READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

LESSON 1: Meaning & Relevance of evidence they selected from what is

History Historu
 The English word history is derived from the available and how they interpreted it.
Greek word “isotia” meaning learning.  Historian only has will be the only thing he
 According to Aristotle, history is the can use to connect him to the past.
systematic account of a set of natural WHY HISTORY IS UNATTAINABLE TO
phenomena whether or not chronological RECONSTRUCT THE PAST?
ordering was a factor in an account, and Because they are not on the same event, since
this is considered as natural history. you did not exist in the past. Since historians
- As time passed by, the equivalent Latin just based on its available sources.
word “scientia”, which is Science in
LESSON 1.2: Historical Method
English was later used more to
designate non-chronological systematic  Historical Method is the process of
accounts of phenomena. critically examining and analyzing the
 Presently, the word “history” means the records and survivals of the past.
“past of mankind”. History is the study of  Historians must verify sources, date them,
past events, particularly in human affairs. locate their place of origin, and identify their
 History in German is “Geschichte” meaning intended functions.
that which has happened. This means  This historian is many times removed from
that the word implies that history teaches, events under investigation.
and we may learn from the lessons of  They rely on surviving records.
history.  History is, therefore, a reconstruction.
 The definition of history brings man to a  Only a part of what was remembered was
recognition that history cannot be recorded, only a part of what was recorded
reconstructed, that the past of mankind, survived, and only a part of what survived
much of it, is beyond recall. And that even came to the historian’s attention.
the best of our memories cannot re-create  Only a part what is credible has been
our past. grasped; only a part of what has been
 The reconstruction of the total past of grasped can be expounded and narrated by
mankind is the total goal of historians the historian.
which, however, is unattainable. Historians WHAT HISTORIAN THAT SHOULD BE SET
will never really know everything that ASIDE?
happened in the past. Prior Knowledge
 The problem that historians confront is that
LESSON 1.3: Historical Sources
the evidence they rely on is likely to be
fragmented, incomplete, and even WHAT IS SOURCE?
contradictory. It provides information about the topic.
- The result is that each historian’s - Retrieval document is our source that
conclusions are influenced by the provide our history.
 READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

o Historical Sources are objects from the

past or testimonies concerning the past
LESSON 1.4: Historical Criticisms
which historians use to create their own
depiction of the past.  Historical Criticism settle matter the form
and content of the source.
TYPES OF SOURCES

According to Form a. External Criticism

a. Written Sources – published materials - Deals with the problem of authenticity.
(books, journals, etc.) and manuscripts - To spot hoaxes, fakes, forgeries, and
(handwritten and unprinted materials like fabrications.
archival materials and memoirs). - Tests of Authenticity are:
b. Non-written Sources – like oral history, 1. Determine the date if it is Anachronistic:
artifacts, fossils, etc. a material, skill, or culture does not exist
at that time.
According to Origin 2. Determine the author in the uniqueness
a. Primary Sources – it is a testimony of of his handwriting or signature.
eyewitness. It must have been produced by 3. Determine the provenance custody:
a contemporary of what has been narrated. genuineness.
- During the time under study. 4. Determine the Semantics, meaning of a
- These sources were present during an text or word.
experience or time period that offer an 5. Determine the Hermeneutics, the
inside view of a particular event. ambiguites.
- Example is a document, physical object
written, or a person’s witness. b. Internal Criticism
b. Secondary Sources – interpretations and - Deals with the problem of credibility.
analyze the primary sources. They are one - Tests of credibility are:
or more steps removed from the event. 1. Determine the Character of the Author, his
- Made after the time of the event. reliability, and his ability and willingness to
- Examples are printed textbooks, tell the truth.
academic journal articles. A person can 2. Determine the Corroboration, historical
also be a secondary source which is facts rest upon the testimony of two or
historians. more reliable witnesses.
-
LESSON 1.5: Kinds of Primary Sources
Visual Primary Sources – visual document,
predominantly images not a word. PUBLISHED PRIMARY SOURCES
Photographs Films ▪ Records of social and cultural observations
Painting Cartoons ▪ Chronicles
▪ Human Fossils (remains of ancient man
Posters imbedded in the earth such as bones, hair,
 READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

skin, etc.) o Involves gathering all available

▪ Artifacts ( cultural evidence of man in the past evidence such as documents,
such as tools and implements)
▪ Records of Detective Investigations artifacts, inscriptions, and oral
▪ Royal Decrees and Laws testimonies.
▪ Official Reports
▪ Maps o This step is crucial because the
▪ Memoirs or Autobiographies quality and variety of sources lay
▪ Personal accounts: record of interviews
the foundation for further
▪ Newspapers and Magazines: reports of
correspondents analysis.
▪ Legislative journals
▪ Court Records 2. Source Criticism:
Once sources are collected, historians
LESSON 1.6: Repositiories Primary Sources must evaluate them to ensure reliability:

- National Archives of The Philippines o External Criticism:

- National Library of The Philippines

 Focuses on the physical
- National Museum of The Philippines attributes of a source
- National Historical Commission of (e.g., material
The Philippines composition, handwriting,
ink, and date of creation).
I. HISTORY, HISTORICAL METHOD, AND
HISTORICAL SOURCES  This helps determine if
the source is genuine.
What is History?
History is the study of past events, particularly o Internal Criticism:
those involving human societies, cultures, and
 Involves analyzing the
activities. It helps us understand our origins, the
content for consistency,
evolution of civilizations, and how different
bias, and factual
societies have interacted over time. The term
accuracy.
“history” is derived from the Greek historia,
meaning “inquiry” or “knowledge acquired by  Historians compare
investigation,” emphasizing both the search for multiple sources to verify
facts and the process of interpretation. events and details.

The Historical Method 3. Synthesis and Interpretation:

Historians use a systematic process to uncover,
o Historians piece together the
evaluate, and interpret evidence from the past.
evidence to form a coherent
This method ensures that historical accounts
narrative or explanation of
are based on solid evidence and critical
events.
analysis. The key components include:

1. Heuristics (Source Collection):

 READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

o This step requires connecting o Examples include diaries, letters,

seemingly disparate pieces of speeches, photographs,
evidence to reveal broader government records, and
historical trends and cause-and- artifacts.
effect relationships.
o Example: Antonio Pigafetta’s
4. Historiography: detailed account in "First
Voyage Around the World"
o The final product of historical
provides direct insights into
research is the written account
Magellan’s expedition.
or presentation of history.
 Secondary Sources:
o Historiography refers to both the
writing of history and the study o These are interpretations,
of how historical narratives have analyses, or summaries of
evolved over time. primary sources.

Characteristics of a Good Historian o They often appear as history

A proficient historian should be: books, academic articles, and
biographies.
 A Critical Thinker: Able to objectively
analyze evidence and recognize bias. o Example: Teodoro Agoncillo’s
"The Revolt of the Masses"
 Unbiased: Focuses on facts rather than
interprets events surrounding
personal opinions or popular narratives.
Andrés Bonifacio and the
 Detail-Oriented: Pays attention to even Katipunan.
the smallest pieces of evidence that can
impact the overall understanding.
II. SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS &
 An Effective Communicator: Clearly
DOCUMENTS
presents findings through writing or oral
presentations, ensuring complex ideas 1. The First Voyage Around the World –
are accessible. Antonio Pigafetta
Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian scholar and
Types of Historical Sources
explorer, chronicled Ferdinand Magellan’s
Understanding the difference between types of
expedition (1519–1522). His account provides
sources is key:
crucial insights into early interactions between
 Primary Sources: Europeans and indigenous peoples.

o These are first-hand accounts  Magellan’s Arrival in the Philippines

created during the time an event (March 1521):
occurred.
 READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

o The expedition landed in 2. The Customs of the Tagalogs – Juan de

Homónhon, Eastern Samar, Plasencia
marking one of the earliest Spanish friar Juan de Plasencia recorded the
encounters between Magellan’s customs, social structures, and religious beliefs
crew and the Filipino people. of the early Tagalog people, providing
invaluable insight into pre-colonial Philippine
o They met Rajah Humabon of
society.
Cebu, who graciously received
the Spaniards; Humabon and  Social Classes in Pre-Colonial
many of his subjects converted Philippines:
to Christianity, signifying the
o Datu: The chieftain or ruler of a
beginning of cultural and
barangay, holding both political
religious exchanges.
and military power.
o However, not all encounters
o Maharlika: The noble class,
were peaceful. Lapu-Lapu, the
often warriors, who played
chieftain of Mactan, refused to
significant roles in the defense
submit to Spanish authority,
and administration of
leading to armed conflict.
communities.
o The Battle of Mactan (April 27,
o Timawa: Freemen, typically
1521) resulted in Magellan’s
workers, farmers, and traders
death at the hands of Lapu-
who formed the backbone of
Lapu’s warriors, marking a
society.
significant act of indigenous
resistance against colonization. o Aliping Namamahay: Servants
who, despite their status, had
 Guam Incident (Ladrones Island):
certain rights, including the
o During the voyage, Magellan’s ability to own property.
crew visited Guam, where they
o Aliping Saguiguilid: Slaves
experienced an early encounter
who lived within the household
with Pacific islanders.
and had little to no rights.
o After being robbed by local
 Religious and Superstitious Beliefs:
natives, they named the island
"Islas de los Ladrones" (Islands o Catolonan: Spiritual leaders,

