COURSE MATERIAL

Course Description:

The course analyzes Philippine history from multiple perspectives

through the lens of selected primary sources coming from various
disciplines and of different genres. Students are given opportunities to
analyze the authors’ background and main arguments, compare different
points of view, identify biases and examine the evidences presented in
the document. The discussions will tackle traditional topics in history
and other interdisciplinary themes that will deepen and broaden their
understanding of Philippine political, economic, cultural, social,
scientific and religion history. Priority is given to primary materials
that could help students develop their analytical and communicative
skills. The end goal is to develop the historical and critical
consciousness of the students so that they will become versatile,
articulate, bro ad-minded, morally upright and responsible citizens.
This course includes mandatory topics on the Philippine Constitution, agrarian reform and
taxation.

I. Introduction to History
Table of Contents

Lesson 1: A. Meaning and Relevance of History 5

B. Historiography and Historical Method 8
Lesson 2: C. Primary and Secondary Sources 16
D. External and Internal Criticisms 19

II. Content and Contextual Analysis of Selected Primary Sources

Lesson 3: A. Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage 23

Lesson 4: B. Customs of the Tagalogs 35
Lesson 5: C. Kartilla ng Katipunan 46
D. Gunita ng Himagsikan 50
Lesson 6: E. 1898 Declaration of Independence 58
Lesson 7: F. Political Caricatures of the American Era 68
G. Filipino Grievances against Leonard Wood
H. President Corazon Aquino’s Speech before the US Congress

III. One past but many histories: Controversies and Conflicting Views in
Philippine History

Lesson 8: Site of the First Mass

Lesson 9: Cavite Mutiny
Lesson 10: Retraction of Rizal
Lesson 11: Cry of Pugadlawin or Balintawak

IV. Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Issues in the Philippines

Lesson 12: Local History

Lesson 13: Indigenous People of the Philippines

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Pre-test

PART 1: Answer the questions below the best you can.

Questions Answers
1. How many regions are there in the Philippines?
2. What was the nationality of Ferdinand Magellan
3. Who was the last Spanish Governor General in the
Philippines?
4. What was the money used by the Japanese in the
Philippines during the World War II occupation?
5. In which province was Andres Bonifacio executed?
6. What is considered to be the earliest form of writing in
the Philippines?
7. What is the oldest city in the Philippines?
8. In which foreign country Rizal published the Noli Me
Tangere?
9. What place in the Philippines is also known as the
“walled city”?
10. What was the official newspaper of Katipunan?

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Pre-test

PART 2: Let’s see if you’re familiar with the words below. Sort the word into the correct
category. Write them inside the hexagons.

Timawa Jose Rizal Rafael Izquerdo Alipin Augustinians

Andres Concepcion Graciano Lopez Maharlika Victoria
Bonifacio Jaena
Maximo Viola Ramon Blanco Emilio Jacinto Franciscans
Juan Luna Pio Valenzuela Marcelo del Trinidad Melchora
Pilar Aquino
Santiago Francis Harrison Narciso Claveria Dominicans Carmelites

Katipunan Propagandists Social class

Members

Governor
Ships of Magellan Orders of Friars
Generals

Lesson I. Introduction to History

Learning Outcomes:
Lesson 1 1. Understand the meaning and use of history.
2. Appreciate the importance history.
3. Differentiate Historiography and Historical Method.

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Required A. PRE-ACTIVITY
resources: History is not everyone’s cup of tea. From here we will see how you perceive your
past and how you like to remember them.
a. PPT Be honest in answering the questions below.
b. Worksheet
c. videos 1. Do you like remembering (your) past events? Why or why not?
2. What will happen if you forget them?
3. Do you think that all your experiences contributed to what you are
today? Why? or Why not?

My History Diary
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2.
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3.
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I. Introduction to History
Learning Outcomes:
1. Understand the meaning and use of history.
2. Appreciate the importance history.
Lesson 1 3. Differentiate Historiography and Historical Method.

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B. CONTENT

They say that history is a boring subject and that history is not that important. Now, after
you’ve answered all the questions above, it will give you a sort of idea on how you should treat
history as a subject.

Do you care about your past?

Do you still want to remember them?
Would that (past) affect your life?

History was derived from the greek word historia which means inquiry
or the knowledge acquired by investigation. It was Herodotus (484BC-
425BC) a Greek historian who is considered to be the “Father of History”.

Take a look at the definitions of history in some western dictionaries.

From webster dictionary: a chronological record of significant events (such as those

affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes

From Oxford: The whole series of past events connected with a particular person or thing

From these two definitions, some might think that history focuses only on recorded
(chronological) significant events or past. If you don’t have any records, then there is no history. If
you will study history deeply, especially the Philippine History, you will realize that it is more than
the technical definition of the term.

History provides us with a sense of identity and an idea on the greatness of one’s nation. It
can help us understand our present and even our future by studying this discipline.

