Readings in Philippine History History (Greek word: Historia)

Suggested Syllabus from CHED  Learning by investigation or inquiry

 Philippine history as viewed from the lens of selected
primary sources in different periods, analysis and
interpretations.
 The end goal is to enable students to understand and
appreciate our rich past by deriving insights from those
who were actually present at the time of the event.
An Introduction to Philippine Historiography: Sources and
Discourses
by Neil Martial Santillan
 History is the Study of the PAST
 All of the recorded events that have taken place in all
regions & all periods
 These events are not, in themselves, history & the
mere knowledge of “facts” from the past is not
HISTORY
 The Interpretation of the Past Events
a) Analyze the facts
b) Relevance to a certain group of people
c) Re-evaluate the mistakes of the past
d) Relationship/ Similarities to other culture

Neil Martial Santillan Historiography is the process of historical writing.

 Administrative positions
- Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UP Diliman, May Traditional method in doing the historical research focuses on
2014 gathering of documents from different libraries and archives
- Prof. Santillan is the current Associate Dean for to form a pool of evidence needed in making a descriptive or
Administration and External Affairs in the College of analytical narrative.
Social Sciences and Philosophy. Modern historical writing does not only include examination
 Courses handled of documents but also the use of research methods from
- Prof. Santillan has traditionally handled General related areas of study such as archaeology and geography.
Education subjects such as Kasaysayan 1 (Philippine
History), Kasaysayan 2, and Social Science 3 (Gender HISTORY
and Sexuality). He now also offers Kasaysayan 112 Traditional Modern
(Contemporary Philippine History). - History is the - History is the
 Specialization record of the reconstruction of the
- Local History, Mindanao Studies, Film History, past. past based on
Volunteerism, Contemporary Philippines - History is a record available written
of the human records, oral history,
past from the cultural artifacts, and imaginative study of
time written folk traditions. surviving records of
records began to - It is the study of the past, either
appear. events and written or unwritten,
developments in order to determine
concerning people in the meaning and
the past. scope of human
- It basically involves existence.
collection, analysis,
and synthesis of
limited available A historical source is something that tells us about history. It
materials. may be a document, a picture, a sound recording, a book, a
- The mere presentation cinema film, a television programme or an object.
of facts does not
constitute history but Two main types of historical sources
a chronicle. 1. Primary source
- Thus, a historian  Something that originates from the past.
should do two other  Come from the time the event occurred
important tasks:  Examples: Documents, physical objects, and
a. Interpret and recreate oral/ video accounts, artworks, letters, coins,
facts in an orderly and artifacts, archaeological records, diaries,
intelligible manner; memoirs, interviews of eyewitnesses, speeches
and made by participants themselves, journals,
b. Discover patterns and maps, architectural perspectives, paintings,
trends, which govern advertisements and photographs
the behavior of people  Location of primary sources: National Library,
and of nations, and to National Archives, Academic institutions (UP
make generalizations Diliman, Ateneo de Manila, UST, Siliman
out of these. University, University of San Carlos), Private
 Therefore, history is Museum and Archives (Ayala Museum in
the interpretative and Makati, Lopez museum in Pasig), Religious
 congregation (Augustinians, Dominicans,
Jesuits, recollects), Outside Phil. (Spain and US),
Online libraries and archives, Cordillera Studies
2. Secondary source
 Something that has been made recently about
the past.
 Examples: (1) A Roman coin that was made by
the Romans is a Primary Source, but a drawing
of a Roman coin made in 2003 would be a
Secondary Source. (2) A Book written about the
Tudors in 1525 would be a Primary Source, but
a book written about the Tudors in 1995 would
be a Secondary Source.
 Other examples: Books, magazines, Internet,
News reports, Records that were made after
the event happened, Written by people who
were not present during the event and who
merely compiled stories
Challenges:
 Ability to read and understand text in foreign language
(Spanish language).
 Discern the cultural context and historical value of
primary sources
 Entails discerning mind (authenticity and reliability)
 Issues in writing Philippine History ( biased,
discriminatory, and self-serving ends)
Notable Historians
1. Teodoro Agoncillo
- Pioneered nationalist historiography in the country
by highlighting the role of the Filipino reformists and
revolutionaries from 1872.
2. Renato Constantino
- The writings of Constantino were a major influence in
the intellectual formation of countless young Filipinos
who staked their lives and future in opposing the
Marcos dictatorship.
3. Zeus Atayza Salazar
- A Filipino historian best known as a leading
proponent of the historical movement known as
“Pantayong Pananaw.”
4. Reynaldo Ileto
- His major works include Maguindanao, The Career of
the Datu Uto of Buayan, Pasyon and Revolution,
Popular Movement of the Philippines, Filipinos and
their Revolution, Events, Discourses and
Historiography.
5. Samuel K. Tan
- He is best remembered for his mainstreaming the
role and relevance of Filipino Muslims in the country’s
national history.
Issues in writing Philippine History (biased, discriminatory, and
self-serving ends)
 Political Narratives
 Colonial Histories in Historical Narratives
 Elite-centric perspectives
 Patriarchal orientations in Historical Narratives
