FINAL EXAMINATION

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

NAME: Centeno, Alyssa Sherien P.

COURSE AND SECTION: TOU 227

I. VIDEO ANALYSIS.
1. Watch the video "AGUINALDO: BAYANI O GANGSTER”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnlR7NQvI3E Answer the following
questions:
A. What is the main message of the documentary? (5 points)
B. How should we understand the role of Emilio Aguinaldo in Philippine History?
(10 points)

The documentary's message is that we should not look at one side of a story about a person but rather
know both sides before we give a judgement on a story or person. The documentary also wants to convey
that even if, from our perspective, a story about a person or character is not good, it is still better that we
also see the good things that have been done. We must know why they were done that way, why the
reaction was that way and that person's decision.

We should look at all the corners of the stories and documentaries about him. Let's not judge
Emilio Aguinaldo easily without knowing him because, for me, at the age of 29 years old, the decisions
he has to make are complicated, and it's a big responsibility and role to be the President of a new republic
because the whole country will be affected no matter what decision he makes. We should not immediately
judge him if we only watched General Luna, but we must also watch El Presidente. In that way, we can
learn more about his story and personality. Let's look at Emilio Aguinaldo as the first President of the
Philippines and a great hero for the war he waged against the Spanish and the Americans. Even if he has
made mistakes, he has done more and contributed to our history, and one of those contributions is his use
of guerrilla warfare, which he was the first to use here in Asia. Let's look at Emilio Aguinaldo fairly and
clearly because he also sacrificed and did a lot for our country.

II.ESSAY. If you will be given the chance to alter or change a specific part of our
period of revolution (from Spanish to American period including period of War
or Japanese Period) what is that part and why? Cite how will it affect the course
of our history. (Minimum 5 paragraphs, 15 points)

Philippine – American War

American Revolution

The Philippine-American War is essential in the history of the Philippines and America because
this is where the strong connection between Filipinos and Americans began. The Philippine-American
War started between 1899 and 1902, a fight between the Filipino revolutionaries and the US military.
This essay will discuss how the Philippine-American War started and what I want to change.
 Before the fight between the Filipinos and the Americans, there was already a war between KKK
and the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan and the Spaniards. It is
because of the desire of the Filipinos to expel the Spaniards from their leadership and occupation of the
Philippines, and Andres Bonifacio leads this movement, and his companion in the KKK with Andres
Bonifacio in the Katipunan is Emilio Aguinaldo.

There was an election on March 22, 1897, in Hacienda Tejeros San Francisco de Malabon,
Cavite. In the first election that took place, the winner to be the President was Emilio Aguinaldo, and
because he won the election, Andres Bonifacio did not like the result of the election. He acted and moved
on his own decisions. After Emilio Aguinaldo's victory against the Spaniards, there was what is called the
Britannica (n. d) "Treaty of Paris, signed in 1898 by representatives of Spain and the United States in
December, which transferred Philippine sovereignty from Spain to the United States." But President
Emilio Aguinaldo did not like it because he thought the Philippines would be recognized as an
independent country.

Because of this, President Emilio Aguinaldo did not acknowledge this agreement; he and his
fellow Filipinos nevertheless opted to recognize the independence of the Philippines, and it was because
of this decision that the confrontation between the Americans and the Filipinos happened. Emilio
Aguinaldo, the President of the Philippines, proclaimed war against the United States of America and
declared war against those countries. On February 6th, the United States of America dispatched additional
soldiers to the Philippines to engage in combat with Filipino soldiers.

In the continuous fighting, the Americans gradually captured the Filipino soldiers' places and
bases; because of this, Aguinaldo declared the existence of guerrilla campaigns in November 1899.
Because of the continuation of the fight, the Filipino guerillas fled with Emilio Aguinaldo to the north to
hide and conduct rear-guard actions to stall the American advance. Still, the Filipino guerillas are
gradually losing the fight against the American soldiers due to the continuation of the fight. Because of
this, the American soldiers were led by U.S. Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston on March 23, 1901, to capture
Emilio Aguinaldo and pledge alliance with the United States. The war had just ended, and the Philippines
was returned to the leadership of the United States.

Let's discuss the things I want to change about the American Revolution in the Philippines.
According to my understanding of the sources I gathered and what I have read here, I will decide whether
to change the decision of Emilio Aguinaldo in declaring war against America, because for me, if we
submit to the Americans, it is good. Maybe the lifestyle of each of us is like the lifestyle of Americans
today, but I'm not saying to be a coward and not fight for our country. Maybe I also want to change the
way Emilio gave a solution to this because there are many soldiers and Filipinos who died when he
declared war against America. If we can talk about it and go through it in an orderly and peaceful way,
why not? If we were to be conquered by the Americans, it would have a good and bad effect on us. First,
let's talk about the good effect of this. The Philippines will become the states of America, which means
we will have a federal government that will have a good effect on every province here in the Philippines.
The Philippines will be one of the top countries just like America because we are states, and maybe we
have a good lifestyle today because of America's leadership over us.

Let's talk about the negative impact of the American occupation: the Philippines will become a war battle
area because the United States disagrees with China, North Korea, and Russia, which are close to the
Philippines; there may be a conflict that will be the reason for the existence of a fierce war here in the
Philippines, and our country will be their battle area. Another effect of America's leadership on us is the
issue of racism because we, the Philippines, are in Asia; other Americans can discriminate against us
because we have Asian blood. I believe that the suggestions I have made on the American Revolution,
which I would like to amend, would have both beneficial and negative effects on our history.
History Vlog (LOCAL HISTORY). Study the local history of your municipality/city or
province. Create a 3- minute minimum vlog video using the local history of your chosen
place. (YOU CAN USE FILIPINO AS YOUR MEDIUM) (30 points).

"GOODLUCK KLASMEYTS
"

“Life is like an Exam that we have to pass:

It’s a Multiple Choice- to realize that we always have option
True or False- that we have to determine what is right and wrong
Matching Type- deciding what are the best for us that match with our skills
and passion
Identification- to understand that we have our own identity and uniqueness
as an individual
Most of all, Life is an ESSAY wherein we are the author and it’s in our
hands to decide how our story would run and end”