READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY – I. Torres What is the Historical Method?
Historical knowledge is limited by Incompleteness of the Record
Relevance of History
 History offers a storehouse of information about how people and
societies behave.
POINTS TO PONDER
 The past causes the present and the future.
 History provides a terrain for modern contemplation.
 Helps provide identity.
 A study of history is essential for good citizenship.
History as Reconstruction
 Only a small part of what happened in the past was ever observed.
 The historian is many times removed from the events under
investigation.
 Historians rely on surviving records
“Only a part of what was observed in the past was remembered by those who
observed it; only a part of what was remembered was recorded; only a part Historical Sources
of what was recorded has survived; only a part of what has survived has
come to the historian’s attention.”
“Only a part of what is credible has been grasped, and only a part of what
has been grasped can be expounded or narrated by the historian.”
 The process of critically examining and analyzing the records and
survivals of the past
 Historians have to verify sources, to date them, locate their place of
origin and identify their intended functions
 Our knowledge of the past will always be partial and incomplete.
 When we think about the past, we have our own assumptions,
attitudes and questions which are different from those people of the
past.
 Accounts of the past are always interpretative and always open to
dispute and questions.
 The discipline of history is both less than the past and more than the
past.
 As an academic discipline, history is an attempt to resolve these
difficulties and to construct intellectuality coherent accounts of the
past which are consistent with the past.
 Sources – an object from the past or testimony concerning the past
on which historians depend in order to create their own depiction of
that past. (Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an
Introduction to Historical Method)
 Tangible remains of the past
(Anthony Brundage, Going to Sources)
Written Sources 2. Images
1. Published materials 3. Artifacts
2. Manuscript [any handwritten or typed record that has not been 4. Oral testimony
printed]
What are Secondary Sources?
Non-Written Sources
 A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These
 Oral history Artifact sources are one or more steps removed from the event.
 Ruins Fossils  Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary
sources in them.
 Art works Video recordings
Examples
 Audio recordings
 History textbook
What are Primary Sources?
 Printed materials (serials, periodicals which interprets previous
 Testimony of an eyewitness
research)
 A primary source must have been produced by a contemporary of the
What is Historical Criticism?
event it narrates.
1. External Criticism
 A primary source is a document or physical object which was written
or created during the time under study. 2. Internal Criticism
 These sources were present during an experience or time period and External Criticism
offer an inside view of a particular event.
 It refers to the genuineness of the documents a researcher uses in a
 Primary sources are characterized by their content, regardless of historical study.
whether they are available in original format, in microfilm/microfiche,
 It has to do with the authenticity of a document.
in digital format, or in published format.
What is External Criticism?
Four Main Categories of Primary Sources
 The problem of authenticity.
1. Written sources
  To spot fabricated, forged, faked documents. 3. Ability to tell the truth
 To distinguish a hoax or misrepresentation. 4. Willingness to tell the truth
Tests of Authenticity 5. Corroboration
1. Determine the date of the document to see whether they are Three Major Components to Effective Historical Thinking
anachronistic.
1. Sensitivity to Multiple Causation
2. Determine the author.
2. Sensitivity to Context
3.Anachronistic style
3. Awareness of the interplay of continuity and change in human affairs
4.Anachronistic reference to events
Practical Example/Worksheet
5.Provenance or custody
6. Semantics  Topic: Tejeros Convention
7. Hermeneutics  Primary Source: Santiago Alvarez’ account
Internal Criticism  Secondary Source: Teodoro Agoncillo’s Revolt of the Masses
 It refers to the accuracy of the contents of a document.
 It has to do with what the document says.
What is Internal Criticism?
 The Problem of Credibility
 Relevant particulars in the document – is it credible?
 Verisimilar
Tests of Credibility
1. Identification of the author
2. Determination of the approximate date
TEJEROS CONVENTION (1897) Parish house of the Catholic Church at Tanza (Santa Cruz de
Malabon)
■ MEMOIRS OF A GENERAL - General Santiago Alvares
■ Key Personalities
■ Author’s Background
Jacinto Lumbreras, Magdiwang
Born on July 25, 1872
Andres Bonifacio, Magdiwang
He was also a Revolutionary general of the army on the
Magdiwang side. Emilio Aguinaldo, Magdalo
Founder and honorary president of the first directorate of the Santiago Alvarez, Magdiwang
Nacionalista Party.
Daniel Tirona, Magdalo
He is also known as "Kidlat ng Apoy" because of his inflamed
Severeno de las Alas
bravery and dedication as commander of Cavite's famous battles.
Captain General Apoy
He was rejoiced in the present-day Cavite City as the “Hero” of
the Battle of Dalahican. Antonio Montenegro
Died on October 30, 1930. Artemio Ricarte
■ When was the account written? Baldomero Aguinaldo, Magdalo
The memoirs begin on March 14, 1896 when he accompanied ■ Sequencing of events
Emilio Aguinaldo and Raymund Mata during the initiation into the
Assembly at Tejeros was on March 25, 1897 signed by
Katipunan by Andres Bonifacio.
Secretary Jacinto Lumbreras
■ Mention of date(s)
Chairman Lumbreras explained that the K in the middle of the
March 25, 1897 sun in the katipunan flag stands for Kalayaan while Severano de las
Alas highlighted that the flag did not indicate whether the
March 27, 1897
revolutionary government was a democratic or not
■ Mention of place(s)
Captain General Apoy and Mr. Antonio Montenegro argued
Tejeros Convention about the stands as Katipuneros
 When Mr. Lumbreras refused to resume his role as chairman, ■ REVOLT OF THE MASSES - Teodoro Agoncillo
Bonifacio takes the place as presiding Chairman.
■ Author’s Background
Appointed Ricarte as secretary
Born on November 9, 1912 at Lemery, Batangas
Mr. Diego Mojica pointed out that the ballots were already
He was among the first Filipino historians who earned renown
filled out but no by themselves yet Bonifacio regarded this remark.
for promoting a distinctly nationalist point of view of Filipino history
Aguinaldo win the presidency position, Mariano Trias for vice-
Obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the
presidency, General Vibora for captain, Emiliano R. de Dios for
University of the Philippines in 1934
secretary and Bonifacio for secretary for interior was the results of
the election while Daniel Tirona said that the position for interior Obtained a master’s degree in the arts from the same
must be put trust to someone who is a lawyer and because Bonifacio university the following year.
cannot attest with his credentials, let the lawyer Jose del Rosario
Earned his living as a linguistic assistant at the Institute of
takes the place.
National Language and as an instructor at the Far Eastern University
Out of pissed, Bonifacio demands for Tirona’s apology that the and the Manuel L. Quezon University
results must be abide while he pulled out his revolver and aim.
He remained with the University of the Philippines until his
Day after, a meeting at the Tejeros was to be called with the retirement in 1977, chairing the Department of History from 1963 to
Supremo along with the Magdiwang leaders whom waited till 5 in the 1969.
afternoon but no Magdalo came for the reconciliation meeting.
Died on January 14, 1985
March 27, 1897 an eyewitness told that a meeting had taken
■ When was the account written?
place at Tanza Parish house that the decision of Supremo were not
respected. Book was originally published on 1956.
An oath taking has occurred conspicuously with only the ■ Mention of date(s)
absence of the Supremo who was also elected at the election held at
December 1896
Tejeros.
January 2, 1897
April 1897
 March 22, 1897 ■ Idea to elect one supreme council that would hold sway over
the entire province.
■ Mention of place(s)
■ Rebels’ defeat at the hands of Polavieja
Tejeros Convention
■ Third invitation by Mariano Alvares to invite Bonifacio to visit
Parish house of the Catholic Church at Tanza (Santa Cruz de
Cavite
Malabon) - Tejeros Convention, a former summer resort of
the friars that witnessed the first important election held under the ■ Esteban San Juan invited Bonifacio to attend demonstrations
Katipunan government. at Noveleta and followed by a parade.
San Francisco de Malabon, is where the parade happened ■ Leaders of Magdiwang and Magdalo decided to call a
were shouting “ Long live the ruler of the Philippines” convention or assembly at Imus
Zapote, where Emilio Aguinaldo, Candido Tirona and Edilberto ■ Sequencing of events
Evangelista were on hand to meet the Supremo at his entourage.
■ Results of the election was not favor in hands of Bonifacio, he
■ Key Personalities was just appointed as Director of the Interior which was later on
being disapprove by Daniel Tirona through lack of educational
Andres Bonifacio, Magdiwang
attainment.
Emilio Aguinaldo, Magdalo
■ Bonifacio felt insulted and determined to pull the trigger at
Santiago Alvarez, Magdiwang the ceremony

Daniel Tirona, Magdalo ■ He ended up saying that as President of the Supreme Council
of the Katipunan, declare this assembly dissolved and annul all that
Jacinto Lumbreras, Magdiwang
has been approved and resolved.
Severino de las Alas,
■ Sequencing of events
Artemio Ricarte,
■ Bonifacio wrote a letter to Mariano Alvarez saying that there
Mariano Alvarez, Magdiwang he never expected that his faithfulness would be rewarded with
avarice and insult as a person.
■ Sequencing of events
■ Bonifacio also sent a letter to his friend Emilio Jacinto telling It is March 22, 1897 that the Tejeros convention took place
that the election was due to bad practices. just in time of Aguinaldo’s birthday.
■ DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO ACCOUNTS ■ SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
■ Santiago Alvarez vs. Teodoro Agoncillo The Supremo along with the Magdiwang leaders waited till 5
in the afternoon the following day to continue the meeting happened
■ SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
last Marh 25, 1897 through the invitation of Magdalo President
This account shows that it is General Apoy who withstand with Baldomero Aguinaldo
Antonio Montenegro that said this lines “We of the Katipunan…We
■ TEODORO AGONCILLO
are not bandits who rob others property and wealth”.
The account do not mentioned about the second meeting initiated by
■ TEODORO AGONCILLO
the Magdalo president, Baldomero Aguinaldo.
This account shows that it is Santiago Alvarez who reminded
■ SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
Antonio Montenegro about the recognition of the government
organized by the Association of the Sons of the people. It is Baldomero Aguinaldo whom told that the meeting must
be finished because it is getting dark outside not by Bonifacio.
■ SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
■ TEODORO AGONCILLO
An oath taking was held at the Tanza Parish house in the
absence of the Supremo on March 27, 1897 It is Bonifacio who told the Katipuneros to proceed at the election
because it is already getting dark.
■ TEODORO AGONCILLO
■ SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
The account do not mentioned about the oath taking that
happened at Tanza Parish house. Diego Mojica point out the anomalies on the ballots
distributed by Tirona being already filled out not by themselves but
■ SANTIAGO ALVAREZ
the Supremo just ignored it.
It is stated that the Tejeros Convention for election happened
■ TEODORO AGONCILLO
on March 25, 1897 not March 22, 1897.
It is only a suspicion of Bonifacio that an anomaly was happening but
■ TEODORO AGONCILLO
no direct person whom pointed it out.
WHO IS MORE ACCURATE, CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE?
First Voyage around the World
Antonio Pigafetta
 Background of the Author – ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
• Born sometime in 1491 in Vicenza, a town about a
hundred kilometers west of Venice, Italy.
• Eldest son of Giovanni Pigafetta to second wife Angela
Zoga.
• Studied astronomy, geography and cartography
• worked in the ships owned by the Knights of Rhodes.
• Well educated young man, possessing avid curiosity of the
world around him.*
• Joined the delegation of Monsignor Francesco Chieregati
when he was assigned as Papal Nuncio to Spain in 1519.
• In the same year, he became acquainted with the lucrative
spice trade and heard the news of the voyage to be
undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan.
• Presented his credentials to Magellan and to the Casa de
la Contratacion, the office in charged of voyages to New
World.
• He was admitted as one of the sobresalientes
(supernumeraries)*
• Survived the challenges and catastrophes that the
expedition encountered along the way and he even got
wounded in the Battle of Mactan.
• Returned to Spain on September 6, 1522 aboard the
Victoria with Juan Sebastian Elcano and more than a dozen
more survivors.
• Presented himself to Charles V (now Holy Roman
Emperor), a book written by his own hand, in which were
set down the things that happened from day to day during
their voyage.
• Now known as Magellan's Voyage. A Narrative Account of
the First Circumnavigation, a detailed tale of exploration
and exotica.
• Emperor Charles was apparently not impressed, and
Pigafetta received no honor beyond his wages.
• On his way home he passed by Portugal and France and
shared to the people the things he knew about Magellan’s
expedition.
• In Italy the Pope was impressed enough to give him
residence while he prepared his manuscript for
publication.
• *Joined the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in its battle
against the Turks.
• Died sometime in 1534.
Historical Context of the Document
 The rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the Iberian Peninsula was
exacerbated by trade as both were interested in exploring and
developing trade.
 Both were located in ideal places to start exploring Africa and to start
thinking about trying to round Africa and find a way to the Spice
Islands in Asia.
 The competition between Spain and Portugal became heated enough
that the two countries had to get the pope to divide up the New
 World into parts that would be Spanish and parts that would be
Portuguese.
About the book…
 Antonio Pigafetta was one of the survivors who kept a journal that
became the main source about the first encounter of the Spaniards
and the Filipinos.
 The original journal of Pigafetta did not survive in history and what
was handed down to us are copies of the manuscript that never came
out of the press during his life time.
 Three of them were in French and two are kept in the Bibliotheque
Nationale in Paris.
 The third one was originally owned by the British Collector Sir
Thomas Phillipp.
 Later, Beinecke Rare Book bought it and it is now kept in the
Manuscript Library of Yale University in New Haven.
About the book…
 The fourth copy was written in mixed Italian, Spanish and Venetian
language and could be found in Ambrosian Library in Milan.
 In 1800, Carlo Amoretti published an Italian version of it and the
following year a French version came out in Paris.
 Pinkerton of his part translated it to English and published it in 1819.
 James A. Richardson made his own English version of the Ambrosian
copy and it appeared in The Philippine Islands.
 This is the copy that is widely circulated in the Philippines.
 Pigafetta’s travelogue contributed immensely to the enrichment of
Philippine historiography.
 His writing described vividly the physical appearance, social life,
religious beliefs and cultural practices of the people they encountered
in the islands of Samar, Leyte and Cebu.
 His account also contains information about the economic activities
of the local folks and the goods they offered for trade.
 He got all this information through the help Enrique de Malaccca,
Magellan’s slave/interpreter.
 Lastly, Pigafetta gave us an eyewitness account of the Battle of
Mactan which resulted to the death of Magellan and him getting
wounded.
ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL
INFORMATION
Introduction
All information that can be gleaned from the account of
Antonio Pigafetta in his book, “ First Voyage Around the World” is
written from the perspective of the writer/author who is a European
(Italian in particular) and therefore a view from the outsider and it
should be understood in the context of the time. Some descriptions of
our ancestors; the way the treat visitors, their homes, their customs
and traditions, foods, and others, are explicitly described and others
are not for these are new to the knowledge of the colonizers. For this,
one should be careful for some of these information are described in
a way that it needs to be analyzed using both perspectives, European
and our own (i.e. words and terminologies). Furthermore, for it is
more fitting, that the “pantayong pananaw” is employed for the
presentation of the analysis.
Ferdinand Magellan (Portugese – Fernao de Magalhaes) – captain-
general (leader) of the expedition
Antonio Pigafetta (Italian) – official chronicler of the expedition
Raia Colambu (Raja Kulambu) – king of Mazaua (Limasawa)
Raia Siaui (Raja Siagu) – king of Butuan
Raia Humabon – king of Zubu (Cebu)
Raia Cilapulapu and Raia Zula - chiefs (kings) of Matan (Mactan)
Latitudes and Leagues!
(Geographical Position of the Islands)
Zamal – three hundred leagues from the islands of Ladroni
Mazaua – (latitude) nine (degrees) and two-thirds degrees toward the
Arctic Pole, (longitude) one hundred and sixty-two degrees from the
line of demarcation, and twenty-five leagues from the Acquada
(Humunu-Homonhon)
Twenty leagues from Mazaua to Gatighan
Fifteen leagues from Gatighan to Zubu (Cebu)
(Chronology of Dates)
March 16, 1521 (dawn of Saturday) –
the Spanish colonizers arrived at Zamal
(Samar) [no need to add one day for this
is not yet covered by the International
March 17, 1521 – their captain-general desired to land at Humunu
(Homonhon) and which he named, Acquada da li buoni Segnialli
(“the Watering-place of Good Signs) and later the entire group of
island as Archepalago of St. Lazaro
March 18, 1521 – they met and exchanged goods with our ancestor
from the island of Zuluan
March 25, 1521 – they weight anchored and changed course toward
west southwest
March 28, 1521, they anchored near the island of Mazaua (Limasawa)
and they met the king who came in balanghai
March 29, 1521 (Holy Friday) – they finally met the king who entered
their ship
March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday) – they went ashore to say mass and
set up cross on the summit of the mountain
April 7, 1521 (Sunday) – they entered the port of Zubu (Cebu)
Monday – their notary together with their interpreter went ashore to
met with the king of Zubu
Tuesday – the king of Mazaua and later the prince of Zubu went
aboard their ship
 Wednesday – they consecrated the place and buried their two dead  Wore cotton cloth all embroidered with silk which covered him from
crews the waist to the knees
Friday – they showed our ancestors with different merchandise  Some have spots of gold on every tooth
April 14, 1521 (Sunday) – they baptized our ancestors from Zubu and  Some are perfumed with storax and benzoin
few from neighboring islands
 Wore armlets and other rings for the feet
April 26, 1521 (Friday) – Raia Zula came to seek help to fight the other
 Wore necklace of great value
chief of Matan, Cilapulapu
Others (men)
April 27, 1521 (Saturday) – the Spaniards wave ashore in the island of
Matan and fighting commenced between them and men of Raia  Naked, with cloth woven from a bark of a tree about (cover) their
Cilapulapu and led to the death of Magallanes privies
May 1, 1521 (Wednesday) – 21 Spaniards were massacred by the  Dark, fat and painted (tattooed)
Zubuanos thus forcing the remaining Spaniards to depart Zubu
 Anointed with their bodies with coconut and beneseed oil as a
immediately
protection against sun and wind
Are We the Same?
 Some have dark hair that hung to the waist
(Descriptions of Our Ancestors)
 Have their penises pierced from one side to the other near the head
Seignior (king/chief)
with a gold or tin bolt as large as a goose quill.
 Matured (old man in some encounters)
Others (Women)
 Some are bit larger than his men and the finest looking man
 Clad in tree cloth from waist down
 Some are painted (tattooed)
 Hair is black and reaches the ground
 Wore gold earrings
 They are as white and as large as the Spaniards
 Some have black hair and hung to shoulders
 Holes on their ears which are filled with gold (earrings)
 Head covered with silk (kerchiefs)
 Constantly chewing a fruit which they call areca which resembles a • Our ancestor are heavy drinkers
pear, cut into four and wrapped with betre (betel) leaves
• Before the king drinks, he raised his clasped hands towards the sky
 Women age six upward have their vaginas gradually opened because and then towards the person he is drinking with and the former
of the men’s penises extends his fist of the left hand towards the latter
• Sometimes they have a meal that would last for six hours

The Cultural Milieu Entertainment

(Customs, Traditions and more…)
• Our ancestor played musical instruments like drums, metallic discs,
 Thanksgiving/Gratitude gongs and bells
• Raised clasped hands and face towards the sky and then turned to • Also, our ancestors can dance
others
o Religion
 Friendship (casi-casi)
• Our ancestors don’t have formal religion but they have God which
• A ritual of friendship wherein one has to shed a drop of his blood they call “Abba”
from his right arm and the other will do the same and partake each
• Although, no religion they have idols made of wood, hollow and lack
other’s blood
of back parts
 Marriage
Food
• One can have many wives as they wish but one of them is the
• Our ancestors eat umay (rice), coconut, meat and fish, and drink
principal wife
uraca (arrack) – a wine taken from palm (coconut)
Trade
Animals and Other Produce
• Our ancestor have a custom that all ships that will enter their port
• Dogs, cats, swine, fowls, goats, rice, ginger, coconuts, figs (banana),
should pay tribute
oranges, lemons, millet, panicum, sorgo, wax and gold
o Festivities
o Dwellings
• Built up from the ground on huge posts of wood and thatched with fig  her daughter (wife of the Prince) - Catherina
and palm leaves
 Queen of Mazaua – Lisabeta
Word Game!
(Terminologies)
uraca (arrack) – palm wine, this resembles tuba at present
(h)umay – rice
caphri – heathen
CONTRIBUTION
anime – a gum of a tree wrapped in palm or fig (banana) leaves for AND
lights RELEVANCE OF PIGAFETTA’s DOCUMENT
baloto – small boat On Geography
balanghai – big boat (resembles fusta in Spanish) The Pigafetta document gave a detailed chronicle of the significant
events of the exploration of Ferdinand Magellan.
aghon – gongs (resembles bells in Spanish)
It provided a description, location and distances of the places visited
laghan – a large sea snails which kills whales by eating whale’s heart
thereby enhancing the knowledge of cartography at that time.
What’s in a name?
The chronicle contributed immensely to European historiography
(Christian Names given to our Ancestors)
because it preserved and popularized the achievements of the
Conversion of our Ancestors Magellan-Elcano expedition.

 Raia Humabon – Don Carlos On Economics and Trade

 Son of Raia Humabon (prince) – Fernando There was an evidence of agricultural activities based on their
produce.
 Raia Culambo – Johanni
They engaged in trade with neighboring countries such as China.
 A Muslim - Christoforo
On arts, customs, traditions and religion
 Queen (Amihan) – Johanna
As described, Filipinos have their unique musical instruments;
They have arts as seen in their bodies being tattooed (in some
villages);
Performed rituals during dining and some gatherings;
They have a lot of burial practices;
Worship of anitos (wooden idols) and ritual for healing of ill persons.
On the other hand, the document also narrated the status
(inferiority) of the Filipinos in some ways such as;
Warfare - weapons
Manner of dressing
System of writing
On Christianization
The documents narrated the conversion of early Filipinos into
Christianity
at present…..
textbook writers use his book as their source of historical
information every time they discuss the beginning of Christianity in
the Philippines. Their accounts about the first mass in the Philippines,
the conversion of Rajah Humabon and his wife and the story of the
image of the Sto. Nino were mostly taken from Pigafetta’s book.

GOOD LUCK. MAY THE ODDS BE ALWAYS IN YOUR FAVOR! 😊