 Emphasis on Lowland Christianized Filipinos
What to do?
 Narrow-minded view has to be reevaluated in order to
correct misrepresentations (muslims, Indigenous
Peoples)
 Encourage the writing of local histories to correct
national histories)
 Attend conferences and trainings for updates in
Philippine History
TOWARDS A PEOPLE’S HISTORY
 Who is Renato Constantino?
 What is history according to him?
 What do we mean by “people’s history” and what is its
significance?
TOWARDS A PEOPLE’S HISTORY
By: Renato Constantino
The young Renato Constantino learned about patriotism
from his grandmother, who told him endless stories about
friar abuses and her family’s sufferings under American rule,
and from his lawyer-father, who was critical of leaders who
did not fight for the country’s independence
Colonial Scholarship
 Filipino historians were captive of Spanish and
American historiography
 Both viewed Philippine history according to their
prejudices
 The need to rewrite Philippine History from the point
of view of Filipinos
 There were scholars who tried but they failed
The Task at Hand
 The task is to advance to the writing of a truly Filipino
History
 The principal focus must be on the anonymous masses
of individuals and social forces generated by their
collective lives and struggles
 History is the story of man the collective
 Without society there can be no history and there are
no societies without men
 What has hitherto regarded as history is
predominantly a conscious record of the rich and
powerful… not necessarily just and correct
 All powerful leaders, and especially tyrants, exerted
efforts to insure that the history would be written in
their image
 It is only within the context of a people’s history that
individuals, events, and institutions can be correctly
appraised
 A people’s history can serve as a concrete guide for
understanding a developing society
Redressing the Imbalance
 New approaches and new techniques in viewing events
and writing history is a reaction to the official histories
used to justify the backward conditions of their
colonies
 When intellectual decolonization shall have been
accomplished, a historical account can be produced
 which will present a fuller, more balanced picture of
reality
 The need for a real people’s history becomes a more
urgent we Filipinos search for truly Filipino solutions to
Filipino problems
Rediscovering the Past
 A people’s history must rediscover the past in order to
make it reusable
o Such a history can serve as a guide to present
and succeeding generations in the continuing
struggle for change
o It must deal with the past with a view to
explaining the present
o It must be not only descriptive but analytical
o It must not deal only with objective
developments but also bring the discussion to
the realm of value judgments
o In our particular case, history should show how
a nation was born
o A history that serves as a guide to the people in
perceiving reality is itself a liberating factor
The Motive Force
 The only way a history of the Philippines can be Filipino
is to write the basis of the struggles of the people, for
in these struggles the Filipino emerged
 The Filipino resistance to colonial oppression is the
unifying thread of Philippine history
John N. Schumacher’s
The Historian’s Task in the Philippines
PROFILING THE AUTHOR: Fr. John N. Schumacher, SJ
o PhD degree obtained from Georgetown University
o M.A. History degree holder
o Authored “Readings in Philippine Church History” in
1979
o Died in 2016 due to cardiac arrest
o Obtained full Filipino citizenship in 1976
o Main Curriculum Developer of the subject Rizal and
the Emergence of the Philippine Nation in Ateneo
o Authored the Propaganda Movement 1880-1895
o Recipient of National Award on Philippine
Historiography
o M.A. Philosophy degree holder
In 1991, the Ateneo De Manila University published a
collection of Shumacher’s essays “THE MAKING OF A NATION:
ESSAYS ON NINETEENTH CENTURY FILIPINO NATIONALISM”
which reflects the core premises of Schumacher about
FILIPINO NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS for over 30 years of
historical writing about the Philippines.
“THERE IS A FILIPINO HISTORY BEFORE THE COLONIAL ERA
(1872)” – JNS, SJ
 Schumacher’s Arguments:
 -Lack of method than a lack of history
 -Cracks in Filipino history; Spanish-dominated
 -How to put questions to the documents
(unintended references)
Why is it so hard to retrieve the genuine Filipino history such  HOW? Through CRITICAL METHOD
that the history we have today tends to glorify our colonizers  Documentation, Assertions and Interpretation
rather than us, Filipinos? based on facts, Content Validity of the
document
• According to Schumacher (1991), there is a
disproportionate amount of the total research into DOCUMENTS AS SOURCES OF HISTORY
Philippine history has been devoted to the  Official Documents
Revolutionary Period and the American Colonial  Declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain
period. (June 12, 1898)
 Memoirs and Letters
INSIGHTS OF SCHUMACHER ABOUT THE HISTORY OF  Rizal’s Correspondence
PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION  Literary Works
 Ileto’s Pasyon and Revolution
• Much attention was given about the study of friar
lands than the growth of non-friar haciendas Futility of Reconstructing the Filipino Past
• A Deeper Cultural Understanding Must Be Applied in • TENDENCY:
understanding the different regions of the country • Historical fiction – distortion of reality to craft
(Negros region, Iloilo, Tagalog) in relation with the time (One-dimensional; Philosophical constructs
of American colonialism rather than objective description of events)
• The real history of Revolution is still to be written (not • Versus
just Cavite, Malolos or Luzon) • TRULY FILIPINO HISTORY – a history of the
• History of Revolution must be done through a Filipino masses and their struggles
thorough research of each region

