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FIRST QUIZ IN GEN 004: COVERAGE DAYS 1 – 5

DAY 1: Relevance and Importance of History

Learning Objectives:
1. To familiarize oneself with objectives, content, requirements, and grading system of the subject.
2. To clarify the relevance and importance of understanding history.
WHAT IS HISTORY?
Historian Arthur Marwick defines History as “The bodies of knowledge about the past produced
by historians, together with everything that is involved in the production, communication of, and
teaching about that knowledge.”
History is the study of the past as it is described in books, journals, and other literature. Happenings
or events that happened before the discovery of writing is called prehistory. Things that relate to
past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and
interpretation of information about said events are also part of History. Scholars who write about
history are called historians.

What is History?
History also refer to the academic discipline which uses a story to examine and analyze a sequence of
past events, and objectively determine the patterns of cause and effect that determine them. Historians
sometimes debate the nature of history and its usefulness by discussing the study of the discipline as
an end in itself and as a way of providing "perspective" on the problems of the present.
All people and peoples are living histories. To take a few obvious examples: communities speak
languages that are inherited from the past. They live in societies with complex cultures, traditions and
religions that have not been created on the spur of the moment. People use technologies that they have
not themselves invented. And each individual is born with a personal variant of an inherited genetic
template, known as the genome, which has evolved during the entire life-span of the human species.
So understanding the linkages between past and present is absolutely basic for a good understanding
of the condition of being human. That, in a nutshell, is why History matters. It is not just 'useful', it is
essential.

Importance of History

The study of the past is essential for establishing people in time. And why should that matter? The
answer is that people who feel themselves to be rootless live rootless lives, meaning if they do not
know where they come from, they may not know where they are
heading. This often cause a lot of damage to themselves and others in
the process. Indeed, at the most extreme result, those individuals with
the unstable experience of complete memory loss cannot manage on
their own at all. In fact, all people have a full historical context but some,
generally for reasons that are no fault of their own, grow up with a weak
or troubled sense of their own placing, whether within their families or
within the wider world. They lack a sense of roots. For others, by
contrast, the inherited legacy may even be too powerful and outright oppressive.
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In all cases, understanding History is integral to a good understanding of the condition of being
human. That allows people to build, and, as may well be necessary, also to change, upon a secure
foundation. Neither of these options can be undertaken well without understanding the context
and starting points. All living people live in the here-and-now but it took a long unfolding history
to get everything to NOW. And that history is located in time-space, which holds this cosmos
together, and which frames both the past and the present.

Sources of History

One of the important matter to learn about history is the sources. Since history speaks of previous
events basing on the literature written to prove such circumstances it is important that we know how
to identify the sources that we will use in order for us to learn the happenings of the past. In this matter
we need to discuss two sources: primary sources and secondary sources.

Primary Sources
A primary source gives direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object,
person, or work of art. It includes historical and legal documents, eyewitness
accounts, results of experiments, statistical data, pieces of creative writing, audio
and video recordings, speeches, and art objects. Interviews, surveys, fieldwork,
and Internet communications via email, blogs, and newsgroups also belong to the
primary sources group. In the natural and social sciences, primary sources are
often empirical studies—research where an experiment was performed or a direct observation was
made. The results of empirical studies are typically found in scholarly articles or papers delivered at
seminars and conferences.
Secondary Sources
The other is called secondary sources. Sources under this describe,
discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and
process the data collected from primary sources. Secondary source
materials can be articles in newspapers or popular magazines, book or
movie reviews, or articles found in scholarly journals that discuss or
evaluate someone else's original research. Secondary resources also
give necessary facts when learning a historical event.

Day 2: Describing One’s Role in History

Learning Objectives:
1. To describe one’s role in History

PHILIPPINES THROUGHOUT HISTORY

The Philippines is considered as a unique nation not only in Asia but in the whole world as well due to the
following reasons:

1. Religion – Filipinos are predominantly Christian in the Asian region whereas other nations are Islamic,
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Buddhist, Hindu, and Confucian. This led to the title “The only Christian country in Asia”.
2. Political History – The Philippines is the first Republic in Asia, being the first nation to achieve
independence by revolution in 1898- 1901. It led the world in waging a “People Power” revolution to oust
a dictator by peaceful and prayerful means in 1986.
3. Cultural Heritage – The Filipinos are unique for culturally assimilating four heritages – Asian,
European, American and Japanese.

