SOCSC01 (READINGS IN PHIL.

HISTORY)

CHAPTER 1. MEANING AND RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

• “In order to know the destiny
of the people, it is necessary to
open the book of its past. ”

- Jose Rizal
- (The Philippines A Century Hence)
 Meaning of History

• study of past events presented in chronological order

and with explanation
• past of mankind
• “HIS STORY”
• “sanaysay na may saysay”
• “kwento na may kwenta”
 Meaning of History

 Historians - Individuals who write about history

 Historiography - the practice of historical writing

Geschehen – to happen

Geschichte – that which has happened

 Methods of Historiography

 Traditional Method – gathering of documents to form a pool of

evidence to make an analytical or descriptive narration

 Modern Method – includes traditional method and use of

research methods such as geography or archaeology
 Colonial Historiography

 Americans presented Philippine history in 2 parts:

1. Period of darkness
2. Era of enlightenment
American colonial writers emphasized that Filipinos were colonized is t0
teach the natives the “civilized lifestyle” such as personal hygiene and
public administration
 Colonial Historiography

 Spaniards presented Philippine history in 2 parts:

1. Period of darkness or backwardness
2. Period of advancement or enlightenment

Spanish chroniclers emphasized that colonization is primary to liberate

Filipinos from their “barbaric lifeways”
 Colonial Historiography

 Both Spaniards and Americans looked at the natives to be bereft

of an advanced culture and respectable history.

 1890: Rizal annotated the book of Morga (1609): Sucesos de las

Islas Filipinas (Events in the Philippine Islands)
 Colonial Historiography

 Filipinos perception about their colonial past:

1. Filipinos were initially

maltreated by the “wicked Spain”
2. The Philippines was
rescued by the “benevolent America”
 Colonial Historiography

 To pacify the Filipinos, the US used ingenious ways through education

as a tool to control their subjects and increase political and economic
powers.
 This erased the Filipino consciousness of the bloody Philippine-
American War such as:
1. Balangiga Massacre (Eastern Samar-March 1901 and Sept 28, 1901)
2. Battle of Bud Bagsak (Sulu from June 11-15, 1913)
Philippine Historiography After World War II

Teodoro Agoncillo
• pioneered nationalist historiography in
the country by highlighting the role of
the Filipino reformists and
revolutionaries from 1872

• “lost history”
Philippine Historiography After World War II

Renato Constantino

people’s history

a study of the past that sought to analyze

society by searching out people’s voices
from colonial historical records/materials
Philippine Historiography After World War II

Zeus Salazar
“Pantayong Pananaw”
(an approach to understand the past
from our own (Filipino) cultural frame
and language)
Philippine Historiography After World War II

Reynaldo Ileto
• “history from below”

• Used alternative historical

sources (folksongs and prayers)
to analyze and explain the way
of thinking of ordinary folks
Philippine Historiography After World War II

Samuel Tan
• Mainstreamed the role and relevance of Filipino
Muslims in the country’s history
• A History of the Philippines
(Briefly describes the human history and culture of
the Philippines, focusing on three Filipino cultural
communities--the Moros, the Indios, and the Infieles--and
examining how these groups reflect the
country's history and development.)
Characteristics of Contemporary Phil. Historiography

1. Political Narratives
- Deal with political aspects of nation- building
E. g. Legacies of political leaders
Establishment of different governments
Characteristics of Contemporary Phil. Historiography

2. Colonial Histories in Historical Narratives

- Filipinos are more familiar with colonial histories than pre-colonial
histories
* Misrepresentation of Filipinos as “barbarians” or savages
* Misrepresentation of Americans or Spaniards as liberators of
Filipinos from cultural backwardness.
 Characteristics of Contemporary Phil. Historiography

3. Elite-centric Perspectives in Historical Narratives

- focus is on the contribution of the elite in nation-building
- role of the “ilustrado” as they fought in 19 th century
- how politicians negotiated with Americans to obtain Phil. independence
Characteristics of Contemporary Phil. Historiography

4. Patriarchal Organization in Historical Narratives

- most historical narratives highlight heroism of men.
- MEN’s role in leading revolts, championing
independence or spearheading political and economic
development
Characteristics of Contemporary Phil. Historiography

Women Leaders:
Gabriela Silang – assumed leadership of the Ilocos Revolt after
her husband was murdered
Tandang Sora (Ina ng Katipunan) –offered her barn and farm to
revolutionaries; linked her son’s involvement in the Katipunan
Corazon Aquino – martyr’s widow who led a movement to depose
dictatorship (Edsa Revolution).
Characteristics of Contemporary Phil. Historiography

5. Emphasis on Lowland Christianized Filipinos

- Most recognized and celebrated in national histories are
mostly lowland Christians;

Rizal (leading propagandist)

Bonifacio (founder of Katipunan)
Aguinaldo (revolutionary leader)
Thank you!