of Thieves), highlighting the such as priests or shamans, who

tensions and misunderstandings performed rituals and oversaw
that could arise from such religious practices.
encounters.
 READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

o Mangagauay: Individuals 4. Tejeros Convention (1897) – Election

considered witches who feigned Controversy
healing abilities, yet were The internal dynamics of the Philippine
believed to cause harm. Revolution were complex, as seen during the
Tejeros Convention:
o Hocloban: More potent figures
reputed to have the ability to kill  The revolution saw a split within the
simply by raising a hand. Katipunan into two factions: Magdalo
(led by Emilio Aguinaldo) and
o Mangcocolam: Persons said to
Magdiwang (associated with Andrés
have the mysterious power to
Bonifacio).
produce fire from their bodies.
 Election Results at Tejeros
o Silagan: Figures associated with
Convention:
eerie practices, such as the
consumption of the livers of o President: Emilio Aguinaldo
those wearing white. (Magdalo)

 Marriage Customs: o Vice President: Mariano Trías

(Magdiwang)
o Marriage was a significant social
contract, and a man had to o Captain-General: Artemio
provide a dowry (bigay-kaya) to Ricarte (Magdiwang)
the woman’s parents as part of
o Director of War: Emiliano Riego
the process.
de Dios (Magdiwang)
3. Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan – Emilio
o Director of the Interior: Andrés
Aguinaldo
Bonifacio (a Katipunan member
Emilio Aguinaldo’s memoirs offer a personal
aligned with Magdiwang)
and detailed account of the Philippine
Revolution:  A major controversy erupted when
Daniel Tirona questioned Bonifacio’s
 He declared Philippine Independence
qualifications. Feeling humiliated and
on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite, a
rejected, Bonifacio nullified the election
historic moment celebrated to this day.
results. This internal conflict not only
 Despite the revolution’s successes, the undermined the unity of the revolution
United States later betrayed the Filipino but also paved the way for Bonifacio’s
revolutionaries by not recognizing their eventual downfall.
independence, ultimately leading to
5. The Revolt of the Masses – Teodoro
colonization.
Agoncillo
Teodoro Agoncillo’s work examines the role of
 READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

the masses in the Philippine Revolution, Philippines: Luzon, Panay (later

focusing on how ordinary people, rather than reinterpreted as Visayas), and
the elite, drove the revolutionary movement: Mindanao.

 Agoncillo presents Andrés Bonifacio o Together, these symbols capture

as a leader who emerged from the the unity and diversity of the
grassroots, emphasizing the importance nation.
of popular support in the fight against
7. Robert Fox and the Tabon Man
colonial rule.
In the realm of prehistory, the discovery of the
 Central to this revolutionary spirit is the Tabon Man remains a landmark finding:
Kartilya ng Katipunan—a set of
 In the 1960s, Robert Fox uncovered
guiding principles written by Emilio
the remains known as Tabon Man in
Jacinto. Its key tenets include:
Palawan.
o 4th Rule: "All men are born equal,
 These remains, dated at around 50,000
regardless of skin color."
years old, are among the earliest
o 5th Rule: "An honorable man values evidence of human existence in the
honor over personal gain." Philippines, shedding light on the
ancient origins of its people.
o 7th Rule: "Do not waste time; lost
time cannot be regained."

o 8th Rule: "Defend the oppressed and

fight the oppressors."

6. Symbolism of the Philippine Flag

The Philippine flag is not only a national symbol
but also a rich tapestry of historical meaning:

 8 Rays of the Sun:

o Each ray represents one of the

first eight provinces that revolted
against Spanish colonial rule:
Manila, Cavite, Bulacan,
Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas,
Laguna, and Nueva Ecija.

 3 Stars:

o The three stars symbolize the

major island groups of the