Zamora Memorial College

College Department
St. Niṅo Street. Brgy. 9, Bacacay, Albay

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Module 1- The Meaning & Relevance of History
( Week 1& 2 )

1. Meaning & Relevance of History

2. Distinctions of Primary & Secondary Sources
3. Internal & External Criticism
4. Repositories of Primary Sources
5. Different kinds of Primary Sources

Prepared by:

JOCELYN B. VARGAS
Instructor
I-Introduction:
History is said to be the study of the past. It is no longer focus on memorization of facts
but rather it focus on the analysis of events in the past.
History aims to developed analytical & critical thinking abilities of the students based from
the readings and historical sources that they have. These skills will help the students to have a
broader perspectives of all the events that happened in the past and to become historically &
critically aware of the things that happened for them to do some possible action for the benefit
of all the countrymen .
Thus, the knowledge that we gain in history will help us to analyze the relationship with
the past events to the present. Likewise it will help us to better understand the present day
problems that we are facing today both in the local & national level & even in the global world.
In this module we will be dealing with the meaning and relevance of history, distinction
of primary and secondary sources, external and internal criticism, repositories of primary
sources, and different kinds of primary sources. Several activities were given to achieved the
learning outcomes.
Objectives:
At the end of the lessons in this module, you should be able to evaluate primary sources for their
credibility, authenticity, and provenance specifically;
➢ .Analyze the meaning of history.
➢ .Explain the relevance of history.
➢ Differentiate primary from secondary sources; internal from external criticisms.
➢ .Familiarize the repositories of primary sources.
➢ Identify the different kinds of resources

LESSON 1:
Meaning & Relevance of History
History has always been known as the study of the past. The word History was derived
from the Greek word historia which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or
investigation”. History as a discipline existed for around 2,000 years and is as old as mathematics
and philosophy. This term was then adopted to classical Latin where it acquired a new definition
Historia became known as the account of the past of a person or a group of people through
written documents and historical evidences. History became an important individuals like
monarchs, heroes saints and nobilities. History was also focused on writing about wars,
revolutions, and other important breakthroughs. It is thus important to ask: What counts as
history? Traditional historians lived with the mantra of “ no document, no history “. It means
that unless a written document can prove a certain historical event, then it cannot be considered
as a historical fact.
Gottschalk ( 1969), posited that the term history has evolved from its present
connotation. Etymologically, history was taken from the Greek word ioropia which means “to
learn ". At present the term connotes the past events.
Generally, history is concerned with the study of the human past. ( Barnes, 1963).
Specifically, we can give three attributions of meanings to the concept. First, it deals with the
past events, second, the records of past events such as chronicle, annals, official records like birth
certificates, third, history as an academic discipline ( Shaffer, 1974 ).
Furthermore, Dr. Zeus Salazar defined history as “ mga pangyayari na may saysay para sa
grupo ng taong sinasaysayan nito” ( 2000). Salazar advocated the use of Filipino in historical
discourse.
History as defined by a foreign scholar “ is the record of what one age finds worthy of
note in another “. For Carr, history is the study of human achievements. Whatever differences
historians may give, still the term suggests past events.
The term history although it means past, cannot be narrowed down to the records of past
events only. Likewise, even though the subject of the history is past events, nobody can deny that
it connotes many implications that affect the life of the people and the future of a country. As
defined by Medina, history is not just the past but also and principally the present and future.
History is a forward projection. It is a social construction of a future reality. For these authors,
the writing of history is a political endeavor. Since history, is a continuous process, it is a good
vehicle to use in directing the future of a country.
A prominent historian, Samuel Tan, defined history, as the dynamic process of dealing
with the past in which the stages or aspects of development are interrelated, brought upon by
the understanding of the present & the future. Tan added that history is a collective interplay of
events. Tan’s view of history gives us a broader outlook in dealing with past events. His definition
gives as a clue that history is the achievement of different people in a particular time and not just
the work of a particular group of people in a particular place, thus debunking the Manila-
centered history.
This view of Tan was supported by a prominent nationalist historian, Renato Constantino,
who emphasized that history is the achievement of man not the individual, but the collective.
Therefore, we cannot assume that the history is the primary work of an individual leader but a
collective effort of the people. With this definition, Constantino strengthened the history from
below. Following Marx idea of history, Constantino views the masses as the real mover of history.