What is our role in History?

Discussed in our activity sheets yesterday is an statement by a historian that we are a living history.
The question now is what does he mean by this?
We are a living history because we are a product of what happened in the past. Let us take our
architecture and traditions for example, both of these are never just invented yesterday, we owe them
to the past generations and yet we are still using both as of today as an important part of our daily
lives. Let us also not forget the fact that the technologies that we use today DID NOT just come out
today, these technologies would have never existed if people form the past never discovered the wheel.

The past have brought us freedom through the help of the youth in their generation. Such students
gave their full time and dedication for battling the oppression brought about by the infamous former
president Marcos during his regime. These students came successful. So now, ask yourself, how about
you?
What is your role in History? Do you have an important role at all? These are the questions that we will try to
figure out today as we embark on another adventure in this subject.

DAY 3: Knowing our Geography, The Philippines

Learning Objectives:
1. To familiarize oneself with the Philippine National Territory.
2. To identify the geographical setting of our country.

The Three Domains of the National Territory: Terrestrial, Fluvial, and Aerial.

National Territory of the Philippines

The national territory comprises the Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and waters embraced
therein, and all other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, consisting
of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial sea, the seabed, the subsoil, the
insular shelves, and other submarine areas. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands
of the archipelago, regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the
Philippines. – Article 1

PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO – that body of water studded with islands which is delineated in the
Treaty of Paris (1898), as amended by the Treaty of Washington (1900) and the Treaty with Great
Britain (1930). It consists of its Terrestrial, Fluvial andAerial domains including its Territorial sea,
The seabed, The subsoil, The insular shelves; and The other submarine areas.
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INTERNAL WATERS – the waters Around, Between and Connecting the islands of the archipelago,
regardless of their breadth and dimensions
ALL OTHER TERRITORIES OVER WHICH THE PHILIPPINES HAS SOVEREIGNTY OR
JURISDICTION–includes any territory that presently belongs or might in the future belong to the
Philippines through any of the accepted international modes of acquiring territory.
ARCHIPELAGIC PRINCIPLE means that different islands connected by an internal water must be
considered as a single political unit, has two elements:
1. The definition of internal waters (supra);
2. The straight baseline method of delineating the territorial sea – consists of drawing straight lines connecting
the outermost points on the coast without departing to any appreciable extent from the general direction of the
coast.

Important distances with respect to the waters around the Philippines

-Territorial Sea 12 nautical miles (n.m.)
-Contiguous Zone 12 n.m. from the edge of the territorial sea
-Exclusive Economic Zone 200 n.m. from the baseline [includes T.S. and C.Z.]
NOTE: There can be a Continental Shelf without an EEZ, but not an EEZ without a Continental Shelf.

TERRITORIAL SEA
The belt of the sea located between the coast and internal waters of the coastal state on the one hand,
and the high seas on the other, extending up to 12 nautical miles from the low water mark.
CONTIGUOUS ZONE
Extends up to 12 nautical miles from the territorial sea. Although not part of the territory, the coastal
State may exercise jurisdiction to prevent infringement of customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary
laws.
EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE
Body of water extending up to 200 nautical miles, within which the state may exercise sovereign rights
to explore, exploit, conserve and manage the natural resources
The state in the EEZ exercises jurisdiction with regard to:
1. the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures;
2. marine scientific research;
3. the protection and preservation of marine environment;
If you have further questions, feel free to ask teacher!

The Philippines is composed of more than 7,640 islands and islets lying a little above the equator off
the coast of Asia. Its island stretch almost a thousand miles from north to south and its irregular
coastline consists of 10,850 statue miles, twice as long as that of the United States. Its total land area
is about 114,830 square miles, one half of which is covered by forests.

The Philippine archipelago, with all the islands and water embraced therein shall have reference to
and shall cover the islands and the waters set forth in the Treaty of Paris of December 10, 1898, the
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Treaty of November 7, 1900 between the United States and Spain (covering Cagayan, Sulu and Siboto
groups omitted in the Treaty of Paris) and the Treaty of January 2, 1930 between the United States
and Great Britain (covering Turtle Islands and the Mangsee Groups). The archipelagic waters of our
archipelago are protected by the second sentence of the definitions of our national territory which
reads: “The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, regardless of their
breadth and dimensions, from part of the internal waters of the Philippines.”

