521 (originally March 21)

• The boatmen return to Magellan’s location
Magellan and
at Malacca
gave two boats of foods (1505)
MARCH 30 (originally March 29)
“Umangkla ang barko namin sa isla ng Mazaua, malapit
sa bahay ng Rajah nito (Rajah Siagu) at umakyat ng barko
ang Rajah at sila Maang kanyang mga armas. Gayundin
ako at isang kasama ay sumama sa Rajah at sa Balanghai,
kami ay pinakain ng baboy, pinainom gellan kung saan
sila’y nagpalitan ng regalo.
Nag-almusal at ipinasyal ni Magellan ang Rajah sa paligid
ng kanyang barko at ipinakita ng alak at pinakita ng hari
ang kanilang palasyo at nagpakain pa.”

MARCH 31 (originally March 30)

“Bumalik kami sa aming mga barko kasama ang kapatid
ng Rajah ng Mazaua, ang Rajah ng Butuan-Calagan na si
Colambu, ang pinakamaayos na lalaking nakita namin.”
APRIL 1, 1521 (originally March 31)
• First mass in the Philippines was happened in
“Mazaua”
• Attended by Magellan, Rajah Kolambu, Rajah Siagu
(Siaui) and local islanders
APRIL 8, 1521
• Magellan went to Zubu (Cebu) and met Rajah
Humabon
• The rajah wanted Magellan and his men to pay
tribute to them but told his translator Enrique that
they are working for King of Spain and threatened
him a war
APRIL 15, 1521 (original April 14)
• Held a mass on Humabon’s place where attended
by 800 local members
• Magellan gave Hara Humamay an image of Sto.
Niño
• Humabon became “Carlos” and Humamay became
“Juana”
APRIL 27, 1521 (originally April 26)
• Rajah Zula told Magellan that Matan’s (Mactan)
chieftain Cilapulapu (Lapulapu) refused to obey the
King of Spain
• Zula requested Magellan to send him only one
boatload of men to fight Cilapulapu but Magellan

•
APRIL 28, 1521 (originally April 27)
• 60 of Magellan’s men set out armed with corselets
and helmets and 20-30 Balanhais loaded by Rajah
Humabon’s men went to Matan to attack Cilapulapu
• The local islanders had lances of bamboo and
stakes hardened with fire
• “Battle of Mactan”
happened
“Organisado ang paglusob ng mga tiga-Mactan habang
nagsisigawan. Isang grupo kada tagiliran ng mga Espanyol at
isa sa harap na tila tatsulok. Nang magpaputok ng mga kanyon
at riple ang mga Espanyol, nakahanda na ang mga kalasag ng
mga ito. Gayundin, kanya-kanyang tago ang mga mandirigma
upang makaiwas, malinaw na malinaw na sila’y handa sa
atake. Hindi nakayanan ng mga Europeo ang mga pana, sibat,
putik at bato na dumapo sa kanila.
At matapos nito’y iniutos ni Magellan na magsunog ng mga
bahay ng mga taga-Mactan na siyang lalong ikinagalit ng mga
ito. At natutunan ng mga mandirigmang taga-Mactan na
puntiryahin sa paa ang mga kalabang nakabaluti.
Tinamaan si Magellan ng panang may lason sa kanang binti,
pero sinabi nitong bumalik na sa mga barko. Sa katapusan ng
laban si Magellan ay tinamaan ng sibat sa mukha ngunit
nakalaban pa, nasugatan pa braso at nakampilan pa sa
kaliwang binti. Sa kanyang pagbagsak, pinagtulungan na siya
ng mga tiga-Mactan. At nang makita ng mga kasama na patay
na si Magellan, sila’y nagsiatrasan, dala-dala ang iba pang mga
sugatan.”
Other contents of Pigafetta’s manuscript:
• Lifestyle of early Filipinos in Visayas
• First vocabulary of Visayan words ever penned by a
European
• Description of early Visayan music
• Evidence that the world is round
• Re-discovery of Pacific Ocean
“Redencion presupone
virtud, virtud sacrificio,
sacrificio amor!”
(Redemption presupposes virtue; virtue sacrifice,
sacrifice, love!)

-Padre Florentino (El Filibusterismo, 1891)

PANGALAN NG ATING BANSA?

