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Changing the Narrative: A Descriptive and Informative Analysis and Critique of the

Readings About the Raising Issues of Using Historical Primary Sources

GED 103: Readings in Philippine History

Professor Geoffrey Rhoel Cruz

Christer John T. Bodoso

2023103124

Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan | Richardson, J. The Light of Liberty: Documents and Studies on the

Katipunan | Filipino Grievances Against Governor Wood

December 6, 2023
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Full Title of Research Paper

The importance of using primary sources as windows into the past has been a recurring

topic throughout the wide field of historical studies. I have explored three different

interpretations that negotiate the differences of historical primary materials in this review essay.

This paper explores these books and analyse the problems and challenges they present,

illuminating the complex issues that come with studying history. From the viewpoints of the late

General Emilio Aguinaldo offered in Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan, to the powerful values of

Kartilya ng Katipunan, and the erratic reactions of Filipino Grievances Against Governor Wood,

this review essay will highlight the difficulties historians encounter when working with historical

materials. In addition, it will also highlight my personal understanding and my ability to point

out the issues or dilemmas emerging from these three readings.

To start the discussion about my analysis of the three readings, I want to emphasize the

question, “Is Primary Source always reliable?” This question will be followed by my analysis

that focuses on the challenges that the significance of relying on Primary Source set forth. My

initial answer to my own question is that Primary Source is not always reliable because not

everything stated by the eyewitness will provide factual information and some of its data might

be considered as biased. To support my answer, I want to mention my first reading analysis, Mga

Gunita ng Himagsikan. This book is about Emilio Aguinaldo’s work based on his own point of
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view and his personal experience about how Filipino revolutionaries united and fought together

to end the Spanish colonialization. However, issues arise as Emilio Aguinaldo’s memoir is

purely based on his own personal experience, creating his own personal insights relating to the

Philippine Revolution. As a result, the book contains pieces of information where Emilio

Aguinaldo handles issues in which he and his faction are involved firsthand. There are key

chapters in his book that highlight the progress of the end of Spain’s colonialization and how the

conflict between the two major factions (Magdalo and Magdiwang) happened. In Aguinaldo’s

early years, he is considered a great General since he won almost all of his battles. In Chapter 38,

entitled Pagpipisan Ng Sangguniang Magdiwang At Magdalo, is the event where the two

factions met and where Emilio Aguinaldo was the newly elected president of the newly

established government over Andres Bonifacio. The tension between Emilio Aguinaldo and

Andres Bonifacio happened during the Tejeros convention. Bonifacio's speculations arise as the

newly elected president was Aguinaldo. Although Bonifacio was elected to become a Secretario

de Interior, General Daniel Tirona disagreed with the election, stating that “Hindi nababagay sa

Supremo Andres Bonifacio, ang tungkuling nasabi, pagka’t hindi siya abogado, at bagay rito’y

ang Abogado Jose del Rosario, na taga Tanza.” This results in Supremo Bonifacio being

enraged and intending to shoot General Tirona. The controversy was not taken lightly, and

Bonifacio stated “Ako, sa aking pagka-Pangulo nitong Kapulungang Pambansa ng mga

Manghihimagsik , ay pinawawalan ko ng kabuluhan ang halalang dito’y naganap.” After the

Tejeros convention, the Bonifacio brothers were arrested and sentenced to execution due to

treason. On May 10, 1897, the Bonifacio brothers were executed in the mountain of Tala. After

the death of the Bonifacio brothers, Aguinaldo states that he had no idea about the death of

Andres and Procopio Bonifacio, and nothing else follows. The events that happened in the book
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can be seen as a “one-sided” narrative. Even though Aguinaldo was able to give the Philippines

Independence, he was also able to manipulate the story of how Filipinos were freed from the

Spaniards, and, most importantly, he was able to manipulate the conflict between him and

Supremo Andres Bonifacio. Because of this, confusion among the people arises on which of the

two is in the right. My final verdict is that Emilio Aguinaldo and his government are corrupt and

hungry for power. Therefore, Gunita ng Himagsikan, the grand narrative of Philippine history, is

an unreliable primary source of material for historical sources.

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References