Why do we study history?

This is the perennial question of a very inquisitive mind.
1.As suggested by Stems, history must be studied because it is significant both to the society and
people for it help us better understand ourselves, our strengths, limitations and aspirations.
Historical events remind us of he collective experience of the people, its suffering, joy and
aspiration. All these things serve as glue towards the realization of a nation.
2.The study of history and how it is written allows man to better understand his present situation.
3. Man uses history almost universally.
4.Studying history allows us to gain valuable perspectives on the problems of our modern society
5.Studying history is important because it allows us to understand our past, which in turn allows
us to understand our present.
6.Studying history can provide us with insight into our cultures of origin as well as cultures with
which we might be less familiar, thereby increasing cross-cultural awareness and understanding.
7.History helps us develop a better understanding of the world.
8.History paints us a detailed picture of how society, technology and government worked way
back when so that we can better understand how it works now.
The study of history became possible with the development of writing. The invention of writing
could be considered as one of the most important inventions of human civilization because it
gave men the instrument to record their achievements. This important interventions of human
civilization ended the prehistoric age and marked the beginning of the historic era.
History can be divided into different branches as follows: general history which covers political,
economic, diplomatic and military history; economic history, which includes economic thoughts
and economic system; cultural history which covers local and ethnic history, social history and
myth history. Although much of our history is devoted to political history, historians of today
have included and emphasized economic and socio-cultural history as an important part of their
of their discourse.
History and Philippine Historiography

The questions about What is history? Why study history? And history for whom will be answered
by historiography. In other words, historiography is the history of history. On the other hand,
historiography is the art of writing. It also refers to the art of writing. It also refers to the theory
and history of historical writing. The term historiography is rooted form the Greek word historia
which means past and graphier which means to write. Although the writing of history can be
traced thousands of years ago, historiography, the scientific way of writing history gained
prominence only in the early 1900’s. History and historiography should not be confused with
each other. The former’s object of study is the past, the events that happened in the past, and
the causes of such events. The latter’s object of study, on the other hand, is history itself ( i.e.)
1) How was a certain historical event text written?
2) Who wrote it?
3) What was the context of its publication?
4) What particular historical method is employed ?
5) What were the sources used?
Thus, historiography, lets the students have a better understanding of history. They do not only
get to learn historical facts, but they are provided with the understanding of the facts and the
historian’s contexts. The methods employed by the historian and the theory of perspective,
which guided him, will also be analyzed. Historiography is important for someone who studies
history because it teaches the student to be critical in the lessons of history presented to him.
 History has played various roles in the past. States use history to unite a nation. It can be
used as a tool to legitimate regimes and forge a sense of collective identity through collective
memory. Lessons form the past can be used to make sense of the present. Learning of past
mistakes can help people to not repeat them. Being reminded of a great past can inspire people
to keep their good practices to move forward.

Positivism- is the school of thought that
emerged between the eighteenth and
nineteenth century. This thought requires
empirical and observable evidence before one
can claim that a particular knowledge is true.
Positivism also entails an objective means of
arriving at a conclusion. In the discipline of
history, the mantra “ no document, no history
“ stems from this very same truth, where
historians are also expected to be objective
and impartial not just in their arguments but
also on their conduct of historical research.
As a narrative, any history that has been
taught and written is always intended for a
certain group of audience. When the
Ilustrados, like Jose Rizal, Isabelo de los
Reyes, and Perdo Paterno wrote history, they
intended it for the Spaniards so that they
would realize that Filipinos are people of their
own intellect and culture. When A,erican
historians depicted The Filipino people as
uncivilized in their publications, they intended
that narrative for their fellow Americans to
justify their colonization of the island. They
wanted the colonization to appear not as
means of undermining the Philippine’s
sovereignty, but as a civilizing mission to fulfil
what they called as the “white man’s burden.
The same is true for nations which prescribe
official versions of their history like North
Korea, the Nazi Germany during the war
period, and Thailand. The same was
attempted by Marcos in the Philippines during
the 1970’s.

Postcolonialism- is a school of thought that One of the problems confronted by history is

emerged in the early twentieth century when
formerly colonized nations grappled with the
idea of creating their identities and
understanding their societies against the
shadows of their colonial past. Postcolonial
history looks at two things in writing history;
first is to tell that history of their nation that
will highlight their identity free from that of
colonial discourse and knowledge, and second
is to criticize the methods, effects, and ide of
colonialism. Postcolonial history is therefore a
the accusation that the history is always
written by victors. This connotes that the
narrative of the past is always written by
victors. This connotes that the narrative of the
past is always written form the bias of the
powerful and the more dominant player. For
instance, the history of the Second World War
in the Philippines always depicts the United
States as the hero and the Imperial Japanese
Army as the oppressors. Filipinos who
collaborated with the Japanese were lumped
 reaction and an alternative to the colonial in the category of traitors of collaborators.
history that colonial powers created and However, a more thorough historical
taught to their subjects. investigation will reveal a more nuanced
account the history of that period instead of a
simplified narrative as a story of hero versus
villain.
History and the Historian
If history is written with agenda or is heavily influenced by the historian, it is possible to
come up with an absolute historical truth? Is history an objective discipline? If it is not, is it still
worthwhile to study history? These questions have haunted historians for many generations.
Indeed, an exact and accurate account of the past is impossible for the very simple reason that
we cannot go back to the past. We cannot access the past directly as our subject matter.
Historians only get to access the past through historical sources and evidences.
Therefore, it is the historian’s job not just to seek historical evidences and facts but also
to interpret these facts. ” Facts cannot speak of themselves” It is the job of the historian to give
meaning to these facts and organize them into timeline, establish causes, and write history.
Meanwhile, the historian is not a blank paper who mechanically interprets and analyses present
historical facts. He is a person of his own who is influenced by his own context, environment,
ideology, education and influences, among others. In that sense, his interpretation of the
historical fact is affected by his content and circumstances. His subjectivity will inevitably
influence the process of his historical research: the methodology that he will use, the facts that
he shall select and deem relevant, his interpretation, and even the form of his writings. Thus, in
one way or another, history is always subjective. If that is so, can history still be considered as
an academic and scientific inquiry?
Historical research requires rigor. Despite the fact that historians cannot ascertain
absolute objectivity, the study of history remains scientific because of the rigor of research and
methodology that historians employ. Historical methodology comprises certain techniques and
results that historians follow in order to properly utilize sources and historical evidences in
writing history. Certain rules apply in cases of conflicting accounts in different sources, and on
how to properly treat eyewitness accounts and oral sources as valid historical evidence. In doing
so, historical claims done by the historians and the arguments that they forward in their historical
writings, while may be influenced by the historian’s inclinations, can still be validated by using
reliable evidences and employing correct and meticulous historical methodology.

The Annales School of History- is a school of
history born in France that challenged the
canons of history. This school of thought did
away with the common historical subjects
that were almost always related to the
conduct of states and monarchs. Annales
scholars like March Bloch and many more
For example if a historian chooses to use an
oral account as his data in studying the ethnic
history of the Ifugaos in the Cordilleras during
the American occupation, he needs to validate
the claims of his informant through comparing
and corroborating it with written sources.
Therefore, while bias is inevitable, the
 studied other subjects in a historical manner. historian need not let his bias blind his
They were concerned with social history and judgment and such bias is only acceptable if
studied longer historical periods. For example, he maintains his rigor as a researcher.
Annales scholars studied the history of
peasantry, the history of medicine, or even
the history of environment. The history from
the other column was pioneered by the same
scholars. They advocated that the people and
classes who were not reflected in the history
of the society in the grand manner be
provided with space in the records of
mankind. In doing this, Annales thinkers
married history with other disciplines like
geography, anthropology, archaeology, and
linguistics.

Why do we need to study Readings in Philippine History?

Readings in the Philippine History allows the student of the country’s past to read the
actual sources of the story of the nation. Instead of just relying on textbooks which derive
information from primary and even secondary sources, the student is exposed to the actual
sources. These sources will allow the student to develop his own perspectives about his country’s
past. Readings will fulfil the desire to allow every generation to have their own insight about the
past and how they will be able to learn from it.
In the study of readings in Philippine history the student will have a grasp on the
conditions when they narrate history as they happen.
Activity # 1. TRUE OR FALSE: Read the following statements below. Write true is the statement
is true, otherwise write false if it is incorrect.
______1. History is the study of the past.
______2. Historical sources that were not written should not be used in writing history.
______3. The subject of Historiography is history itself.
______4.History has no use for the present, thus, the saying “ past is past “ is true.
______5. History is limited to the story of a hero versus a villain.
______6. Only primary sources may be used in writing history.
______7.The historians are the only sources of history.
______8.The object of study of history is the past, the events that happened in the past, & the
causes of such events.
_____9. The job of the historian does not only focus in seeking historical evidences & facts but
also in interpreting those facts.
_____10. The study of history did not undergo scientific processes.
Activity # 2. ANALYZING SITUATIONS:
Analyze the statements below & opposite state your reason why history is important in this
particular situation.

Real Life Situations Reason why history is important

A patient went to the hospital to consult the
doctor about his/her illness. The doctor asked
the history of the patient.
2.Some Filipinos experienced the effects of
the Proclamation of Martial Law by the
Marcos administration in terms of people’s
rights & freedom.
3. Some students perceived that history
subject is boring & it is all about memorization
of facts.
4.Lawyers holding a case traced back the
client’s case history.
5.Filipinos are known to the world of being
nationalistic in many ways.

Activity 3: WRITING AN ESSAY

Write an essay with a maximum of 200 words about “ The Importance of History in Our Daly
Lives” following the rubrics below.
Rubrics for Writing an Essay

Score 5 3 2
Organization The essay is well- The essay is The essay is not well-
organized. One idea organized. Few ideas organized.
follows another in a are not logically
logical order. arranged
Convention There are no There are some There are more
grammar, grammar, grammar,
capitalization, capitalization, capitalization,
spelling or spelling or spelling or
punctuations error. punctuations errors. punctuation errors.
Content The explanation is The explanation is The explanation is
direct to the point & clear and seems unclear & not
sharply stated. properly stated. properly stated.
Lesson 2: Historical Sources:
With the past as history’s subject matter, the historians most important research tools
are historical sources. In general, historical sources can be classified between primary and
secondary sources. These classification depends on the historical subject being studied.
Primary and Secondary Sources
History is being written based on the actual evidence. Manuscripts. And written
documents which provide sources of historical information. These are two categories.
Primary Source/s- are those sources produced at the same time as the event, period, or subject
being studied. For example if a historian wishes to study the Commonwealth Constitution of
1935, his primary sources can include the minutes of the convention, newspaper clippings,
Philippine Commission reports of the US. Commissioners, records of the convention, the draft of
the Constitution & even photographs of the event. Eyewitness accounts of convention delegates
and their memoirs can also be a primary sources. The same goes with other subjects of historical
study.

• It provides direct or first hand evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art.
• It contains “first hand” knowledge about historical events, figures, and people.
• It provides compelling and direct evidence of human activity.
• These are the things that were created or in use during the period which is being
studied.
• These are actual records that have survived from the past.
Secondary Sources/s-are those sources, which were produced by an author who used primary
sources to produce materials. In other words, secondary sources are historical sources, which
studied a certain historical subject.

• It is something that was not made by someone or by a group of people who participated
in the historical era which is being studied.
• These are usually created by historians and scholastic writers based on their
interpretation of the primary sources.
• These are the sources of historical data which are created later or after the historical
event which is being studied and provided by the people who were not present in that
event.
• It describes, discuss, interpret, comment upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, and
process primary sources.
Both primary and secondary sources are useful in writing and learning history. However,
historians and students of history need thoroughly scrutinize these historical sources to avoid
deception and to come with the historical truth. The historians should be able to conduct an
external and internal criticism of the sources which can age in centuries.
Examples of Primary & Secondary Sources

Primary Sources Secondary Sources

Autobiographies Biography
Memoirs Encyclopedia
Eyewitness Accounts Textbooks
Diary Thesis
Fossils Dissertations
Relics Interviews
Letters News Reports
Photographs Movies
Speeches News Articles
Videos Scholarly Journals
Legal Documents Transcriptions
Ornaments Almanacs
Clothing Dictionaries
Tools
memorabilia
Archival documents

Creative works(
Novels,plays, music, art )
Newspaper/Journal
articles
Legislation & court records

Evaluating Historical Data

These are two ways on how to examine historical sources for the scholastic writers and
historians to validate the authenticity of the sources that they have collected to be used as the
reference of the historical account that they are going to publish. These are:
Internal Criticism-is the examination of the truthfulness of the evidence. It looks at the content
of the source and examines the circumstance of its production. Likewise, it also looks at the
truthfulness & factuality of the evidence by looking at the author of the source, its context, the
agenda behind the creation, the knowledge which informed it, and its intended purpose, among
others. One of the example of scandalous cases of deception I Philippine history is the hoax Code
of Kalantiaw.The code was a set of rules contained in an epic, Maragtas, which was allegedly
written by a certain Datu Kalantiaw.The document was sold to the National Library and was
regarded as an important precolonial document until 1968, but it was verified by the American
historian William Henry Scott, the document lacks evidence to prove that it was existed in the
precolonial Philippine society.
 • It looks within the data itself to try to determine the truth-facts and the reasonable
interpretation.
• It includes looking at the personal data provider’s apparent or possible motives.
• It indicates the accuracy, trustworthiness, and integrity of the materials to which
historical data will be used.
External Criticism-is the practice of verifying the authenticity of evidence by examining its
physical characteristic of the time when it was produced; and the materials used for the evidence.
Examples of the things that will be examined when conducting external criticism of a document
include the quality of the paper, the type of the ink, and the language and words used in the
material, among others.

• It applies the experimental science to certify the authenticity of the material that holds
the data in which historical information will be based.
• It entails such physical and technical tests as the dating of paper when a document is
written.
• It involves knowledge of when certain things existed, or it supports the claim whether it
is possible or impossible to exist.
• It evaluates the authenticity and genuineness of data.
REPOSITORIES OF PRIMARY SOURCES IN THE PHILIPPINES
1.Asia-Pacific Research Center- ( APRC) –is developing an archive by which to study
Pentecostalism, missions, and church growth with Asia-Pacific Region. The APRC archives now
holds tapes. CD’s, publications, and varied documents and photos on the beginnings of the
Assemblies of God in Asia-Pacific. Also included are microfilms on the history of Christianity in
China.
2.Filipinas Heritage Library- (FHL )- houses contemporary and rare volumes on Philippine art,
history, and culture; vintage recordings of Philippine music, vintage photographs; and maps,
periodicals, and multimedia materials. The library has also embarked on a massive digitization
project to make a significant part of its collection available online.
3.Ateneo de Manila University Pardo de Tavera- this section features the personal collections of
historical materials donated by historians, writers, and other distinguished Filipino personalities
over the years. It also houses a collection of 638,000 photographs arranged from the subject from
the Manila Times Photo Morgue, which was donated by the late professor Dr. Joreen G.
Fernandez.
4.Ateneo de Manila University American Historical Section-the official reports and records on
the history of American occupation in the Philippines, as well as a written commentaries ( book,
periodical,, unpublished material and photographs are housed in this section.
5.De La Salle University Archives- serves as the official repository for the inactive, non-current
records of La Salle University. These records are those which possess permanent historical,
administrative, legal, cultural and/or fiscal value and document the history of La Salle.
Activity # 1.Identification:
Identify the following italized source of historical information whether it is a PRIMARY
SOURCE or SECONDARY SOURCE. Write your answer on the given space.
__________1.The documentary files about the ‘oplan Tokhang” aired in many international
news agencies are a source of information about Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte’s drug on war.
__________2. The biography of Jose Rizal authored by Gregorio Zaide is a source of information
about the life and works of our national hero.
__________3.The replica of “ Lolong “ in the National Museum is a source of information about
saltwater crocodiles in the Philippines.
_________4.The “ Motto Stella “ which is the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal is a source of
information about his life and heroism.
_________5.Coins from the Central Bank of the Philippines are sources of information about
Philippine heroes.
_________6. The “Spolarium” is evidence about the artistry of Juan Luna.
_________7. “I- witness “ which is one of the premier news and current affair shows in GMA 7
provides information about social issues in the Philippines.
_________8.The speech of Juan Ponce Enrile during the impeachment kis a source of
information about the case filed against former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
_________9.The old Canyon in Corregidor Island are evidence of Filipino bravery during the
world war.
_________10. Campaign jingles give the voters information about the political platforms of the
candidates in both local and national government.
Activity # 2 MY PRIMARY SOURCE:
Using the examples of a primary source in this module, look for at least one primary source in
your house that can be used in the writing of your life history. Take picture, paste it in a short
coupon bond . Discuss how it qualifies as a primary source through a short explanation then send
it to your instructor via messenger chat.
Rubrics for Discussion

Criteria Excellent (4) Good( 3) Acceptable (2) Incomplete (1)

Relevance of The pasted The pasted The pasted photo is a The pasted
document to document is document is little bit related to the photo has no
the topic related to topic somewhat topic discussed. relation to the
discussed. related to the topic
topic discussed. discussed.
The content of The content of The content of the The content of
Clarity of the the discussion is the discussion is discussion is a little bit the discussion
Content clearly stated somewhat stated with only 1 is not stated
with 3 or more stated with 2 valid reason and with no
valid reasons. valid reasons. valid reason.
 Mechanics Consistently With few Have several errors in Utilizes poor
uses correct grammatical or grammar & spelling. Spelling and
grammar with spelling errors grammar.
rare are noted.
misspellings.

Activity # 3: ANALYZING PRIMARY SOURCES:

Read the full transcript of the undelivered Arrival Speech of Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. and
answer the following questions. The speech can accessed at http://newsinfo.
Inquirer.net/631394/undelivered-speech-of-senator-benigno-s-aquino-jr.
I.First Impressions
A. What are your first impressions about the undelivered speech?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
B.What kind of document is it ( letter, ad. Newspaper, etc. ) ?
______________________________________________________________________________
II- Looking More Closely
A. Make a list of unusual or unfamiliar words or phrases you encountered while reading the
speech.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
.
B.Is there a specific date on the speech? If so, when is it? If there is none, are there clues that
might indicate when it was written?
______________________________________________________________________________
C. Is there an indicated location? Where is it? _________________________________________
D.Who authored the document/ Why did you say so?
______________________________________________________________________________
.
E.To whom was the written document addressed? How did you know?
______________________________________________________________________________
.
F.What is the purpose of the document? What made you think so?
III-Thinking Further
A. What do you think is the most important information that the author of the document
was conveying? Why ?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
B.Does the document convey a certain tone/ What is it?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
C.What does it imply?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
D. What is the point of view of the author? It is objective ? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
E.What is the relationship between the writer and the audience? Explain.
IV-Drawing Conclusions: What conclusions can you draw about the historical period when the
speech was written.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
References:

Andres et al., ” Readings in Philippihne History “ ( 2019 ) Books Atbp Publishing Corp. Mandaluyong City, Philippines

. Asuncion, N. M., & Cruz, G. R., “ Readings in Philippine History “ ( 2019 ) C & E Publishing Corp. Quezon, City

.Candelaria, J.L., & Alporha V. C,.” Readings in Philippine History First Edition” ( 2018 ) Rex Bookstore, Sampaloc Manila

De Viana, A.V., & Picadizo, M.V., “ A Guide for Understanding Philippine History “ ( 2018 ) Book Atbp. Publishimg Corp.
, Mandaluyong City

.Rosales et al, “ Understanding Philippine History “ Readings & Disclosure (2020 ) Lorimar Publishing Inc., Quezon, City

Https://apts.edu.academics

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/631394undelivered-speech-of-senator-benigno-s-aquino-jr

http://rizal .library.ateneo.edu

http://rizal.library.ateneo.edu.pard.

http://www.disu.edu.ph.library

http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph