Lesson 1: Meaning and Relevance of History

Topic: Meaning and Relevance of History

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Interpret various definitions of history according foreign and local
authors;
2. Explain the most accurate definition of history as applied to Philippine
context;
3. Reflect on some comments about history provided by some known
historians; and
4. Differentiate history to past, prehistory and herstory.

Date Topics Activities or Tasks

June 25-27, Meaning and Relevance of History Read Lesson 1
2021
June 28-30 Historical Sources Read Lesson 2 and Accomplish Learning Task

July 1-3, Katipunan and the Revolution: Read Lesson 3 and take the Quiz
2021 Memoirs of a General The Tabon
Caves and Callao Man

LEARNING CONTENT
Introduction:
PHILIPPINE HISTORY IN A GLIMPSE

The Early Philippines

The Philippines is named after King Philip II of Spain (1556-1598) and it was a Spanish colony for over
300 years.

Today the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,000 islands. However it is believed that during the last ice
age they were joined to mainland Asia by a land bridge, enabling human beings to walk from there.

The first people in the Philippines were hunter-gatherers. However between 3,000 BC and 2,000 BC
people learned to farm. They grew rice and domesticated animals. From the 10th AD century Filipinos traded
with China and by the 12th Century AD Arab merchants reached the Philippines and they introduced Islam.

Then in 1521 Ferdinand Magellan sailed across the Pacific. He landed in the Philippines and claimed
them for Spain. Magellan baptized a chief called Humabon and hoped to make him a puppet ruler on behalf of
the Spanish crown. Magellan demanded that other chiefs submit to Humabon but one chief named Lapu Lapu
refused. Magellan led a force to crush him. However the Spanish soldiers were scattered and Magellan was
killed.
 The Spaniards did not gain a foothold in the Philippines until 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
led an expedition, which builta fort in Cebu. Later, in 1571 the Spaniards landed in Luzon. Here they built
the city of Intramuros (later called Manila), which became the capital of the Philippines. Spanish
conquistadors marched inland and conquered Luzon. They created a feudal system. Spaniards owned
vast estates worked by Filipinos.

Along with conquistadors went friars who converted the Filipinos to Catholicism. The friars also
built schools and universities.

The Spanish colony in the Philippines brought prosperity - for the upper class anyway! Each year
the Chinese exported goods such as silk, porcelain and lacquer to the Philippines. From there they were
re- exported to Mexico.

The years passed uneventfully in the Philippines until in 1762 the British captured Manila. They
held it for two years but they handed it back in 1764 under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1763.

The Philippines in the 19th Century

In 1872 there was a rebellion in Cavite but it was quickly crushed. However nationalist feeling
continued to grow helped by a writer named Jose Rizal (1861-1896). He wrote two novels Noli Me
Tangere (Touch me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Filibusterer) which stoked the fires of nationalism.

In 1892 Jose Rizal founded a movement called Liga Filipina, which called for reform rather than
revolution. As a result Rizal was arrested and exiled to Dapitan on Mindanao.

Meanwhile Andres Bonifacio formed a more extreme organisation called the Katipunan. In August
1896 they began a revolution. Jose Rizal was accused of supporting the revolution, although he did not
and he was executed on 30 December 1896. Yet his execution merely inflamed Filipino opinion and the
revolution grew.

Then in 1898 came war between the USA and Spain. On 30 April 1898 the Americans defeated
the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Meanwhile Filipino revolutionaries had surrounded Manila. Their leader,
Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent on 12 June. However as part of the peace treaty
Spain ceded the Philippines to the USA. The Americans planned to take over.

War between American forces in Manila and the Filipinos began on 4 February 1899. The Filipino-
American War lasted until 1902 when Aguinaldo was captured.

The Philippines in the 20th Century

American rule in the Philippines was paternalistic. They called their policy 'Benevolent
Assimilation'. They wanted to 'Americanize' the Filipinos but they never quite succeeded. However they
did do some good. Many American teachers were sent to the Philippines in a ship called the Thomas and
they did increase literacy.

In 1935 the Philippines were made a commonwealth and were semi-independent. Manuel Quezon
became president. The USA promised that the Philippines would become completely independent in
1945.

However in December 1941 Japan attacked the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. On 10 December 1941
Japanese troops invaded the Philippines. They captured Manila on 2 January 1941. By 6 May 1942 all of
the Philippines were in Japanese hands.
 However American troops returned to the Philippines in October 1944. They recaptured Manila in
February 1945.

The Philippines became independent on 4 July 1946. Manuel Roxas was the first president of the
newly independent nation.

Ferdinand Marcos (1917-1989) was elected president in 1965. He was re-elected in 1969.
However the Philippines was dogged by poverty and inequality. In the 1960s a land reform program
began. However many peasants were frustrated by its slow progress and a Communist insurgency began
in the countryside.

On 21 September 1972 Marcos declared martial law. He imposed a curfew, suspended Congress
and arrested opposition leaders.

The Marcos dictatorship was exceedingly corrupt and Marcos and his cronies enriched themselves.

Then, in 1980 opposition leader Benigno Aquino went into exile in the USA. When he returned on
21 August 1983 he was shot. Aquino became a martyr and Filipinos were enraged by his murder.

In February 1986 Marcos called an election. The opposition united behind Cory Aquino the widow
of Benigno. Marcos claimed victory (a clear case of electoral fraud). Cory Aquino also claimed victory and
ordinary people took to the streets to show their support for her. The followers of Marcos deserted him and
he bowed to the inevitable and went into exile.

Things did not go smoothly for Corazon Aquino. (She survived 7 coup attempts). Furthermore, the
American bases in the Philippines (Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base) were unpopular with many
Filipinos who felt they should go. In 1992 Mount Pinatubo erupted and covered Clark in volcanic ash
forcing the Americans to leave. They left Subic Bay in 1993.

In 1992 Fidel Ramos became president. He improved the infrastructure in the Philippines including
the electricity supply. Industry was privatized and the economy began to grow more rapidly.

However at the end of the 1990s the Philippine economy entered a crisis. Meanwhile, in 1998
Joseph Estrada, known as Erap became president. Estrada was accused of corruption and he was
impeached in November 2000. Estrada was not convicted. Nevertheless, people demonstrated against
him and the military withdrew its support. Estrada was forced to leave office and Vice-president Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo replaced him. She was re-elected in 2004.

Lesson Proper:

Human beings in the face of the planet have different actions and interactions with the occurrences
of their physiological needs and environmental change. Most of the time, they act in accordance to the
humanistic needs like thirst and hunger that possibly lead to the development of their cognitive skills to
think on how to meet the needs that being endured by their biological structure.

Human have invented the spears and bow and arrow to kill an animal for food to ease their hunger,
and molded a mud into a cup like the shape of their palms when they fetch fresh water from the river.
These innovative particular actions are possible product of their creativity on how to kill an animal for food
without risking their lives in an apparent attack or danger, and on how to keep fresh water in their dwelling
areas by imitating the shape of their palm into a cup made of mud.
 Your Thoughts!

“History is not just a catalogue of events put in the right order like a railway timetable.” – A.J.P. Taylor

What does the line above mean? Explain in a layman’s term to better understand its meaning.

Please proceed to the worksheet of this module

MEANING OF HISTORY

What is History? How is it different from other disciplines or other forms of writing? How is it the
same?

History is……

- a recitation of unrelated facts that do not contribute to a larger

story.
- an agreed upon set of facts or a forever-fixed story that is
never subjected to changes and updates.
- a simple acceptance of what is written about a historical topic,
event or person
- a simple historical chronology of famous dates, incidents and
people.
- a strict reliance solely on the past with no examination of how
the past has influenced the present or how it may influence
the future.
- about one absolute truth, one particular perspective, or one set of facts and figures.
- a chronological storytelling in its finest form; it sequentially weaves together many related historical
and contemporary events and ideas that linked to a larger story.
 SOME OTHER DEFINITIONS OF THE NATURE HISTORY

Some comments about history by famous authors and individuals

“History is the version of“If

past
weevents
are to that
makepeople havewe
progress, decided to agree
must not repeatupon.”
history but make new history. We must add to inheritance left b
-Napoleon Bonaparte - Mahatma Gandhi

“Study the past if you would define the future.” “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”
- Confucius - Winston Churchill

“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.”
We are not makers of history, we are made by history.”
- Karl Marx - Martin Luther
 WHY STUDY HISTORY?

History- both knowledge of the past and the practice of researching and making sense of what happened
in the past- is critically important to the welfare of individuals, communities and the future of our nation.
According to processhistory.com, the study of history is essential for the following:

To Ourselves:

Identity- History nurtures personal identity in an intercultural world. History serves as the trademark of
a group of people, distinguishing them from the rest wherever they are. This distinct identity
is unique and you carry with it a profound superiority.

Critical Skills- History teaches critical 21st century skills and independent thinking. The practice of
history teaches research, judgment of the accuracy and reliability of sources, validation of
facts, awareness of multiple pterspectives and biases, analysis of conflicting evidence,
sequencing to discern causes, synthesis to present a coherent interpretation, clear and
persuasive written and oral communication and other skills(processhistory, 2015).

To Our Communities:

Vital Places to Live and Work- History lays the groundwork for strong, resilient communities. No place
really becomes a community until it is wrapped in human memory: family
story, tribal traditions, and civic consciousness. By way of analogy, even
in the bible, the famous story of the prodigal son illustrates that nothing
in this earth is more precious than the love of a family to a son who
became astray because of material interest. History would probably
bring us to the old memories of the significant things in the past.

Economic Development- History is a catalyst for economic growth. People are drawn to communities
that have preserved a strong sense of historical identity and character
(processhistory, 2015). Learning from the many mistakes of our ancestors,
we have to really move on and make a change. History is perhaps
attached to our old culture and beliefs that many would not want to go
away. Economic growth is somehow related to how people effect change
such as for example the old manner of farming and doing things.

To Our Future:

Engaged Citizens- History helps people craft better solutions. At the heart of democracy is the
practice of individuals coming together to express views and make action. Students of
history become better individuals when they see and perform their vital roles in the
community. When young people go out of the shells and start engaging themselves to
the many programs, activities and the like of the community, then we can truly say that
they are engaged citizens of their respective place.

Leadership- History inspires local and global leaders. History provides leaders with inspirations and
role models for meeting the complex challenges that face our communities, nations, and
the world. Our national politics can speak of this. Many of the highest officials of the
government started as local leaders such as mayors, governors etc. This would only
show that local governments are the training grounds of future national leaders.
 Legacy- History, saved and preserved, is the foundation for future generations. History is crucial to
preserving democracy for the future by explaining our shared past (processhistory,
2015).Nothing beats history. We may die. Our ancestors may die but the only legacy they
can leave behind is their experiences and good stories which are worthy of emulations.

HISTORY DIFFERENTIATED

a. History vs. Past

The past is not the same as history. The past involves everything that ever happened since the dawn
of time- every thought and action of man or woman on earth, every leaf that fell in the tree and every
chemical change in this universe and others.

History by contrast, is a process of interpreting evidence or records from the past in a thoughtful and
informed way. It is the narrative that gives meaning, sense, and explanation to the past in the present.

b. History vs. Prehistory

History and prehistory show differences between them in their nature and substance. The main
difference between history and prehistory is the existence of records.

c. History vs. Herstory

The word “history” is etymologically unrelated to the possessive pronoun his. Traditionally, history has
been defined as “the study of the past as it is described in written documents.” Feminists argued that is
has been men (“his” “ story”) who usually have been the ones to record the past.

Herstory, by contrast, is history written from a feminist perspective, emphasizing the role of women, or
told from a woman’s point of view. It is a neologism coined as a pun with the word “history” as part of a
feminist critique of conventional historiography, which in their opinion is traditionally written as “his story”,
e.i., from the masculine point of view. What about women? Should an event in the past was written down
be called “herstory?”(“History,”2018; “Herstory”, 2018)

***END of LESSON 1***

 Lesson 2: Historical Sources

Topic: Historical Sources

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Evaluate primary sources for their credibility, authenticity and
provenance;
2. Apply the knowledge in historical methodology and
philosophy in assessing and analyzing existing
historical narratives;
3. Examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and
sources.

LEARNING CONTENT

Introduction:

This lesson will give you the overview of the different kinds of historical sources. But before we
move to that let me give you the importance of a historical source. Generally, these sources are
considered as the most important research tools for historian.

Most historical source materials can be grouped into four basic categories: documents, numerical
records, oral statements and relics.

The main emphasis in historical research is on interpretation of documents, diaries and the like.
Historical data are categorized into primary or secondary sources (Fraenkel & Wallen, n.d.)

Historical sources may be classified as primary and secondary (Fox, 1969). A primary source is
regarded as the source of the “best evidence”. This is because the data come from the testimony of a able
eye and eye witnesses to past events. They may also consist of actual objects used in the past which you
can directly scrutinize or examine. Secondary source are information supplied by a person who was not a
direct observer or participant of the event, object, on (Sevilla et. Al, 1992.)

LESSON PROPER:

“To be ignorant of what occurred

before you were born is to
remain always a child.”
- Marcus Cicero

Distinction between Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary Sources

A primary source provides direct or first-hand evidence about an event, an object, a person, or a
work of art. These primary sources provide the original materials on which other research is based and
enable students and other researchers to get as close as possible to what actually happened during a
particular event or era. Published materials can be viewed as primary sources as long as they come from
the time period that is being discussed, and were written or produced by someone with first-hand
experience of the event. For instance, the stenographic notes of a court trial and the news reporter’s
account of the trial are primary sources. All physical objects, including photographs, and cultural
institutions and practices are primary sources themselves and all accounts written about them by those
who had actually seen and experienced are primary sources.

History as an academic discipline heavily relies on primary sources, as evaluated by a community

of scholars, who report their findings in books, articles and papers. As one historian says, “Primary
sources are absolutely fundamental to history”. Generally, a historian capitalizes on all available primary
sources that were created by the people involved at the time being studied. In reality some sources have
been destroyed, while others are not available for research. The most reliable eyewitness reports of an
event may be memoirs, autobiographies, or oral interviews taken years or even centuries ago.
Manuscripts that are sources for classical texts can be copies of documents, or fragments of copies of
documents. For this reason, history is usually taught in schools using secondary sources.

Historians who are into publishing academic articles with fresh or new perspectives prefer to go
back to available primary sources and to seek new ones. Primary sources, be it accurate or not, offer new
inputs into historical questions and most modern history dwells on archives and special collections for the
purpose of finding useful primary sources. It is then essential to classify the sources to determine its
independence and reliability. In context such as historical writing, it is indeed advisable to use primary
sources but in the absence of one, the author may use the secondary sources with great caution.

