Central Luzon State University

College of Business Administration and Accountancy

Comprehensive Written Report: The Local

Methodology of Local History by Digna B. Apilado

Maria Isabelle De Jesus

Francis King Corpus

Buionajannele Cruz

Alexcyn Cagatao

James Camante

September 2023
 PEER EVALUATION FOR GROUP ASSIGNMENT
Section: BSAC 1-2

Topic Assigned: The Methodology of Local History by: Digna B. Apilado

Items Reporter Co-Leader Co-Leader Reporter Leader

Cagatao, Camante, Corpus, Cruz, De Jesus,

Alexcyn Joy James G. Francis BuionaJannele B. Maria
R. King P. Isabelle R.

1.Dependable in 10 10 10 10 10
attending group
meetings

2. Willingly 10 10 10 10 10
accepted assigned
tasks

3. Contributed 10 10 10 10 10
positively in group
discussions

4. Completed work 10 10 10 10 10
on time and
submitted to the
leader for
consolidation

5. Helped others 10 10 10 10 10
with their work
when needed

6. Did work 10 10 10 10 10
accurately and
completely

7. Contributed a fair 10 10 10 10 10
share to group
work

8. Worked well with 10 10 10 10 10

other group
members

9. is a good team 10 10 10 10 10
player and
cooperative

10. Over-all : was a 10 10 10 10 10

valuable member of
the team

Total Score 100 100 100 100 100

AVERAGE 10 10 10 10 10
SCORE:

Digna B. Apilado is a retired associate professor at the University of the

Philippines-Diliman from the Department of History, College of Social Sciences and

Philosophy and one of the board of trustees and advisory council in year 2019.

Moreover, she is the former vice president of the Philippine National Historical Society

Inc. for Northern Luzon and one of the board of trustees in year 2012 to 2013. She is

the author of ‘A History of Ilocos Norte Province’, ‘The Agturay of the Ili: The Elite of

Ilocos’, and ‘“Pagmamahal sa Bayan”: The Ilocanos and the Philippine Revolution’

which, can be found on ‘The Journal of History’.

The article written by Digna B. Apilado entitled ‘The Methodology of Local History’

consists of four factors where historians can trace the new emphasis on research and

writing of local history; the characteristics of a good written historical account; the

reasons behind why history should be written by people of the regions themselves along

with the preparation before writing historical account; the difference between primary,

secondary, and oral sources; writing a historical account together with the perspectives

and concept including the colonial-minded concepts; some shortcomings of local history

writing and the ethical issues in writing a historical account are included in the article.

The article analyzed the significance of writing local history by tracing four crucial

aspects. First, Renato Constantino and Teodoro Agoncillo, two early local historians,

established a fundamental and thorough narrative of our history that gained acceptance

and was institutionalized as a part of Filipinos' collective knowledge. The second is the
elimination of the restrictions imposed by the Marcos administration, which revoked the

freedom of expression for all Filipinos. The third category included the national

government's initiatives to support various institutions and groups that advance

historical and cultural studies. Finally, there are those common people who, through an

organization, continue to support the value of local histories through writing because

they think they are essential to defining Philippine historiography.

Apilado also believes that selecting a language to write history should be the first

step in the process. Language selection is crucial because the majority of Filipinos

speak many languages. In this way, the historical accounts can cater the intended

readers and employing foreign languages to appeal to a wider audience does not mean

abandoning patriotism. In addition, Apilado emphasized that the use of foreign historical

accounts must be re-examined by the Filipino historians and ensure that the accounts

are pro-Filipino. This means that the colonial mentality that disregards the significance

of our nation's history must be abandoned.

Apilado also cited some characteristics of a good written historical account, the

different perspectives where Filipino historians can put themselves in writing historical

accounts, and the different use of primary, secondary, and oral sources in writing

historical account.

According to Apilado, history is an academic discipline that is basically a look

back through time. This must show where we came from, how things changed, what

particular path was taken, and for what reasons, and why we are where we are now. It

also symbolizes the identity of the Filipinos, the fights and the blood shed by our

ancestors.
 Furthermore, Apilado emphasized the importance of preserving the history and

culture of local communities. She notes that much of the history of local communities

has been neglected and forgotten, and that it is up to local historians to retrieve and

preserve this information. She emphasizes that local history is important because it

provides a more accurate and complete picture of the past and helps to counteract the

"Manila-centric" perspective and the colonial-minded concept that dominates much of

Philippine history. She also notes that local history can help to promote a sense of pride

and identity among local communities and can serve as a valuable resource for future

generations.

In addition, Apilado pointed out a few shortcomings and ethical issues that should

be avoided in writing a historical report. Writing a historical account has several flaws,

including an unorganized and confusing presentation of the subject, rigid adherence to

the periodization of national history even when it is not relevant, and selective fact

presentation based on the idea that no information, even the most irrelevant, should be

wasted. The tendency of some local historians to skew their narrative or account to

appease wealthy families or depict a national personality in the most positive light in the

expectation that some local historians allow their own prejudices to influence their work,

the overemphasis on celebrities and the elite, and historians tend to implement personal

biases especially when they are writing about their family, relative or ancestors. There

are also moral dilemmas or ethical issues in writing a historical account that really

needs attention. First is the issue of plagiarism. Second, letting the others do the

historical and without giving proper credit. Then, respect the sources' decision with

regards to confidentiality of information. Next, historians must inform the sources or

informants that they will use the information or testimonies they provide in a written

account. And lastly, conducting the research under false.

However, she noted some solutions to the shortcomings and ethical issues

historians may face during writing an account. These issues can be addressed by

presenting data coherently and chronologically, recognizing the distinct ebb and flow of

local events, justifying the significance of individuals based on their impact on the

history of the place, avoiding slanted narratives and propaganda, and ensuring that

personal biases do not distort the truth. Additionally, local history accounts should fill in

gaps and omissions, present alternative viewpoints, and reflect the complex nature of

collective history. It should also be original works, deal with subjects of historical value,

and meet basic academic standards. Historians must always keep in mind the said

solutions in writing a historical account to ensure that it is credible, accurate, and well-

researched.

Overall, the author believes that local history writing is an essential part of

preserving and understanding the history and culture of the Philippines. Historical

accounts must contribute to the development and holistic understanding of the

Philippine history. It also should focus on highlighting the achievements of the Filipino

people, use respectful and accurate language, promote a pro-Filipino perspective, and

critically analyze foreign sources for a balanced and accurate portrayal of Philippine

history. By having accurate and credible historical accounts, not only future generations

but also present generation will be well-informed about our nation’s history. Digna

Apilado ended her article by urging local historians to take action now to preserve and

document the history of their communities before it is lost forever.

References:

Apilado, D. (2019, October 23). 40th National Conference on Local and National History

Program and Book of Abstracts by Philippine National Historical Society - Issuu.

Issuu.com. https://issuu.com/pnhs1941/docs/pnhs_40th_natl_conf_program_web

Inc, D. | K. E.-L. S. (1997). Anuaryo/Annales: Journal of History vol. 16, no. 1 (1997).

Ejournals.ph; Digna Apilado. https://ejournals.ph/issue.php?id=538

Inc, T. | K. E.-L. S. (2006). The Journal of History vol. 52, no. 1 (2006). Ejournals.ph;

Digna Apilado. https://ejournals.ph/issue.php?id=512

Inc, T. | K. E.-L. S. (2010). The Journal of History vol. 56, no. 1 (2010). Ejournals.ph;

Digna Apilado. https://ejournals.ph/issue.php?id=516