MODULE 5 IN GEC 2

(READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY)

MODULE V – CRITICAL EVALUATION AND PROMOTION OF LOCAL AND ORAL

HISTORY, MUSEUMS, HISTORICAL SHRINES, CULTURAL
PERFORMANCES, INDIGENOUS PRACTICES, RELIGIOUS RITES
AND RITUALS, ETC

CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
It is not enough to know our history. We must also realize that as agent of social
change, we can contribute to the narrative of the nation by participating in writing about
our past and present. This chapter focus on applying the skills we have learned in the
previous chapters in writing history. Special attention will be given to doing online
research, library and archival research, biographies/life history, and local/oral history.
We can also enhance our interaction and understanding history through historical
shrines and museums helping us appreciate the story of the past as it comes to life
through our own experiences in visiting and interacting with these learning places.

VALUE/THRUSTS INTEGRATION
Valuing of local history

LESSON 1 – LOCAL AND ORAL HISTORY; MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SHRINES;

CULTURAL PERFORMANCES; INDIGENOUS PRACTICES; RELIGIOUS RITES
AND RITUALS

INTRODUCTION:
This topic will focus on the importance of local and oral history; museum and
historical shrines; cultural performances; indigenous practices; religious rites and rituals
in the context of national history. These sources will be utilized for the students to
understand and be aware of their local histories, cultural beliefs and practices existing in
the local communities.

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 Local museums can preserve objects and materials of cultural, religious and
historical importance; historical shrines/landmarks can lead student into a deeper
engagement with historical events and give us an opportunity to develop fuller
appreciation for those who lived before us.
It also gives students a chance to learn and appreciate cultural performance,
indigenous practices, religious and rituals prevalent in the locality.

INTENDED OUTCOME/LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson the students will be able to:
1. Document the local histories, cultural shrines, and festivities as well as local
culture and traditions;
2. Show concern through promoting and preserving the historical and cultural
heritage.

STIMULATING LEARNING (Motivation)

Class, the next lesson that we are going to discuss is about local and oral history.
Can you identify historical sites and cultural traditions in your municipality? Cite one and
give a short description. Is looking into local historical sites and cultural traditions
important? Hence, in deepening your understanding about the lesson, we will proceed
with our discussion.

INCULCATING CONCEPTS (Input/Lesson Proper)

LOCAL AND ORAL HISTORY; MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SHRINES; CULTURAL

PERFORMANCES; INDIGENOUS PRACTICES; RELIGIOUS RITES AND RITUALS
It is unfortunate that a vast number of Filipino laymen lack interest or
understanding of Philippine history. This may have been brought about by an
inadequate background in history and a general tendency on the part of the people to
be less conscious of the value of the past to their present life. Or, maybe, such
ignorance or apathy may have resulted from the dearth of materials, especially on local

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history which is closer to the hearts and minds of the people (Funtecha, The News on
Line: Iloilo News and Panay News, 2002-2006).
The critical importance of local history in the understanding and the writing of a
truly national history cannot just be ignored. The rationale behind the need to come up
with local history is the realization of the unrepresentative and limited nature of
Philippine history. What is generally considered to be the history of the Filipino people is
essentially the history of Central Luzon, most especially the Tagalogs.
Before there was national history, there was local history, National histories
sprouted from contributions from local history Local history should follow a common or a
national pattern.

A. LOCAL HISTORY
o The study of history of a particular community or a smaller unit of geography.
o It has broad and dynamic field of inquiry that aims to have an in-depth
understanding of a certain locale.
o It covers recent studies on local institutions like churches, local economies, local
heroes, and local events.
o Serves as a balancer of these tendencies by showing the peculiarities in certain
locales in a particular nation, region or continent.
o History is defined as an organized record of a meaningful past. It is actually a
reservoir of local data and memories of events, realties, and things that provide
the essences of local life.
o From this inexhaustible reservoir people can draw patriotic strength in times of
crisis, inspiration in moments of despair and directions in times of ambiguity and
dilemma.
o Facilitates a historical narrative emanating from the people;
o Studying local history shall provide new provisions and perspectives on the
already established national history.
Local history is history in the local context
o The study of local history provides the foundation and the substance of true
national history

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 o It is more than the study of towns, provinces and regions of the Philippines and
the people who live there
o It provides us with the documentation and analysis of the broad processes which
are important to the life of the people
o Local history enriches our understanding of our national history

Local history are basic to autonomy

o Autonomy implies an exercise of freedom with limited control or influence from
the national government
o It provides more room for local initiatives to develop and for local potentials to
progress
o More importantly it encourages creative and innovative responses to
development with people with special talents and potentials

Local history provides the vital task of putting the meaningful essence of
community in space and time
o Here we can see community life in the context of social perspective
o The Philippines has a strong and varied source of local history because it has 16
regions, 78 provinces, 1,537 municipalities, 69 cities, 41,925 barangays and over
a hundred ethno linguistic groups

LOCAL HISTORIES FUNDAMENTAL TO NATIONAL INTERESTS

o By their very nature both help unite the nation as an example of unity in diversity
o National history seeks to bring together all diverse groups
o National interest by reason of national purpose and will should represent the
various localities, sectors, and ethnic groups from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi,
regardless of creed, origin, race and gender.
o Local history is expectedly closest to the people's heart and consciousness
because it reflects their own identity, experiences and aspirations. It is the
interpretative recreation of the past of their locality, embracing its political, social,
economic, and cultural life. This includes the development of the institutions in

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 the geographical unit and the successes and failures of its people. Thus, in order
to understand and, consequently, appreciate Philippine history, one should first
know the history of his own locality and its contributions to regional development
and over-all nation-building. One may never achieve a fuller understanding of the
Filipinos and the Philippines if he failed to study the history of his/her town, city,
province or region.

B. ORAL HISTORY
Oral history is important in the midst of scarcity in written sources, historical
documents, and other material evidences. This methods uses oral accounts of historical
subjects, witnesses, members of the community and the like. Oral history primarily
relies on memory. The informant will recount his experiences to the researcher as he
remembers it. In other instances, the informant will relay what he had learned from his
ancestors or older members of the community to the researcher.
Moreover, one cannot discount the importance of oral history in writing the
history of the underprivileged sectors and communities like urban poor and indigenous
groups where records are undocumented. The only alternative for an historian to
capture these information particularly the experiences and the collective past of the
communities is through utilizing oral history.
Hence, local and oral history are important endeavors in the development and
enrichment in the discipline of history. Furthermore, these efforts will fill the gaps in the
discipline by highlighting alternative areas of study and methodology toward a more
holistic, inclusive, and progressive study of the past.

Nota bene:
o Doing local history is not an easy task; historian often faced challenges in
locating sources for local and specific objects of the study.
o One important historical methodology to local history is oral history.
o Local and oral history are important endeavors in the development and
enrichment in the discipline of history.

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C. INTERACTING WITH HISTORY THROUGH HISTORICAL SHRINES AND
MUSEUMS
In studying history, research is a valuable tool to learn more about the
experiences of the nation. There exists venues where we can experience history, and
these are through historical shrines and museums. These venue for living history
provide us certain level of authority and trustworthiness that could impact the way we
view the past. Through interacting with artifacts such as World War II rifle or clothes of a
Filipino hero, we can better imagine the past beyond the mere letter and words we read
and painstakingly memorized. These tangible objects are reconstructions of the past;
experiencing these artifacts directly is the next best thing to actually being there when a
particular event happened or when a historical personality lived (Candelaria, 2018).
Historical shrines or landmarks and museums serves as portals to the past.
These are important places to visit for the researcher or students in enhancing their
understanding on local histories, nevertheless, visiting these places entails
preparations. Historical shrines and landmarks will further enrich your understanding
about the past. Landmarks are structures built by our ancestors embodying the past that
enriches our lives and enhances our understanding of history while creating for us a
sense of continuity. In addition, museums are institutions created in public interest
wherein visitors foster deeper understanding and promote the enjoyment and sharing
authentic cultural and natural heritage. According to Senator Loren Legarda, “Museums
are vessels in such a way that they house our historical, scientific, artistic, and cultural
artifacts and treasures everyone to appreciate, study, and understand. They are
repositories of the people’s skills, talents and knowledge, and ways of life in the past
that we need to preserve and pass on the future generation.”
Shrines and museums are more interactive now, aided by available technologies.
Hence, visiting shrines/landmarks and museums is a great chance to analyze the
artifacts since artifacts are also texts that are open for reading, interpretation, criticism,
and evaluation.

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D. CULTURAL PERFORMANCE
An important subject and observable unit in the study of culture and society. This
includes events that occur in everyday life in which a culture’s values are displayed for
their perpetuation: such as rituals, parades, religious ceremonies, and community
festivals.

E. INDIGENOUS PRACTICES; RELIGIOUS RITES AND RITUALS

These are the practices of the remote communities that continued to thrive in
their relatively remote yet self-sufficient communities in which they are able to uphold
their traditions as reflected in their music, dances, rituals, folklore, arts, agricultural and
forestry practices.

UPGRADING COMPETENCE AND EXPANDING INSIGHTS (enrichment phase)

1. Make an essay on the importance of local and oral history. Why there is a need for
us to conduct a study on local history.

Reference to/Reflection on Value/Thrusts Integration

1. Jose Victor Torres. “BATIS: Sources in Philippine History.” C and E Publishing,
Inc. 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City, 2018.
2. John Lee P. Candelaria and Veronica C. Alporha. Readings in Philippine History.
856 Nicanor Reyes Sr., St., Sampaloc, Manila. 2018
3. Evelyn J. Grey, Ph.D., and Ryan D. Biong, M.A.Ed. Malones Printing Press and
Publishing House. Door 32, Zerrudo Commercial Complex. E. Lopez St., Jaro,
Iloilo, Philippines, 2017.

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