REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

TAGUDIN CAMPUS
TAGUDIN, ILOCOS SUR

READINGS IN
PHILIPPINE
HISTORY

FINALS

Prepared By:
DELAILA MAE L. LAGARTEJA
Instructor
 FINALS
RIZAL’S RETRACTION
Jose Rizal is identified as a hero of the revolution for his writing s that center on
ending colonialism and liberating Filipino minds to contribute to creating the Filipino
nation. The great volume of Rizal’s lifework was committed to this end, particularly
the more influential ones Noli Me Tangere ad El Filibusterismo. His essays vilify not
the Catholic religion, but the friars, the main agents of injustice in the Philippine
society.
Primary source: Rizal’s Retraction
There are four iterations of the texts of this retraction: the first was published in
La Voz Española and Diario de Manila on the day of the execution 30 December
1896. The second text appeared in Barcelona, Spain, in the magazine La Juventud,
a few moments after the execution, 14 February 1897, from an anonymous writer
who was later revealed to be Fr. Vicente Balaguer. However, the “original” text was
only found in the archdiocesan archives on 18 May 1935, after the most four
decades of disappearance.
The Balaguer Testimony
Doubts on the retraction document abound, especially because only one
eyewitness account of the writing of the document exists – that of the Jesuit friar Fr.
Vicente Balaguer. According to his testimony, Rizal woke up several times,
confessed four times, attended a Mass, received communion, and prayed the rosary,
all of which seemed out of character. But since it is the only testimony of allegedly a
“primary” account that Rizal ever wrote a retraction document, it has been used to
argue the authenticity of the document.
The testimony of Cuerpo de Vigilancia
Another eyewitness account surfaced in 2016, through the research of Professor
Rene R. Escalante. In his research, documents of the Cuerpo de Vigilancia included
a report on the last hours of Rizal, written by Federico Moreno. The report details the
statement of Cuerpo de Vigilancia.
The retraction of Rizal remains to this day, a controversy; many scholars,
however, agree that the document does not tarnish the heroism of Rizal. His
relevance remained solidified to Filipinos and pushed to continue the revolution,
which eventually resulted in independence in 1898.

Analysis of Rizal's Retraction

At least four texts of Rizal’s retraction have surfaced. The fourth text appeared in El
Imparcial on the day after Rizal’s execution; it is the short formula of the retraction.
The first text was published in La Voz Española and Diaro de Manila on the very day
of Rizal’s execution, Dec. 30, 1896. The second text appeared in Barcelona, Spain,
on February 14, 1897, in the fortnightly magazine in La Juventud; it came from an
anonymous writer who revealed himself fourteen years later as Fr. Balaguer. The
"original" text was discovered in the archdiocesan archives on May 18, 1935, after it
disappeared for thirty-nine years from the afternoon of the day when Rizal was shot.
We know not that reproductions of the lost original had been made by a copyist who
could imitate Rizal’s handwriting. This fact is revealed by Fr. Balaguer himself who,
in his letter to his former superior Fr. Pio Pi in 1910, said that he had received "an
exact copy of the retraction written and signed by Rizal. The handwriting of this copy
I don’t know nor do I remember whose it is. . ." He proceeded: "I even suspect that it
might have been written by Rizal himself. I am sending it to you that you may . . .
verify whether it might be of Rizal himself . . . ." Fr. Pi was not able to verify it in his
sworn statement.
This "exact" copy had been received by Fr. Balaguer in the evening immediately
preceding Rizal’s execution, Rizal y su Obra, and was followed by Sr. W. Retana in
his biography of Rizal, Vida y Escritos del Jose Rizal with the addition of the names
of the witnesses taken from the texts of the retraction in the Manila newspapers. Fr.
Pi’s copy of Rizal’s retraction has the same text as that of Fr. Balaguer’s "exact"
copy but follows the paragraphing of the texts of Rizal’s retraction in the Manila
newspapers.
Regarding the "original" text, no one claimed to have seen it, except the publishers
of La Voz Espanola. That newspaper reported: "Still more; we have seen and read
his (Rizal’s) own hand-written retraction which he sent to our dear and venerable
Archbishop…" On the other hand, Manila pharmacist F. Stahl wrote in a letter:
"besides, nobody has seen this written declaration, in spite of the fact that quite a
number of people would want to see it.”For example, not only Rizal’s family but also
the correspondents in Manila of the newspapers in Madrid, Don Manuel Alhama of El
Imparcial and Sr. Santiago Mataix of El Heraldo, were not able to see the hand-
written retraction.
Neither Fr. Pi nor His Grace the Archbishop ascertained whether Rizal himself was
the one who wrote and signed the retraction. (Ascertaining the document was
necessary because it was possible for one who could imitate Rizal’s handwriting
aforesaid holograph; and keeping a copy of the same for our archives, I myself
delivered it personally that the same morning to His Grace Archbishop… His Grace
testified: At once the undersigned entrusted this holograph to Rev. Thomas
Gonzales Feijoo, secretary of the Chancery." After that, the documents could not be
seen by those who wanted to examine it and was finally considered lost after efforts
to look for it proved futile.
On May 18, 1935, the lost "original" document of Rizal’s retraction was discovered
by the archdiocesan archivist Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. The discovery, instead of
ending doubts about Rizal’s retraction, has in fact encouraged it because the newly
discovered text retraction differs significantly from the text found in the Jesuits’ and
the Archbishop’s copies. And, the fact that the texts of the retraction which appeared
in the Manila newspapers could be shown to be the exact copies of the "original" but
only imitations of it. This means that the friars who controlled the press in Manila (for
example, La Voz Española) had the "original" while the Jesuits had only the
imitations.

We now proceed to show the significant differences between the "original" and the
Manila newspapers texts of the retraction on the one hand and the text s of the
copies of Fr. Balaguer and F5r. Pio Pi on the other hand.
First, instead of the words "mi cualidad" (with "u") which appear in the original and
the newspaper texts, the Jesuits’ copies have "mi calidad" (with "u").
Second, the Jesuits’ copies of the retraction omit the word "Catolica" after the first
"Iglesias" which are found in the original and the newspaper texts.
Third, the Jesuits’ copies of the retraction add before the third "Iglesias" the word
"misma" which is not found in the original and the newspaper texts of the retraction.
Fourth, with regards to paragraphing which immediately strikes the eye of the critical
reader, Fr. Balaguer’s text does not begin the second paragraph until the fifth
sentences while the original and the newspaper copies start the second paragraph
immediately with the second sentences.
Fifth, whereas the texts of the retraction in the original and in the manila newspapers
have only four commas, the text of Fr. Balaguer’s copy has eleven commas.
Sixth, the most important of all, Fr. Balaguer’s copy did not have the names of the
witnesses from the texts of the newspapers in Manila.
In his notarized testimony twenty years later, Fr. Balaguer finally named the
witnesses. He said "This . . . retraction was signed together with Dr. Rizal by Señor
Fresno, Chief of the Picket, and Señor Moure, Adjutant of the Plaza." However, the
proceeding quotation only proves itself to be an addition to the original. Moreover, in
his letter to Fr. Pi in 1910, Fr. Balaguer said that he had the "exact" copy of the
retraction, which was signed by Rizal, but she made no mention of the witnesses. In
his accounts too, no witnesses signed the retraction.

How did Fr. Balaguer obtain his copy of Rizal’s retraction? Fr. Balaguer never
alluded to having himself made a copy of the retraction although he claimed that the
Archbishop prepared a long formula of the retraction and Fr. Pi a short formula. In Fr.
Balaguer’s earliest account, it is not yet clear whether Fr. Balaguer was using the
long formula of nor no formula in dictating to Rizal what to write. According to Fr. Pi,
in his own account of Rizal’s conversion in 1909, Fr. Balaguer dictated from Fr. Pi’s
short formula previously approved by the Archbishop. In his letter to Fr. Pi in 1910,
Fr. Balaguer admitted that he dictated to Rizal the short formula prepared by Fr. Pi;
however; he contradicts himself when he revealed that the "exact" copy came from
the Archbishop. The only copy, which Fr. Balaguer wrote, is the one that appeared
ion his earliest account of Rizal’s retraction.
Where did Fr. Balaguer’s "exact" copy come from? We do not need long arguments
to answer this question, because Fr. Balaguer himself has unwittingly answered this
question. He said in his letter to Fr. Pi in 1910:
"…I preserved in my keeping and am sending to you the original texts of the two
formulas of retraction, which they (You) gave me; that from you and that of the
Archbishop, and the first with the changes which they (that is, you) made; and the
other the exact copy of the retraction written and signed by Rizal. The handwriting of
this copy I don’t know nor do I remember whose it is, and I even suspect that it might
have been written by Rizal himself."
In his own word quoted above, Fr. Balaguer said that he received two original texts
of the retraction. The first, which came from Fr. Pi, contained "the changes which
You (Fr. Pi) made"; the other, which is "that of the Archbishop" was "the exact copy
of the retraction written and signed by Rizal" (underscoring supplied). Fr. Balaguer
said that the "exact copy" was "written and signed by Rizal" but he did not say
"written and signed by Rizal and himself" (the absence of the reflexive pronoun
"himself" could mean that another person-the copyist-did not). He only "suspected"
that "Rizal himself" much as Fr. Balaguer did "not know nor ... remember" whose
handwriting it was.
Thus, according to Fr. Balaguer, the "exact copy" came from the Archbishop! He
called it "exact" because, not having seen the original himself, he was made to
believe that it was the one that faithfully reproduced the original in comparison to that
of Fr. Pi in which "changes" (that is, where deviated from the "exact" copy) had been
made. Actually, the difference between that of the Archbishop (the "exact" copy) and
that of Fr. Pi (with "changes") is that the latter was "shorter" be cause it omitted
certain phrases found in the former so that, as Fr. Pi had fervently hoped, Rizal
would sign it.
According to Fr. Pi, Rizal rejected the long formula so that Fr. Balaguer had to
dictate from the short formula of Fr. Pi. Allegedly, Rizal wrote down what was
dictated to him but he insisted on adding the phrases "in which I was born and
educated" and "[Masonary]" as the enemy that is of the Church" – the first of which
Rizal would have regarded as unnecessary and the second as downright contrary to
his spirit. However, what actually would have happened, if we are to believe the
fictitious account, was that Rizal’s addition of the phrases was the retoration of the
phrases found in the original which had been omitted in Fr. Pi’s short formula.

The "exact" copy was shown to the military men guarding in Fort Santiago to
convince them that Rizal had retracted. Someone read it aloud in the hearing of
Capt. Dominguez, who claimed in his "Notes’ that Rizal read aloud his retraction.
However, his copy of the retraction proved him wrong because its text (with "u") and
omits the word "Catolica" as in Fr. Balaguer’s copy but which are not the case in the
original. Capt. Dominguez never claimed to have seen the retraction: he only
"heard".
The truth is that, almost two years before his execution, Rizal had written a retraction
in Dapitan. Very early in 1895, Josephine Bracken came to Dapitan with her adopted
father who wanted to be cured of his blindness by Dr. Rizal; their guide was Manuela
Orlac, who was agent and a mistress of a friar. Rizal fell in love with Josephine and
wanted to marry her canonically but he was required to sign a profession of faith and
to write retraction, which had to be approved by the Bishop of Cebu. "Spanish law
had established civil marriage in the Philippines," Prof. Craig wrote, but the local
government had not provided any way for people to avail themselves of the right..."
In order to marry Josephine, Rizal wrote with the help of a priest a form of retraction
to be approved by the Bishop of Cebu. This incident was revealed by Fr. Antonio
Obach to his friend Prof. Austin Craig who wrote down in 1912 what the priest had
told him; "The document (the retraction), inclosed with the priest’s letter, was ready
for the mail when Rizal came hurrying I to reclaim it." Rizal realized (perhaps, rather
late) that he had written and given to a priest what the friars had been trying by all
means to get from him.
Neither the Archbishop nor Fr. Pi saw the original document of retraction. What they
was saw a copy done by one who could imitate Rizal’s handwriting while the original
(almost eaten by termites) was kept by some friars. Both the Archbishop and Fr. Pi
acted innocently because they did not distinguish between the genuine and the
imitation of Rizal’s handwriting.

