1

Module 2: Major Views and Approaches in the Study of History

At the end of the lessons, the students will be able to:

1. gain an insight of the major views in the study of history

2. differentiate various approaches in the study of Philippine History
3. understand why study history from Filipino point of view
4. differentiate external criticism from internal criticism

A. Major Views in the Study of Philippine History

1. Cyclical View
- History repeats itself. All human events occur in cycle. This view was
popular during 5th century B.C

2. Providential View
- This view became popular during the middle age or the age of faith. It is
God that determines the course of human developments and failures. It
holds that death is a struggle between good and evil.

3. Progressive or Linear View

- Mankind is responsible for the betterment and advancement of the
civilization and society. It puts emphasis on the human abilities rather than
in divine intervention

4. Relativist View
- “History creates its own subjects”. According to Foucault’s deconstruction,
history does not deal with causal analysis or cause and effect but on
discourse. One does not have a fixed theory or fixed position against
which historical data could be measured.

E. Various Approaches in the Study of Philippine History

1. Clerico-Imperialist School
This school was popularized during the Spanish period History is of God’s
grand design. Everything is the will of God so no interpretation is needed. Salvation
of soul was the main focus of Catholicism. Christianity is the instrument of God to
redeem the native inhabitants from hell.

2. Nationalist School
This school was the product of Philippine revolution and the American
occupation that eventually led to the Filipino-American war. The outbreak of the
Philippine revolution and the Filipino-American war strengthened the nationalistic
feelings of the Filipinos to win their freedom from the colonial bondage. This school
aimed to influence the fate of the Filipino nation by pushing for independence either
for the individual or nation.

1
 2

3. Democratic-Imperialist School
It is dominated by the idea of American civilization and culture. This school
aimed to inculcate to the mind of the Filipinos that the main purpose of American
colonization is to “educate, civilize, and train the Filipino in the art of democratic
government.” Its aim was to re-write the Philippine history from the time of the U.S.
divinely inspired intervention and the “manifest” superiority of America’s
“benevolent” occupation. This school was established to justify the American
colonization of the country.

4. Nationalist-Realist Transition School

Members of this school nevertheless displayed colonial mentality by
recognizing Spanish and American influences that benefited the Filipinos. It
stressed the important role of illustrados in nation-building

5. Pure Nationalistic School

This view was referred to as “ Pantayong Pananaw”. The main focus was to
study Philippine history from the Filipino point of view. It advocates revolutionary
ideas. It criticizes foreign dominated and illustrado-centered theme of Philippine
history.

6. Marxist View or Leftist-Socialist School

It discus society as made up two conflicting classes –the proletariats (the
laborers) and the capitalists (owners of production). Accordingly, the laborers were
abused and oppressed by the capitalists. These oppressions can lead to the revolt
of the proletariats against the capitalists. It advocates the idea of revolution in order
to attain equality between the proletariats and the capitalists. History about is the
history of economic classes, their rise and fall, dominance and exploitation.

F. Reasons for Interpreting Philippine History from a Filipino point of view:

Foreign interpretation is biased and prejudicial because Filipino beliefs, cultures

and historical developments are judged according to the foreigners’ own cultural and
historical background. The Filipino historians have greater familiarity and understanding
of their own culture and historical roots than foreign historians do.

History therefore, is an important tool in understanding the national identity of the

Filipinos by tracing and understanding the historical roots and identifying commonalities
in their culture and experiences. This can be understood better through the lens of the
Filipino historians.

2
 3

Sources:

Funtecha, Henry and Padilla Melanie (1999) Study Guide in Philippine History. Iloilo
City: UP in the Visayas,