CAN HISTORY BE OBJECTIVE?

 History is always written from a point of view
 Documents are NOT self-interpreting
 Historian may bring his point of views, biases and
prejudices
 OBSERVING TRUISM* IN WRITING HISTORY
 *History is a science with laws
 – historian supplements the raw material available in
AS EDUCATORS OF HISTORY: the source
Relics and testimonies
WE TEACH HISTORY: – Created for specific purpose of the age
in an attempt to discover (on the basis of fragmentary – Relics- objects of practical use => historical source
evidence) the significant things of the past and to create – Testimonies=> oral or written contemporary proof
accepted, valid judgements on the truthfulness of the of an act or right
historical evidences – HISTORIAN: PRINCIPAL TASK IS TO UNCOVER THE
ORIGINAL PURPOSE OR FUNCTION OF THE RELICS
OR TESTIMONIES THAT HAVE COME DOWN TO
The Source: The Basis of Our Knowledge about the Past POSTERITY
BY: Howell and Prevenier – PURPOSES THEY SERVE AT
THE TIME CREATED
What is a source? – TESTIMONIES AND ARTIFACTS
– Artifacts that have been left by the past – ORIGINALLY TO SERVE AS RECORDS => intentional
– Exist as relics, “remains” – Other purpose => unintentional
– Testimonies of witnesses to the past – Eg. Kennedy’s assassination filmed for private
enjoyment
Relics or remains – HISTORIAN: CONSIDER THE CONDITIONS UNDER
– Clue about the past by virtue of their existence WHICH SOURCE PRODUCED
– Eg. Wooden columns in prehistoric settlements Materials should be checked based on their:
– involves all aspect of culture 1. RELIABILITY and
TESTIMONIES 2. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
– Oral or written HISTORICAL AND HISTORIOGRAPHICAL CONTEXTS = HEART
– Simple or complex OF HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
– (example: record of property exchange, donations,
speeches, commentaries) SOURCES = MATERIALS from which historians construct
– WHAT HAPPENED meanings
– HOW AND IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES – object from the past or testimony which historians
– WHY IT OCCURRED depend >>>> create own depiction of the past
– Historical work or interpretation is the result
 – historical interpretation is an argument about the d) EGO DOCUMENT- personal narratives- justice of the
event author’s action - (INTENTIONALITY) individual
– Rizal’s diary perspective from which it was written.
PRIMARY SOURCES- DIRECT OR INDIRECT e) NOVEL OR FILM TO ENTERTAIN, MORAL TEACHING,
– DIRECT= letters or chronicles from 18th century RELIGIOUS CAUSE
businessman f) BIOGRAPHY- praise the subject’s worth or
– law code achievement
– letters of books from an educated woman’s study NARRATIVE SOURCE are BROADER THAN FICTION
(training and intellectual interests) NOVELS and POETRY
– sales of Barnes and Noble g) MEMOIRES - (selective accounts) highly edited
Primary source indirect accounts of the life being recorded
– Church history left by Eusebius of Caesaria (265- You can comprehend the EXPERIENCES of the
340) author=> POLITICAL INTENTIONS and TACTICS ,
– Interpreting first Christian history IDEOLOGY and CULTURE OF THE AGE
2) Diplomatic sources
HISTORIAN: RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DISTINGUISH – Once treated as best source
INFORMATION FROM SOURCE ITSELF – Legal instrument COMPLETION OF A LEGAL
OR A PERSONAL INTERPRETATION TRANSACTION, proof of juristic fact, serve as evidence
– Source typologies, their evolution and in judicial proceeding
complementarity a. Issued by public authorities (kings, pope,
congress)
WRITTEN SOURCES TRIPARTITE SCHEME: b. Private parties
1. NARRATIVE OR LITERARY
2. DIPLOMATIC/JURIDICAL FUNCTIONS of Diplomatic Source
3. SOCIAL DOCUMENTS LAW-GIVING= ordinances, declaration of law, statutes
JURIDICAL=judgements of courts
1) NARRATIVE OR LITERARY VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS= contracts wills, social agreements
a) CHRONICLES – to impart a particular message.
b) SCIENTIFIC TRACT- inform contemporaries or
succeeding generations
c) NEWSPAPER- shape opinion
3) Social documents
a. Products of record keeping by bureaucracy, state
ministries, charitable organizations, foundations,
churches and schools
b. Economic, social, political and judicial import
c. Account particular charges, meetings, business
policy fiscal structure, social structure, political
administration
ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE – one of the most important
category of unwritten evidence
- Culture, way of life, ambitions, commercial, socio
cultural interconnections
– Coin hoards, paper currencies= government, economic
condition
ORAL EVIDENCE- TALES AND SAGAS OF ANCIENT PEOPLE
– PROTEST SONGS, ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES
In the study of history as an academic discipline, a
primary source (also called an original source or
evidence) is an artifact, document, diary, manuscript,
autobiography, recording, or any other source of
information that was created at the time under study.
– Sreedharan believes that primary sources have the
most direct connection to the past and that they
"speak for themselves" in ways that cannot be
captured through the filter of secondary sources.
Sreedharan, E. (2004). A Textbook of Historiography,
500 B.C. to A.D. 2000. Orient Longman. p. 302. ISBN
81-250-2657-6.

