Chapter 3

One Past, Many Histories: Conflicting Views in Philippine History

Learning Outcomes
 Identify controversies in Philippine history;
 Demonstrate the validity of historical controversy with the use
of primary and secondary sources.
 Formulate arguments in favor or against a particular issue
using primary and secondary sources.
Lesson Proper
There is more to just reading history. There is also the task of
studying historical accounts. Much of our history is written because
there are accounts of eyewitnesses or participants of specific events.
And this is where the problem comes in; which accounts should we
believe?
As the saying in historical studies go, “there is one past, but many
histories,” Thus, controversies on and conflicting views of events in
Philippine history exist. This situation, however, does not detract from
any form of historical sources by analyzing how perspectives are made
on historical events.
Many issues have only been briefly explicated and sometimes this
brings confusion in understanding our past as one nation. Hence, this
unit demonstrates the ability to formulate arguments in favor of or
against a particular issue using primary sources.
“ There is history in all men’s lives.” -William Shakespeare

What is the difference between the past and the history?

The Past - Is an or are events that had happened, known, or unknown and it
cannot be changed
History - Is an intellectual discipline, a journey, and always changing through
time

1. Why are there historical conflicts?

1. The Past is absolute but not the history
- We cannot change the fact that the past is already there. But when
people whether our friends or not look at our situation from various
Points-of-view, that is history
 2. history is ever changing but the past remains.
- As more sources would surface, another perspective in history will be
unleashed thus leafing to intellectual discourses. Yet actors and events
from the past remains.

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2.Examples of conflicting Interpretations in Philippine History
revssss ** nasa book na tong mga readings nila mam,
lahat yang apat) hndi ko na nilagagay dto modules nila.
Pinicturan ko nlng tas sinend ko sakanila. Hehe bale
isa lng yata dniscuss ko ng buo jan, tapos sila na bahala
nag analyze yung ibang readings nila mam)

a. The First Mass on March 31, 1521

b. The Retraction of Rizal

The night before his death at the Luneta on December 30, 1986,
accounts exist that Rizal allegedly retracted his Masonic ideals and
his writings and reconverted to Catholicism following several hours
of persuasion by Jesuit priests.

c. The First Cry of the Philippine Revolution

In 1911, a monument to the Heroes of 1896 was erected in
Balintawak where beginning in 1908, it was believed that the first
cry occurred there on August 26. However, the date and place of
the event were later contradicted by different Katipunan
personalities who claimed that they were there at the time.

In 1963, the NHCP decided that, following extensive research of

primary sources, the First cry of the Philippine Revolution of 1896
happened at Pugad lawin.

d. The Tejeros Assembly

Aguinaldo invited the Supremo Andres Bonifacio to Cavite to
mediate and resolve the differences of the two groups of the Cavite
Katipuneros—Magdalo and Magdiwang, Emilio Aguinaldo,
however, was not able to attend the assembly as he was
commanding the Filipino forces at the frontlines.
*the Truth is unending history, As long as there are sources discovered or yet to
be, perspectives change and the only absolute about it is both the past and
“change”.
3. Establishing factual and evidential perspective.
We need first to Analyze, Scrutinize the historical sources we have.
HOW?
Establish authenticity of the source.
When was the historical source written?
 Production
 Written or unwritten
 Original or transcribed from an interview
When was it produced?
 Is it near during the event;
 Or far
Who produced the source? (Authorship)
 Establish integrity by studying the background of the author
What was the intent of the author to produce such source?

Learning Assessment
1. From the three historical sources that you have read, choose one and
decide on which side you agree with. Then write a position paper.
Support your stand using primary and secondary sources.
(watch this short video so that you will a have a guide in making your position
paper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TYxdbAkL_Y)
2. Research on the proliferation of fake news nowadays. And make a simple
infographic highlighting the importance of awareness on the issue and
ways on how to stop the spread of fake news.