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SHEPHERDVILLE COLLEGE
(formerly JESUS THE LOVING SHEPHERD CHRISTIAN COLLEGE)
Talojongon, Tigaon, Camarines Sur, Philippines
EXCELLING IN TRUTH IN THE SERVICE OF GOD AND COUNTRY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
FIRTS SEMESTER
A/Y 2022-2023

Course Title: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Course Description: The course analyzes Philippine history from multiple perspectives
through the lens of selected primary sources coming from various
disciplines and of different genres. Students are given
opportunities to analyze the author’s background and main
arguments, compare different points of view, identify biases and
examine the evidences presented in the document. The
discussions will tackle traditional topics in history and other
interdisciplinary themes that will deepen and broaden their
understanding of Philippine political, economic, cultural, social,
scientific and religious history. Priority is given to primary
materials that could help students develop their analytical and
communication skills. The end goal is to develop the historical
and critical consciousness of the students so that they will
become versatile, articulate, broadminded, morally upright and
responsible citizens.

Course Credit: Three (3) units

Contact Hours: Three (3) hours every week for 18 weeks or 54 hours in a semester

Instructor: JENEFER S. MABANA

MODULE 3
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 MIDTERM

INTRODUCTION

In this lesson, we will analyze four historiographical problems in Philippine history

in an attempt to apply what we have learned thus far in the work of a historian and the
process of historical inquiry. Earlier, we have been introduced to history as a discipline
the historical method, and the content and context analysis of primary sources. Two key
concepts that need to be defined before proceeding to the historical analysis of
problems in history are interpretation and multiperspectivity.

COMPETENCY NO. 3. Determine the contribution of the various primary sources in

understanding Philippine history; and
4. Develop critical and analytical skills as they are exposed to primary
sources.

OBJECTIVES
1. Demonstrate the ability to formulate arguments in favor or against a particular
issue using primary sources

MOTIVATION
Instructions: Give the two historical key concepts that need to be defined before
proceeding to the historical analysis of problems in history,
and explain what do you know about it. Write your answer
inside the box below.

________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

DEFINITION OF KEYWORD
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 Code of Kalantiaw - is a mythical legal code in the epic history Maragtas. Before
it was revealed as a hoax, it was a source of pride for the people of Aklan. In fact,
a historical marker was installed in the town of Batan, Aklan in1956.
Sa Aking Mga Kabata - is a poem purportedly written by Jose Rizal when he
was eight years old and is probably one of Rizal’s most prominent works.
The Age of Exploration - is a period of competition among European rulers to
conquer and coloniza lands outside their original domains.
The GOMBURZA - is the collective name of the three martyred priests Mariano
Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, who were tagged as the masterminds
of the Cavite Mutiny.
Hoax - is a widely publicized falsehood so fashioned as to invite reflexive,
unthinking acceptance by the greatest number of persons of the most varied
social identities and of the highest possible social pretensions to gull its victims
into putting up the highest possible social currency in support of the hoax

LESSON 2: ONE PAST BUT MANY HISTORIES”: CONTROVERSIES AND

CONFLICTING VIEWS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
➢ Making Sense of the Past: Historical Interpretation

Geoffrey Barraclough defines history as ‘the attempt to discover, on the basis of

fragmentary evidence, the significant things about the past.” He also notes “the history
we read, though based on facts, is strictly speaking, not factual at all, but a series of
accepted judgments.”
1. The Code of Kalantiaw is a mythical legal code in the epic history Maragtas.
Before it was revealed as a hoax, it was a source of pride for the people of Aklan.
In fact, a historical marker was installed in the town of Batan, Aklan in1956, with
the following text:
“CODE OF KALANTIAW. Datu Bendehara Kalantiaw, third Chief of Pnay, born in
Aklan, established his government in the peninsula of Batang, Aklan Sakup. Considered
the penal code now known as Code of Kalantiaw containing 18 articles. Don Marcelino
Orilla of Zaragoza, Spain, obtained the original manuscript from an old chief of Panay
which which was later translated into Spanish by Rafael Murviedo Yzamaney.”
Analysis:
It was only in 1968 that it was proved a hoax, when William Henry Scott, then a doctoral
candidate at the University of Santo Tomas, defended his research on pre-Hispanic
sources in Philippine history. He attributed the code to a historical fiction written in
19132 by Jose E. Marco titled Las Antiguas Leyendas de la Isla de Negros. Marco
attributed the code itself to a priest named Jose Maria Pavon. Prominent Filipino
historians did not dissent to Scott’s findings, but there are still some who would like to
believe that the code is a legitimate document.

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 2. “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” is a poem purportedly written by Jose Rizal when he
was eight years old and is probably one of Rizal’s most prominent works. There
is no evidence to support the claim that this poem, with the now immortalized
lines “Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita?mahigit sa hayop at malamang
isda” was written by Rizal, and worse, the evidence against Rizal’s authorship of
the poem seems all unassailable.

Analysis:
There exists no manuscript of the poem handwritten by Rizal. The poem was first
published in 1906, in a book by Hermenegildo Cruz. Cruz said he received the poem
from Gabriel Beato Francisco, who claimed to have received it in 1884 from Rizal’s
close friend, Saturnino Raselis. Rizal never mentioned writing this poem anywhere in
his writings, and more importantly, he never mentioned of having a close friend by the
person of Raselis.
Further criticism of the poem reveals more about the wrongful attribution of the poem to
Rizal. The poem was written in Tagalog and referred to the word “Kalayaan.” But it was
documented in Rizal’s letters that he first encountered the word through a Marcelo H.
Del Pilar’s translation of Rizal’s essay “El Amor Patrio,” where it spelled as “ kalayahan.”

While Rizal’s native tongue was Tagalog, he was educated in Spanish, starting from his
mother, Teodora Alonso. Later on, he would express disappointment in his difficulty in
expressing himself in his native tongue.
The poem’s spelling is also suspect---the use of letters “k” and ‘w” to replace “c” and “u”,
respectively was suggested by Rizal as an adult. If the poem was indeed written during
his time, it should use the original Spanish orthography that was prevalent in his time.

3. Primary Source: Albo’s log

4. Primary Source: Pigafetta’s testimony on the route of magellan’s
Expedition
5. Primary Source: Pigafetta and Seven Days in Mazaua

➢ Case Study 2: What Happened in the Cavite Mutiny?

1. Primary Source: Excerpts from the Official Report of Governor Izquredo on

the Cavite Mutiny of 1872

➢ Differing Accounts of the Events of 1872

1. Primary Source: Excerpts from Pardo de Tavera’s Account of the Cavite
Mutiny
2. Primary Source: Excerpts from Plauchut’s Account of the Cavite Mutiny
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 3.
➢ Case Study 3: Did Rizal Retract?
The Balaguer Testimony
The testimony of Cuerpo de Vigilancia
1. Primary Soure: Eyewitness account of the last Hoirs of Rizal

➢ Case Study 4: Where Did the Cry of rebellion Happen?

Different Dates and places of the Cry

1. Primary Source: Accounts of the Cry

-Guillermo Masanghay
-Pio Valenzuela

➢ NOTE: Electronic Copies of the above list of reading materials for analysis of
these number of primary sources will be provided in the group chat of this
subject during its class session.

Answer the given SAQs below: (2 points each)

Instruction: Write TRUE if the statement is true.

Otherwise, write FALSE in the space provided.

_________________1. There is only one account of the First

Catholic Mass in the Philippines.

_________________2. Historical interpretation is based on

the historian’s judgment on how the past should be seen.

_________________3. Multiperspectivity is a quality of

historical writing attributed to a variety of lenses that
may be used to view the past.

_________________4. The Cavite Mutiny is an event that led

to the execution of the GOMBURZA.

_________________5. The Cry of the Rebellion happened in

present-day Quezon City.

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SUMMARY

This module presented the lesson on four historiographical problems in Philippine

History. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of employing critical tools
in interpreting historical events through primary sources.

REFERENCES

Alvarez, S. (1998). Katipunan and the Revolution: Memoirs of a General. Quezon City:
Ateneo de Manila University Press.
Bernard, M.A. (1981). “Butuan or Limasawa? The site of the First Mass in the
Philippines: a Reexamination of Evidence,” Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern
Philippines, Vol. III,1-35
Chua, M. C. (2016). “Retraction ni Jose Rizal: Mga Bagong Dokumento at Pananaw.” In
GMA News online,
http;//www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/594027/retracxtion-ni-jose-
rizal-mga-bagong-dokumento-at-pananaw/story/Retrieved 18 october 2017.
Phelan, P., & Reynolds, P. (1996), Argument and Evidence: Critical Analysis for the
Social Sciences. London; Routledge.
Pigafetta, A. (1969). First Voyage Around the World. Manila: Filipiniana Book Guild.
Zaide, G., & Zaide, S. (1990). Documentary sources of Philippine History. 12
Vols.Manila: National Book Store.

EVALUATION
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WRITTEN REPORT. (100 points)

Instructions: In 300 to 500 words, write a POSITION PAPER about the “The First Mass
in the Philippines,” highlighting the significant findings through analyzing this primary or
secondary source.

ASSIGNMENT:
Instructions: Research and study about the following Readings:
Social, political, economic and cultural issues in Philippine history
*Mandated topics: Agrarian Reform Policies; The Philippine Constitution; Taxation

(Note: Coverage for Finals)

Thank you and keep safe always!

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