Determine if Primary Source

Ask yourself:

1. Was it produced, written, or painted during a specific time period?

2. Did the person live during the time or event?

Different Kinds of Primary Sources:

Literary or Cultural Sources:

1. Novels, plays, poems (both published and in manuscript form)

2. Television shows, movies, or videos
3. Paintings or photographs
Accounts that describe events, people, or ideas:

1. Newspapers
2. Chronicles or historical accounts
3. Essays and speeches
4. Memoirs, diaries, journals, and letters
5. Philosophical treaties or manifestos

Information about people:

1. Census records
2. Obituaries
3. Newspaper articles
4. Biographies and autobiographies
Finding information about a place:

1. Maps and atlases

2. Census information
3. Statistics
4. Photographs
5. City directories
6. Local libraries or historical societies

Finding information about an organization:

1. Archives (sometimes held by libraries, institutions, or historical societies

Three Types of Written Sources

1. Narrative sources or literary sources tell a story or message. These include diaries, films,
biographies, leading philosophical works and scientific works.
2. Diplomatic sources include charters and other legal documents which observe a set format.
3. Social documents are records created by organizations, such as register of births and tax records.

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources generally describe, discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate,
summarize, and process primary sources. These secondary source materials can be articles in
newspapers or popular magazines, book or movie reviews, or articles found in scholarly journals that
discuss or evaluate someone else’s original research. All writings by people who have never experienced
nor observed personally the objects and have based their writings upon the information gathered from
those who have knowledge of the events are secondary sources.

In historiography, when a study of history is subject to historical scrutiny, a secondary source

becomes a primary source. The historian’s publication can likewise be a primary source. Documentary
films are considered secondary or primary sources depending on how much the film maker modifies the
original source.

Whether a source is regarded as primary or secondary in a given context may change, depending
upon the present state of knowledge within the field. For example, if a document refers to the contents of a
previous but undiscovered letter, that document may be considered ‘primary’, since it is the closest known
thing to an original source, but if the letter is later found, it may then be considered ‘secondary’.

Determine if Secondary Source

Ask yourself:

1. Was it produced, written, or painted after a specific time period?

2. Did the person live after the time or event?

Examples of Secondary Sources:

1. Books with endnotes and footnotes

2. Reprint of artwork
3. A journal or magazine which interprets or reviews previous findings
4. Conference proceedings
 5. Literary Criticism
6. Book reviews
Importance of Historical Sources

1. Useful in writing and learning history

2. Can be useful in doing historical research that is important in establishing historical truth.
3. However, a student should not scrutinize these sources to avoid deception. Rather, the student
must dwell on internal and external criticism.

External Criticism

The practice of verifying the authenticity of evidence by examining its physical characteristics. This
also refers to the genuineness of the document a researcher used in a historical study. Some questions
that illustrate external criticism include: Who was the author, what was his/her qualifications, personality,
and position? How soon after the events was the document written and how was the document was
written and is it related to other document?

Internal Criticism

This is the examination of truthfulness of the evidence. It looks at the content of the document to
determine its authenticity. This is referred to as the textual criticism, it involves factor such as competence,
good faith, position, and bias of the author (Sanchez, 1980). It also involves determining the intention of
the source of data while external criticism conducts document analysis using science.

To simplify, the authenticity of the document is determined by external criticism, whereas credibility
is established by internal criticism.

The purpose of criticism is to validate historical sources that tend to manipulate conclusions which are
indeed deceptive in the analysis and study of history. We don’t entertain lies in studying history.

*** END of LESSON 2***

 Lesson 3: Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a General
The Tabon Caves and Callao Man

Topic: Repositories of primary sources and different kinds of primary sources which
examines the topics in:
 Santiago Alvarez, Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a General
 Robert Fox, The Tabon Caves and Armand Salvador Mijares,Callao Man

Learning At the end of this module, you are expected to:

Outcomes: Apply the knowledge in historical methodology and philosophy in assessing
and analyzing existing historical narratives.
Examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and sources.
Explain the importance of history in the social and national life of the
Philippines.

LEARNING CONTENT

Introduction:

The first kind of sources relies on remains that offer the researchers a clue about the past simply by
virtue of their existence. The wooden columns found at the date of a prehistoric settlement testify for example
to the existence of people and tell to historians something about their culture. The pegs or dowels they used to
fasten building materials further enlighten scholars about their technical skills and artistic capacities. By
comparing their artefacts with those with other places historians can further learn something of their
commercial or intellectual relations.
In contrast the testimonies are the oral or written reports that describe an event, whether simple or
complex such as the record of property exchange. The author of such testimonies can provide the historians
information about what happened, how and what the circumstances the event occurred and why it occurred.

The primary responsibilities of the historians to distinguish for readers carefully between information
that comes literally out of the source itself. To examine the different historical facts in our history we try to see a
glimpse of some of the writings of well-known historians and evaluate the manner on how they presented the
different historical events.
Lesson Proper:

KATIPUNAN AND THE REVOLUTION: MEMOIRS OF A GENERAL

By Santiago Alvarez
Translated by Carolina Malay

Who is Santiago V. Alvarez?

Born July 25, 1872 and died October 30, 1930, he was the only child of
revolutionary general Mariano Alvarez and Nicolasa Virata, was born in Imus
but was raised in Noveleta, Cavite. He was known as Kidlat ng Apoy (Lightning
of Fire) because of his inflamed bravery and participation in the Battle of
Dalahican.
 Santiago was among the first in Cavite to take up arms against Spain.
All through the Revolution, he fought side by side with his father. In the 36-
hour battle in Dalahican, one of the bloodiest encounters during the
Revolution, he scored a decisive victory and repulsed the Spanish troops.

When the American civil government was established in the

Philippines in 1901, Santiago assisted in the organization of the Nacionalista
Party, where he later became president of its

The memoirs was published in the year 1902 in Sampaguita, a Tagalog

weekly, in 36 installments (from July 24, 1927 to April 15, 1928). These were
reproduced in book from and translated in English by Paula Carolina S. Malay.

Malay graduated from the University of the Philippines. She taught

economics at various universities during the 1950s and 1960s. She turned to
translation and writing during the martial law period.

A Summary of the Memoirs of a General

The events I have related in this account of the Katipunan and the Revolution reverberate with
shouts of “Long live our patriots!” and “Death to the enemy!” These were in answer to the enemy’s
assaults with mausers and cannons, the latter fired from both land and sea.

The Magdiwang government honored me with an appointment as captain general, or head of

its army. Gen. Artemio Ricarte was lieutenant general.

I will now attempt to write down what I saw and what I know about the Katipunan and the
Revolution. First, I shall narrate the events relating to the Revolution beginning from March 14, 1896;
then I shall deal with the organization and the activities of the Most Venerable Supreme Society of the
Sons of the People (Kamahalmahalan at Kataastaasang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan). The
Katipunan account is based on records which were entrusted to me by the original founder of the
Katipunan. In the interest of honorable truth, I shall now attempt to write a history of the Katipunan
and the Revolution which I hope will be acceptable to all. However, I realize that it is inevitable that, in
the narration of actual happenings, I shall run the risk of hurting the feeling of contemporaries and
comrades- in- arms. I would like to make it clear that I shall try to be as possible and that it is far from
my intention of depreciate anyone’s patriotism and greatness.

I shall be honored if these memoirs become a worthy addiction to what Gen. Artemio Ricarte
as already published in this weekly.
 The memoirs continued on the narration of Gen Santiago Alvarez encounter with Emilio Aguinaldo and
Raymundo Mata in Manila as he accompanied them for their initiation into the Katipunan secret society. He
narrated the arrival until the time they went to one of the quarters of the caretaker of the central telephone
exchange on San Jacinto Street in Binondo until the time they are escorted to go to the Katipunans’
headquarters. He even narrated that before they leave the quarter his two companions were blindfolded until
they reached the house of Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan Supremo. They were escorted in a room in which
the ritual will be executed. After the event he narrated that he was asked by Emilio Aguinaldo to accompany
him to see Andres Bonifacio again to learn more about the Katipunan. He continued narrating that they
travelled to and from Manila aboard Spanish vessels called “Ynchausti boats”. They bore names like “Isabel”,
“Dominga”, and others. He described his encounter with Andres Bonifacio together with her wife Gregoria de
Jesus. He said that they are welcomed cordially with fraternal embraces, they happily exchanged news and
talked about the progress of the Katipunan.

He also mentioned in his memoirs the day Bonifacio went to Cavite to establish a council of the
Katipunan. The council was said to be known as the Magdiwang. They selected officers as well, while both
councils approved their respective regulation uniforms, with a common set of rank insignias, very few were
able to comply because of unsettling events coming one after the other. His narration ended on Saturday
September 28, 1896, wherein Captain Apoy and General Vibora prepared to go to the field to inspect the
fortifications to the west along the Cavite- Batangas border, which were under the command of Brig. Gen.
Eleuterio Marasigan and Col. Luciano San Miguel. But before the two generals could leave, the commander
of the troops defending Dalahikan, Major Aklan, came to the war ministry to report that they had sighted the
enemy fortifying the narrowest neck of Dalahikan. The enemy activity, which had started in the night,
included the massing of Spanish troops.

THE TABON CAVE

by Robert B. Fox

Who is Robert Bradford Fox?

He was an anthropologist and leading historian on the

prehispanic Philippines. Fox actively served the National Museum of
the Philippines from 1948 to 1975. In the 1960s, he led a six- year
archaeological research project in Palawan, focused mainly on the
caves and rockshelters of Lipuun Point in the southern part of the
island. Its most outstanding site is the Tabon Cave complex, the large
main cave where the only Pleistocene human fossils in the
Philippines were found.

The Tabon Cave

During the initial excavation of Tabon Cave, June and July 1962, the scattered fossil bones of at least three
individuals were excavated, including a large fragment of a frontal bone with the brows and portions of the
nasal bone. These fossil bones were recovered at the rear of the cave along the left wall. Unfortunately, the
area in which the fossil human bones were recovered by Magapode birds.
It was not possible in 1962 to establish the
association of these bones with a specific flake
assemblage, although they were provisionally related
to either Flake Assemblage II or III. Subsequent
excavations in the same area now strongly suggest
that the fossil human bones were associated with
Flake Assemblage III, for only the flakes of this
assemblage have been found to date to this area of
the cave, the available data would suggest that
Tabon Man may be dated from 22,000 to 24,000
years ago. But, only further
excavations in the cave and chemical analysis of human and animal bones from disturbed and undisturbed
levels in the cave will define the exact age of the human fossils.

The fossil bones are those of Homo sapiens. These will form a separate study by a specialist which will
be included in the final site report from Tabon Cave. It is important
to point out. However because of a recent publication (Scott 1969), that a
preliminary study of the fossil bones of Tabon Man shows that it is above average
in skull dimensions when compared to the modern Filipino. There is no evidence
that Tabon Man was "... amass brainy individuals..." (Scott 1969, 36). Moreover,
Scott's study includes many misstatements about the Tabon Caves. Always the
problem when writers work from "conversation."

Homo sapiens is unquestionably of great antiquity in Asia. The Niah skull is

securely dated to about 38,000 B.C., bring"...much the earliest Homo sapiens
(modern man) found so Far East" [Harrison (1964) 179]. Tabon man may be
tentatively dated to about 22,000 to 24,000 years ago. The controversial keilor
cranium found near Melbourne, Australia is claimed to date to about 16,000 B.C.
[Shutler (1865), 2; McCarthy 91961), 147].

Keilor cranium
The writer believes that the first major movement of Homo sapiens into the Philippines occurred with
the exposure of the Sunda shelf during the last glacial beginning, according to various estimates, some 45,000
to 55,000 years ago, the land bridge of the previous Riss
Glacial, estimated as terminating between 100,000 to 130,000 years ago, would
appear to be too early for any significant movements of modern man into the
islands at that time. Further excavations in Tabon Cave and other areas of
Palawan during 1969-70, the receipt of additional C-14 dates and more detailed
geochronological studies of the Quezon area and the rest of Palawan will greatly
help to clarify the geologic events of the late Pleistocene in Palawan and their Niah skull
relationship to the upper Paleolithic cultures.
Pleistocene is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the
world's most recent period of repeated glaciations.

Riss Glaciation: the second youngest glaciation of the Pleistocene epoch in the traditional, quadripartite
glacial classification of the Alps.

Carbon 14 dating: a way of determining the age of certain archeological artifacts of a biological origin up to
about 50,000 years old. It is used in dating things such as bone, cloth, wood and plant fibers that were created
in the relatively recent past by human activities.

But certainly history has an unending discovery of what might really happen in the past or what might
be the origin of the things around us. Like the recorded earlier species of the Homo sapiens which was the
Homo erectus who may have lived here in Cagayan Valley as early as 400,000 BC together with now extinct
species like the pygmy elephant, rhinoceros, giant turtle and crocodile. For many years we believe to Homo
erectus as the oldest species of homos until Professor Armand Mijares revealed the discovery on what we
call now the Homo luzonensis found inside
Callao Cave in Peñablanca,
Cagayan.

CALLAO MAN
by Armand Salvador B. Mijares

Who is Armand Salvador B. Mijares?

He is a University of the Philippines Associate Professor Armand Salvador B. Mijares, who led an
international multidisciplinary team in discovering the newest human species here in Cagayan Valley. The
project that led to the discovery of Homo luzonensis was funded by the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the Leakey
Foundation Research Grant, and the University of the Philippines via the Enhanced Creative Work and
Research Grant in cooperation with the National Museum of the Philippines, the Cagayan Provincial
Government, and the Protected Area Management Board- Peñablanca.
His group started excavating in the year 2003 but later stopped for they did not find anything, for Southeast
Asian archeologist would only excavate cave sites up to two meters. But later in the year 2004 when a
discovery in Indonesian island was found it prompted Prof. Armand to dig deeper, luckily little by little they are
unveiling another account of history from the fossils that they have discovered.

This latest discovery uncovers another story in our history. For as we connect one from the other, we will
be able to know what possibly is the root of our ancestors.

Here is an itinerary guide from USL to Callao!

CALLAO CAVE

UNIVERSITY TO ST. LOUIS

*** END of LESSON 3***

LEARNING CONTENT

Introduction:

In the preceding chapters, we have discussed the importance of familiarizing oneself about the
different kinds of historical sources. The historian's primary tool of understanding and interpreting the
past is the historical sources. Historical sources ascertain historical facts. Such facts are then
analyzed and interpreted by the historian to weave historical narrative. Specifically, historians who
study certain historical subjects and events need to make use of various primary sources in order to
weave the narrative. Primary sources, as discussed in the preceding chapter, consist or documents,
memoir, accounts, and other materials that were produced at the period of the event or subject being
studied.

In this chapter, we are going to look at a number of primary sources from different historical
periods and evaluate these documents content in terms of historical value, and examine the context
of their production. The primary sources that we are going to examine is Antonio Pigafetta’s First
Voyage Around the World and Juan de Plasencia’s Customs of the Tagalogs.

Needless to say, different types of sources necessitate different kinds of analysis and contain
different levels of importance. You are going to explore that in this chapter.
Lesson Proper:

THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD

by Antonio Pigaffeta

The Philippines had a long and arduous history. The details of

Philippine history can be seen in numerous books by different authors.
Thus, the documentation of Antonio Pigafetta regarding their world
exploration was considered as notable primary source. Antonio
Pigafetta was a key player in one of the most amazing world
exploration trips. He was born in Vicenza in 1492, and he was an Italian
seafarer and geographer. His own narration about the first world
circumnavigation was one of the greatest achievements in the history of
navy exploration and discovery. In this narration can be found
descriptions of peoples, countries, goods, and even the languages that
were spoken, of which the seafarer was trying to assemble some brief
glossaries.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A Venetian scholar and explorer, Pigafetta (c. 1491 – c. 1531)

traveled with Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew
under the order of King Charles I of Spain on their voyage around
the world. He served as Magellan’s assistant and kept an accurate
journal, which became the source of information on Magellan’s
voyage. He was one of the 18 men who returned to Spain in 1522,
out of the approximately 240 men who set out three years earlier.
Pigafetta’s voyage completed the first circumnavigation of the world.
His journal, however, centers on the events in the Mariana islands
and the Philippines.

