Lesson 4.

1
1. I learned that we need to evaluate, analyze, and interpret the past to create a reliable
historical narrative. The history we read, though based on facts, is strictly speaking, not
factual at all, but a series of accepted judgments. Such judgments of historians on how the
past should be seen make the foundation of historical interpretation. Not all primary sources
are accessible to a general audience. 3. Without the proper training and background, a
nonhistorian interpreting a primary source may do more harm than good.

2. Five historical writings:

• The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines

The first recorded Christian mass was held on Eastern Sunday, March 31, 1521, at a little
island-port named Mazaua. Limasawa claim: “On March 28, 1521, there is an island lies
on a latitude of 9 and 2/3 towards the Arctic pole and in a longitude 100 and 62 degrees
from the line of demarcation. It is named as Mazaua which is 25 leagues from the
Acquada. On April 4, 1521, they left Mazaua bound for Cebu and guided by their King who
sailed on his own boat.” Diary of Antonio Pigafetta
• 1872 Cavity Mutiny
Brief uprising of 200 Filipino troops and workers at the Cavite arsenal, which became the
excuse for Spanish repression of the embryonic Philippine nationalist movement. Around
200 soldiers and laborers rose in the belief that it would elevate to a national uprising.
The Mutiny was unsuccessful, and the government soldiers executed many of the
participants and began to crack down on a burgeoning nationalistic movement. Many
scholars believe that the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was the beginning of Filipino nationalism
that would eventually lead to the Philippine Revolution of 1896.
• Rizal’s Retraction
Jose Rizal is identified as a hero of the revolution for his writings that center on ending
colonialism and liberating Filipino minds to contribute, to create the Filipino nation free
from Spanish control. The great volume of Rizal’s life work was committed to this kind of
end or purpose. Particularly, the more influential works such as the Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo. Such document purportedly exists, the recanting document, allegedly
signed by Rizal a few hours before his execution, and this document referred to as the
Retraction, declares Rizal’s belief in the Catholic faith and retracts everything he wrote
against the church.
• The Cry of Balintawak or Pugadlawin
Momentous events also swept the Spanish colonies in the late 19th century, including
the Philippines. These events are important markers in the history of the colonies that
struggled for their independence against the colonizers. The controversy, however,
regarding this event in the Philippines, stems from the identification of the date and place,
especially with a place where the cry or the start of this rebellion happened—is it in
Balintawak or is it in Pugadlawin?
 • Historiography of Sulu and Mindanao
The Southern Philippines, which include Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, is a region
of primary historical significance for the Philippines' culture and traditions. This is the
largest area of the Philippines to remain largely uncolonized, and this fact should have
significant implications for understanding the history of the entire archipelago. As Sulu is
located between Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly Borneo and Sulawesi, it has
historically served as a common maritime boundary for people and trade in Island
Southeast Asia. Religious groups in the southern Philippines are either Christians,
Muslims, or traditionalists. Mindanao and Sulu have a colorful ethnic profile characterized
by a variety of material culture, social organizations, and beliefs. It can be said that the
history of and historical writing on Mindanao and Sulu have been shaped largely by these
Spanish efforts to colonize and Christianize the Moros and the Muslim resistance to such
Spanish aims and the subsequent Spanish-Muslim rivalry in trade.

3. My parent’s love story is not like our typical view of love; it was not like in the movies where
the college sweethearts fall in love and have a happy ending. Their love was more of “You
and I against the world”, it was because both of their families do not like each other and
despite that they ignored everything. They came to a point where my father’s family kicked
my father out of their home, and he left with almost no connection to his family. In their
wedding, my father’s side was very unhappy, it may be the fact that they despise until then
the family of my mother. Even so, my parents still carried on and started our family, but as
time passes, they started to accept my mother as part of the family and until now we live a
normal and peaceful life. In the future, I will always take this lesson with me that even the
world is against us, if we are doing what we love nothing can stop us. But in terms of starting
a new family, is still unknown and undecided for me, I still have my dreams to chase, and we
should focus more on our decisions here in the present rather than fantasizing our future.
We can’t change our fate, but we can change the future by our decisions now.