Speaking of the scope and legal implications of the boundaries of the Philippines archipelago, the
Committee on National Territory of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, observed:

“If we plot on a map the boundaries of the Philippines archipelago as set forth in the Treaty of Paris,
a huge or giant rectangle will emerge, measuring about 600 miles in width, and over 1,200 miles in
length. Inside the rectangle are 7,100 islands comprising the Philippines Islands. From the east coast
of Luzon to the eastern boundary of this huge rectangle in the Pacific Ocean, there is distance of over
300 miles. From the west coast of Luzon to the western boundary of this giant rectangle in the China
Sea, there is a distance over 150 miles."

DAY 4: Describing the Geographical Setting of the Philippines

Learning Objectives:
1. To know geographical setting of the Philippines.
2. To describe the physical and social environment of the country.

An Archipelago is defined as a sea or part of a sea studded with islands, often synonymous
with island groups, or as a large group of islands in an extensive body of water, such as sea. (De
Leon, 1991)

In various conferences of the United Nations on the Law of the Sea, the Philippines and other
archipelago states proposed that an archipelagic state composed of groups of islands forming a state is a
single unit, with the islands and the waters within the baselines as internal waters. By this concept
(archipelagic doctrine), an archipelago shall be regarded as a single unit, so that the waters around,
between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and dimensions,
form part of the internal waters of the state, subject to its exclusive sovereignty.

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS:
A. Physical Environment
Physical Environment is part of human environment that includes pure physical factors such as soil, waters,
and climate. Also known as social environment, social context, sociocultural context or milieu it refers to
the immediate physical and social setting in which people live or in which something happens or develops.
It includes the culture that the individual was educated or lives in, and the people and institutions with
whom they interact.
The Philippines is composed of more than 7,640 islands and islets. This islands and islets when combined
as a single political unit is called an archipelago, just like what we learned on our previous lesson. Our
national territory includes the entire Philippine archipelago which consists of all the lands, waters, air space,
subsoil, seabed, insular shelves and the other subterranean areas within its boundaries.
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The country has a rugged topography which consists of different landforms. It consists of rugged hills,
mountains, plains, plateaus, valleys, and peninsulas. The water features of the country include seas, rivers

springs, straits, lakes, bays, and gulf.

B. Social Environment
Our country is divided into seventeen regions, based on the location, geography, and physical features of
the islands. The purpose of regionalization is to facilitate the administration and delivery of government
services to the people in the different regions. Some provinces in each region have their own regional
centers, which take charge of the implementation of the development programs in their place. Each region
also has its own set of officials, who coordinate and cooperate with the national government. These officials
see to it that government programs and services are efficiently implemented and delivered to the people in
their region.
In terms of social environment, since the country is an archipelago we have many differences in terms of
culture and traditions. Let us take for example Luzon and Mindanao versus Visayas. The archipelagic
setting of the country brought differences to the people in term of languages, that is why we have many.
Cultures as well, there are many differences in terms of culture between the three major islands of the
country.
University of the Philippines professor Jose Abueva who believes that a federal form of government
is a need to efficiently cater to the essentials of the country despite its diversity. The primary goals of
a constitutional amendment is to increase regionalization or the power of local government units to
control their respective localities, greater local power and access to resources most especially among
regions outside Metro Manila. Aside from Abueva, senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. is a prominent
supporter of federalism. He sees the proposed system as a key component in alleviating the Mindanao
crisis and appeasing Moro insurgents. Federalism will also hasten economic development since
resource and financial mobilization is upon each states' or provinces' discretion without significant
constraint from the central government.

Due to the Senate and Congress resolutions supporting charter change, an estimated 13,000 to 15,000
people gathered in Makati in 2009 to protest against administration proposals for constitutional
reform. This was in line with speculations that Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would
use such amendment to extend her hold in office. In addition, Pulse Asia published in the same year
their survey regarding public support towards the proposed charter change. Their report stated that
four out of ten Filipino adults or 42% of all respondents opposed the amendment. Meanwhile, 25%
were still undecided and 33% were in favor. Pulse Asia furthered that from 2006 to 2009, there was
no significant change of sentiment against charter change, but indecision increased by 6%.