Retraction ni Jose Rizal: Mga bagong dokumento at pananaw

Published December 29, 2016 7:05pm
By XIAO CHUA
There seems to be no end to the debate whether Rizal retracted his writings against
the Catholic Church on the very last day of his life. Will a new independent testimony
settle the debate finally?
Ayon sa ilan, si Jose Rizal, na pinaslang ng mga kolonyalistang Espanyol 120 years
ago, December 30, 1896, ay naging bayani dahil sa kanyang mga sinulat upang
wasakin ang ideya ng kolonyalismo at palayain ang isip natin upang mabuo ang
bansa—ang Noli Me Tangere at El Filibusterismo at ang kanyang mga sanaysay sa
La Solidaridad, na kumuwestiyon sa mga paniniwalang nakabubulag sa atin, lalo na
ang pagsunod sa kagustuhan ng mga prayle bilang sugo ng Diyos.
Ngunit, ilang oras bago siya barilin, pinirmahan daw ni Rizal ang isang dokumento
na nagsasabing siya raw ay isang Katoliko at binabawi niya lahat ng kanyang mga
sinulat laban sa simbahan. Nakilala ang dokumento bilang ang retraktasyon, “The
Retraction.” Dahil sa kanyang pagbabalik-loob sa simbahan, ikinasal sila ni
Josephine Bracken, ang kanyang huling pag-ibig.
Ang sinasabing retraktasyon ni Rizal. Courtesy Ambeth R. Ocampo

Salin ng dokumento ng retraktasyon

Exercise. Click the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj83eZR3BpM and watch
the video entitled Retraction of Rizal. Make your reaction and write your stand
regarding the retraction of Rizal. Do you think Rizal retracted everything he made
throughout his life? Do all his achievements and contribution to our freedom matters
to you and your constituents? Place your answer on a separate sheet of clean paper.

WHERE DID THE CRY OF REBELLION HAPPEN?

Momentous events swept the Spanish colonies in the late 19 th century, including
the Philippines. Journalists of the time referred to the phrase “El Grito de Rebelion”
or “Cry of Rebellion” to mark the start of these revolutionary events, identifying the
places where it happened. In the Philippines, this happened in August 1896,
northeast of Manila, where they declared rebellion against the Spanish colonial
government. These events are important markers in the history of colonies that
struggled for their independence against their colonizers.
The controversy regarding this event stems from the identification of the date
and place where the Cry happened. Prominent Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo
emphasizes the event when Bonifacio tore the cedula or tax receipt before the
Katipuneros who also did the same.

Different Date and Places of the Cry

Various accounts give differing dates and places for the Cry. An officer of the
Spanish guardia civil, Lt. Olegario Diaz, stated that the Cry took place in Balintawak
on August 25, 1896. Historian Teodoro Kalaw in his 1925 book The Filipino
Revolution wrote that the event took place during the last week of August 1896 at
Kangkong, Balintawak. Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez,
the leader of the Magdiwang faction in Cavite, stated in 1927 that the Cry took place
in Bahay Toro, now in Quezon City on August 24, 1896. Pío Valenzuela, a close
associate of Andrés Bonifacio, declared in 1948 that it happened in Pugad Lawin on
August 23, 1896. Historian Gregorio Zaide stated in his books in 1954 that the "Cry"
happened in Balintawak on August 26, 1896. Fellow historian Teodoro
Agoncillo wrote in 1956 that it took place in Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896, based
on Pío Valenzuela's statement. Accounts by historians Milagros Guerrero,
Emmanuel Encarnacion and Ramon Villegas claim the event to have taken place
in Tandang Sora's barn in Gulod, Barangay Banlat, Quezon City.
Some of the apparent confusion is in part due to the double meanings of the terms
"Balintawak" and "Caloocan" at the turn of the century. Balintawak referred both to a
specific place in modern Caloocan City and a wider area which included parts of
modern Quezon City. Similarly, Caloocan referred to modern Caloocan City and also
a wider area which included modern Quezon City and part of modern Pasig. Pugad
Lawin, Pasong Tamo, Kangkong and other specific places were all in "greater
Balintawak", which was in turn part of "greater Caloocan".

Exercise. My Side.
Choose your side between Pugad Lawin and Balintawak. Make your consolidated
statements on which side you will defend. You may use ideas, facts, concrete
evidences cited in the internet to supplement your statements. Place you works on a
clean sheet of paper.

Exercise. My Scrapbook
The Filipino people’s resistance against colonial oppression was indeed
admirable. They organized their ranks and offered their time, talents and lives in
defense of our country.
How do Filipinos express their bravery and love of country today?
Make a scrapbook that shows the Filipino’s sense bravery, unity and
nationalism. Identify several historical and current issues that show steadfast
Filipinos are fighting for people’s rights and welfare. Put also your picture as a
student who always face the challenges of education everyday.

Exercise. Letter of Revolution

Let us say that you joined the revolutionary movement against the Spaniards.
Write the letter to your parents, family or friends to explain the following:
1. The reason why joined the Katipunan
2. The significance of your joining the organization; and
3. Your message to the next generation of Filipinos.
 IV. SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, and CULTURAL ISSUES in
PHILIPPINE HISTORY

THE EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION

The constitution is defined as a set of fundamental principles or established
precedents according to which a state or organization is governed.
The Constitution of the Philippines, the supreme law of the Republic of the
Philippines, has been in effect since 1987. There were only three other constitutions
that have effectively governed the country: the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution,
the 1973 Constitution and the 1987 Constitution.
1897: Constitution of Biak-na-Bato
The Constitution of Biak-na-Bato was the provisionary Constitution of the
Philippine Revolution and was promulgated by the Philippine Revolutionary
Government on November 1, 1897.
The organs of the government were:
1. The Supreme Council – vested with the power of the Republic, headed by
the president and 4 department secretaries: the interior, foreign affairs, treasury and
war.
2. Consejo Supremo de Gracia Y Justicia or Supreme Council of Grace
and Justice
- was given the authority to make decisions and affirm or disprove the
sentences rendered by the other courts and dictates rules for the administration of
justice
3. Asemblea de Representantes or Assembly of Representatives
- which was to convened after the revolution to create a new Constitution and to
elect a new Council of Government and Representatives of the people.

The Constitution of Biak-na-Bato was never fully implemented, since a truce,

the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, was signed between the Spanish and the Philippine
Revolutionary Army.

