Isabelle M.

Escamis
BS ES-1B
Assignment in RPH

Bagong Kasaysayan sa Wikang Filipino

Summary

The literary piece or study, Ang Bagong Kasaysayan sa Wikang Filipino by Arthur M. Navarro
starting with its history, focuses on three main points to further understand the Filipino language more
effortlessly: its nature, methodology, and historiography. It also aims to answer the questions, “ito ba ay
may saysay?” and, “kung may saysay, may saysay para kanino?”.

Before it went on to discuss the nature of history, it informatively mentioned that there are a lot of
writings about the relationship of the Filipino language to our history. Thus, making it play a significant
role in shaping our history. Also, it explained first as to why the Filipino language is an important and
versatile tool for all the Filipino people with different civilizations because it found a way in connecting it
altogether. That is why now it is our turn to know the importance of the one that is giving us importance.

It also said that in order for us to make new history, through our language we should be able to
understand first our old history.

It showed various graphical representations or illustrations about our historical records dating
back to the earliest form of our language beginning in the year 1565.

The first step that was done in this study was learning the true nature of history. Nature is defined
by Google as, “the basic or inherent features of something, especially when seen as characteristic of it”, in
other words, the true essence of something. This includes knowing its origin, or where it is rooted, where
it is stemming and where it will grow.

Now, in knowing the nature of history, it is important to know its definition. History (also by
Google) means, “study of past events, particularly in human affairs”. While in the study, it is defined in
Tagalog as, “isang sanaysay hinggil sa nakaraan na may saysay para sa isang grupo ng tao” or in
English, “an essay about the past which means great sense to a group of people”. As the phrase, “history
and language are power” was mentioned, it also clarifies another concept about history and past not being
the same thing. Because history only explains further the important events of our very wide range of the
past. The author acknowledged also the fact that, history was not just only for the people, but it was also
about the people itself, by the people. Because while we get to know what happened before us, we get to
know what is happening to us and what would happen to us in time while our cultures and way of life
changes. But the records of our history would not be limited to our people only. It could be about foreign
individuals too, who are associated or cited with our people. But most substantially, as said in the study
after giving many different denotations, history is a never-ending cycle of communication and debate
about the past which is incorporated in the present and prepared for in the future. Although
communication and debate may sound diverse from one another, it is still related in a way that
communication can turn into a debate. Because after all its goal is to understand the topic that is being
talked about. Through that way, in time we should be able to know what the most meaningful, significant,
and true parts our past really has. With this, we will also be able to answer the two questions, “is it
meaningful and relevant?”, and “if it is, for whom is it meaningful and relevant?”.

The next step was learning the history of the history, and there are three ways to identify this:
ancient history, history, and new history. Contained in these steps are the different historical viewpoints
and communications that emerged through time while knowing the history of our history. These
viewpoints are over all using the words, “we”, “them”, “you”, and “us’. A clear spirit of the ancient
history is seen through the phrases, “salaysay na may saysay”, “paguulat sa sarili”, and ”talastasan”.
This only means that it is by ethnolinguistic people. Examples of their works are given at this part. For the
traditional history, the study said it had three main strands: the first strand composed of the terms of
foreigners: the Greek word, “historie”, next is from the Spanish term, “historia” and the second and third
terms are from the American word, “history”. The second strand can be considered as positivism done
with the use of documents and various scientific research studies. The third strand is the interpretation
that is done is summarizing everything about the foreigners. New history now, it refers to the withdrawal
of the essence of the old terms, and then combining it with the new ones. It mentioned that “Ang
Katipunan at Himagsikan” in the year 1896 was the signal for a new history. So, generally, history of the
history was all about modifying, but not erasing, and then merging the old history with the new.

At this part, two graphical representations are already shown.

The third graphical representation was about the third step of the study, which was the
methodology of history. This refers to the steps or ways of researching studies about the history. There
are also three more steps in getting this: the first is the “Questioning: Selection of a Topic”, the second is
“Gathering the Sources of Information”, and the third is “Analyzation of Gathered Information”. The
primary step is all about being interested in the subject, which means that we have to be inquisitive in
order for us to select a good topic. This also includes the problems of the selected topic for us to be able
to find a solution and in turn find a worthy subject. The next step is about the collection of the basis of all
information about the topic. There are two types of sources we could get from as said in the paragraph:
the written sources which could be primary or secondary, such includes the books, letters, deeds,
newspapers and other literary compositions; the other type of source is the non-written one which can be
the language, culture, arts, artifacts, and other places where information can be found. Together with this,
it is mentioned that nothing beats the hard work of going to the actual place where the sources of
information can be found. This way, we can not only find information from the source itself, but also
from the people around the sources too, meaning additional information can be driven from the
experience. The third and final step in the methodology of history is about evaluating or examining all the
given information. This is done through two parts: outer critiques and inner critiques. The outer critiques
are associated with the factuality of the information as well as its sources. All of it should be right and
real. The inner critiques focus on the overall content of the information and the usage of the language
used. Here, the meaning of the text should be understood completely to asses whether it is true or not.

The last step in deeply learning our Mother Tongue is “Pagsasakasaysayan” or historiography.
This is all about accepting that we too are a part of the history that was made and are being history who in
the future will be history. It is the mindset of applying what we have gathered and making more steps in
creating new ones. This is spreading what we already know to others who don’t and showing what we can
do that is related to our history. There are two components of this step for us to do: “paguugnay” and
“pagsasalaysay”. The first part is where we try to connect the gathered information to ourselves. This
can be done in three approaches: “interdisciplinary”, “cross-disciplinary/ transdisciplinary”, and “multi-
disciplinary/ pluri-disciplinary”. The first approach is done through each of the discipline’s skilled,
worthy and genius experts in the field of knowledge in order to relate all data about one topic. The second
approach is done through either one skilled, worthy or genius expert in their field of knowledge from each
discipline except from its own, in order to understand and relate the topic. The third approach is done
through combining two or more disciplines of the experts from their field in order for the data to be
effectively applied. But whether it is approached in all ways or not, the most important thing to put in
mind is that we should be able to connect all the information in order for us to fully make an overall
concept. The second part is majorly about actually stating or saying all of history’s most meaningful,
vital, and sensical. This includes the feeling of going back to the past, relaying it in the present and
making more of it for future purposes. It was said in the study that there are ways of effectively narrating
and publishing history for all. One way is through writing, another is through teaching or sharing the
words. An additional way is to make a move or action in actively participating to anything that is essential
to the society. You would make history.
At this point all five graphical representations were showed.

In the end of the study, it stated that the quest in answering those two questions about history will
always remain constant. The answers to those could be changed through time. The type of answer isn’t
critically needed. Finding an actual answer is what matters most. As long as you understood it and applied
it. It’s like one verse from the Bible: “True wisdom is the application of knowledge”.

Sources:

Google for the definition of terms

Ang Bagong Kasaysayan ng Wikang Filipino book by Arthur M. Navarro