RELATION OF THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS AND OF THE CHARACTER

- AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR INHABITANTS
BY MIGUEL LOPEZ DE LEGAZPI
TRANSLATED BY ALFONSO DE SALVIO
DATE/PLACE OF PUBLISHING – JULY 7, 1569/PHILIPPINES
PURPOSE: Give detailed information about the Philippines
natives and their conditions
MIGUEL LOPEZ DE LEGAZPI those who have not made a treaty of peace with
them, or drawn blood with them, are considered
BORN: 1502, ZUMÁRRAGA, SPAIN
enemies.
DIED: 20 AUGUST 1572, MANILA • Privateering and robbery have a natural attraction for
them.
SUCCEEDED BY: GUIDO DE LAVEZARIS • Whenever the occasion presents
itself, they rob one another
FILIPINAS ISLANDS • They are always more ready to rob
• Archipelago; some are large and most of them thickly their neighbors of their possessions ,
populated, especially on the seacoast and all along than to work and cultivate their own
land.
the rivers.
• All their skill is employed in setting ambuscades and
• Land is fertile.
laying snares to seize and capture one another, and
• Location is strategic: this land has many neighbors
they always attack with safety and advantage to
and is almost surrounded by the Japanese Islands,
themselves.
China, Xava (Java), Borney, the Malucos and Nueva
• The natives are the laziest people in the world.
Guinea.
• They do not work the mines steadily,
• Salubrious and has a good climate.
but only when forced by necessity.
• More or less gold is found in all these islands.
• Their idleness surpass their
• There are places where pearls can be found. covetousness.
• Cinnamon • Gold
• Timber • Rice
CHARACTER AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR INHABITANTS • Pearls
• The inhabitants of these islands are not subjected to • Pepper trees and other
any law, king, or lord. drugs.
• These people declare war among themselves at the • Debt is paid double.
slightest provocation, or with none whatever. All
 • At times they sell their own children, when there is
little need or necessity of doing so.
• Slaves are not under great subjection to their masters
and lords.
• Marriage among these natives is a kind of purchase
and trade. Men pay and give money in exchange for
their women.
• The men treat their wives well, and love them
according to their habits and customs – although they
are all barbarians and have no manners or politeness.
• Most of the people are heathens except for the
Moros.
• The Moros have little knowledge of the law which
they profess, beyond practicing circumcision and
refraining from pork.
• The mountain regions are inhabited by blacks, with
whom as a general rule, the Indians are at war, and
whom the latter capture and sell, and also employ as
slaves.
MIGUEL LOPEZ DE LEGAZPI’S RECOMMENDATION
In order to attain this (settlers increasing the wealth of the land in
a short time), the first and foremost thing to be attempted is
Colonization and settlement.
LEGAZPI’S STRATEGY
• These natives could be easily subdued by good
treatment and the display of kindness; for they have
no leaders, and are so divided among themselves and
have so little dealing with one another – never
assembling to gain strength, or rendering obedience
to one another.
• But if we undertake to subdue them by force of arms,
and make war on them, they will perish, and we shall
lose both friends and foes.
• Conversion of the natives to Catholic faith.
LEGAZPI’S BIASES
Very Eurocentric in describing the Philippine Culture.
RELATIVE INFO
- First successful expedition and paid the way for
colonization starting on Cebu (Zubu)
MAIN POINT OF TOPIC
- Description of the natives and the islands.
- Key poits: life of natives, socio-political structure, trade
relations, strategies for establishing Philippines and
conversion to Christianity
INTENDED AUDIENCE
King of Spain (about the rich resources of the Philippines)
PRIMO VIAGGO INTORNO AL MONDO
Author: Antonio Pigafetta
Date of Birth: 1491, Italy
Death: 1530s
Date of Writing: 1525 (published 1550s)
Place Written: Spain
Translation by J.A. Robertson
Purpose: to give report of what happened on the first voyage
Social Milieu: age of exploration/navigation – rivalry of Spain
and Portugal in terms of navigation – race to find the spice
islands
Intended Audience: The King – Monarchs
MAIN point of Topic: Battle of Mactan – the escape of Spaniards
from Cebu – [Key Topics: Disobedience of Magellan, Massacre of
the Spaniards, Death Of Magellan, Betrayal of Enrique (the
translator/interpreter )
Pigafetta’s Personal Bias: glorification of Magellan ( read
examples: 1st page = 28th line…; 2nd page = 2nd line… )
USING PRIMARY SOURCES
TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION
THE LAGUNA COPPERPLATE INSCRIPTION
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription was found in 1989
near the mouth of the Lumbang River near Laguna de Bay , by a
man who was dredging sand to turn into concrete.
Suspecting that the artifact might have some value, the
man sold it to an antique dealer who, having found no buyers,
eventually sold it to the National Museum of the Philippines,
where it was assigned to Alfredo E. Evangelista, head of
its anthropology department
Antoon Postma
(28 March 1929 – 22 October 2016)
Dutch anthropologist who married into and lived among the
Hanunuo, a Mangyan sub-tribe in southeastern Mindoro,
Philippines.
He is best known for being the first to decipher the Laguna
Copperplate Inscription, and for documenting the Hanunó'o
script, paving the way for its preservation.
Background of the LCI
The LCI bears the Saka date of 822 or 900AD

Proof that the LCI did not originate from Java:

1. Copperplate inscriptions from the same era in Java bear
the name of the King (at that time was King Balitung) and
are charters or Royal Decrees
2. CI from Java were written in OJ language
Some notes about the LCI:
1. The script used was the aksara Kawi or Kawi script –
originated in Java and widely used across Southeast Asia
from 8AD- 1500AD
2. The language used was Old Malay, Old Tagalog, and some
Old Java words
3. The LCI bore the date saka warsatita 822 waisakha – the
Saka was a dating system (calendar)

What is Post-Colonial History?
What constitutes a People’s history?
The historians’ Task
Relevance of History
Renato Constantino John Schumacher
1. Mostly American and Spanish 1) Hispano-centric outlook of the sources
historiography. 2) Revolutionary on the American Period
2. Focuses on the heroic deed 3) Distortion and forgeries of the sources
3. Particularities without a unifying thread. used.
4. Contemporary events
5. Correcting historical misimpressions.
1) Focus on the anonymous masses and on 1) Filipinos as the primary agent of history.
the social forces 2) Acknowledge what is valuable and what
2) A true peoples’ history discovers the is harmful in the Filipin past in order to
laws of social development. aid the need of the present nation.
3) Must be general
4) Not only descriptive but also analytical.
5) Rediscovers the past.
1) To write Phil History from the point of 1) To write Phil History from the point of
view of the Filipinos view of the Filipinos masses
2) To advance to the writing of a truly 2) To present the Filipino Past that really in
Filipino history all its variety.
3) To weave particular events into a total 3) History research and writing should aim
view. to undergird the formation of the
society that provides justice, and
participation not only to the elites of
power but to every Filipino.
1) Policy formulation 1) Understanding of our past, cultivation of
2) Filipino solutions to Filipino problems our national identity, and inspiration for
3) Identify forces that impede real the future
progress. 2) Reform and reshape the society.