READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

LESSON 1
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES

A. Definition ​
History refers to the study and interpretation by a historian on the data and other
source of the past human activity, people, societies and civilizations leading to the
present day. There are three important concepts in the definition. First history as we all
know is based on past events. Second it is interpreted by someone usually by historian.
They gather, discard and interpret the sources that they encounter. And finally and the
most important history rely on data and documents which historian call as historical
sources.​

B. HISTORY’S SUBJECT MATTER

Like other social science the subject matter of history is the life of people and
humanity. But history has always been known as the study of the past. While this
definition of history is not wrong, it is incomplete. Etymologically, the word history came
from the Greek word Historia which means inquiry. Clearly the word Historia does not
mean past events. It denotes asking question or investigation of the past done by
person trained to do so or by persons who are interested in human past.

C. History and the Historian​

​
Historian is an expert or student of history, especially that of a particular period,
geographical region or social phenomenon. There are many duties of a historian. These
historians seek not only historical evidence and facts but also to interpret these facts.
He also gives meaning to these facts and organizes them chronologically.​

According to Gottschalk, historian is many times removed from the events under
investigation. He added that only a part of what was observed in the past was
remembered by those who observed it, only a part of what was remembered was
recorded; only a part of what was recorded has survived, only a part of what was
survive has come to the historian attention Moreover only a part of what is credible has
been grasped, and only a part of what has been grasped can expounded or narrated by
the historian.​

Some authors define history as a study of historical perspective. In

reconstructing the past, a historian can be subjective; after all he is human, fallible and
capable error. People’s memories are filled with bias, self righteousness, pride, vanity,
spinning, obstruction and outright lies. Each has his own frame of reference or a set of
interlocking values, loyalties assumptions interest and principle of action. The historian
is influenced by his own environment, ideology, education and influence. His
interpretation of the historical fact is affected by his context and circumstances. It’s like
the Indian parable of an elephant and the blind men, historians have different historical
perspective​.

Historiography is the study of how history was written, by whom and why it was
recorded as such. It is concerned with how historians have presented history.
Interpretation about the past can be objective or true as long as they are free of inherent
contradictions, are not contrary to the laws of nature and are based on actual remains
from the time period referred to an objective historian must verify sources, to date them,
locate the place of origin and identify their intended functions. It is important for a
historian to base their accounts on source materials.​

D. Sources of History​
​
Historical sources are tangible remains of the past. It is an object from the past or
testimony concerning the past on which historians depend in order to create their own
depiction of the past.​

PRIMARY SOURCES ​
​
A primary source is a testimony of an individual who was a participant in or a direct
witness to the event that is being described. It is a document or physical object which
was written or created during the time under a study. ​
There are five main categories of primary sources. It includes written sources,
numerical records, oral statements, relics, and images.​

TYPES OF PRIMARY SOURCES

● Travelogue
● Numerical Record
● Oral Statements
● Relics
● Images

SECONDARY SOURCES ​
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are
one or more steps removed from the event. It is prepared by an individual who was not
direct witness to an event, but not who obtained his or her description of the event from
someone else. Secondary sources may have pictures, votes or graphics of primary
sources in them. Some types of secondary sources are history textbook, printed
materials (serials or periodicals which interpret previews research), biographies,
nonfiction text such as newspaper, magazine, journals, works of criticism and
interpretation.​

TERTIARY SOURCES

● It provides third hand information by reporting ideas and details from

secondary source.​
● Some examples of this kind of source are encyclopedia, almanac, Wikipedia,
YouTube, dictionaries, message boards, social media sites and other search
sites.​

HISTORICAL CRITICISM
​
● It is also known as the historical-critical method, Historical criticism is a
branch of criticism that investigates the origin of text or source in order to
understand the word behind the text. ​

GOALS OF HISTORY CRITICISM

● Primary Goal
● Secondary Goal

● The primary goal of historical criticism is to discover the text primitive or

original historical context and its literal sense.​
● The secondary goal seeks establish a reconstruction of historical situation of
the author and recipients of the text.​

TWO TYPES OF HISTORICAL CRITICISM

external criticism (investigates the documents form) and internal criticism (investigates
the content of the documents).​

ADDITIONAL GOAL OF HISTORICAL CRITICISM

● The goal of historical criticism, traditionally, has been to try to understand the
text’s meaning in its original context and to answer questions about the text.​
● Historical criticism has also often sought answers to the ever-elusive question
of what is called “authorial intent”:​
 EXTERNAL CRITICISM
● This type of criticism looks for the obvious sign of forgery or
misrepresentation. This type of criticism tests the authenticity of the sources.​
● The historian also analyzes the original manuscript; its integrity, localization
and the date it was written.​
● it is the first test the historian employ to ascertain sources validity.​