Beginning in late 2014, Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte launched a nationwide campaign
promoting a charter change for federalism. During his visit to Cebu City in October of the same
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year, Duterte stated that federalism will facilitate better delivery of services to the people. He also
saw the current system as "antiquated" where distribution of public funds is disproportionately
biased towards Manila. Aside from the economic aspect, federalism is also seen as the best means to
address problems in Mindanao which suffers the most from ethnoreligious conflicts. He added that
the current unitary form of government has not worked well given the ethnic diversity in the
country. In spite of rejecting several calls for candidacy for the 2016 presidential elections, he also
cited his reforms if he were to be president. Parallel to his campaign for federalism, Duterte plans to
privatize tax collection and abolish the Congress to make way for a unicameral legislature, contrary
to the originally proposed Joint Resolution No. 10.
Movements for federalism were further intensified since the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law was
submitted by Philippine president Benigno Aquino III to the Congress in September 10, 2014. If
approved, this law establishes the Bangsamoro as an autonomous region with its own parliamentary
government and police force. Approval of the Bangsamoro structure provides federalism proponents
and supporters added confidence to clamor for the national government to enact reforms towards a
more decentralized system for the rest of the country.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte stated in May 2016 that a plebiscite on the proposed replacement of
the unitary state with a federal one will be held in two years. On December 7, 2016, Duterte signed
Executive Order No. 10 creating a consultative committee to review the 1987 Philippine
Constitution.

DAY 5: Early Filipino Customs and Traditions

Learning Objectives:
1. To recall early Filipino customs and traditions.
2. To realize Filipino culture in modern times.
WHAT IS HERITAGE?
- something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth.
- something which is inherited from one's ancestors.
WHAT IS TRADITION?
- Tradition is the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from
generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice.
WHAT IS CULTURE?
- culture is defined as the behaviours and beliefs of a particular social, ethnic, or age group, as well as the
ways of living built up by a group, from one generation to another.
- Traditions and cultures (human habits) does not include religion. Religion is the same as being religious
and believe in a god - not everyone is a believer, but live in societies with traditions and cultures. A
religion can be distorted and misinterpreted and used to war and destruction and use as a weapon to
control people or countries.
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Filipino Customs and Traditions

MARRIAGE
Before marriage, the man’s parents seek the approval of the woman’s parents for
MARRIAGE with their daughter. This is called PAMANHIKAN. The man's parents
often take along someone whom they believe is highly respected by the woman’s
parents. This was especially when they fear that the girl's parents would say no. The
grandparents of the man also join the pamanhikan. They first engage into discussions
regarding the latest happenings and when the proper climate is established, the man's
father states the purpose of their visit, which is to ask for the woman’s hand in marriage. The girl's
parents are not expected to agree immediately. They will first talk about the shortcomings of their
daughter. If the future in-laws persist the parents of the bride give their consent. The details of their
marriage are discussed and agreed upon during the next visit of the future parents-in-law. The wedding
reception is held in the bride's home. Members of the community volunteer to help bridegroom in one
way or another by either contributing some money or by offering their services in the preparation of
the wedding feats.

