GERPH01X

N A T I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y D A S M A R I Ñ A S

R E A D I N G S I N P H I L I P P I N E H I S TO R Y
WEEK 01
DISTINCTION AND
EVALUATION OF PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY
SOURCES

 AFTER READING THIS PART OF THE MODULE

THE LEARNERS WILL BE ABLE TO:

Evaluate primary sources for their credibility,

authenticity and provenance, in order to come
up with valid and reliable historical research
outputs.

WEEK 01 Analyze the context, content and perspective

DISTINCTION AND of different kinds of primary sources.
EVALUATION OF PRIMARY
Determine the contribution of different kinds
AND SECONDARY of primary sources in order to develop
SOURCES understanding of the complexities of
Philippine history and realizing its context.

 The illustration of the The Marinduque

First Mass in Limasawa, Celadon Jar is a
Southern Leyte on distinctive stoneware
March 21, 1521, by the dated to 1279 to 1368
eet of Ferdinand Common Era (CE),
Magellan. The historic originating from the Yuan
event introduced Dynasty China.
Christianity in the
Philippines.

Emilio Aguinaldo, who led the

Philippine Revolution against Spain,
and Manuel L. Quezon, President of
the autonomous Commonwealth of the
Philippines under the United States.
fl
what it really means?
PRIMARY & SECONDARY SOURCES

secondary
source?
primary coming from or creating

source? source? using an original

source.
not made or coming a person, publication, or
from something else; object that gives
original. information

second
firsthand? hand?
not original; taken
coming directly from
from someone or
the original source.
something else.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

THE MEANING &
RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

This module emphasizes the relevance of Studying Philippine history in the

21st Century. It focuses on analyzing Philippine History from multiple
perspectives based on selected primary sources from various disciplines and
genres.
It also focuses on the discussion of the basic difference between primary and
secondary source materials, and their importance in getting a better picture of
what really transpired in Philippine History. Moreover, it identi es the different
kinds of primary sources and their possible repositories.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

fi
THE MEANING &
RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

In conducting any historical research, different sources of information are

required to gain extensive knowledge on a particular topic. Some researchers
rely on written sources while others choose to make use of oral sources. No
matter what source is being utilized, it is important to know which among the
gathered sources can provide accurate details and information about the
historical event or subject being researched on.
It is important to distinguish primary from secondary sources. The degree to
which the author of a piece is removed from the actual event being described
illustrates whether the source is reporting impressions firsthand or secondhand.
As such, the primacy of primary over secondary sources should be considered
by every researcher.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

DISTINCTION OF PRIMARY &

SECONDARY SOURCES
PRIMARY SOURCES are considered as contemporary accounts of an event, personally
written or narrated by an individual person who directly experienced or participated in the
said event. Aside from eyewitness testimonies, primary sources also include materials that
capture the event such as photographs, voice and video recordings, and the like.
These materials are considered as original sources that directly narrate the details of the
event. These sources can be in the form of:

• diary & journal entries • interviews

• letters • government publications
• memoirs • minutes reports
• journals • artworks
• speeches • artifacts
• photographs

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

DISTINCTION OF PRIMARY &

SECONDARY SOURCES

Primary Sources mostly include unpublished works of individuals that were

discovered after some time such as during historical excavations and
historical researches done in public and private libraries. In some instances,
newspaper or magazine articles are also considered primary sources as long
as they were written soon after the events and not as historical accounts.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

DISTINCTION OF PRIMARY &
SECONDARY SOURCES
On the other hand, SECONDARY SOURCES serve as interpretations or readings of
primary sources. Usually, the author of a piece incorporates his or her personal insights
and interpretations, thus detaching the original value of the component of the subject
being discussed. These sources usually contain analyses of primary sources
academicians, and professionals. These are usually in the form of:

• published works (journals & articles) • biographies

• reviews • dictionary
• books • encyclopedia
• conference papers • magazines
• documentaries • newspapers

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

DISTINCTION OF PRIMARY &

SECONDARY SOURCES

Secondary Sources can also be based on interpretations of other secondary

sources, a or combination of primary and secondary sources. Many historical
researches also bank on secondary sources to get different perspectives on
a particular topic. However, relying too much on secondary sources may blur
out the actual details of particular historical events.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

EVALUATING PRIMARY &
SECONDARY SOURCES

Therefore, primary and secondary sources should be evaluated. Most scholars

use the following questions in evaluating the validity and credibility of sources
of historical accounts:
1. How did the author know about the given details? Was the author present at
the event? How soon was the author able to gather the details of the event?
2. Where did the information come from? Is it a personal experience, an
eyewitness account, or a report made by another person?
3. Did the author conclude based on a single source, or on many sources of
evidence?

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

EVALUATING PRIMARY &

SECONDARY SOURCES

If the evaluation of an available source shows any indication that it is an

interpretative work rather than a factual firsthand account, it is considered as a
secondary source. Thus, in conducting historical research, it is important to
identify first whether the available sources are primary or secondary sources.
This is to determine how reliable and helpful these sources are.
It is already common knowledge in the academe that both primary and
secondary sources are important in fleshing out the details of significant events
in history. However, classifying a source as primary or secondary has never been
an easy task. Nevertheless, the primacy of primary over secondary sources has
always been recognized.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

EVALUATING PRIMARY &

SECONDARY SOURCES

In this day and age, the proliferation of fake news is evident in both print
and digital media platforms. Thus, it becomes more apparent that sources
of texts should be scrutinized for their credibility.
Although primacy is given to primary sources, there are instances when the
credibility of these sources are contestable. Garraghan (1950) identified six
points of inquiries to evaluate the authenticity of a primary source.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

 Six Points of Inquiries to Evaluate the

Authenticity of a Primary Source

➢ Date – When it was produced?

➢ Localization – Where did it originate?
➢ Authorship – Who wrote it?
➢ Analysis – What pre-existing material served as the basis for its production?
➢ Integrity – What was its original form?
➢ Credibility – What is the evidential value of its content?

Louis Gottchalk (1969) emphasized that it is impossible for historians to avoid using
secondary sources due to difficulty in accessing primary sources. Most often, historians
depend on secondary sources to improve their background knowledge of
contemporary documents and detect any errors they may contain.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

EVALUATING PRIMARY &

SECONDARY SOURCES
Specifically, Gottschalk suggested that secondary sources must only be used for: (1) deriving
the setting wherein the contemporary evidence will fit in the grand narrative of history; (2)
getting leads to other bibliographic data; (3) acquiring quotations or citations from
contemporary or other sources; (4) deriving interpretations with a view of testing and
improving them but not accepting them as outright truth.
Martha Howell and Walter Prevenier (2001) stated that before any source can be considered as
evidence in a historical argument, it must satisfy three preconditions:
1. It must be comprehensible at the most basic level of vocabulary, language, and handwriting.
2. The source must be carefully located in accordance with place and time.
3. Through the first two preconditions, the authenticity of the source must always be checked
and counterchecked before being accepted as a credible source in any historical findings.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

EVALUATING PRIMARY &

SECONDARY SOURCES

Cases of forgery and mislabeling are common in Philippines historiography.

Given the possibility of forger and mislabeling, historians not only evaluate the
sources in terms of external characteristics that focus on the questions of where,
when, and by whom. They also evaluate in terms of internal criteria which
includes seven factors identified by Howell and Prevenier (2001).

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

INTERNAL CRITERIA FOR CHECKING THE
AUTHENTICITY OF THE SOURCE

1. The genealogy of the document – refers to the development of the document.

The document may be original, a copy, or a copy of the copy.
2. The genesis of the document – includes the situations and the authorities during
the document’s production.
3. The originality of the document – includes the nature of the document whether it
is an eye/earwitness account or merely passing of existing information.
4. The interpretation of the document – pertains to deducing meaning from the
document.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

INTERNAL CRITERIA FOR CHECKING THE

AUTHENTICITY OF THE SOURCE

5. The authorial authority of the document – refers to the relationship between

the document’s subject matter and its author.
6. The competence of the observer – refers to the author’s capabilities and
qualifications to critically comprehend and report information.
7. Trustworthiness of the observer – refers to the author’s integrity – whether he or
she fabricates or reports truthfully.

In general, the reliability of primary sources is assessed on how these sources are
directly related and closely connected to the time of the events they pertain to. On the
other hand, the reliability of secondary sources depends on the elapsed time from the
date of the event to the date of their creation.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

SELF PACED ACTIVITY

WATCH:
1. “Ang Pinaka: Pinaniwalaan Historical Hoax, Code of Kalantiaw
”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKqgfCtDx0M

2. “Xiao Time: Ang Kodigo ni Kalantiaw”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFjr9_azT6s

After watching the above videos, what did you discover about the Code of Kalantiaw?
Was it true? If not, how was this information debunked? Is there a way to avoid this kind
of historical fallacy? (Essay/written work must contain 500-600 words.)

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

COURSE PACK QUIZ

Check the following sources online and identify which of the enumerated below is a
primary or secondary source.

______________1. Congratulatory Letter of President Osmeña to General MacArthur

______________ 2. The First Filipino by León María Guerrero III

______________ 3. Storm Over Leyte The Philippine Invasion and the Destruction of the
Japanese Navy

______________ 4. Rescued History Essays on the New History of the Philippine Revolution

______________ 5. Inaugural Address of President Magsaysay, December 30, 1953

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

COURSE PACK QUIZ

______________ 6. Carlos P. Romulo with his future wife Virginia Llamas, crowned Queen of
the Philippine Carnival (1922)

______________ 7. Batas Militar: A Documentary on Martial Law in the Philippines

(www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIAtIQ7bnnY)

______________ 8. Cover of Mr. and Mrs. Magazine featuring Defense Minister Juan Ponce
Enrile & Gen. Fidel Ramos. Mr. and Ms., February 28 - March 6, 1986.

______________ 9. The Spoliarium by Filipino painter Juan Luna.

______________ 10. The Laguna Copperplate inscription, the earliest writing discovered in the
Philippines.

GERPH01X | READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY PREPARED BY MICO AGDEPA

GERPH01X
N A T I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y D A S M A R I Ñ A S

REFERENCES
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY Cabrera, V. (2017, May 29). Fake news also hounded
1896 Philippine revolution. Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/900457/
WEEK 01
fake-news-also hounded-1896-philippine-revolution
DISTINCTION AND
EVALUATION OF PRIMARY Smith, B. (n.d.). Historical method: The how of historical
inquiry. Retrieved from http://www.textexcavation.com/
AND SECONDARY historical method.html
SOURCES
Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
(n.d.). Engaging students with primary sources.
Retrieved from https://historyexplorer.si.edu/sites/
default/files/ PrimarySources.pdf