Dr. Zeus Salazar, a retired professor from the University of the Philippines defined history or
“kasaysayan” in a way that we Filipinos would understand and give us a sense of pride.
According to him: Ang kasaysayan ay mga salaysay ukol sa nakaraan na may “saysay” para
sa isang particular na grupo ng tao (Pilipino) na naninirahan sa kasalukuyan.

Watch this video link for more info.

ANO ANG KASAYSAYAN?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPDLYjN_oQY

Philippine History is a people’s history. As defined by Renato Constantino, history is the

“recorded struggle of people for ever increasing freedom and for and newer and higher realization
of human person.” It is not about the story of man as the individual, but man as the associated man.
An examination of the past teaches us to see the world through different eyes- appreciating
the diversity of human perceptions, beliefs and cultures. Different and/or new perspectives will
enable us to analyze critically the present contexts of society and beings.

Reasons to study History:

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a. Act of leaping from one epoch to another.

b. It provides us the opportunity to revisit the richness of forgotten cultures of past
civilizations and reliving it in the present.
c. It gives one the chance to step into the life of every person being studied.
d. Gives time-travelling feeling through passages and imagining things.

In addition to, in one of the articles of Peter Stearns in the American Historical Association
website, here are the reasons why we should study history:
a. History helps us understand people and societies- history offers a store house of
information about how people and societies should behave.
b. History helps us understand change and how society we live in came to be- Only
through studying history can we grasp how things change, to comprehend the factors
that cause the change and understand what elements of an institution or society
persist despite of change.

Moreover, he also enumerated the importance of studying history:

a. History contributes to moral understanding- it
provides terrain for moral contemplation. Studying the
stories of individuals and situations in the past allows a
student of history to test his or her own moral sense, to hone
it against some of the real complexities individuals faced in
difficult settings.
b. History provides identity- Historical data include evidence
about how families, groups, institutions and whole Skills developed
countries were formed and about how they have evolved while studying
while retaining cohesion. history:
c. Studying History is Essential for Good Citizenship- History a. interdisciplinary
provides data about the emergence of national institutions, research
problems and values. It offers evidence about how nations b. analysis
have interacted with other societies providing international c. writing
and comparative perspectives essential for responsible d. oral
citizenship. communication

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Now, why is it that there are several versions of

Historical Method- narratives in history? Is truth in history relative also? Well,
collection of techniques you can say that! The answer to several versions is,
and guidelines that because historians (the ones who write history) are influenced by
historians use for several factors. Sometimes they have an agenda too. Surprising,
research and to write right?
history. To make history as factual as possible, historians make use of
scientific process. They use Historical Method. This the process of
critically examining, and analyzing
sources and records for its authenticity and credibility. Rules here
are being used to settle conflicts of different historical accounts. Historiography- art of
Historiography uses historical method to be able to write a good writing history.
narrative and reconstruction of the past.
Is history subjective? Well, not really; but absolute
objectivity is inconceivable according to Wilhelm Dilthey. According to him, since people grow up
in cultural environments, they have imbibed the prevailing worldview in addition to their own
nature. The worldview that they have developed are colored with perspective from which people
understand their environments and the events that happen.
Teodoro Agoncillo is considered as the Father of Filipino nationalist historiography. He
wrote the conditions of the Philippine past by analyzing the conditions of the masses.

-There is no single understanding of truth in history.

-Different historians reach different conclusions about the same
period, event or issue.
- History is composed of competing and conflicting arguments and
view points and is always changing.

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Online Resources/Activities:

Ano ang kasaysayan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPDLYjN_oQY

https://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-and-archives/historical-archives/why-
study-history-(1998)

References:
8
Candelaria J.L and Alporha V.C. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Rex Bookstore Inc.
De Viana, A.
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Name:
Year & Section:
Assessment Professor:
Date:
t

PART 1. Using the letters H-I-S-T-O-R-Y and based on what you have learned from the discussion, provide a
word that would tell the importance of studying history. You may provide a short explanation in the third
column.

WORD EXPLANATION

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PART 2. The quotes below came from different people, but all of them teach us not to disregard
history and the study of this discipline.
After you’ve read each quote, create your own quotation in the space provided as your
realization of what history is or the importance of this discipline. Explain the meaning below

MEANING:
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Name:
Year & Section:
POST-TEST Professor:
Date:

It’s time to test if you really learned from the discussion above. Tick the appropriate box that
corresponds to your answer.

NO. STATEMENT TRUE FALSE

1. History concerns only about the past.
2. You can do historical method without
historiography.
3. History is not bias.
4. Historians are the only credible source of
history.
5. History is also a science because it uses
scientific method.
6. You can relive the past by studying history.
7. Truth is relative in history.
8. You can also test your moral sense thru history.
9. Herodotus is a roman historian who is considered
as father of history.
10. History is limited to story of hero and villain.

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