COURSE MATERIAL

Course Description:

The course analyzes Philippine history from multiple perspectives through the lens of
selected primary sources coming from various disciplines and of different genres.
Students are given opportunities to analyze the authors’ background and main
arguments, compare different points of view, identify biases and examine the evidences
presented in the document. The discussions will tackle traditional topics in history and
other interdisciplinary themes that will deepen and broaden their understanding of
Philippine political, economic, cultural, social, scientific and religion history. Priority is
given to primary materials that could help students develop their analytical and

communicative skills. The end goal is to develop the historical and critical consciousness
of the students so that they will become versatile, articulate, bro ad-minded, morally
upright and responsible citizens.
This course includes mandatory topics on the Philippine Constitution, agrarian reform and
taxation.

I. Introduction to History
Table of Contents

Lesson 1: A. Meaning and Relevance of History 5

B. Historiography and Historical Method 8
Lesson 2: C. Primary and Secondary Sources 16
D. External and Internal Criticisms 19

II. Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources

Lesson 3: A. Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage 23

Lesson 4: B. Customs of the Tagalogs 35
Lesson 5: C. Kartilla ng Katipunan 46
D. Gunita ng Himagsikan 50
Lesson 6: E. 1898 Declaration of Independence 58
Lesson 7: F. Political Caricatures of the American Era 68
G. Filipino Grievances against Leonard Wood
H. President Corazon Aquino’s Speech before the US Congress

III. One past but many histories: Controversies and Conflicting Views in
Philippine History

Lesson 8: Site of the First Mass 86

Lesson 9: Cavite Mutiny 100
Lesson 10: Retraction of Rizal 117
Lesson 11: Cry of Pugadlawin or Balintawak 122

IV. Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Issues in the Philippines

Lesson 12: Local History

Lesson 13: Indigenous People of the Philippines

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 COURSE MATERIAL

Pre-test

PART 1: Answer the questions below the best you can.






Questions Answers
1. How many regions are there in the Philippines?
2. What was the nationality of Ferdinand Magellan
3. Who was the last Spanish Governor General in
the Philippines?
4. What was the money used by the Japanese in
the Philippines during the World War II
occupation?
5. In which province was Andres Bonifacio
executed?
6. What is considered to be the earliest form of
writing in the Philippines?
7. What is the oldest city in the Philippines?
8. In which foreign country Rizal published the
Noli Me Tangere?
9. What place in the Philippines is also known as
the “walled city”?
10. What was the official newspaper of
Katipunan?




3

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Pre-test

PART 2: Let’s see if you’re familiar with the words below. Sort the word into the correct
category. Write them inside the hexagons.


Timawa Jose Rizal Rafael Alipin Augustinians
Izquerdo
Andres Concepcion Graciano Maharlika Victoria
Bonifacio Lopez Jaena
Maximo Viola Ramon Blanco Emilio Jacinto Franciscans
Juan Luna Pio Marcelo del Trinidad Melchora
Valenzuela Pilar Aquino
Santiago Francis Narciso Dominicans Carmelites
Harrison Claveria

Katipunan Propagandists Social class
Members

Ships of Governor Orders of

Magellan Generals Friars

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 COURSE MATERIAL

Lesson I. Introduction to History

Learning Outcomes:
1. Understand the meaning and use of history.
2. Appreciate the importance history.
Lesson 1 3. Differentiate Historiography and Historical Method.


Required A. PRE-ACTIVITY
resources: History is not everyone’s cup of tea. From here we will see how you
perceive your past and how you like to remember them.
a. PPT Be honest in answering the questions below.
b. Worksheet
c. videos
1. Do you like remembering (your) past events? Why or why not?
2. What will happen if you forget them?
3. Do you think that all your experiences contributed to what you are
today? Why? or Why not?

My History Diary

1.
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2.
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3.
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 COURSE MATERIAL

I. Introduction to History
Learning Outcomes:
1. Understand the meaning and use of history.
2. Appreciate the importance history.
Lesson 1 3. Differentiate Historiography and Historical Method.


B. CONTENT

They say that history is a boring subject and that history is not that important.
Now, after you’ve answered all the questions above, it will give you a sort of idea on
how you should treat history as a subject.

Do you care about your past?

Do you still want to remember them?
Would that (past) affect your life?

History was derived from the greek word historia which means
inquiry or the knowledge acquired by investigation. It was
Herodotus (484BC-425BC) a Greek historian who is considered to be
the “Father of History”.