ART and MUSIC

Filipinos are lovers of art. Their art is reflected in the things they do and way they believe in daily life.
Our ancestors passed their time singing awaits, corridos, and reading stories about the bravery
of legendary heroes. For stage dramas they performed the Zarzuela and the moro-moro, forms
of art which depicted the life of the people.
The best examples of architecture of the sixteenth to the nineteenth century are the churches
built by the Spaniards with the help of the Filipinos. They are structures built in Baroque style
with elaborate curved arches, altars and images of saints.
Filipinos love music in any form. This is evident in the presence of various string and wind musical
instruments in almost all communities even before the coming of the Spaniards, the skill of the
Filipinos in playing musical instruments can gauged when one listens to a number played by a
rondalla. A rondalla is composed of musicians that play stringed musical instruments such as the
guitar and the ukulele.
The idea of organizing a rondalla must have been born during the latter part of Spanish rule in the
Philippines when the guitar was introduced. Added to the guitar was other string instruments that pre-
Spanish Filipinos played and nine other instrument that were added much later. All together these
instruments formed the nucleus of the rondalla. The rondalla was popular entertainer in almost all
sorts of gatherings like baptisms, wedding, fiesta, and funerals. It also rendered accompaniment to
vocals, violins and other instruments, solos, and choral ensembles. The rodalla thus became an
essentials part of social gatherings.
Dancing is the moving spirit among many Filipinos. Their skill on the dance floor is superb. Early
indigenous dances represented nature. Other Filipino dances reflected Malay, Muslim, Spanish, and
American influences.
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FILIPINO GAMES
Children of yesterdays played games that no longer familiar to the children of
today. Their games were played either indoors or outdoors in involving little
active participation.
Some games were imitations of what the elders did. The bahay-bahayan, lutu-
lutuan were imitations of mother's household activities which the girls enjoyed
playing. Other games were replicas of daily happening in the rural areas.
A typical example was the game Pusa at Aso. In a circle, sticks, slippers, and wooden shoes were
placed to symbolized the bones of the dog' which was IT. The CATS who were the other players tried
to get into the circle to steal the bones without being caught became the dog. This was repeated as
many times for as long as the players are not tired of the game.
A more exciting game called Juego de anillo involved knights on bicycles trying their best to hook a
ring dangling from a ribbon. Hulugang panyo reminded one of the days when ladies dropped their
hankies to call the attention of the gentlemen.
A game popular to boys and adults is playing with the trumpo or top. The trumpo is a conical-shaped
wood made from guava branches with a pointed nail at the tail of the cone. The trumpo spins on the
iron-nail. In an outdoor game called podigo, one players would try to split another boy's trumpo placed
in the middle of a drawn circle after spinning, he becomes the next taya or it.
Luksong tinik and Piko are moderately active games which are usually played by girls. Piko involves
hopping on one or two legs through a series of rectangle drawn on the ground. Luksong tinik is played
by two players who are seated facing each other and stretching their bare feet are in contact.

THE FILIPINO RELIGION

Before the introduction of Christianity, the Filipinos were mostly pagans – people worshipping
many things. They worshipped spirits which they believed dwell in objects like trees, mountains,
and rivers. They worshipped nature, the sun the moon, and the stars. They also believed in a
supreme God or deity. Because of their belief in a deity and in animate or living things their
religion was called animo-deism.

THE CATHOLICS CELEBRATIONS AND PRACTICES

In spite of the diverse religious groups in the Philippines each with its particular practices;
the Filipinos believe in only one God who is almighty and omnipotent. Religious
practices show concern and love for one's neighbors. Among the Catholics, the Ten
Commandments set the standard of behavior. They keep images of their saints at home
and every church has a patron saint.
FIESTAS
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Fiestas are held as an adoration for patron saints celebrated with the holding of
a novena, a nine-day devotion of masses followed by special prayers of praise to
the patron saint. The plaza around the church is decorated with colorful buntings.
On the ninth day which is the feast day of the saint, a high mass is celebrated by
one or several priests. The fiesta is a Filipino heritage that has been handed down
from generation. It has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Must we
continue pertrating it as it is? Can it be perpetuated with certain modifications?
BURIAL
The loss of a member of a family was an occasion for bayanihan. Friends, relatives and
neighbors came to condole with the bereaved family. Flowers, and food and money were
offered as tokens of sympathy.
Before the burial, there was a lamayan a vigil attended by all who wished to come. People
at the wake participated in some activities such as gambling, telling stories, or playing mental
games, to keep them awake through the night.
For as long as the deceased was in state, sweeping the floor and taking a bath in the house were
forbidden. The bereaved were also cautioned to keep their tears from dropping in the coffin.
The general practice was for the bereaved family to bury the deceased member within 24 hours after
his death. Close relatives and friends accompany the corpse to church for the religious rites then the
funeral procession headed by the band of musicians proceeds to the cemetery.
FILIPINO CLOTHING
Our ancestors, both men and woman wore two-piece clothes; a collarless, short-
sleeved jacket and strip of cloth wrapped around the waist and in between the
legs. The women wore the baro, a wide-sleeved jacket and a skirt of cotton cloth
wrapped about the waist. The Filipina wardrobe was later modified. The says, the
tapis and the enagua comprised the ladies wear. Do you know how these looked
like?
It is a long skirt which touches the floor. It has a kola or train which mean the woman holds to keep
it clean she moves. Printed satin is the usual material commonly used; brocade for gala use.
Over this says, a tapis with tassels on the edges is worn. Beneath the saya and tapis is the enagua, a
slip with lace edging.
The elegant clothes of the Filipino women are properly taken care of. Women give special attention
to their clothes especially those made of fibers such as fina or sinamay and pineapple fibers.