1899: Malolos Constitution

June 12, 1898
- The Philippine Declaration of Independence was issued on, together with
several decrees that formed the First Philippine Republic. The Malolos Congress
was elected, which selected a commission to draw up the draft constitution on
September 17, 1898.
November 29, 1898
- the new constitution was approved by the Congress and promulgated by
Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899 and was titled “The Political Constitution of
1899” .
  It has 39 articles divided into 14 titles, with 8 articles of transitory provisions
and a final additional article.
 It was patterned after the Spanish Constitution of 1812
Felipe Calderon was the main author of the constitution

Executive power was vested in the president, and elected by a constituent

assembly of the Assembly of the Representatives and special representatives. The
president will serve a term of four years without re-election. There was no vice
president, and in case of a vacancy, a president was to be selected by the
constituent assembly.
The 1899 Malolos Constitution was never enforced due to the ongoing war.

1935: The Commonwealth Constitution

Philippine Organic Act of 1902

– the first organic law for the Philippine Islands that provided for the creation of a
popularly elected Philippine Assembly.
- specified that legislative power would be vested in a bicameral legislature
composed of the Philippine Commission as the upper house and Philippine
Assembly as lower house.
Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916/ Jones Law
- modified the structure of the Philippine government through the removal of
Philippine Commission, replacing it with a Senate.
Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act of 1932
- it was passed by the US Congress with the promise of granting the Filipinos’
independence but later rejected by the Philippine Senate.
Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934/ Philippine Independence Act
- an acct the provided the authority and defined mechanisms for the
establishment of a formal constitution by a *constitutional convention. The
convention held their first meeting on July 30, 1934 with Claro M. Recto as the
president.

 The bicameral Congress composed of a Senate and a House of

Representatives.
 Limited the term of the president and vice president to four years, with on re-
election.
 Rights to suffrage were originally afforded to male citizens who are 21 years
old or over and are able to read and write; this was later to women after 2
years.

February 8, 1935
- the draft of the constitution was approved by the constitution convention.
March 25, 1935
- it was ratified by US President Franklin Roosevelt
Manuel L. Quezon was elected President of the Commonwealth.
1973: Constitutional Authoritarianism
1965
- Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected president
1965
- Philippine Congress passed a resolution calling for a constitutional convention
to change the 1935 Constitution
November 20 1970
- the elections of the delegates to the constitutional convention were held and
Carlos P. Garcia was elected as convention president.
November 29, 1972
- the convention approved its proposed constitution.

 Legislative power was vested in a unicameral National Assembly with six-year

term
 The president was to be elected as the symbolic and ceremonial head of the
state chosen from the members of the National Assembly. The president would
serve a six-year term and cold be re-elected to unlimited number of terms.
 Executive power was relegated to the Prime Minister, who was also the head
of the government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces who was also to
be elected by the National Assembly.

November 30, 1973

- Pres. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 73 setting the date of plebiscite
to ratify or reject the proposed constitution.
January 17, 1973
- Pres. Marcos issued a proclamat0ion announcing that the proposed
constitution had been ratified by an overwhelming vote from the Citizen Assemblies.

After all the amendments introduced, the 1973 Constitution was merely a way for
the President to keep executive powers, abolish the Senate, and by any means,
never acted as a parliamentary system, instead functioned as an authoritarian
presidential system, with all the real power concentrated in the hands of the
president,, with the backing of the constitution.

1987: Constitution after Martial Law

March 1986
- President Aquino proclaimed a transitional constitution and was called
“Freedom Constitution”
February 2, 1987
- a new constitution was officially adopted

 The executive branch is headed by the president and his cabinet.

 The president is the head of the state and the chief executive. In cases of
national emergency, the president may still declare martial law, but no longer
than 60 days
 Congress, through a majority vote, can revoke or extend the decision for a
period that they determine.
  The president and the vice president are elected at large by a direct vote
serving a six-year term.
 The veto power or stopping a bill from becoming a law is also given to the
president.
 The legislative power resides in a Congress divided into two Houses: The
Senate and the House of Representatives
 The 24 senators are elected at large by popular votes and can serve not more
than two consecutive six-year terms.
 The House is composed of district representatives representing a particular
geographic area and makes up around 80% of the total number of
representatives.
 There are 234 legislative districts in the Philippines that elect their
representatives to serve three-year terms.
 The party-list system was created to provide spaces for the participation of the
under-represented community sectors or groups. They may fill up not more
than 20% of the seats in the House.
 The Congress may also declare war, through a 2/3 vote of both upper and
lower houses.
 The Congress may only override the veto power of the president with 2/3 vote
in both houses.

 The Philippine Court system is vested with the power of the judiciary, and
composed of a Supreme Court and lower courts.
 The Supreme Court is a 15-member court appointed by the president and
the list of nominees are provided by the Judicial and Bar Council.
 The Supreme Court Justices may hear, on appeal, any cases dealing with
constitutionally of any of law, treaty or decree of the government.


3 independent Constitutional Commissions:

1. Civil Service Commission
- a central agency in charge of the government personnel
2. Commission on Elections
- mandated to enforce and administer all election laws and regulations
3. Commission on Audit
- examines all funds, transactions, and property accounts of the government
and its agencies.

 The Office of the Ombudsman was created to investigate complaints that

pertain to public corruption, unlawful behavior of public officials and other public
misconduct.
 The Ombudsman can also charge public officials before the Sadiganbayan.
 Only the House of Representatives can initiate the impeachment of the
president, members of the Supreme Court and other constitutionally protected public
officials such as Ombudsman. The Senate will the try the impeachment case.

Presently, with the changing political landscape in the country, there are calls
for as constitutional convention that aims to change the form of the government from
unitary to federal. Other proposals espouse for a change from presidential to
parliamentary form.

Past administrations after President Aquino attempted to change the form of

the government although these attempts were not actualized. Presently, the
administration of President Rodrigo Duterte leads the campaign for constitutional
change as one of its core government policies.
Federalism in the Philippines was supported by President Duterte in the 2016
presidential elections, saying that it will evenly distribute wealth in the Philippines
instead of concentrating in Manila, the capital of the country. As a form of
government, a central governing authority and constituent political units
constitutionally share sovereignty. Applied to the Philippines, the country will be
broken into autonomous regions. Each region will further divided into local
government units. The regions will have the primary responsibility of industry
development, public safety and instruction, education, healthcare, transportation
and many more. Each region will also take charge of their own finances, plans for
development and laws exclusive to their area. The national government, on the
other hand, will only handle matters of national interest such as foreign policy and
defense, among others. In this system, it is possible for the central government
and the regions to share certain powers.

Our current system is that of a unitary form, where administrative powers and
resources are concentrated in the national government. Mayors and governors
would have to rely on allocation provided to them through a proposed budget that
is also approved by the national government, a system prone to abuse.

There are many pros to a federal form of government. Each region may custom fit
solutions to problems brought about by their distinct geographic, cultural, social
and economic concepts. Regions also have more power over their finances, since
they handle majority of their income and only contributes to a small portion to the
national government. They can choose to directly fund their own development
projects without asking for the national government’s go signal. A federal system
could also promote specialization, since the national government could focus on
nationwide concerns while regional governments can take care of administrative
issues.

A federal form of government could also solve a lot of decade-old problems of the
country. It may be a solution to the conflict in Mindanao, since a separate
Bangsamoro region could be established for Muslim Mindanao. it could address
the inequality in wealth distribution and lessen the dependence to Metro Manila,
since regions can proceed with what they have to do without needing to consider
the situation in the capital.

There are also cons to federalism. While it creates competition among regions, it
could be a challenge to achieving unity in the country. There might be regions
which are not ready to govern themselves, or have lesser resources, which could
mire them deeper in poverty and make development uneven in the country. There
could be issues regarding overlaps in jurisdiction, since ambiguities may arise
where national ends and regional begins, or vice versa. As a proposed solution to
the conflict in the Mindanao, we must also remember that the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has already been created and the conflicts still
continues. Federalism may not be enough for those who clamor separation.

Any effort to shift the system of government also entails costs, and it would not be
cheap. It would cost billions to dismantle the current system and would take a long
time before the system normalizes and irons out it kinks.

Exercise.
A. Instructions: Answer the following questions.
1. What does it take to be a perfect leader? You may use online resources to
enrich your answer.
2. Using the leadership criterion you discussed in the first question, in 100-500
words justify who among the following three Filipino heroes deserves to be
called the “true” Philippine national hero
a. Dr. Jose P. Rizal
b. Gat. Andres Bonifacio
c. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo

B. Song Analysis
Bayan Ko
Ang Bayan kong Pilipinas
Pilipinas ang pangalan
Perlas ng Silanganan sa taglay niyang kariktan
Ngunit sawimplad sa minimithing paglaya
Laging lumuluha sa pagdaralita

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas

Lupainng ginto’t bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda’t dilag
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko binihag ka nasadlak sa dusa

Ibon man may layang lumipad

Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang di makaalpas
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha at dalita
Aking adhika, Makita kang sakdal laya

Kay sarap mabuhay sa sariling bayan

Kung walang alipin at may kalayaan
Ang bayang sinisikil
Babangon lalaban din
And Silanga’y pupula sa hudyat ng paglaya.
Questions:
1. What is the message of the song?
2. Explain the meaning of the following lines: Ang bayang sinisikil, babangon
lalaban din, ang Silanga’y pupula sa hudyat ng paglaya”.

Exercise. The Preamble

Make a video of yourself reciting the Preamble and give your understanding
about it. Send the video private to the messenger platform.
POLICIES ON AGRARIAN REFORM

Agrarian Reform is essentially the rectification of the whole system of

agriculture, an important aspect of the Philippine economy because nearly half of the
population is employed in the agricultural sector, and most citizens in the rural areas.
Agrarian reform is centered on the relationship between production and distribution
of land among farmers. It is also focused on the political and economic class
character of the relationship of the production and distribution in farming and related
enterprises.

Landownership in the Philippines under Spain

Families were not allowed town their land – the King of Spain owned the land,
and Filipinos were assigned to these lands to cultivate them, and paid their colonial
tributes to the Spanish authorities in the form of agricultural products.a

Later on, through Law of the Indies, the Spanish crown awarded tracts of
land to (1) religious orders; (2) repartamientos of Spanish military as reward for their
service; (3) Spanish encomienderos, those mandated to manage the encomienda of
the lands given to them, were Filipinos worked paid their tributes to the
encomendero. Filipinos were given the right to own land, and only worked in them so
that they might have a share of the crops and pay tribute. The encomienda system
was an unfair and abusive system as “comras y vandallas” became the norm of the
Filipino farmers working the land – they were made to sell their products at a very
low price or surrender their products to the enecomenderos , who resold this as a
profit.

From this encomienda system the hacienda system developed in the

beginning of the 19th century as the Spanish government implemented policies that
would fast track the entry of the colony into the capitalist world. The economy was
tied to the world market as the Philippines became an exporter of raw materials and
importer of goods. Agricultural export were demanded and the hacienda system was
developed as a new form of ownership. In the 1860’s, Spain enacted a law ordering
landholders to register their landhloldings, and those who knew benefitted from this.
Lands were claimed and registered in other people’s names, and many peasants=
families who were “assigned” to the land in the earlier days of colonization were drive
out or forced to come under the power of these people who claimed rights to the land
because they held a title.

This is primary reason why revolts in the Philippines were often agrarian in
nature. Before the colonization, Filipinos had communal ownership of land. The
system introduced by the Spaniards became a bitter source of hatred and discontent
for the Filipinos. Religious orders, the biggest landowners in the Philippines also
became a main source of abuse and exploitation for the Filipinos, increasing the rent
paid by the Filipinos in a whim.

Landownership under the Americans

Landownership did not improve during the American period; in fact, it even
worsened, because there was no limit to the size of landholding people could
possess and the accessibility of possession was limited to those who could afford to
buy, register, and acquire fixed property titles. Not all friar lands acquired by the
Americans were given to the landless peasant farmers. Some lands were sold or
leased to American and Filipino business interest. This early land reform program
was also implemented without support mechanisms – if a landless peasant farmer
receive land, he only receive land, nothing more. Many were forced to return to
tenancy and wealthy Filipino hacienderos purchased or forcefully took over lands
from the farmers who could not afford to pay their debts. The system introduced by
the Americans enabled more lands to be placed under tenancy, which led to
widespread peasant uprisings, such as Colorum and Sakdal Uprising in Luzon.
Peasants and workers found refuge from millenarian movements that gave them
hope that change could still happen through militancy.

Declaration of Policy under RA No. 3844 or Agricultural Land Reform Code (D.
Macapagal)

Section 2, Declaration of Policy – It is the policy of the State:

1) To establish owner-cultivatorship and the economic family-size farm as the

basis of Philippine agriculture and , as consequence, divert landlord capital in
agriculture to industrial development;
2) To achieved a dignified existence for small farmers free from pernicious
institutional restraints and practices;
3) To create a truly viable social and economic structure in the agriculture
conducive to greater productivity and higher farm incomes.
4) To apply labor laws equally and without discrimination to both industrial and
agricultural wage earners;
5) To provide a more vigorous and systematic land resettlement program and
public land distribution; and
6) To make the small farmers more independent, self-reliant and responsible
citizens, and a source of genuine strength in our democratic society.

This code abolished share tenancy in the Philippines and prescribed a

program to convert tenant-farmers to lessees and later on owner-cultivators. It also
aimed to free tenants from tenancy and emphasized owner-cultivatorship and farmer
independence, equity, productivity improvement, and public land distribution.

Agrarian Reform Efforts under Marcos

 President Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, enabling him to essentially
wipe out the landlord-dominated Congress. Through his “technocrats” he was able to
expand executive power to start a “fundamental restructuring” of government,
including its efforts is solving the deep structural problems of the countryside.
Presidential Decree no. 27 or the Code of Agrarian Reform of the Philippines
became the core of agrarian reform during Marcos regime.

Presidential Decree no. 27, 21 October 1972

This shall apply to tenant farmers of private agricultural lands primarily devoted to
rice and corn under a system of sharecrop or lease tenancy, whether classified as
landed estate or not;

The tenant farmer, whether in land classified as landed estate or not, shall be
deemed owner of a portion constituting a family-size farm of five (5) hectares if not
irrigated and three (3) hectares if irrigated;

In all cases, the landowner may retain an area of not more than seven (7) hectares if
such landowner is cultivating such area or will now cultivate it;

For the purpose of determining the cost of the land to be transferred to the tenant-
farmer pursuant to this Decree, the value of the land shall be equivalent to two and
one half (2 ½) times the average harvest of three normal crop years immediately
preceding the promulgation of this Decree;

The total cost of the land, including interest at the rate of six (6) per centum per
annum, shall be paid by the tenant in 15 years of 15 equal annual amortizations;

In case of default the amortization due shall be paid by the farmers’ cooperative in
which the defaulting tenant-farmer is a member, with the cooperative having a right
of recourse against him;

The government shall guaranty such amortizations with shares of stock in

government-owned and government-controlled corporations;

No title to the land owned by the tenant-farmers under this Decree shall be actually
issued to a tenant-farmer unless and until the tenant-farmer has become a full-fledge
member a duly recognized farmer’s cooperative.

Title to the land acquired pursuant to this Decree or the Land Reform Program of the
Government shall not be transferable except b hereditary succession or to the
Government in accordance with the provisions of this Decree, the Code of Agrarian
Reforms and other existing laws and regulations;

The Department of Agrarian Reform through its Secretary is hereby empowered to

promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of this decree.
Post-1986 Agrarian Reform

On July 22 1987, Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive

Order 229, which outlined her land reform program. In 1988, the Congress passed
Republic Act No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) which
introduced the program with the same name (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program. It enabled the redistribution of agricultural lands to tenant-farmers from
landowners, who were paid in exchange by the government through just
compensation and allowed them to retain not more than five hectares. Corporate
landowners were, however, allowed under law to voluntarily divest a proportion of
their capital stock, equity, or participation in favor of their workers or other qualified
beneficiaries instead of turning over their land to the government.

Under the term of President Ramos, CARP implementation was speeded in

order to meet the ten-year time frame, despite limitations and constraints in funding,
logistics, and preparation of involved sectors. By 1996, the Department of Agrarian
Reform distributed only 58.25% of the total area target to be covered by the
program. To address the lacking funding and the dwindling tie for the implementation
of CARP, Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8532 in 1998 to amend CARL and extend
the program to another 10 years.

Currently, in 2018, agrarian issues continuously plague the country and the
implementation of genuine agrarian reform program is still a dream for Filipino
farmers. Administrations after Aquino promised to facilitate and speed up actual land
distribution programs but to no avail.

The failure of the government to establish a genuine agrarian reform program

can be rooted to the fact that any government officials have vested interests. They
themselves do not want to redistribute land to farmers because they may have
connections with the landed elites. In addition, there is no inventory of the actual
lands that are subjected to the redistribution program. Uncontested lands are easily,
distributable. However, contested lands are expected to be protected by the local
landed elite to ensure that these lands will not be subjected to any agrarian reform
program

Exercise. Understanding the Agrarian reform.

Approach your parent or grandparent who knows Agrarian reform during the
Marcos and C. Aquino Administration. Let them tell story about the story of agrarian
reform during the mentioned administration. Ask them also what were the problems
or hindrances they face during that time. Write your reaction regarding the story of
your resource person. Take a photo of your resource person telling his/her story.
Place it on a separate sheet of bond paper.

Exercise. Tracking it down.

 Assess the history of the administrations of the country and trace what they
promised to do about agrarian reform, the setbacks they faced, and how much they
accomplished in terms of agrarian reform. Write a reflection on what needs to be
done to improve the condition of farmers.
 EVOLUTION OF PHILIPPINE TAXATION

In today’s world, taxation is a reality that all citizens must contend with for the
primary reason that governments raise revenue from the people they govern to be
able to function fully. In exchange for the taxes that people pay, the government
promises to improve the citizen’s lives through good governance. Taxation, as a
government mechanism to raise funds, developed and evolved through time, and in
the context of the Philippines, we must understand that it came with our colonial
experience.

Taxation in Spanish Philippines

The Philippines may have abundant natural resources even before the
encroachment of the Spaniards, but our ancestors were mainly involved in a
subsistence economy, and while the payment of tribute or taxes
(buhis/buwis/handug) or the obligation to provide labor services to the datus in some
early Filipino communities in the Philippines may resemble taxation, it is essentially
different from the contemporary meaning of the concept.

The arrival of the Spaniards altered this subsistence system because they
imposed the payment of tributos (tributes) from the Filipinos, similar to what had
been practiced in all colonies in America. The purpose is to generate resources to
finance the maintenance of the islands, such as salaries of government officials and
expenses of the clergy. The difficulty faced by the Spaniards in revenue collection
through the tribute was the dispersed nature of the settlements, which they solved by
the introducing the system of reduccion by creating pueblos, where Filipinos where
gathered and awarded plots of land to till. Exempted from payment of tributos were
the principales: alacaldes, gobernadores, cabezas de barangay, soldiers, members
of the civil guard, government officials, and vagrant.

In 1884, the payment of tribute was put to a stop and was replaced by a poll
tax collected through a certificate of identification called the cedula personal. This is
required from every resident and must be carried while travelling. Unlike the tribute,
the payment of cedulas is by person, not by family. Payment of cedula is progressive
and according to income categories. This system, however, was a heavy burden for
the peasants and was easy for the wealthy. But because of this, revenue collection
greatly increased and became the main source of government income. The Chinese
in the Philippines were also made to pay their discriminatory cedula which was
bigger than what the Filipinos paid.

Two direct taxes were added in 1878 and imposed on urban incomes. Urbana
is a tax on the annual rental value of an urban real estate and industria is a tax on
salaries, dividends, and profits. These taxes were universal and affected all kinds of
economic activity except to encourage growth.

Indirect taxes such as customs duties were imposed on exports and imports
to further raise revenue, especially during the 19 th century when economic growth
increased exponentially. There were no excise taxes collected by the Spaniards
throughout the years of colonialism.
 Forced labor was a character of Spanish colonial taxation in the Philippines
and was required from the Filipinos. It proved useful in defending the territory of the
colony and augmenting the labor required by woodcutting and shipbuilding especially
during the time of the galleon trade. Through the polo system, male Filipinos were
obliged to serve, a burden that resulted in an increase in death rate and flight to the
mountains, which led to a decrease in population in the seventeenth century. Male
were required to provide labor for 40 days a year (reduced to 15 days a year in
1884).

Taxation in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period was

characterized by the heavy burden placed on the Filipinos, and he corruption of the
principals, or the former datus and local elites who were co-opted by the Spaniards
to subjugate and control the natives on their behalf. The principals who were given
positions such as cabezas de barangay or alcaldes in the local government were
able to enrich themselves by pocketing tributos and/or fallas while the peasants were
left to be abused.

Taxation under the Americans

The Internal Revenue Law of 1904 was passed as a reaction to the problems
collecting land tax. It prescribed ten major sources of sources of revenue:

1. licensed taxes on firms dealing in alcoholic beverages and tobacco,

2. excise taxes on alcoholic beverages and tobacco products,
3. taxes on banks and bankers,
4. document stamp taxes,
5. the cedula,
6. taxes on insurance and insurance companies,
7. taxes on the forest products,
8. mining concessions
9. taxes on business
10. occupational licenses

The cedula went through changes in the new law as the rate was fixed per
adult male, which resulted in a great decline in revenues. In 1907, some provinces
were authorized to double the fee for the cedula to support the construction and
maintenance of roads. The industria tax was levied on the business community and
became a highly complex system that assigned a certain tax to an industrial or
commercial activity according to their profitability. The new act also imposed a
percentage tax on sales payable quarterly.

Taxation during the Commonwealth Period

New measures and legislation were introduced to make taxation system

appear more equitable during the Commonwealth. Income tax rates were increased
in 1936, adding a surtax rate on individual net incomes in excess 10,000 pesos. In
tax rates of corporations were also increased. In 1937, the cedula tax was abolished,
which appeared to be a progressive move; but in 1940, a residence tax was imposed
on every citizen aged 18 years old and on every corporation.

In 1939, the Commonwealth government drafted the National Internal

Revenue Cod, introducing major changes in the new tax system, as follows:

1. The normal tax of three percent and the surtax on income was replaced by a
single tax at progressive rate.

2. Personal exemptions were reduced.

3. Corporation income tax was slightly increased by introducing taxes on
inherited estates or gifts donated in the name of dead persons.

4. The cumulative sales tax was replaced by a single turnover tax of 10% on
luxuries.

5. Taxes on liquors, cigarettes, forestry products, and mining were increased.

6. Dividends were made taxable.

The introduced tax structure was an improvement of the earlier system

introduced by the Americans, but still remained inequitable. The lower class still felt
the bulk of the burden of taxation, while the upper class, the landed elite or the
people in political position, were able to maneuver the situation that would benefit
them more. The agriculture sector was still taxed low to promote growth, but there
was no incentive for industrial investment to take root and develop.

Fiscal Policies

A major reform in the tax system introduced under the term of Corazon
Aquino was the introduction of the value-added tax (VAT), with the following
features:

1. uniform rate of 10% on sale of domestic and imported goods and services and
zero percent on exports and foreign-currency denominated sales;

2. ten (10) percent in lieu of varied rates applicable to fixed taxes (60 nominal
rates), advance sales tax, tax on original sale, subsequent sales tax,
compensating tax, miller’s ax, contractor’s tax, broker’s tax, film lessors and
distributor’s tax excise tax on solvents and matches, and excise tax on
processed video tapes;

3. 2% tax entities with annual sales or receipts of less than 5,200,00;

4. adoption of tax credit method of calculating tax by subtracting tax on inputs

from tax on gross sales;
 5. exemption of the sale of the basic commodities such as agriculture and
marine food products in their original state, price-regulated petroleum
products and fertilizers; and

6. additional 20% tax on non-essential articles such as jewelry, perfumes, toilet

waters, yacht, and other vessels for pleasure and sports.

The VAT law was signed in 1986 and put to effect in 1988. While it was a
reliable source of revenue for the government, new tax laws would reduce its
reliability as legislated exemptions grew.

Greater political stability during the administration of Fidel Ramos in 1992

allowed for continued economic growth. The Ramos administration ventured into its
own tax reform program in 1997 through the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

The VAT base was also broadened in 1997 to include services, through
Republic Act 7716. The features of the improved VAT law were as follows:
1. Restored the VAT exemptions for all cooperatives (agricultural, electric, credit
or multipurpose, and others) provided that the share capital of each member
does not exceed 515,000 pesos.

2. Expanded the coverage of the term “simple processes” by including broiling

and roasting, effectively narrowing the tax base for food products.