Pigafetta was born into a wealthy Vicenza

family and studied navigation among other things. He
served on board the galleys of the Knights of Rhodes,
and accompanied the papal nuncio, Monsignor
Chieregati, to Spain. Later, he joined the Portuguese
captain Ferdinand Magellan and his Spanish crew on
their trip to the Maluku Islands. While in the
Philippines Magellan was killed, and Pigafetta was
injured. Nevertheless, he recovered and was among
only 18 of Magellan’s original crew who, having
completed the first circumnavigation of the world,
returned to Spain onboard another vessel, the
Victoria. Pigafetta was one of the 18 men who
returned to Spain in 1522, out of the approximately
240 who set out three years earlier.
HISTORICAL CONTENT

(Table below shows the chronology of events happened in Philippines when Magellan arrived)

• They came upon an island named Homonhon in Samar, where they

rested for the day. Since that this date is considered to be the opening
day of the Philippines.
MARCH 17, 1521 • Originally Magellan named the newly discovered archipelago in honor
of St. Lazarus - San Lazaro but later it was renamed. In 1542 the island
was decided to name in honor of King Philip II. And up to now,
in all the maps of the world they are marked as Filipino.
• They saw 9 men in a boat approaching them and these men came from
the island Zuluan. These men were giving signs of joy for Magellan's
arrival.
MARCH 18, 1521 • There was an exchange of gifts between them. These people became
very familiar and friendly with native folks, and explained many things
to them in their language, and told them the names of some islands
which they saw with their eyes before them.
• The above-mentioned people, who had promised to return, came
about midday, with two boats laden with the said fruit cochi, sweet
oranges, a vessel of palm wine, and a cock..
MARCH 22, 1521 • The seignior of the natives was painted (tattooed) and had many
accessories like rings and bracelets. They call the natives caphri, or
heathen.
• The blood compact is where the Rajah and Magellan drank each
other’s blood mixed with the native wine, Atuba in southern Leyte.
They sealed an implicit political pact between Spain and the
MARCH 29, 1521 Philippines.
• Because of this alliance, the Rajah allowed Magellan and his men to
come ashore to celebrate mass. Rajah Kolambu was also invited to the
mass along with Rajah Siagu of Butuan, his brother.
• It is the first Catholic mass in the Philippines officiated by Father Pedro
de Valderama in the shore of a town named as Limasawa in the tip of
Southern Leyte.
• Limasawa is known as the birthplace of Roman Catholicism in the
MARCH 31, 1521 Philippines. Conducted near the shores of the island, the Holy First
Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.
• Magellan instructed his comrades to plant a large wooden cross on the
top of the hill overlooking the sea.
• Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet of ships under the flag of Spain
arrived in Cebu. Magellan was welcomed by the native chieftain of
APRIL 7, 1521 Cebu, Rajah Humabon, Magellan sent an ambassador and the
interpreter the the king Rajah Humabon said that all ships were
required to pay tribute. But both parties not agreed and then there was
an exchange of warnings between the two parties.
• Magellan asked his Malay slave Enrique to assure the natives of Cebu
that they came as friends and were not enemies. Rajah Humabon,
APRIL 8, 1521 Cebu chieftain, welcomed them and soon a blood compact ensued.
Rajah Humabon was baptised and was named Don Carlo.
• Rajah Humabon swore to help Magellan conquer his enemies.
Especially the growing muslim community. Queen Juana also
converted to Christianity and was handed a Wooden Child Jesus
sculpture
 • Ferdinand Magellan arrived at the shores of Mactan three hours before
sunrise. Magellan sent a message to the natives saying that if they still
refused to recognize the Spanish king and pay them tribute, they would
APRIL 27, 1521
demonstrate how effective their swords were at wounding people. In
reply, Lapu-Lapu’s men told Magellan that although the Spaniards had
lances, they, too, were armed with bamboo and stakes hardened with
fire. The natives requested Magellan’s party to wait until morning before
attacking so they could gather more warriors, to which
Magellan obliged.
• When the sun rose, Magellan, including his crew of 49 (11 remained on
the ship) witnessed how the natives were highly organized at warfare.
The natives shot only at their legs, for the latter were bare; and so many
were the spears and stones that they hurled at us, that
we could offer no resistance.
• Native continued to retire from the shore always fighting up the knees in
the water. One of them wounded him on the left leg with a large cutlass,
which resembles a scimitar, only being larger. That caused the
Ferdinand Magellan to fall face downward, when immediately they
rushed upon him with iron and bamboo spears and with their
cutlasses, until they killed him..
 CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOG
by Juan de Plasencia, OSF

This literary work reflects the customs of the Tagalog before which gives us background on
what is the lifestyle, beliefs, and traditions of Filipino before. The importance of this literature is to
preserve the customs and beliefs of the Filipinos that reflect who we are in today's generation. The
text foregrounds two important figures: the observer (de Plasencia) himself, with his own background,
subjectivities and biases; and the observer’s subject (Tagalogs), seen as the “Other". In colonial
situations, the relationship of these figures – the colonizer and the colonized – flows in both but
unequal directions; the former being dominant, while the latter is the inferior one. Plasencia's
Customs of the Tagalogs is very essential and interesting until now. Like, who wouldn't want to know
about the customs of the Tagalogs before?

AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND

A Spanish priest of the Franciscan Order, he spent most of his

missionary life in the Philippines, where he founded numerous towns in
Luzon and wrote several religious and linguistic books.

Plasencia is reported to have arrived in the Philippines in 1578

and joined forces with another missionary, Fray Diego de Oropesa. They
both started preaching around Laguna de Bay and Tayabas, Quezon
where he founded several towns. The following years, they also put up a
large number of towns in the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal
including Caliraya, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Lilio (Liliw), Pila, Santa Cruz,
Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, Morong, Antipolo, Taytay, and Meycauayan.

He wrote a number of books intended to promote the

understanding of both the Spanish language among the natives, and the
local languages among the missionaries, to facilitate the task of
spreading Christianity.

Plasencia is believed to have authored the first book printed in the

Philippines, the Doctrina Christiana, which was not only printed in
Spanish but also in Tagalog, in both Latin script, and the commonly used
Baybayin script of the nativesof the time, and it even had a version in
Chinese.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE DOCUMENT

It was written on the year 1589 during the Spanish Colonial Period. After receiving the
Lordship’s letter, Plasencia wished to reply immediately; but he postponed his answer in order that he
might first thoroughly inform himself in regard to People’s request, and to avoid discussing the
conflicting reports of the Indians. Therefore, he collected Indians from different districts – old men,
and those of most capacity; and from them he had obtained the simple truth, after weeding out much
foolishness, in regard to their government, administration of justice, inheritance, slaves, and dowries.
HISTORICAL CONTENT

The work of Plasencia is considered by many historians as an example of a friar account. This kind of
writing is one of the most common contemporaneous accounts during the early part of the Spanish
period. The original text of Plasencia’s Customs of the Tagalogs is currently kept in Archivo General
de Indias in Seville, Spain. There is also a duplicate copy of it in the Archivo Franciscano Ibero-
Oriental, in Madrid, Spain. The original text of Plasencia’s Customs of the Tagalogs is currently kept
in Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain. There is also a duplicate copy of it in the Archivo
Franciscano Ibero- Oriental in Madrid, Spain. In the Philippines, an English version of it appeared in
volume VII of the Blair and Robertson collections. Another English translation of it was published as
part of the volume for the pre-Hispanic Philippines of the Filipiniana Book Guild series and what will
be presented below is from this version. There is several historical information in the document of
Plasencia: Social System, Government, and Laws, Inheritance, Property, Marriage and Customs,
Religious Beliefs and Practices, The Twelve Disciples of Darkness, Superstitious Beliefs and Burial.

SOCIAL SYSTEM. In the Social System, the social class of Filipinos prior to Spanish colonization,
the Chieftain (Datu) is the highest, followed by Nobles (Maharlika) and Commoners (Aliping
Namamahay), and the Slaves (Aliping Saguiguilir) as the lowest in the hierarchy of the society. Datu
was the chief and captain of wars who governed them and to whom they obeyed and reverenced.
Individuals who were identified as Maharlika were the free-born who do not pay any tax or tribute to
the Datu. Aliping Namamahay were the married, who served their master and live in their own houses
and lords of their property and gold. Aliping Namamahay served their master in his house and on his
cultivated lands, and they may be sold.

GOVERNMENT AND LAWS. Barangay is a term pertaining to a unit of government. It is a group of

people consisting of 30 to 40 families and is being ruled and governed by a Datu. Datu's function
includes law implementation, ensuring peace and order, and giving protection within his control as
well as settling individual disputes in the court together with the council of leaders. They had laws by
which they condemned to death a man of low birth who insulted the daughter or wife of a chief;
likewise witches, and others of the same class. They condemned no one to slavery unless he merited
the death penalty.

INHERITANCES. The succession of thrones played as part of the inheritances of the Filipinos at that
time. The Datu transfers his position to his 1st son; if the 1st son dies, the 2nd son succeeds their
father; in the absence of male heirs, it is the eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain.

PROPERTY. The chief in some villages had also fisheries, with established limits, and sections of the
rivers for markets. No one could fish without paying unless he belonged to the chief's barangay. The
lands on the mountain ridges are not divided but owned in common by the barangay. The lands
inhabited were divided among the whole barangay. At the time of the rice harvest, any individual or
any particular barangay, although he may have come from some other village, if he commences
clearing any land may sow it.

MARRIAGE AND CUSTOMS. The first part of courtship was referred to as Paninilbihan. If the man
succeeded in the courtship, he asked for the parents' permission and had to satisfy several
conditions: give a dowry, pay the panghihimuyat, pay the wet nurse bigay-suso, pay the parents
himaraw, or bribe for the relatives called sambon. Marriage belonging to different social class were
not common during those times. There are also various instances of divorcement which grounds
include adultery, abandonment by the husband, insanity, and cruelty. The cases of divorce in relation
to dowry depend on who acted the divorce. If the wife initiated the divorce before childbirth and has
married another, all her dowry and an equal additional amount go to the husband. If the wife did not
marry after leaving the husband, the dowry has to be returned to the husband. If the husband left his
wife, he lost only half of the dowry and the rest is returned. If he possessed children during the
divorce, the whole dowry and fine went to the children and held by their grandparents or relatives.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES. Filipinos had traditional beliefs even in the precolonial
period. They believe in the immortality of soul and life after death. They worship various Gods that are
associated with their environment. The existence of the number of gods of whom they made offerings
are some of the following: Bathalang Maycapal -Creator, Agni-Fire God, Idinayale-God of agriculture,
Lalahon-Goddess of Harvest, Sidapa-God of Death, Siginarugan-God of Hell, Balangaw-Rainbow
God, Diyan Masalanta-Goddess of Love, and Mandarangan-War God. Their beliefs included animals,
sun, moon, and even rocks along the seashores are adored. There was no old tree to which they did
not attribute divine honors. Diseases were thought to be caused by the temper of the environmental
spirits. The Anitos or Diwata are adored private idols to whom permissions were asked from them to
go. They were believed to have jurisdictions over mountains and open country, sowed fields, and
seas. By carving on ivory or gold called licha or larawan, it is being made to keep a memory of the
dead.

THE TWELVE DISCIPLES OF DARKNESS. When Spanish friars arrived to evangelize the
Philippines, they spread propaganda about indigenous beliefs as a strategy for converting natives to
Catholicism. Anything the friars didn’t understand was deemed "unChristian" and evil. They found no
written records on the native religion because everything was based on oral tradition which was
passed down through generations.
1. CATOLONAN, commonly known all over the Philippines, was either a man or a woman. These
priests were honorable one among the natives and were held ordinarily by people of rank, this
rule being general in all the islands.
2. MANGAGAUAY. These priests even induced maladies by their charms, which in proportion to
the strength and efficacy of the witchcraft, are capable of causing death.
3. MANYISALAT. These priests had the power of applying such remedies to lovers that they
would abandon and despise their own wives, and in fact could prevent them from having
intercourse with the latter.
4. MANCOCOLAM, whose duty was to emit fire from himself at night, once or oftener each month.
This wallows in ordure and filth which falls random houses.
5. HOCLOBAN which originates in Catanduanes is a powerful witch who causes death, can heal
as well, and can destroy a home.
6. SILAGAN which originated in Catanduanes eats a liver and causes violence and death.
7. MAGTATANGAL is a creature whose head separates and body walks with the intention of
showing himself to people.
8. OSUANG, which is equivalent to” sorcerer” they say that they have seen him fly and that he
murdered men and ate their flesh.
9. MANGAGAYOMA. They made charms for lovers out of herbs, stones, and wood, which would
infuse the heart with love.
10. SONAT, which is equivalent to” preacher” It was his office to help one to die, at which time he
predicted the salvation or condemnation of the soul.
11. PANGATAHOJAN, was a soothsayer and predicted the future. This office was general in
all the islands.
12. BAYOGUIN, signified a” cotquean,” a man whose nature inclined toward that of a woman
or termed as homosexual.

SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS. The Filipinos’ superstitious beliefs were evidenced by their idea of
creatures such as Tiyanak, Kapre, Tikbalang, Dwende, Aswang. It is also referred to as the beliefs in
the magical power of amulet and charms such as gayuma or love potion, anting-anting and kulam.
Most of them thought that the spirit of the dead can incarnate itself in animals. The Pre-Spanish
Filipinos said that those who are stabbed to death, eaten by crocodiles, or killed by arrows climb on a
rainbow to heaven and evolve into gods
BURIALS. This burial ceremony included burying their dead in certain wooden coffins, in their own
houses. They bury with the dead, gold, cloth, and other valuable objects - saying that if they depart rich
they will be well received in the other world, but coldly if they go poor.

The Kartilla of Katipunan (Jim Richardson)

Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan ni Emilio Aguinaldo

In this lesson we are going to discuss the two accounts- the Kartilla and Filipino Grievances
Against Governor Wood. The Kartilya ng Katipunan (Primer of the Katipunan) served as the
guidebook for new members of the organization, which laid out the group's rules and principles. The
first edition of the Kartilya was written by Emilio Jacinto. This lists teachings each member should
possess. We will also discussed the experiences of Aguinaldo during the revolution through his
account Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan ni Emilio Aguinaldo.

THE KARTILLA OF KATIPUNAN

Jim Richardson

Background of the Author

Emilio Jacinto was born in 1875 on the 15th of December.

He was the only son of a man named Mariano Jacinto
and a woman named Josefa Dizon. Shortly after he was
born, his father passed away. This untimely death forced his
mother to send Emilio to live with his uncle, Don Jose'
Dizon. His mother believed that his uncle could care for the
young Emilio better then she could after the death of
Mariano.

Emilio attended the San Juan de Letran College when he

first embarked on his college career. However, he later
attended the University of San Tomas in order to study law.
Emilio left college before completing his law degree.

The Kartilla

Taught in schools and universities, the Kartilla is the best-known of

all Katipunan texts. Making manifest the KKK’s principles and
teachings, it was printed as a small pamphlet for new members. It is
the only document of any length set in print by the Katipunan prior
to August 1986 that is known to be still extant.

The earliest reference to the Kartilla yet found is in the minutes of a Supreme Assembly meeting held
in December 1895. Whether it is the KKK branches or the individual recruits who are to be the
charged this amount is not clear, and nor is it known whether the title phrase ------ “To those who
want to join
this Katipunan”- Truly means recruits, or in practice should be taken to mean, “To those who have
joined this Katipunan”.

Authorship of the Kartilla has always been credited to Emilio Jacinto, and there is little doubt this
attribution is sound: it dates back to the Sensacional memoria of Isabelo delos Reyes, whose sources
included several senior of KKK veterans, and it has never been challenged. Bonifacio, the story goes,
had originally intended that his “Decalogue” should be printed and handed to new recruits, but then
read Jacinto’s Kartilla and decided it was superior. The two texts, though, are not comparable.
Bonifacio seeks only to enumerate the duties of Katipunan members, Jacinto couches his primer, four
times as long, rather as a statement of aspirations and ethical values. Bonifacio lists ten obligations;
Jacinto presents twelve “guiding principles” and fourteen “teachings”.
 Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan ni Emilio Aguinaldo
PANIMULA

Ang Pilipinas ay sinakop ng mga Espanyol sa loob ng mahigit 333 taon. Sa mga taong ito ay
naimpluwensyahan ang pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino sa iba’t ibang larangan lalo na sa aspetong
pangrelihiyon. Subalit, sa kabila ng lakas ng kanilang impluwensya, may mga taong naghahangad
para sa kasarinlan at kalayaan ng inang bayan. Sila ay ang mga mapaghimagsik na mamamayan.
Sila ay lumalaban dahil hindi nila gusto ang pamamamalalakad ng mga Espanyol lalo na sa
pamahalaan at estado nila sa lipunan. Para sa kanila, ang mga Kastila ay marahas, mabagsik at
gahaman sa kapangyarihan. Ang pagnanais ng mga mapaghimagsik sa kalayaan ay humantong sa
sa pagkakabuo ng isang samahan, ang katipunan. Itinatag nila ang samahan at ipinamalas nila ang
galing, talino, at tapang sa pakikipaglaban upang maipagtanggol ang bayang naaapi sa kamay ng
mapagmaltratong banyagang mananakop. Buhat ng pagmamahal nila sa bayan, sila ay
nagsakripisyo upang makamtan ang ninanais na kalayan. Ang mga pangyayaring labanan ay
inilahad ni Don Emilio Aguinaldo o mas kilala bilang Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo sa kanyang akdang
“Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan.” Ito ay isang napakahalagang paglalahad upang maibahagi sa bawat
mambabasa ang karanasan ng ating mga dakilang bayani sa pagtatanggol sa inang bayan mula sa
marahas na mang-aapi.

PAGLALARAWAN SA MAY AKDA

Si Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo Y Famy ay ipinanganak noong ika-22 ng

Marso 1869 sa Cavite el Viejo, o mas kilala ngayon bilang Kawit. Siya ay
ang pangpito sa walong anak nina Carlos Jamir Aguinaldo at Trinidad
Famy- Aguinaldo. Ang pamilyang Aguinaldo ay kilala dahil ang kanyang
amang si Carlos Aguinaldo ay ang itinalagang gobernadorcillo. Hindi
nakapagtapos ang Heneral sa Colegio de San Juan de Letran dahil sa
cholera outbreak noong 1882.
Sa kabilang banda, siya ay naging Cabeza de Barangay ng Binakayan
noong siya’y 17 taong gulang pa lamang. Noong 1895, ang Batas
Maura na kumikilala sa mga pamahalaang lokal ay ipinisatupad. Sa
gulang na 25, si Emilio ang naging kauna-unahang gobernadorcillo ng
Cavite el Viejo. Siya ay sumali sa Katipunan sa ilalim ng Magdalo at
nahalal bilang president ng Pamahalaang Panghihimagsik sa Bario
Tejeros, San Francisco de Malabon noong ika-22 ng Marso 1897.
Itinatag niya ang kalayaan ng bansa noong ika-12 ng Hunyo 1898 sa balkonahe ng kanyang bahay
sa
Kawit.
Siya ang kauna-unahang presidente ng Pilipinas at itinatag ang Malolos Republic. Siya ang
pinakabata at pinakamatandang namatay na president sa gulang na 94 anyos dahil sa Coronary
Thrombosis noong ika-6 ng February 1964.
Inilathala ni Heneral Aguinaldo ang unang libro ng kanyang “Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan” noong
1923-
1946. Ayon sa isinulat na libro ng heneral, ang kanyang mga gunita ay batay sa talaarawan na
kanyang itinago at mga dokumento.
PAGSUSURI NG KONTEKSTO

Dumanas ang ibang Pilipino nang matinding

pagmamaltrato ng mga Kastila sa loob ng
madaming taon. Naitatag ang Katipunan upang
tugunan ang hirap na dinadanas ng mga Pilipino.
Nagkaroon ng dalwang pangkat sa lalawigan ng
Cavite. Ito ang Magdiwang at Magdalo.
Pinamunuaan ni Mariano Alvarez ang Magdiwang
at Baldomero Aguinaldo naman ang Magdalo. Hindi
nagkaunawaan ang dalawang pangkat na ito. Nais
ng Magdalo na palitan ang Katipunan bilang isang
rebolusyonaryo habang Magdiwang naman ay
gusting panatilihin ang umiirial na pamamahala.
Mariano Alvarez (left) and Baldomero Aguinaldo (right)

Ayon sa paglalahad ni Heneral Artemio Ricarte, nanguna sa paglaban sa hukbo ng Kastila sa San
Francisco de Malabon, bagamat taliwas ang Sangguniang Magdalo sa paghihimagsik, sila ay
nahikayat at napilit na sumali sa labanan matapos makamit ang tagumpay sa pakikidigma. Dahil dito,
nagkaroon ng madugo at masalimuot na labanan sa pagitan ng mga Pilipino at Espanyol.
Ang gunita ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo patungkol sa himagsikan ay ang paglalahad ng mga salaysay
at alaala sa mga taong lumahok sa labanan. Sinambit dito ang kanilang karanasan sa pagtatanggol,
pagtataguyod, at sakripisyo upang mabawi ng mga naghihimagsik ang kanilang teritoryo at
upang kamtan ang inaasam na kalayaan para sa bayan.

PAGSUSURI NG NILALAMAN

Naganap ang nabigong paglusob sa Imus noong ika-31 ng Agosto, 1896, ayon kay Heneral
Aguinaldo. Pagsapit ng gabi ay dumating ang pangkat ng pangulo ng Sangguniang Madalo na si
Baldomero Aguinaldo upang sumaklolo at hinarap ang Kalaban sa naturang lugar.
Sa kabilang dako, dinala naman ni Emilio Aguinaldo ang hukbo ng Cavite el Viejo sa Binakayan
upang dito nila lulusubin ang Infanteria Marina dahil sa kanilang palagay na kung sila ay lulusob sa
kuta ng kalaban na matatagpuan sa puntod ng kulanta, sa Polvorin, hindi nila ito matatalo dahil ito ay
malapit sa kutang Artelleria ng Arsenal ng Cavite. Kung kaya’t hihintayin nilang dumaan ang mga ito
sa Bakayan. Ngunit sila ay nabigo dahil bago sila makapasok sa kabayanan ay nakasagupa na nila
ang mga Guardia Civil, at nagana pang sagupaan sa plasa ng munisipyo at simbahan ng Imus.
Napatay nila ang dalawang kasapi ng kalaban at nakamkam nila ang dalawang baril ngunit naiwan
nila si Teniente Marcelino Cajulis na sugatan sa munisipyo.
Batay sa paglalahad ni Heneral Aguinaldo, nagtungo sa kumbento ng Cavite el Viejo, ang kuwartel
ng Heneral, si Jose Tagle noong ika-1 ng Setyembre, 1896, upang humingi ng abuloy bilang
paghahanda sa kauna-unahang pagsalakay sa mga kalaban sa Imus, Cavite. Ito ay agad niyang
sinang-ayunan. Ngunit, nabigo sila at nagapi dahil ito ang kauna-unahang beses na gumawa ng
taktikang pagsulob si Aguinaldo.
Ayon pa rin sa Heneral noong ika-2 ng Setyembre, 1896, “ang pangkat na pinanguluhan ni Heneral
Baldomero Aguinaldo, ay siya kong inatasang lilibawa sa dakong hilaga o norte, sa kanyang
pagsalakay. Sa dakong timog ó sur, ay ang kawal naman ng Capitan Municipal sa Imus, si G. José
Tagle, at sa pangharapan o liwasan ng kumbento at simbahan, ay ang aking pangkat, at ako pa rin
ang nangunguna sa pagharap sa mga kalaban.”
Sa pagtutuloy, giniba nila ang pinto ng simbahan gamit ang palakol at maso at nagawa nilang
pumasok. Ngunit ang inabutan lamang ay si Padre Buenaventura. Ayon sa pagsasalaysay ni Emilio,
“Ito’y kapagkarakang humarap sa akin nang paluhod at humingi ng tawad. Kanyang ipinagtapat
sa akin pagkatapos na kaaalis pa raw lamang ng mga Frayle at Guardia Civil na nagpanakbuhan sa
takot, ng kanilang marinig ang tugtog ng banda ng musika at nang matanawan nila sa torre ang
makapal na kawal naming dumarating. Dahil dito, muling nagtipon ang kanilang mga kawal. Hinati na
naming muli ang grupo sa tatlong pangkat. Isinagawa ang pagkubkob ng timog at kanluran na
nababakuran ng matibay na hacienda.”
“At palibhasa’y sa katibayan ng asyenda na tila sinadya iyon, at sa karamihan ng kaharap nilang mga
guwardiya sibil, pare at legong prayle at taongbayan pang basal ang ugali na pumanig doon, ay hindi
ito nakuhang wasakin karaka kaya nga’t lumawig ang labanan hanggang sa umaga na
kinabukasan. Siyang pagkatalo sa nasa asyenda na nangakukulong sila at lalang ng madlang
paraan. Tinibag namin ang mga pader, sinunog ang kamalig ng palay, hanggang akalaing idamay
ang Bahay-uldóg sa kinaroroonan ng kinakaaway,” dagdag pa ng heneral.
Isinaad din ni Aguinaldo ang naging resulta ng pagsalakay. Aniya, sa kadahilanang mayroong taglay
at maangkop na armas ang kanilang kalban, maraming nalagas sa mapaghmagsik na grupo kaya
napahinto ang kanilang pagsulong. Tanging ang kanyang Sarhento Cuadrillero na si Guillermo
Samoy lamang ang nakasunod sa kanya sa may pinto ng hacienda at habang pinapalakol at
binabareta nila ito, lalong lumalakas nag pamumutok ng kalaban sa pangunguna ni Fray Eduarte.
Ipinagdiwang sa Imus ang pagkamatay ng ilan sa mga kalaban tulad nina Tinyente Enrique Chacon,
Juan Perez na isang kabo, Isabelo del Rosario, kasalukuyang kasalukuyang juez de paz (justice of
the peace) noon o kilala bilang asong ganid ng prayel, dalawang pari na (isa rito ay si Padre Jose
Maria Learte na kura ng Imus), dalawang uldog at isang kabong guwardiya sibil na pawing kastila. Sa
kabilang dako naman, ang pagkaurong sa Bakood (Bacoor) na ikinasawi ng dalawang kawal at ni
Victorino Sambile na isang bihag. Ito ay ayon naman sa paglalahad ni Carlos V. Ronquillo.
Agarang ibinatid ni Kornel Tagle ang tagumpay na nakamit nil laban sa kaaway kay Heneral Emilio
Aguinaldo na kung saan ay nakalikom sila ng 30 baril na Remington, dalawang ripleng Winchester,
isang kanyon de montaña, at mahigit libong bala. Tinugunan naman si ng Heneral, “Naniniwala ako
na sa pakikihamok nating ito sa kaharian ng Espanya, upang makalagot sila sa kaalipinan, ay nasa
piling natin ang Diyos na lalong makapangyarihan sa lahat. Alam ng Maykapal na iisa lamang ang
ating layon, dili iba’t ang mahango sa dustang kalagayan ang ating Inang bayan.”
Mawawari sa mga winika ni Heneral Aguinaldo ang lakas ng pananalig ng mga mapaghimagsik na
Pilipino sa Poong Maykapal na kung saan Siya ay itinuturing nilang kakampi. Ayon pa sakanya, isang
malaking tagumpay ang mapalayas ang mga prayle at guardia civil na kumukuta roon at tuluyang
makubkob ang hacienda. Nagging mahalaga rin ang pagtulong ng mga baying nasa ilalim ng
Sangguniang Magdalo gaya ng Cavite el Viejo sa pagtatanggol ng Imus.
Sa pagpapatuloy ng labanan, dumating ang tropa nina Togores at Garcia. Nagkaroon ng engkwentro
sa pagitan ng Kolumnang Togores-Garcia at pulutong nina Aguinaldo. Naparuong nila ang hukbo ng
Heneral sapagkat tumulong din sa labanan ang hukbo ni Aguirre. Ayon kay Ronquillo, ipinadala ni
Gobernador Heneral Blanco si Aguirre upang pamunuan ang hukbo at upang makubkob muli
ang Imus sa pamamagitan ng dalawang piyesa ng canon Plasencia sa tulong ng napakaraming
sundalo.
Ayon sa isinalaysay ni Heneral Aguinaldo, ang naganap na labanan noong ika-2 ng Setyembre 1896
ang kauna-unahan niyang pagkabigo sa hukbo ng mga Espanyol.
Dumating naman si Gil Ignacio, ang pangulo ng balangay “Gargano” ng katipunan, sa Kwartel ni
Emilio Aguinaldo upang humingi ng tulong sapagkat ang Pulang Lupa (Parañaque) ay napupuno
ng Infanteria, Caballeria, at Artilleria.
Nagtungo ang pangkat ni Heneral Aguinaldo sa Imus noong ika-3 ng Setyembre 1896. Pinutol nila
ang tulay ng Isabel II sa tabi ng hacienda ng Imus na siya naming ikinagulat at ikinagulo ng mga
espanyol. Dahil dito, halos buong hapong nagkaroon ng walang humpay na putukan sa pagitan ng
magkaibilang pangkat.
Nag-iwan ng halos dalawang karitong bangkay nang matapos ang labanan. Nakamkam ng mga
naghihimagsik ang 70 na Remington at sableng naiwan ni Heneral Aguirre. Nagpasyiya ang
Sangguniang Bayang Magdalo na ilipat ang pamahalaang Panghihimahagsik sa bahay hacienda ng
Imus at naghirang ng panibagong mga pinuno:
Pangulo: G. Baldomero Aguinaldo
Secretario de Guera: G. Candido Triá Tirona
Secretario de Hacienda: G. Cayetano Topacio
Secretariode Fomento: G. Glicerio Topacio
Secretario de Agricultura: G. Felix Cuenco
 Secretario de Justicia: G. Sixto Espinosa
Teniente General en Jefe Abanderado: G. Emilio Aguinaldo
Ayon pa kay Aguinaldo, “Ang panibagong pamahalaan ay nagpasinaya agad sa pagkakatatag ng
maestranza ó gawaran ng sandata at iba pa, sa kapakanan ng himagsikan sa isang kamalig ng
hacienda. Pinatayuan ko ito ng mga aparatus ng ginagamit sa pagrerecarga ng mga kartuchos ng
baryo para sa sariling gamit at pagbubuo ng baril na nasisira sa pangangasiwa ni Coronel Eduardo
Legaspi alias Dodong. Dito rin ipinapagawa ang mga kanyong tubong bakal ng mga kaldera, na
nililikawan at binabalutan muna ng kawad bago lalapatan pa ng magkabiyak na kahoy molave ó gijo,
tuloy bubukluran ng sunud-sunod na plantsuelang bakal. Ang mga kanyong tanso ay dito rin
ginagawa at binubuo, pati ang mga kampana ng simbahan na binabasag bago tutunawin at bago
ihuhulog sa buuan para maging kanyon. Ito’y sa pamamatnugot ni Heneral Ignacio Pawa, isang
Tsino.” (Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan , p.132)
Ang bagong pinaglipatan ay pinamalagian hanggang noong kalahatian ng Marso 1987 matapos
kunin ng mga Espanyol at siya naming ikinamatay ng kapatid ni Heneral Aguinaldo na si Tenyente
Heneral G. Crispulo Aguinaldo.
Buhat ng mahigit 40,000 Infanteryiang Espanyol, napagpasiyahan ng bagong Gobernador Heneral na
si Camilo Garcia de Polavieja na lusubin ang Cavite na itinakda noong ika-15 ng Pebrero 1897 sa
pangunguna ni Heneral Lachambre.
Nagpulong ang Sangguniang Bayang Magdalo at Sangguniang Bayang Magdiwang na lumalayong
magsanib at magkaroon ng iisang pamahalaan at tumugon sa planong isinagawa ng mga Espanyol
subalit hindi ito napagtibay. Dahil sa kaganapang ito, nakapagsambit ng mabigat na salita si Heneral
Artemio Ricarte. Aniya, ang kakulangan ng isa ay pinupunan ng isa, ang isa ay sinasaklolohan ng isa,
at ang dalawa ay magkasangga sa anumang sitwasyon ngunit sa huli, ang dalawa ay nagwalang
bahala sa kapahamakang inaabot ng isa hanggang sila’y nagtatanimang unti-unti, lumala hanggang
sa muntik na ipagbaka ng mga magkababayan din. (p. 18, “Himagsikan nang manga Pilipino Laban
sa Kastila.)
Pasikat pa lang ang araw noong ika-16 ng Pebrero 1897 noong magsimula ang kagimbal-gimbal na
putok ng kanyon at baril sa mga tanggulan sa pagitan ng Las Piñas at Bakood (Bacoor), Silang, at
Santa Rosa (Laguna de Bay). Sina Koronel Pio del Pilar, Mariano Noriel, at Agapito Bonson ang
namahala sa mga tanod na naghihimagsik sa Bacoor kasama ang kawal ng Imus sa pamumuno ni
Komandante Lucas Camerino at mga kawal galing sa Noveleta (Magdiwang) na sina San Gabriel at
Montalan kasama si G. Andres Bonifacio.
Iginiit ni Ricarte na noong Pebrero 16 ay halos hindi na maaninag ang tanawin na nilukuban ng
putukan at panganganyon sa pagitan ng Bacoor at Imus, gayon din sa Silang at Santa Rosa sa
Laguna. Bagamat napakalawak na ng pinsala, maraming beses pa rin nagtangka ang mga Kastila na
salakayin ang mga naghihimagsik ngunit hindi sila nagtatagumpay. Ipinagtanggol ng mga
naghihimagsik ang garrison sa Bacoor sa pangunguna nina Koronel Pio del Pilar, Mariano Noriel
at Agapito Bonson. Tumugon rin ang tropa sa Noveleta sa pamumuno ng mga kapitang sina Gabriel
at Montalan, kasama ang hukbo sa Imus sa ilalim ni Mayor Lucas Camerino, at Brigadyer-Heneral
Lucino at si Andres Bonifacio. Sa halos araw-gabing labanan, nanatili ang mga naghihimagsik sa
mga tanggulan hanggang noong ika-26 ng Marso 1897. Ngunit sila ay lumikas din dahil nakamit ng
Espanyol ang Imus noong ika-25 ng Marso.
Sa patuloy na paglalahad ng Heneral, umalis ang mga Kastila sa Imus noong mga huling araw ng
Marso taong 1897. Sila ay dumaan sa lumang sakahan sa timog ng kabayanan ng Cavite el Viejo.
Pumasok sila sa lupang sakop ng San Francisco de Malabon hanggang sa Bakaw ng naturang
bayan. Nakuha nila ang Noveleta matapos umurong sina Aguinaldo ngunit hindi nila nakamkam ang
tanggulang kinukutaan ng mga naghihimagsik. Bagamat sila ay umurong, para na rin silang nagwagi
dahil sa mga iniwang labi ng mga kastila.
Sa panahong iyon, ayon sa pagsasalaysay ni Emilio Aguinaldo, dinadaing niya ang karamdaman dala
ng malaria kung kaya’t inatasan niya sina Heneral Baldomero Aguinaldo, Heneral Pantaleon Garcia
at iba pa na sila na ang bahalang magtanggol sa kabayanan ng Imus.
Inilarawan din ng Heneral ang kanyang karanasan. “Sadyang ipinag-adya ako ng Maykapal gayon din
ang ating Inang Bayan. Ang totoo, ako’y di halos makatakbo sa pag-urong na ito sapagka’t
nanghihina na ako, bakit ako’y inaapoy ng lagnat kaya nagpagapang-gapang lamang ako sa
bambang (kanal) ng patubig sa kabukiran at sa ibaba ng tulay ng kung tawagin ay “Kay
Julian.” Patang-pata ako noon pagka’t nagkataon noon na ang dati kong
karamdamang “Malaria”
ay muli na namang
sumumpong sa akin.”
Sa pagsasalaysay ni Heneral Ricarte, nakuha rin ng mga naghihimagsik ang mga
kwartel ng mga Guardia Sibil sa Noveleta, San Francisco de Malabon, Quintana,
Naik, Pulangi, Magallanes, Alfonso, Silang, Paliparan ng Dasmariñas, at Imus.
Nagamit nila ang mga armas na nalikom at ang amunisyon, kabilang din ang mga
kinukumpuni gaya ng mga lantaka na gawa sa bakal at ang mga kanyong inihagis sa
pundisyon sa Imus, na siyang pinangunahan ni Heneral Jose Ignacio Paua, isang
Kristyanong Tsino na taga-Maynila na naninirahan sa San Francisco de Malabon.
Sinaad din ni Heneral Ricarte na noong ika-4 ng hapon, habang lumilikas ang mga
Espanyol, nakaenkwentro nila ang pangkat ni Bonifacio at ng Magdiwang. Ngunit
nanatili ang pwersa ng Espanyol sa malayong lugar ng Bacao dahil nabigo sina
Bonifacio na itulak sila sa Imus.
Naging himpilan naman ng Kapulungan ng mga Naghihimagsik ang Imus noong
Hunyo 1897 at muling mabawi ang Imus noong ika-28 ng Marso taong 1898.
Ang alaala ng mapait na pangyayari sa kamay ng mananakop ay nananatili at
nagpapasiklab ng poot sa mga naninirahan sa mga lugar na pinangyarihan ng
putukan, labanan, at patayan. Sa nangyaring labanan sa pagitan ng mga Kastila at
ng mga Naghihimagsik, kahit ordinaryo o relihisyong tao tulad ng paring Recoleto na
si Padre Jose Maria Liarte, na tinadtad ang katawan, at ng iba pag resedenteng
Espanyol na pinana at pinagtataga hanggang mawalan siya ng buhay.
LEARNING CONTENT

In the preceding lessons, we have discussed some primary sources from two different
historical periods, the pre-colonial and Spanish colonial periods. For this week, we will analyze
the historical content and context of primary sources during the post-Spanish period, starting
from the birth of Philippine Independence and the first Philippine Republic.
Primary sources to be discussed vary in form ranging from official documents, cartoons,
paintings and film. These types of sources require different kinds of analysis and contain
different levels of importance. We will also evaluate these documents in terms of historical and
contemporary value.

LESSON PROPER

A. 1898 DECLARATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE

By: Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
The Spanish regime lasted for about three hundred thirty-three years, that was
considered the longest regime in Philippine History. The Filipino revolutionary forces under Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine islands from
Spanish colonization in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. Then on January 23, 1899, the First
Philippine Republic was inaugurated after the promulgation of the Malolos Constitution.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista (17 December 1830 – 4 December

1903), also known as Don Bosyong, was a lawyer and author of the
Declaration of Philippine Independence document. A distant relative of the
Rizal family, Philippine national hero José Rizal always sought his advice
during his school days in Manila.

Bautista solicited funds to finance the campaign for the reforms in the
Philippines. He then became a member of the La Liga Filipina, Cuerpo de
Compromisarios, and La Propaganda. In 1896, the Spaniards arrested and
imprisoned him at Fort Santiago, as he was suspected for being involved in
the Philippine Revolution. He defended himself and was later released from
prison. He became the first adviser of President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898, and
subsequently wrote the Declaration of Philippine Independence. On 14 July 1899, Bautista was
elected vice-president of Tarlac's Revolutionary Congress. He was later appointed judge of the
Court of First Instance of Pangasinan.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS
The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence was written and was read by
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista in Spanish and translated by Sulpicio Guevara. It was written to
use for the declaration of freedom of the Philippines after the war against America and Spain.
The declaration was signed by 98 persons and at the end of it, emphasizing an American
present in there with no official role. It is said that there are American army officer who
witnessed. The main reason for having the declaration is to symbolize that Philippines has the
right to be independent and free from the Spaniards and is no longer tied politically with them.
With a government in operation, Aguinaldo thought that it was necessary to declare the
independence of the Philippines. He believed that such a more would inspire the people to fight
more eagerly against the Spaniards and at the same time, lead the foreign countries to
recognize the independence of the country. Mabini, who had by now been made Aguinaldo’s
unofficial adviser, objected. He based his objection on the fact that it was more important to
reorganize the government in such a manner as to convince the foreign powers of the
competence and stability of the new government than to proclaim Philippine independence at
such an early period. Aguinaldo, however, stood his ground and won.
On June 12, between four and five in the afternoon, Aguinaldo, in the presence of a
huge crowd, proclaimed the independence of the Philippines at Cavite el Viejo (Kawit). For the
first time, the Philippine National Flag, made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, assisted
by Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza, was officially hoisted and the Philippine National
March played in public. The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared by Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista, who also read it. A passage in the Declaration reminds one of another
passage in the American Declaration of Independence. The Philippine Declaration was signed
by ninety-eight persons, among them an American army officer who witnessed the
proclamation. The proclamation of Philippine independence was, however, promulgated on
August 1 when many towns has already been organized under the rules laid down by the
Dictatorial Government.
CONTENT ANALYSIS
Every year, the country commemorates the anniversary of the Philippine Independence
proclaimed on 12 June 1898, in the province of Cavite. Indeed, such event is a significant
turning point in the history of the country because it signaled the end of the 333 years of
Spanish colonization. There have been numerous studies done on the events leading to the
independence of the country but very few students had the chance to read the actual document
of the declaration. This is in spite of the historical importance of the document and the details
that the document reveals on the rationale and circumstances of that historical day in Cavite.
Interestingly, reading the details of the said document in hindsight is telling of the kind of
government that was created under Aguinaldo, and the forthcoming hand of the United States of
America in the next few years of the newly created republic. The declaration was a short 2,000-
word document, which summarized the reason behind the revolution against Spain, the war for
independence, and the future of the new republic under Emilio Aguinaldo.
The proclamation commenced with a characterization of the conditions in the Philippines
during the Spanish colonial period. The document specifically mentioned abuses and
inequalities in the colony. The declaration says:
"...taking into consideration, that their inhabitants being already weary of bearing
the ominous yoke of Spanish domination, on account of the arbitrary arrests and
harsh treatment practiced by the Civil Guard to the extent of causing death with
the connivance and even with the express orders of their commanders, who
sometimes went to the extreme of ordering the shooting of prisoners under the
pretext that they were attempting to escape, in violation of the provisions of the
Regulations of their Corps, which abuses were unpunished and on account of
the unjust deportations, especially those decreed by General Blanco, of eminent
personages and of high social position, at the instigation of the Archbishop and
friars interested in keeping them out of the way for their own selfish and
avaricious purpose, deportations which are quickly brought about. By a method
of procedure more execrable than that of the inquisition and which every civilized
nation rejects on account or a decision being rendered without a hearing of the
persons accused."
The above passage demonstrates the justifications behind the revolution against Spain.
Specifically cited are the abuse by the Civil Guards and the unlawful shooting of prisoners
whom they alleged as attempting to escape. The passage also condemns the unequal
protection of the law between the Filipino people and the "eminent personages." Moreover, the
line mentions the avarice and greed of the clergy like the friars and the Archbishop himself.
Lastly, the passage also condemns what they saw as the unjust deportation and rendering of
other decision without proper hearing, expected of any civilized nation.
From here, the proclamation proceeded with a brief historical overview of the Spanish
occupation since Magellan's arrival in Visayas until the Philippine Revolution, with specific
details about the latter, especially after the Pact of Biak-na-Bato had collapsed. The document
narrates the spread of the movement "like an electric spark" through different towns and
provinces like Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, and Morong, and the quick
decline of Spanish forces in the same provinces. The revolt also reached Visayas; thus, the
independence of the country was ensured. The document also mentions Rizal's execution,
calling it unjust. The execution, as written in the document, was done to "please the greedy
body of friars in their insatiable desire to seek revenge upon and exterminate all those who are
opposed to their Machiavellian purposes, which tramples upon the penal code prescribed for
these islands." The document also narrates the Cavite Mutiny of January 1872 that caused the
infamous execution of the martyred native priests Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto
Zamora, "whose innocent blood was shed through the intrigues of those so-called religious
orders" that incited the three secular priests in the said mutiny.
The proclamation of independence also invokes that the established republic would be
led under the dictatorship of Emilio Aguinaldo. The first mention was at the very beginning of the
proclamation. It stated:
"In the town of Cavite Viejo, in this province of Cavite, on the twelfth day
of June eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, before me, Don Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista, Auditor of War and Special Commissioner appointed to proclaim
 solemnize this act by the Dictatorial Government of these Philippine islands, for
the purposes and by virtue of the circular addressed by the Eminent Dictator of
the same Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy."
The same was repeated toward the last part of the proclamation. It states:
"We acknowledge, approve and confirm together with the orders that
have been issued therefrom. the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio
Aguinaldo whom we honor as the Supreme Chief of this Nation, which this day
commences to have a life of its own, in the belief' that the is the instrument
selected by God in spite of his humble origin, to effect the redemption of this
unfortunate people, as foretold by Doctor Jose Rizal in the magnificent verses
which he composed when he was preparing to be shot, liberating them from the
yoke of Spanish domination in punishment of the impunity with which their
Government allowed the commission of abuses by its subordinates."
Another detail in the proclamation that is worth looking at is its explanation on the
Philippine flag that was first waved on the same day. The document explained:
"And finally, it was unanimously resolved that, this Nation, independent
from this clay, must use the same flag used heretofore, whose design and colors
and described in the accompanying drawing, with design representing in natural
colors the three arms referred to. The white triangle represents the distinctive
emblem of the famous Katipunan Society, which by means of its compact of
blood urged on the masses of the people to insurrection; the three stars
represent the three principal Islands of this Archipelago, Luzon, Mindanao and
Panay, in which this insurrectionary movement broke out; the sun represents the
gigantic strides that have been made by the sons of this land on the road of
progress and civilization, its eight rays symbolizing the eight provinces of
Manila. Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and
Batangas, which were declared in a state of war almost as soon as the first
insurrectionary movement was initiated; and the colors blue, red and white,
commemorate those of the flag of the United States of North America, in
manifestation of our profound gratitude towards that Great Nation for the
disinterested protection she is extending to us and will continue to extend to
us."
This often-overlooked detail reveals much about the historically accurate
meaning behind the most widely known national symbol in the Philippines. It is not
known by many for example, that the white triangle was derived from the symbol of
the Katipunan. The red and blue colors of the flag are often associated with courage
and peace, respectively. Our basic education omits the fact that those colors were taken from
the flag of the United States. While it can always be argued that symbolic meaning can always
change and be reinterpreted, the original symbolic meaning of something presents us several
historical truths that can explain the subsequent events, which unfolded after the declaration of
independence on the 12th day of June 1898.

B. THE MALOLOS CONSTITUTION AND THE FIRST

PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
by: Felipe G. Calderon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Felipe Gonzales Calderon, known as the 'Father of the Malolos Constitution", was born
on April 4, 1868 in Santa Cruz de Malabon now Tanza), Cavite, to a Spanish nobleman, Don
Jose Gonzales Calderon, and Doña Manuela Roca who was of Spanish-Filipino blood.
Calderon was the author of the Malolos Constitution, which was enacted on January 20, 1899
by the Malolos Congress that established the First Philippine Republic. The original was
written in Spanish, which became the first official language of the Philippines.

Notably, Calderon established two law universities -- Liceo de Manila, the first law
college in the Philippines, and the Escuela de Derecho (School of Duties). He taught in both
institutions. In 1904, he was appointed member of a commission to draft a proposed Penal
Code. He also organized the La Proteccion de la Infancia (The Protection of Infants) that
established a humanitarian institution to protect and care for disadvantaged children.
His Encyclopedia Filipinas was published in 1908.

He died on July 6, 1908 at the age of 40.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

After returning to the islands. Aguinaldo wasted little time in setting up an independent
government. On June 12, 1898, a declaration of independence modeled on the American one,
was proclaimed at his headquarters in Cavite. It was at this time that Apolinario Mabini. a law,
and political thinker, came to prominence as Aguinaldo’s principal adviser. Born into a poor
indio family but educated at the University of Santo Tomas, he advocated "simultaneous
external and internal revolution," a philosophy that unsettled the more conservative landowners
and ilustrados who initially supported Aguinaldo. For Mabini, true independence for the
Philippines would mean not simply liberation from Spain (or from any other colonial power) but
also educating the people for self government and abandoning, the paternalistic, colonial
mentality that the Spanish had cultivated over the centuries. Mabini's The True Decalogue,
published in July 1898 in the form of ten commandments, used this medium, somewhat
paradoxically, to promote critical thinking and a reform of customs and attitudes. His
Constitutional Program for the Philippine Republic, published at the same time, elaborated his
ideas on political institutions.

On September 15,1898, a revolutionary congress was convened at Malolos, a market

town located thirty-two kilometer north of Manila, for the purpose of drawing up a constitution for
the new republic. A document was approved by the congress on November 2,1898. Modeled on
the constitution of France, Belgium, and Latin American countries, it was promulgated at
Malolos on January 21, 1899, and two days later Aguinaldo was inaugurated as president.

American observers traveling in Luzon commented that the areas controlled by the
republic seemed peaceful and well governed. The Malolos congress had set up schools, a
military academy, and the Literary University of the Philippines. Government finances were
organized, and new currency was issued. The army and navy were established on a regular
basis. having regional commands. The accomplishments of the Filipino government, however,
counted for little in the eyes of the great powers as the transfer of the islands from Spanish to
United States rule was arranged in the closing months of 1898.

The Treaty of Paris aroused anger among Filipinos. Reacting to the US$20 million sum
paid to Spain, La Independencia (Independence), a newspaper published in Manila by a
revolutionary. General Antonio Luna, stated that "people are not to be bought and sold like
horses and houses. Upon the announcement of the treaty, the radicals, Mabini and Luna,
prepared for war, and provisional articles were added to the constitution giving President
Aguinaldo dictatorial powers in times of emergency. President William McKinley issued a
proclamation on December 21, 1898, declaring United States policy to be one of "Benevolent
Assimilation" in which "the mild sway of justice and right" would be substituted for "arbitrary
rule." When this was published in the islands on January 4, 1899, references to "American
sovereignty" having been prudently deleted, Aguinaldo issued his own proclamation that
condemned "violent and aggressive seizure" by the United States and threatened war.

CONTENT ANALYSIS

Excerpts from the Malolos Constitution

Article 3. Sovereignty resides exclusively in the
people.
Article 5. The State recognizes the freedom and
equality of all religions, as well as the separation of
Church and State.
Article 19. No Filipino in the full enjoyment of his
civil and political rights shall be hindered in the free
exercise of the same.
Article 20.1. Neither shall any Filipino be deprived
of: The right of expressing freely his ideas and
 opinions either by word or by writing, availing himself of the press or any other similar
means.
Article 20.2. Neither shall any Filipino be deprived of: The right of joining any association for
all the objects of human life which may not be contrary to public morals.
Article 23. Any Filipino can find and maintain establishments of instruction or of education,
in accordance with the regulations that may be established. Popular education shall be
obligatory and gratuitous in the schools of the nation.

Table of Titles
1. The Republic
2. The Government
3. Religion
4. The Filipinos and Their National and Individual Rights
5. The Legislative Power
6. The Permanent Commission
7. The Executive Power
8. The President of the Republic
9. The Secretaries of Government
10. The Judicial Power
11. Provincial and Popular Assemblies
12. Administration of the State
13. Amendment of the Constitution
14. Constitutional Observance, Oath, and Language

The Malolos constitution is the first important Filipino document ever produced by the
people's representatives. It is anchored in democratic traditions that ultimately had their roots in
American soil. It created a Filipino state whose government was "popular, representative and
responsible" with three distinct branches -- the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The
constitution specifically provided for safeguards against abuses, and enumerated the national
and individual rights not only of the Filipinos and of the aliens.

The legislative powers were exercised by the Assembly of Representatives composed of

delegates elected according to law. To make the function of Congress continuous, the
document provided for a Permanent Commission which would sit as a law-making body when
Congress was not in session. The assembly elected the President of the Republic. The Cabinet,
composed of the Secretaries of the different Departments of the government, was responsible
not to the President, but to the Assembly. The administration of justice was vested in the
Supreme Court and in inferior courts to be established according to law. The Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court was to be elected by the Assembly with the concurrence of the President and
the Cabinet.

The constitution as a whole is a monument to the capacity of the Filipinos to chart their
own course along democratic lines. In a period of storm and stress, it symbolized the ideals of a
people who had emerged from the Dark Ages into the Light of Reason.

The Malolos Republic

Owing to the objections of Mabini to some provisions in the Constitution, Aguinaldo did
not immediately promulgate it.
The leaders of Congress compromised by inserting some amendments. After
promulgating the Malolos Constitution, the Filipino leaders proceeded to inaugurate the first
Filipino Republic on January 23, 1899.

POLITICAL CARICATURES OF THE AMERICAN ERA

by: Alfred McCoy
In the second part our lesson, we will examine some political caricatures/cartoons, which
is a form of art that gained full expression during the American era. These cartoons were made
by Filipino artists to record national attitudes toward the coming of the Americans as well as the
changing mores and times in the Philippines.
 Cartoons became an effective tool of
publicizing opinions through heavy use of
symbolism, which is different from a verbose
written editorial and opinion pieces. The unique
way that a caricature represents opinion and
captures the audience's imagination is reason
enough for historians to examine these political
cartoons. Commentaries in mass media
inevitably shape public opinion and such kind of
opinion is worthy of historical examination
(Readings in Philippine History, 2018).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born on June 8,1945 in Concord, Massachusetts, United

States, Dr. Alfred "Al” W. McCoy is a Professor of SE Asian
History at the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he also
serves as director of the Center for SE Asian Studies. He's spent
the past quarter-century writing out the politics and history of the
optimum trade.

McCoy has spent the thirty years writing about Southeast

Asian History and politics. His publications include Philippine
Cartoons (1985), Anarchy of families (1994), Closer Than
rothers: Manhood at the Philippine Military Academy (2000) and
Lives at the Margin (2001).

After earning a Ph.D. in Southeast Asian history at Yale, the writings of

McCoy on this region has focused on two topics; Philippine Political History and
Global Opium Trafficking. The Philippines remains the major focus of his
research. His teaching interests include; Modern Philippine social and political
history, U.S. foreign policy; Colonial empires in Southeast Asia; illicit drug
trafficking; and CIA covert operations.

POLITICAL CARICATURES

In his book Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era (1900-1944),
Alfred McCoy, together with Alfredo Roces, compiled political cartoons published in newspaper
dailies and periodicals in the aforementioned time period. For this part, we are going to look at
selected cartoons and explain the context of each one.

The first example shown was published in The Independent on May 20, 1916. The
cartoon shows a politician from Tondo, named Dr. Santos, passing his crown to his brother-in-
law, Dr. Barcelona. A Filipino guy is depicted wearing salakot and barong tagalog was trying to
stop Santos, telling the latter to stop giving Barcelona the crown because it is not his to begin
with.

The second cartoon was also published by The Independent on 16 June 1917. This was
drawn by Fernando Amorsolo and was aimed as a commentary to the workings of Manila Police
at that period. Here, we see a Filipino child who stole a skinny chicken because he had nothing
to eat. The police officer was relentlessly pursuing the said child. A man wearing a salakot,
labeled Juan de la Cruz was grabbing the officer, telling him to leave the small-time pickpockets
and thieves and to turn at the great thieves instead. He was pointing to huge warehouses
containing bulks of rice, milk, and grocery products.
 The third cartoon was a commentary on
the unprecedented cases of colorum automobiles
in the city streets. The Philippine Free Press
published this commentary when fatal accidents
involving colorum vehicles and taxis occurred too
often already.

The fourth cartoon depicts a cinema. A blown-up officer

was at the screen saying that couples are not allowed to neck or
make love in the theater. Two youngsters looked horrified while
an older couple seemed amused.

The next cartoon was published by The Independent on

27 November 1915. Here, we see the caricature of Uncle Sam
riding a chariot pulled by Filipinos wearing school uniforms. The
Filipino boys were carrying American objects like baseball bats,
whiskey, and boxing gloves. McCoy, in his caption to the said cartoon, says that this cartoon
was based on an event in 1907 when William Howard Taft was brought to the Manila pier riding
a chariot pulled by students of Liceo de Manila. Such was condemned by the nationalists at that
time.

The last cartoon was published by

Lipang Kalabaw on 24 August 1907. In the
picture, we can see Uncle Sam rationing
porridge to the politicians and members of the
Progresista Party (sometimes known as the
Federalista Party) while members of the
Nacionalista Party look on and wait for their
turn. This cartoon depicts the patronage of the
United States being coveted by politicians from
either of the party.

FILIPINO GRIEVANCES AGAINST GOVERNOR WOOD

by: Jose Abad Santos
 For this topic, we are going to study Filipino Grievances against Governor Wood which
served as impeachment request to the Governor. Although Governor Wood established
improvements in some areas, his personality caused strong antagonism between him and
Filipino political leaders. They feared that the autonomy gained from previous administration
might be lost. The struggles between Wood and Filipino leaders enhanced the nationalistic spirit
of the people. However, the crisis against his administration was eased shortly as Governor
Wood died due surgery failure in the United States.
Unlike other sources discussed from previous modules, this primary source was
authored and collaborated by two politicians, Jose Abad Santos and George Jacobo

AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND
Jose Abad Santos was born in San Fernando, Pampanga. He was the son of Vicente Abad
Santos and Toribia Basco. He was a Pencionado and studied law in Northwestern University in
Evanston, Illinois. After he passed the Bar in 1911, he served as Assistant Attorney at the
Bureau
of Justice and later rose to the rank of Attorney General. He was appointed Undersecretary of
Justice in 1921 but gave up the position at the height of the cabinet crisis in 1923. He served
as
chief legal counsel of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representative
and
it was during this time when he joined the Anti-Wood campaign. He was appointed Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court in 1932 and became Chief Justice nine years later. On December
30, 1941, he administered the oath of office of President Quezon and Vice-President Osmena
for
their second term. Before Quezon left the country in 1942, he appointed Abad Santos as acting
president of the Commonwealth government. On April 11, 1942, the Japanese army arrested
him in Barili, Cebu and he was subsequently brought to Mindanao. On May 7, 1942, he
was
executed in Malabang, Lanao in the presence of his son Pepito.

Jose Abad Santos was born in San Fernando, Pampanga. He was a

Pencionado and studied law in Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He
was appointed Undersecretary of Justice in 1921 but gave up the position at the
height of the cabinet crisis in 1923. He served as chief legal counsel of the
Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representative and it was
during this time when he joined the Anti-Wood campaign. He was appointed
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1932 and became Chief Justice nine
years later. On April 11, 1942, the Japanese army arrested him in Barili, Cebu
and he was subsequently brought to Mindanao. On May 7, 1942, he was
executed in Malabang, Lanao in the presence of his son Pepito.
Jorge Bocobo was born in Gerona, Tarlac on October 19, 1886. His
parents were
Tranquilino Bocobo and Rita Teodora Tabago. In 1907, he earned his Bachelor
of Law degree
from Indiana University under the Pensionado program of the colonial government. He started
his career as law clerk in the Executive Bureau and in 1911, he began teaching in the U.P.
College
of Law. In 1917, he was appointed Full Professor of Law and acting Dean of the College. He
was
a close associate of Manuel L. Quezon and served as one of his speech writers. He
became
president of the University of the Philippines from 1934 to 1939 and Associate Justice of
the
Supreme Court from 1942-1944. He died on July 23, 1965

Jorge Bocobo was born in Gerona, Tarlac on October

19, 1886. In 1907, he earned his Bachelor of Law degree from Indiana
University under the Pensionado program of the colonial government.
He was a close associate of Manuel L. Quezon and served as one of
his speech writers. He became president of the University of the
Philippines from 1934 to 1939 and Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court from 1942-1944. He died on July 23, 1965.
GOVERNOR LEONARD WOOD AND THE FILIPINOS
After Woods replaced the highly popular Harrison on October 5, 1921, he vetoed 64 of
217 bills passed by the Legislature compared to only five under Harrison. According to the
Filipinos, the bills were dismissed on the flimsiest motives. Wood for his part saw the vetoed
bills as poorly made or unconstitutional. The strictness of Wood was perceived as an affront to
the newly found liberties by Filipino leaders like Quezon. Wood was also aghast to learn that the
government was in a financial crisis and it was subsidizing losing corporations like the Philippine
National Bank, the Manila Railway Company, and Manila Coal Company which became
inefficient because of having too many employees, many of whom were recommended by
Filipino officials. Wood moved to streamline these corporations and make them self-sufficient.
The threat of removing officials placed there by patronage of Filipino officials made Wood their
personal enemy.
The point of confrontation between Wood and the Filipino officials led by Quezon came
to the fore with the Cabinet Crisis of 1923. This crisis was sparked over Wood’s order to
reinstate an American police detective named Ray Conley. Conley was the head of vice squad
of the Manila Police tasked with running after the operators of gambling and opium den and
their patrons. He was charged with accepting bribes from gambling den operators apparently as
revenge by criminal elements because of his efficient drive against them. The city mayor of
Manila, Ramon Fernandez, and the Secretary of Interior, Jose P. Laurel, believed in Conley’s
guilt. The Court of First Instance, however, found the evidence against Conley as insufficient
and inconsistent, and ordered the case against the detective dismissed. Wood ordered Conley
reinstated but Conley’s enemies wanted him charged administratively of keeping a mistress and
having made false statement that the mistress was his wife. Laurel tried to have Conley
investigated administratively but Wood objected saying that this would make Conley’s accusers
his judges. Wood himself encouraged the investigation of Conley on the charge of keeping a
mistress and making false statement. An independent Committee of Investigation was
convened and it found Conley not guilty of the charges. Wood then sent a memorandum to
Laurel ordering Conley’s reinstatement. Laurel transmitted a letter to Mayor Fernandez
requesting compliance and then tendered his resignation as Secretary of the Interior. Conley
who was later reinstated, retired with full benefits.
Filipino officials then accused Wood of meddling in the details of the local government
which should have been handled by the Filipinos. Quezon saw this incident as an opportunity to
embarrass Governor Wood by resigning form the Council of State. At the time, the ruling
Nacionalista party was facing the prospect of defeat in the 1923 elections. Quezon needed a
villain to fight and keep himself in power. Following Quezon’s resignation, Mayor of Manila,
Speaker of the House, Manuel Roxas, and all the Filipino Department Secretaries also
resigned. Wood accepted the mass resignation of the Filipino officials. Quezon, as President of
the Philippine senate, refused to confirm for his part, and refused to confirm all officials
appointed by Wood to replace the officials who resigned. The Cabinet Crisis plagued the rest of
Wood’s term until his death on August 7, 1927 while being operated on for a brain tumor.
THE PROTEST
"In the face of this critical situation, we, the constitutional representatives of the Filipino people,
met to deliberate upon the present difficulties existing in the Government of the Philippine Islands
and to determine how best to preserve the supremacy and majesty of the laws and to safeguard
the right and liberties of our people, having faith in the sense of justice of the people of the United
States and inspired by her patriotic example in the early days of her history, do hereby, in our
behalf and in the name of the Filipino people, solemnly and publicly make known our most
vigorous protest against the arbitrary acts and usurpations of the present Governor-General of
the Philippine Islands, particularly against Executive Order No.

A. JUAN LUNA'S PAINTINGS

Do Arts like paintings provide a glimpse of history?  Paintings are art and painters paint
to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings; hence, every painting has its own significance
and meaning. The Philippines is also known for arts especially in paintings.
In this lesson, we are going to discuss the works of the well-renowned Filipino painters
who have contributed so much to Philippine history, namely Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo.
Both of them are remarkable artists of different styles and techniques in relaying their subjective
energies through their masterpieces. The paintings of Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo had
reflected the life of Filipinos during the latter part of the Spanish Colonization, the middle years
of American rule, and Japanese occupation in our country that arouse the sense of nationalism
and showcase the Philippine Culture as well as the greatness of Filipinos in arts.
AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND

Juan Luna (October 23, 1857- December

7, 1899) was known as the “Finest arts and First
International Filipino Painter”. He was the son
Juaquin Luna de San Pedro y Posadas and
Laureana Novicio y Ancheta that was born on
October 23, 1857, in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. He was
influenced to paint by his brother Manuel who was
also a painter. Juan Luna is considered one of the
greatest Filipino artists in Philippine history with
masterpieces such as Solarium, The Death of
Cleopatra, and Blood Compact. He was a Filipino
painter, sculptor, and a political activist of the
Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century.
He was one of the first recognized Philippine artists. His close friendship with National Hero
Jose Rizal has sparked Philippine nationalism and pride. Juan Luna was mostly known for his
works as being dramatic and dynamic, focusing on romanticism and realism styles of art.

On December 8, 1886, Luna married Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera, a sister of his
friend Felix and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, the couple traveled to Europe and settled in Paris.
They had one son, whom they named Andres and a daughter who died in infancy.

Educational Background
He received his degree in Bachelor of Arts at Ateneo de Manila and enrolled later at
Escuela Nautica de Manila where he became a sailor. This did not stop Luna from his pursuit of
developing his artistic skills. He took lessons under the famous painting teacher Lorenzo
Guerrero and also enrolled at Academia de Dibujo y Pintura under the Spanish artist Agustin
Saez.

Luna left for Barcelona in 1877, together with his elder brother Manuel, who was a
violinist. While there, Luna widened his knowledge of the art and he was exposed to the
immortal works of the Renaissance masters. One of his private teachers, Alejo Vera, a famous
contemporary painter in Spain, took Luna to Rome to undertake certain commissions. In 1877,
Juan Luna traveled to Europe to continue his studies and enrolled at Escuela de Bellas Artes de
San Fernando. It was in 1881 when he received his first major achievement as an artist and this
is through winning a silver medal at the  Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Demonstration of
Fine Arts) with his work “The Death of Cleopatra.” From there, he continued to gain recognition
and respect as an artist. Juan Luna kept on impressing the European and Filipino society
through the Nacional de Bellas Artes with outstanding works such as the “Spolarium” which won
gold in 1884 and “Battle at Lepanto” in 1887.

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

The masterpieces of Juan Luna were created during the Spanish Colonization of the
Philippines in the 19th Century and some were created during the midyears of American Rule in
the Philippines.

CONTENT ANALYSIS

The famous painting was a silver medalist

or second prize winner during the 1881 National
Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid. The 1881
Madrid painting contest was Luna's first art
exposition. Because of the exposure, Luna
received a pension scholarship at the
Ayuntamiento de Manila. After the painting
competition, Luna sold it for 5,000 Spanish
pesetas, the highest price for a painting at the
time. As Luna's "graduation work", The Death of

Death of Cleopatra, Rome 1881

Cleopatra was acquired by the Spanish government for one thousand euros.

It depicts the traditional “kasikasi” or

drinking ceremony which was a symbol of
friendship, peace, and goodwill among those
executing the compact. Blood Compact
executed by the Spaniards in the Philippines
held on March 16, 1565, between Don Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna of Bohol.

Blood Compact, Paris 1885

The painting features a

glimpse of Roman history centered
on the bloody carnage brought by
gladiatorial matches. Spoliarium is
a Latin word referring to the
basement of the Roman
Colosseum where the fallen and
dying gladiators are dumped and
devoid of their worldly
Spoliarium possessions.
At the center of Luna’s
painting are fallen gladiators being dragged by Roman soldiers. On the left, spectators ardently
await their chance to strip off the combatants of their metal helmets and other armories. In
contrast with the charged emotions featured on the left, the right side meanwhile presents a
somber mood. An old man carries a torch perhaps searching for his son while a woman weeps
the death of her loved one.
The Spoliarium is the most valuable oil-on-canvas painting by Juan Luna, a Filipino
educated at the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura (Philippines) and at the Academia de San
Fernando in Madrid, Spain. With a size of 4.22 meters x 7.675 meters, it is the largest painting
in the Philippines. A historical painting, it was made by Luna in 1884 as an entry to the
prestigious Exposicion de Bellas Artes (Madrid Art Exposition, May 1884) and eventually won
for him the First Gold Medal.

Juan Luna painted this masterpiece in 1892 when he was

staying in Paris, France. It is called The Parisian Life but is also
known as Interior d’un Cafi (meaning “inside a cafe”). He used oil
on canvas to create this 22 x 31-inch painting.
This may seem like any other old piece of artwork but the
details and story of this masterpiece are one of a kind. The men
in the background are actually three well known Filipinos: Juan
Luna himself, Jose Rizal, a very famous author and hero, and
Ariston Bautista Lin, the first owner of the painting. These men
were all living in France at that time.
Her mirror image is said to resemble the archipelago of
the Philippines – her outstretched arm being the island of
Palawan. Another interesting detail is the darkness on the The Parisian Life
woman’s neck and the line going from her head to the top of the picture. This apparently shows
that the Philippines was going through a time of struggle which could very well be because they
were being oppressed by the Spanish at that time.

España Y Filipinas meaning “Spain and the Philippines” is

an oil on wood painting of Juan Luna in 1886. The two
women together are the representation of Spain and the
Philippines. The painting also is known as España Guiando
a Filipinas (Spain Leading the Philippines).
In this painting, Juan Luna wants to show the strong bond
between Spain and the Philippines. It also revealed the
true hope and desire of every Filipino to have an equal treatment between Spain and the
Philippines, even Spain leading the Philippines in a progressive country.

B. FERNANDO AMORSOLO'S PAINTINGS

AUTHOR'S BACKGROUND

Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (May 30, 1892 – April

26, 1972) is one of the most important artists in the
history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a
portraitist and painter of rural Philippine
landscapes. Fernando Amorsolo was born on May 30,
1892, in Paco, Manila to Pedro Amorsolo, a bookkeeper,
and Bonifacia Cueto. Amorsolo spent his childhood in
Daet, Camarines Norte, where he studied in a public
school and was tutored at home in Spanish reading and
writing. After his father’s death, Amorsolo and his family moved to Manila to live with Don
Fabian de la Rosa, his mother’s cousin, and a Philippine painter. At the age of 13, Amorsolo
became an apprentice to De la Rosa, who would eventually become the advocate and guide to
Amorsolo’s painting career. During this time, Amorsolo’s mother embroidered to earn money,
while Amorsolo helped by selling watercolor postcards to a local bookstore for 10 centavos
each. Amorsolo’s brother, Pablo, was also a painter.

During his lifetime, Amorsolo was married twice and had 14 children. In 1916, he
married Salud Jorge, with whom he had six children. After Jorges death in 1931, Amorsolo
married Maria del Carmen Zaragoza, with whom he had eight more children. Among her
daughters are Sylvia Amorsolo Lazo and Luz Amorsolo. Five of Amorsolo children became
painters themselves. Amorsolo was a close friend to the Philippine sculptor Guillermo Tolentino,
the creator of the Caloocan. It is believed that he had painted more than 10,000 pieces, his Rice
Planting (1922), which appeared on posters and tourist brochures, became one of the most
popular images of the Commonwealth era. He died on April 24, 1972, at the age of 79.

Educational Background
Amorsolo earned a degree from the Liceo de Manila Art School in 1909 and entered the
University of the Philippines' School of Fine Arts. He was a portrait artist and known painter of
rural Philippine landscapes. He graduated with honors from the U.P. in 1914 and got a study
grant in Madrid, Spain. He was also able to visit New York, where he encountered postwar
impressionism and cubism, which would be major influences on his work. Don Fabian De La
Rosa advocate and guide to Amorsolo’s painting career while Diego Velasquez is the major
influence of Amorsolo’s and Enrique Zobel De Ayala gave him the grant to study in Madrid,
Spain
 

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

The masterpieces of Amorsolo were created during the American colonial rule and
the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II.
 
CONTENT ANALYSIS

The painter Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972) was a dominant figure in the visual arts of
the Philippines during the decades before the Second World War and into the post-war period.
His oeuvre is characterized by scenes of the Filipino countryside, harmoniously composed and
richly colored, saturated with bright sunlight and populated by beautiful, happy people: it is an
art of beauty, contentment, peace, and plenty – which perhaps explains its enduring popularity
in the Philippines to this day. Moreover, Amorsolo's paintings commemorate the different
tradition, cultures, and customs of Filipinos.

Planting Rice with Mayon

Volcano was painted in 1949. Happy
Filipino villagers in their bright clothes
and straw hats work together amid a
green and sunlit landscape of plenty.
Behind them, releasing a peaceful
plume of steam rises the beautifully
symmetrical cone of Mayon
stratovolcano. It is the ash erupted by
the volcano over its highly-active
history that has made the
surrounding landscape fertile, and the
Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano, tranquil cone appears here to be a
beneficial spirit of the earth standing
guardian over the villagers and their crops. Mayon’s eruptions can be very destructive (as in the
violent eruption of 1947, not long before this picture was painted, when pyroclastic flows and
lahars brought widespread destruction and fatalities) but here the relationship between the
volcano and the surrounding landscape is depicted as a positive, fruitful and harmonious one.
Mayon is a celebrated symbol of the Philippines, and its presence in Amorsolo’s painting
emphasizes his wish to represent the spirit of the nation on canvas.

Fernando Amorsolo created this painting during the year

1937. This year was the rise of women's rights. Many events for
the Filipinas occurred during that time. One, the Philippines held
a plebiscite for Filipino women on whether they should be
extended the right to suffrage; over 90% voted in the
affirmative. Also, for the first-ever, Filipino women were given
the right to vote during elections.
The artist, Amorsolo, created this artwork to show the
true value of Filipinos. They are hard-working yet happy of what
they are doing. It was to also make the world aware of the true
Filipina beauty. Overall, this painting was intended to show
Filipino’s characteristic glow. This can be proven by looking at The Fruit Pickers under the Mango Tree
the characters in the painting.
The artwork is entitled Fruit Pickers Under the Mango Tree. It was painted by Fernando
Amorsolo a famous Filipino artist. It was made by using oil on 25 1/4 x 37 1/2 inches canvas
and was finished in the year 1937.
The painting shows three women namely Marcella
Marino de Agoncillo (on the right side) refer as the mother of the
Philippine flag, with the help of Lorenza and Delfina Herbosa de
Natividad which is actually the daughter of Marcela. They were
tasked by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo to sew the first flag for the new
republic. The clothes that the women are wearing are an older
style, more vintage, and really depict the traditional styles. The
skirts the women are wearing are long and their tops were like a
traditional “kimona”. The three women are sewing passionately
which demonstrates elegance. The painting was not that kind of
vibrant in the eyes but can set your mood is calm. The setting is
inside of a house which is more like a “Bahay Kubo” The main
colors that were used in the painting were brown, red, blue, and
The Making of the Philippine Flag
yellow. The mood and visual effects that this painting can be considered are calmness and
serenity. The painting shows a contrast of colors of brown to yellow which is not harmonious.
The artist balanced his characters and the background in his painting which makes the painting
balanced.  There are no real lines in the painting because it is painted in a pointillist style.

This is a representative of Amorsolo's

World War II-era paintings. Here, a
Filipino man defends a woman, who is
either his wife or daughter, from being
raped by an unseen Japanese soldier.
Note the Japanese military cap at the
man's foot.
After the onset of World War II,
Amorsolo's typical pastoral scenes were
replaced by the depictions of a war-torn
nation. During the Japanese occupation
of the Philippines during World War II,
Defense of a Filipina Woman’s Honour Amorsolo spent his days at his home
near the Japanese garrison, where he
sketched war scenes from the house's windows or rooftop.
During the war, he documented the destruction of many landmarks in Manila and the
pain, tragedy, and death experienced by Filipino people, with his subjects including "women
mourning their dead husbands, files of people with pushcarts and makeshift bags leaving a dark
burning city tinged with red from fire and blood."Amorsolo frequently portrayed the lives and
suffering of Filipina women during World War II. Other World War II-era paintings by Amorsolo
include a portrait in absentia of General Douglas MacArthur as well as self-portraits and
paintings of Japanese occupation soldiers.

THE RAIDERS OF SULU SEA

We live in a pluralistic world and a conflict-torn
world. Sad to say that some of these are the open
armed conflicts and bloody resistance between
Muslims and Christians.
The gap of these two religious standpoints
was undeniably huge. But what really happened in
the gap of these two that it seems to continue years
after until today? How and why these Muslim People
were called pirates and raiders? Are they really what
they call and identify, “The Raiders of the Sulu Sea?”
For this lesson, we are going to examine a
historiography documentary film that exhibits how the
tribes of men on certain parts of Mindanao fiercely
fought against the Spaniards whom at that time,
colonized the Philippines. This documentary film was narrated by several key informants that
made the film more understandable by actually being a part of it. These people studied and
analysed the whole history of the conflict and identified causes of it.

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

It is the 18th Century, and life from some of the coastal inhabitants of the Philippines
was anything but idyllic. For without warning, they could be attacked by the merciless Illanuns –
the raiders of the Sulu Sea. These raiders were fearless and fiercer in battle even against better
armed, technologically superior colonial forces.
 To the western colonists, these raiders are nothing but barbaric pirates; and they were
hunted down and such. But there is speculation that these raiders are not the savages they
were made out to be, but nearly indigenous people defending their way of life against the
foreign oppressor. There is little doubt that these raiders were skilled fighters and deadly
swordsmen, but they are also expert sailors and builders of formidable vessels of war. These
raiders are not just bandits but a well-organized force that could attack with the precision of
strategy, giving these western colonial forces a run for their lives.
On December 8th, 1720, the Southern regions of Mindanao were occupied by Spanish
soldiers that were then identified as Zamboanga City. It sits at the tip of the Southwest
peninsula of the Philippines that is protected by the city’s Fort Pilar –a ten-meter-high wall that
acted as a defense fortress. The Fort served as the base of operations to check on slave-raiding
going on the north and back.
King Dalasi was the King of Bulig in Maguindanao who led in attacking the Fort Pillar
together with the forces of the Sulu Sultanate; burned the town around the Fort, cut down the
line of provisions for the Spaniards, and began a war against the soldiers inside the Fort.
Dalasi’s raiders fight with a vengeance and desire to rip Zamboanga City off the Spanish
Forces. They really had to suppress the Spanish presence here in the peninsula because the
Fort was their base of operations.
According to some historians, slave raiding happened in the Philippines long before the
Western Powers arrived but it was never widespread productivity. The arrival of the Spanish
and the desire to dominate trade in the region trigger slavery. The Spanish refer to the slave
raiders as Moros. If they weren’t from different tribes, they would challenge the Spanish
authority for occupancy.
The pirates that were described by the Colonial Powers involved activities of different
tribes in the Mindanao Area as well as the Sulu Archipelago. These 3 Muslim Groups were the
Balangingi-Samal Tribe, the Illanuns, and the Taosugs. The Illanuns and Balangingi-Samal
group were both long-standing seafaring communities and would often join forces with the
Taosugs that is known for its fierce warriors. All of the piratical attacks and retaliatory attacks
conducted from Sulu and Maguindanao always carried these contingents.
History also questioned, should these raiders from the south be called “Pirates”? Do
these raiders fight for personal gain or just serving their local, political masters? The
documentary informants stated that “pirates” is misleading because it doesn’t cover raiders and
people who acted on behalf of the state. It was then concluded that the Moro act was an act of
retaliation against the foreign occupier and was sanctioned by the sultanates in the name of a
higher course: Islam.
There was also a certainly great deal of pressure from the South for populations in the
Visayas to become Islamized. But, the presence of the Spanish in the Visayas and Northern
Luzon disrupted the spread of Islam. The Spanish Colonial Administration thought it was their
responsibility to prevent the spread of Islam from the south to the Christianized populations in
the North. They have an impressive empire that their conquest is not only motivated by these
colonies but also by the opportunity to propagate Christianity. Therefore, Christianity deploys
quickly displacing Islam and Indigenous Tribal beliefs.
The Spaniards weren’t concern about what the people in the South were after but rather,
was really more than that they really undermined the commercial interests of the region.
Through this, they gained new power in the region which was exerting its own agendas and its
own influences. However, the Sultanates in the South just wanted to do was to maintain their
power, if not, increase it a little bit more. Both sides use religious ideologies to further influence
and feed their objectives.
Behind the clash of religious doctrines was a more compelling reason for the Spanish to
bring the slave raiders to the hill –the spoils of trade with the orient. Something the Spanish
wanted a full-control of. In many respects, the Spanish wanted to be a part of this exchange in
trade but also wanted to do so in conjunction with the conversion of religious perspective and
mindset and colonization of our Islands.

CONTENT ANALYSIS

The documentary film addressed the resistance of the People in the South, the Moros, from the
Spanish-American Colonial forces in the Southern region of the Philippines.
1. The Moro People are not really pirates or rebels but indigenous people who
demonstrated resistance from the Spanish forces.
2. The most celebrated attack was the December 8th, 1970 attack by King Dalasi.
 3. The Moro act was an act of retaliation against the foreign occupier and was sanctioned
by the sultanates in the name of a higher course: Islam.
4. Spaniards were concerned about the commercial interests of the region and to
propagate Christianity.
5. Slave-raiding was part of the bigger regional trade in the Islands of Southeast Asia.
6. Artifacts originating from China that was found in Butuan City are proof of the great
distances travelled by the Sea farers of Sulu and the trading activities they were involved
in
7. The Western Colonial Ruling sand open-armed conflicts in the Southern region of the
Philippines cause the impoverishment of Muslim Areas economically and religiously.

The Three Muslim Tribes

1. Balangingi-Samal Tribe
The Balangingi, also known Northern Sama or Northern Sinama, is an ethnolinguistic
group living on the Greater Sulu Archipelago and the southern and western coastal regions of
the Zamboanga peninsula in Mindanao. They are mostly found in Lutangan and Olutangga
islands in Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan Island of the Sulu Archipelago, coastal areas of
Zamboanga coast peninsula, and as far north as Luzon; particularly in White Beach near Subic
Bay, Zambales. Balangingis are considered to be part of the larger group of Sama-Badjao and
speak the Balangingi dialect.

In the early nineteenth century, an entire ethnic group, the Samal Balangingi of the Sulu-
Mindanao region, specialized in state-sanctioned maritime raiding, attacking Southeast Asian
coastal settlements and trading vessels. This paper traces the process of the formation of the
Samal Balangingi as an ethnic group comprised of 'pirates' and their captives, and their
continued sense of belonging to the island stronghold of Balangingi, even after its inhabitants
were forcefully resettled between 1848 and 1858. The paper also stresses just how critical the
Spanish resettlement policy directed against the deported Samal Balangingi was for their future
cultural and social life. It highlights the inextricable relationship between maritime raiding,
slavery, forced migration, 'homeland', and cultural identity as being critical factors that led to the
emergence of new ethnicities and diasporas. By highlighting the problems of self-definition and
the reconstruction of identities and the meaning of homeland and lost places, as a revealing
social and psychological process in its own right, the case of the Samal Balangingi challenges
lineal notions of history and bounded static conceptions of 'culture' and ethnic groups that were
imposed, imagined and maintained by Europeans both prior to and after colonization.

2. The Illanuns
The Illanun, called Iranun and Ilianon as well, are closely related culturally and
linguistically to the Maranao and Maguindanaon. The Illanun language is part of the
Austronesian family that is most closely related to Maranao. When the Spaniards left, however,
contact between the Maranao and Illanun decreased.

The majority of Illanun live along the coastline in the of the towns of Nulingi, Parang,
Matanog, and Barira in Maguindanao Province, Mindanao; along the Iliana Bay coast, north of
the mouth of the Pulangi River; and all the way to Sibugay Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and even
the western coastal plain of Borneo. Illanun, a Malay term meaning “pirate,” is appropriate for
the people of this ethnic group, who were once regarded as the fiercest pirates in the Malay
area.

3. The Taosug Tribe

The dominant ethnic group in the Sulu archipelago because of their political and
religious institutions, the Tausug occupy Jolo, Indanan, Siasi, and Patikul in Sulu (ARMM).
There are also scattered settlements in Zamboanga del Sur and Cotabato, and all the way to
Malaysia, which has an estimated Tausug population of more than 110,000.
Tausug is a combination of tau (person) and suug (the old name of Jolo Island). The
present generation of Tausugs are believed to be descended from the different ethnic groups
that had migrated to the Sulu archipelago.
Traditionally the Tausug are sailors, pearl divers and traders, their ancestral homelands
in the Sulu Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow from the Sulu and China Seas to
the Celebes Sea. This translates literally into the name people of the current.
 This native tribe, the first group in the archipelago to be converted to Islam, possess a
courage that is beyond doubt, their bravery is supposed to be unquestionable, therefore the
Tausug are often named Tau Maisug or brave people.
They are proud Muslims renowned for their fierce resistance in the face of Spanish
Conquerors, for 300 years the Tausug and the Spanish were engaged in almost continuous
warfare, which ended when the Spaniards left the Philippines. The Tausug regards themselves
superior to other Philippine Muslims and still live a combative way of life, running away from a
fight is considered shameful. One old Tausug proverb says: Hanggang maybuhay, may pag
asa, meaning; Never admit defeat as long as you live.
The Ancient Maritime Vessels of the Moro People
The Moro People used compasses, browsed telescopes, and the stars to navigate the seas.
They are also knowledgeable about the monsoon of the region and use them to travel
extensively during the month of August and October in a period called “The Pirate Season.”

1. Lanong
Lanong is a large outrigger warship used by the Iranun
and the Banguingui people of the Philippines. It could reach up
to 30 m (98 ft) in length with 6 meters wide hounds, each at
cannons mounted at the bar and had two biped shear masts
which doubled as boarding ladders. It has 24 oars at each side
rowed by captures slaves that served as their flagships.

Each vessel carried a hundred to hundred-fifty men

including a captain, soldiers, slaves to row and captured local
slaves to navigate unknown waters. The vessels were
specialized for naval battles. They were prominently used for
piracy and slave raids from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century in most of Southeast
Asia. Large lanongs were also inaccurately known by the Spanish as joangas or juangas. The
name Lanong is derived from Lanun, an exonym of the Iranun people.

2. Garay
Garay is a traditional native warship of the Banguingui
people in the Philippines. These are the fast-attack boats of
the Samalian Tribes. They were made of Bamboo wood and
Nipa Palm and could carry more than 100 sailors. The ship
was 25 meters long and 6 meters across and hounds the
power magazine and cannon at the barrel. With 30 to 60 oars
in each side, the Garay was faster than any other sea-going
vessel of its time.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, they were commonly
used for piracy by the Banguingui and Iranun people against
unarmed trading ships and raids on coastal settlements in the
regions surrounding the Sulu Sea. They are smaller, faster and more manoeuvrable speeding
boats replaced from the juangas. The name means "scattered" or "wanderer" in the Sama
language of the Banguingui.

3. Salisipan
Kakap (also known as salisipan) is a canoe-
shaped boat which sometimes have outriggers. They
are often used by the Iranun and Banguingui people
of the Philippines for piracy and for raids on coastal
areas. They are usually part of fleets with larger
motherships like pangajava, garay, or lanong
warships. Among Malays, this type of boat is used as
a boat of war or passenger boat. Raiding fleets are
used as auxiliary vessels. These boats were used to collect manpower and ships from friendly
raiding bases along the way; eventually, building a fearsome, organized sea force.

The Ancient Weapons of the Moro People

1. Kalis / Kris
It is a type of double-edged Filipino sword, often with a
"wavy" section The kalis's double-edged blade can be used for both cutting and thrusting. The
sword is more than 300 years old and it was used during the time of the Spanish colonization. It
is a weapon for warfare and servility. It is 2 meters in length and was carried not only by slave
raiders into battle but also nobles and high-ranking officials of southern Sultanates. It’s double-
edge blade is used for easier slashing and penetration to the bone that would stick so it’s very
hard to pull.

2. Barong
Barong or Barung is the one Taosug warriors use to cut off
an M-14 and a carabiner because its blade is thick. It is a deadly
weapon and a sword with a single-edge leaf-shape blade made of
thick type of steel. It is also a 1-meter long weapon that was used
to enclose hand to hand battle to cut Spanish firearms down to
size. This weapon is used by Muslim Filipino ethnolinguistic groups
like the Tausug, Sinama or Yakan in the Southern Philippines.

3. Kampilan
Kampilan is the longest sword that was used by the Illanuns. It is a
heavy, single-edge sword that has two horns projecting from the blunt side
of the tip which was used to pick up the head of the decapitated body. The
Kampilan has a distinct profile, with the tapered blade being much broader
and thinner at the point than at its base, sometimes with a protruding
spikelet along the flat side of the tip and a bifurcated hilt which is believed
to represent a mythical creature's open mouth. At about 36 to 40 inches
(90 to 100 cm) long, it is much larger than other Filipino swords.

4. Armor
The armor was made from carabao horn. Its steel plate was molded to fit the body
and held together by chain mail. It could also deflect the blows from a sword but useless
against firearms.

The Ancient Weapons of the Spanish Forces

1. Musket
The musket could fire 90 meters. It was inaccurate and took
several stages steps to reload.

2. Cannons
It is a type of gun classified as artillery that launches a
projectile using propellant. In the past, gunpowder was the primary
propellant before the invention of smokeless powder in the 19th century.
Cannons vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and
firepower. Different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes
in varying degrees, depending on their intended use on the battlefield.

The Fort Pilar of Zamboanga City

Zamboanga City sits at the tip of the Southwest peninsula of the
Philippines that is protected by the city’s Fort Pilar –a ten-meter-high wall that acted as a
defense fortress. The Fort served as the base of operations to check on slave-raiding going on
the north and back.