TEST OF AUTHENTICITY
● The first step to test a source is to determine the date of document to see
whether it is anachronistic.​
Anachronism means out of time or order, something that could not have been there at
that particular time.​
● The second step is to determine the author’s handwriting, signature or seal.​
● The third test in determining the authenticity of the source is by looking for the
anachronistic style.​
Early Tagalog System (taken from Doctrina Christiana,)​
Ama namin, nasa Lan͠gitca,​
Ypasamba Mo ang N͠galanmo.​
Mouisaamin ang pagcaharimo.​
Ypasonor mo ang loob mo​
Dito sa lupa para sa Lan͠git.​
​
Modern Filipino orthography​
Ama namin, sumasalangit Ka,​
Sambahín ang Ngalan Mo.​
Mapasaamin ang kaharián Mo.​
Sundín ang loób Mo​
Dito sa lupà, para nang sa langit.​
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_orthography​

● The fourth test is the anachronistic reference to events.​

● The fifth test of authenticity is the provenance or custody of the document.​
● The other two test of authenticity is the semantics and hermeneutics.​
● Semantics is the linguistic study of meaning.​
● Hermeneutics is more than interpretation or method used when immediate
comprehension fails.​
 INTERNAL CRITICISM
● This type of criticism looks for deeper or more intense study of sources.​
● Usually historians first apply external criticism before undergoing the test of
credibility because of internal criticisms implicit character.​
● Internal criticism has to do with what the document says. It investigates the
content or substance of a document and the author’s point of view.​

TEST OF CREDIBILITY
● The first step is the identification of the author.​
● The second step in testing the credibility of the eyewitness is to determine the
approximate date.​
● The third step in testing the credibility of the source is its ability to tell the
truth. Historians examine how near an eyewitness is to the event.​
● The fourth step is the willingness to tell the truth.​
● The last step is to look for corroboration.​

MAIN TOPIC II: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED

PRIMARY SOURCES

A. BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR/CREATOR

First the researcher must provide brief biographical sketch of the author or creator of the
primary source. Family background, educational attainment, religion and many others
shall be given priority in presenting the biography of the author. Special attention must
also be given to the first four steps of the test of credibility discussed in the previous
module.​

B. BACKGROUND OF THE DOCUMENT/PRIMARY SOURCES

To check the authenticity of the source, check the provenance or origin of the said
document. Determine also the intended audience or the people the author wants to
convey their ideas with. If it is a letter the recipient in the address will be the audience
while if it is a diary the author is the audience.​

C. Content Analysis of the Important Historical Information Found in the

Document​
-First look for corroboration between the research you gather from the internet and the
primary source that your instructor has given to you.​
-Next, in order to analyze the primary source, look for bias. There is a bias when a
source’s information is unbalanced or prejudiced. There are two kinds of bias: either it is
strongly positive (strongly in favor of) or strongly negative (strongly against).​
Next is to analyze the historical perspective or a point of view a creator describe the
event. To accomplish this, do a background check of the author with regards to his
nationality, social status, political persuasion, cultural background, religion or education.​
​
Last task is to analyze the historical context of the document. Context is the awareness​
that sources were created at times which were very different to our own.​
EXAMPLES
HOW CAN WE FIND BIAS IN WORD CHOICES? IF​
it is too positive that provides little negative information then there is an extreme positive
bias.​
​
EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE GUNITA NG​
HIMAGSIKAN OF EMILIO AGUINALDO.​

​
IT TOO MUCH NEGATIVITY that provide little​
positive information​
on the person, then​
there is extreme ​
negativity.​
​
EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE FILIPINO GRIEVANCES​
AGAINST GENERAL ​
LEONARD WOOD.​

​
IF THE DOCUMENT IS SILENT OR WHEN THE SOURCE ​
INTENTIONALLY LEAVES​
IMPORTANT INFORMATION OF WHICH YOU ARE AWARE FROM OTHER
SOURCES.​
​
EXAMPLE OF THIS SILENT BIAS IS THE DECLARATION ​
OF THE PHILIPPINE ​
INDEPENDENCE THE ​
AUTHOR OF THIS DOCUMENT ​
INTENTIONALLY LEAVES​
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ​
ABOUT THE KATIPUNAN.​
 D. Contribution and Relevance of the Document in Understanding the Grand
Narrative of​
Philippine History​
In this activity look for the cause and consequences of the primary sources. A cause is
a person or thing that makes something happens while a consequences is a direct
result of the cause. ​
​
Example is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan. That event is the cause while
beingconverted to Catholicism is the effect or the consequence.​
​
In this part of the analysis look also for the turning point or dramatic moment of change​
that was cause by the event or primary source.​

E. Relevance of the documents to the present time.​

Look for the historical significance or what modern people consider to be important from
the past. There are many events in our history we have to choose but few people,
events or ideas to focus on. Since significant is a decision we make, it means different
people can decide different thing are particularly the most important. They can disagree
also the reason why particular event is important.​
​
How to determine significance of the event? We have to follow the acronym NAME or​
Novelty, Applicability, Memory and Effect. Novelty or when something is new or never
been seen before.​
​
Example is when Cory Aquino became President; it is significant because she is the first
female president of the Philippines. Applicability or when it is similar to the present. The
Spanish Flu of 1918 suddenly became important topic because of Covid-19. Memory or
how it has been remembered over time. The typhoon Yolanda is remembered because
it is the strongest weather disturbance that hit the country. Lastly the Effect or how
people have been affected. Taal Volcanic Eruption is significant particularly in Batangas
area because many were affected.​
​