3. Expanded the coverage of the term “original state” by including molasses.

4. Exempted from the VAT are the following:

 Importation of meat
 Sale or importation of coal and natural gas in whatever form or state
 Educational services rendered by private educational institutions duly
accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
 House and lot and other residential dwellings valued at 51 million and
below, subject to adjustment using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
 Lease of residential units with monthly rental per unit of not more than
58,00, subject to adjustment using CPI
 Sale importation, printing, or publication of books and any newspaper

According to De Leon (2009) taxes are categorized under six classes:

1. As to the subject matter:

a. Poll, personal or capitation tax – one imposed on residents
b. Property tax – imposed on property
c. Excise tax – imposed on a privilege or right

2. As to the purpose:
a. Revenue – to raise money for the government
b. Regulatory – to regulate an act or practice

3. As to scope:
a. Local/Municipal – based on a certain locality
 b. National – national in nature

4. As to the determination of the amount of tax to be paid:

a. Ad Valorem tax – based on the value of the object taxed determined by the
appraiser
b. Specific tax – based on weight and measurement

5. As to who bears the burden:

a. Direct tax – imposed to a person directly involved
b. Indirect tax – forms part of the purchase price of the commodity and
passed on the consumers

6. As to the graduation or rate:

a. Proportional tax – based on fixed percentage
b. Progressive tax – based on certain tax bases
c. Regressive tax – the tax rate decreases as the base increases

At present, it is clear that, the TRAIN Law brought about significant

changes in the Philippines taxation. These changes include the reclassification of
personal income tax rates, estate tax, donor’s tax value added tax documentary
stamp tax, and the excise tax on automobiles, petroleum products, sweetened
beverages, cosmetic procedures, coal, mining, and tobacco. The reduction in
personal income tax was seen as financial empowerment for the public because it is
signified an increase in the net earnings and purchasing power. However, the
increase in taxes on petroleum products and sweetened beverages were seen to
offset the perceived tax reduction. According to the government, the revised tax
rates were necessary to sustain the expenses of the government in its golden age of
infrastructure campaign.

The new tax rate imposed on petroleum products and sweetened

beverages was blamed for the drastic spike of inflation in the country, which was
recorded at 6.4% in August 2018. This inflation rate is the highest in nine years.

As of the third quarter of 2018, Congress is attempting to pass the Tax

Reform for Attracting Better High-quality Opportunity (TRABAHO) Bill before the year
ends. The bill seeks to gradually reduce corporate income tax from 30% to 20% by
2029 while removing previously provided financial incentives and perks to
corporations. However, the bill is being criticize that it would have a negative impact
on foreign direct investments in economic zones leading to job losses, lower
production, and capital flight or pull-out of investors. Some critics were eager to point
out that the proposed tax reforms would favor big corporations as they are set to
enjoy the tax cuts. As such, some people see the TRABAHO Bill is an anti-poor and
pro-elite bill.

The passing of the TRABAHO Bill is perceived with hesitation by many

because of how TRAIN law seems to have resulted in increased prices of
commodities. The new set of tax reforms is not yet fully understood by the public
which is many are still opposing it.
EXERCISE. COVID-19 UPDATE

Instruction. The world is severely affected by this present pandemic. Many of us still
surviving and hoping for a miracle for this disease to disappear in a blink of an eye.
Our lives instantly change because of this and embracing the so-called new normal
of our lives. In a clean sheet of paper, write an essay describing the effects of this
COVID-19 pandemic to you and your family in terms of:
a. education

b. financial matters

c. relationship with your family

Exercise. Drawing your Future

An editorial is a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that

gives and opinion on different topical issues. Draw and make your own editorial
regarding hot issues pertaining to where are the public funds of the country go.
Choose 1 topic below.

a. Build, Build, Build project of Duterte Administration

b. Manila Bay Rehabilitation
c. Free Tertiary Education for all
d. Distance learnings like Modular/ Module-based, Online Classes, radio and
television broadcast, etc.
e. Social Amelioration Program of the goverment

V. Critical evaluation and promotion of local and oral history, museums,

historical shrines, cultural performances, indigenous practices,
religious rites and rituals.

Doing Local and Oral History

The history subjects and courses usually taught the students in schools are
Philippine history world history, and history of Asia. The coverage is always
expansive and taught in broad strokes of historical periods, of large spaces, of
prominent personalities. Little is known about the subdiscipline of local history. Local
history is the study of the history of a particular community or a smaller unit of
geography. Debates, however, continuously persist on the definition of this
subdiscipline, particularly in the subject of its study. Does local history study local
communities? Local institutions? Local groups? Local heroes? In recent studies,
local history tends to cover all of these topics. Local historians study the local
economies, local heroes, and local events. Local history, thus is also a broad and
dynamic field of inquiry that aims to have an in-depth understanding of a certain
locale.
 Doing local history, however, is not an easy task. Despite the seemingly
smaller scope of study, historians are often faced with challenges in locating sources
for local and specific objects of study. For example, it is much easier to study the life
of national heroes than that of a local hero. Sources abound on subjects of national
importance but tend to be scarce on local subjects. Nevertheless, this limitation
should encourage historians to innovate and recreate local historical methodology.

Oral history is important in the midst of scarcity in written sources, historical

documents and other material evidences. This method uses oral accounts of
historical subjects, witnesses, members of the communities, and the like. Oral history
primary relies on memory. The subject or the informant will recount his experiences
to the researcher as he remembers it.

Local and oral history are important endeavors in the development and
enrichment in the discipline of history. These efforts fill the gaps in the discipline by
highlighting alternative areas of study and methodology toward a more holistic,
inclusive, and progressives study of our past.

Interacting with History through Historical Shrines and Museums

We have been discussing ways to study the past through variety of sources
available to us. While research is valuable tool to learn more about the experiences
of the nation and our history, there exists venues where we can experience history,
and these are through historical shrines and museums.

These venues are for living history provide us a certain level of authority and
trustworthiness that could impact the way we view the past. Through interacting with
artifacts such as a World War II rifle or the clothes of a Filipino hero, we can better
imagine the past beyond the mere letters and words we read and painstakingly
memorize. These tangible objects are reconstruction of past; experiencing these
artifacts directly is the best thing to actually being there when a particular event
happened or a when a historical personality lived. These firsthand experiences make
historical events more real for us; and research shows that learning by experiencing
aids with retention of the learning later in life.

Exercises

1. Eyewitness Interview. Identify an eyewitness to certain historical events in

your locality (World War II, Martial Law, EDSA Revolutions, big typhoons and
related calamities, etc.). Devise your own questionnaire, interview the
eyewitness, and transcribe the interview. Documentation is a must. Place your
answers on a clean sheets of paper
2. Click the link and watch the video. Write a reflection paper on the said
videos.
Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu1p5j3nkK4
Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BslCD2n8Zh0