• Ma-yi – “Lupain ng Ginto”; itinawag ng mga

Tsinong Mangangalakal na nakarating ng
Mindoro.
• Tawalisi - ngalan na ibinigay ni Claudius
Ptolemy, isang gumagawa ng mapa mula sa
Greece. Nalaman niya ang tungkol sa bansa
dahil kay Hippalus, isang mangangalakal na isa
sa itinawag sa Pilipinas ay Maniolas.
• Arkipelago ni San Lazaro – ngalan na ibinigay n
Magellan noong 1521 sa Samar (Homonhon).
PANGALAN NG ATING BANSA?

• Felipinas – ngalan na ibinigay ni Ruy Lopez de

Villalobos sa Samar at Leyte bilang pagpupugay
kay King Philip II.
• Ang Pilipinas ay kilala rin sa tawag na Perlas
ng Silangan (Pearl of the Orient Seas) na
itinawag nina Dr. Jose Rizal at Padre Juan
Delgado*.
• Rizaline Republic – Artemio Ricarte
• Maharlika – Pang. Ferdinand Marcos
Heograpiya ng pilipinas
• Arkipelago sa Timog-Silangang Asya
• Binubuo ng 7,641 (February) isla
• 11 Pinakamalaking Isla:
• Luzon, Mindanao, Negros, Samar,
Palawan, Panay, Mindoro, Leyte, Cebu
Bohol at Masbate.
• Napaliligiran ng:
• Kanlurang Dagat Pilipinas (H&K), Dagat
Pasipiko (S), Dagat Celebes at Katubigan
ng Borneo (T)
 Katangian at pagpapahalagang
pilipino

• Magiliw na pagtanggap • Hiya

sa panauhin • Konserbatibo
• Malapit na ugnayan sa • Ningas-kugon
pamilya
• Mañana Habit
• Respeto sa nakatatanda
• Filipino Habit
• Sentimental
• Bayanihan
• Utang na loob
PREHISTORYA NG PILIPINAS
MGA PINAGKUNAN NG IMPORMASYON
• Artepakto: mga bagay na ginawa o namodipa ng mga sinaunang tao
• Lithics: pinakakaraniwang artepakto ; mga kagamitang yari sa bato
• Seramik: mga paso at ibang kagamitan na yari sa lutong luwad (baked clay)
• Mga kahoy at butong kasangkapan
• Kasangkapang yari sa kabibe
• Kasangkapang yari sa babasagin o salamin
Lithics (Palawan)
(Cagayan)
Ceramics (Pambansang Museo)
Burial Jars (Maitum, Saranggani)
Porcelein (Laguna)
MGA PINAGKUNAN NG
IMPORMASYON

• Ecofacts: mga natural na bagay na ginamit o

naapektuhan ng mga sinaunang tao.
• Mga buto ng hayop na kinain ng mga tao
• Mga pollen na natagpuan sa mga pinaghukayan
• Mga labi ng mga insekto at mga peste
Buto ng Usa (Mindanao)
 MGA PINAGKUNAN NG
IMPORMASYON
• Fossil: mga labi ng mga insekto, halaman atbp. sa
putikan or kalupaan na naging bato sa paglipas ng
panahon o mga buto ng mga hayop
• Nakatulong sa pagkapreserba ng mga ito ang abo ng
sumabog na bulkan, limestone at mineralized ground water
Fossilized Shells (Sagada)
Fossilized Dugong (Palawan)
 MGA PINAGKUNAN NG
IMPORMASYON
• Features: naiibang uri ng artepakto na hindi basta-basta naaalis sa
mga lugar na napagtagpuan sa kanila
• Hearth
• Mga hukay na ginawa ng mga sinaunang tao
• Lugar na pinagtirahan (Living floors)
• Midden – mga malalalim na pinaghukayan na tinatambakan kadalasan ng
pinagkainan o dumi ng mga sinaunang tao
Tabon Cave Flooring
DATING METHOD
• Radiocarbon/ Carbon-14/ 14C Dating: based on the principle that all
living matter possesses a certain amount of a radioactive form of
carbon (14C)
• Purpose: to determine the amount of 14C left in an organism by counting the
beta radiations emitted per minute, per gram
DATING METHOD
• Potassium-Argon: Potassium-40(40K) Radioactive form of potassium
decays and forms Argon-40 (40Ar).
• May be used to date samples from 5,000 years up to 3 billion years old.
• Used to date potassium-rich minerals in rock
DATING METHOD
• Uranium Series Dating: decays of two kinds of uranium (235U) and
(238U) into other isotopes such as 230TH (thorium)