Take a look at the definitions of history in some western dictionaries.

From webster dictionary: a chronological record of significant events (such as

those affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their
causes

From Oxford: The whole series of past events connected with a particular person
or thing

From these two definitions, some might think that history focuses only on recorded
(chronological) significant events or past. If you don’t have any records, then there is
no history. If you will study history deeply, especially the Philippine History, you will
realize that it is more than the technical definition of the term.

History provides us with a sense of identity and an idea on the greatness of one’s
nation. It can help us understand our present and even our future by studying this
discipline.

Dr. Zeus Salazar, a retired professor from the University of the Philippines defined
history or “kasaysayan” in a way that we Filipinos would understand and give us a sense
of pride.

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According to him: Ang kasaysayan ay mga salaysay ukol sa nakaraan na may
“saysay” para sa isang particular na grupo ng tao (Pilipino) na naninirahan sa
kasalukuyan.

Watch this video link for more info.

ANO ANG KASAYSAYAN?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPDLYjN_oQY

Philippine History is a people’s history. As defined by Renato Constantino, history

is the “recorded struggle of people for ever increasing freedom and for and newer and
higher realization of human person.” It is not about the story of man as the individual,
but man as the associated man.
An examination of the past teaches us to see the world through different eyes-
appreciating the diversity of human perceptions, beliefs and cultures. Different and/or
new perspectives will enable us to analyze critically the present contexts of society
and beings.

Reasons to study History:

a. Act of leaping from one epoch to another.
b. It provides us the opportunity to revisit the richness of forgotten cultures
of past civilizations and reliving it in the present.
c. It gives one the chance to step into the life of every person being studied.
d. Gives time-travelling feeling through passages and imagining things.


In addition to, in one of the articles of Peter Stearns in the American Historical
Association website, here are the reasons why we should study history:
a. History helps us understand people and societies- history offers a store
house of information about how people and societies should behave.
b. History helps us understand change and how society we live in came to
be- Only through studying history can we grasp how things change, to
comprehend the factors that cause the change and understand what
elements of an institution or society persist despite of change.

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Moreover, he also enumerated the importance of studying

history:
a. History contributes to moral understanding-
it provides terrain for moral contemplation. Studying
the stories of individuals and situations in the past
allows a student of history to test his or her own
moral sense, to hone it against some of the real
complexities individuals faced in difficult settings.
b. History provides identity- Historical data include Skills developed
evidence about how families, groups, institutions and while studying
whole countries were formed and about how they history:
have evolved while retaining cohesion. a. interdisciplinary
c. Studying History is Essential for Good Citizenship- research
History provides data about the emergence of b. analysis
national institutions, problems and values. It offers c. writing
evidence about how nations have interacted with d. oral
other societies providing international and communication
comparative perspectives essential for responsible
citizenship.

Now, why is it that there are several versions

Historical Method-
of narratives in history? Is truth in history relative
collection of techniques
also? Well, you can say that! The answer to several
and guidelines that
historians use for versions is, because historians (the ones who write history)
research and to write are influenced by several factors. Sometimes they have an
history. agenda too. Surprising, right?
To make history as factual as possible, historians
make use of scientific process. They use Historical Method.
This the process of critically examining, and analyzing

sources and records for its authenticity and credibility.
Historiography- art of
Rules here are being used to settle conflicts of different
writing history.
historical accounts. Historiography uses historical method

to be able to write a good narrative and reconstruction
of the past.
Is history subjective? Well, not really; but absolute objectivity is inconceivable
according to Wilhelm Dilthey. According to him, since people grow up in cultural
environments, they have imbibed the prevailing worldview in addition to their own
nature. The worldview that they have developed are colored with perspective from
which people understand their environments and the events that happen.
Teodoro Agoncillo is considered as the Father of Filipino nationalist
historiography. He wrote the conditions of the Philippine past by analyzing the
conditions of the masses.

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-There is no single understanding of truth in history.

-Different historians reach different conclusions about the same
period, event or issue.
- History is composed of competing and conflicting arguments and
view points and is always changing.

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Online Resources/Activities:

Ano ang kasaysayan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPDLYjN_oQY

https://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-and-archives/historical-archives/why-
study-history-(1998)

References:

Candelaria J.L and Alporha V.C. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Rex Bookstore Inc.
De Viana, A.

Halili, M.C. (2017). Philippine History 2nd Ed. Manila: Rex Bookstore Inc.

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY