GEPH –

READINGS IN
PHILIPPINE
HISTORY
MARK JOSHUA T. ORTIZ
INSTRUCTOR - I
 Chapter 1: Understanding
01 History Using Primary and
Secondary Sources
Chapter 2: Content and
contextual analysis of
02 selected primary
sources in Philippine
History
Definition of History
• Knowledge
acquired
History as we know Historia through
inquiry and
it is the study of the past, investigation

and though this in itself

Adapted
is not wrong, the true into
•Account of
people or a group
of people thru the
essence of history is lost classical means of written
documents
Latin
by interpreting the study
this way. Present
• Study of
definition of the past
History
Definition of History (cont…)
• History started 2,400 years ago as a discipline
and is as old as Philosophy and Mathematics.
• The reliance on written documents as
evidences gave birth to the mantra “No
documents, no history”.
-The downsides of this particular mantra was
noted by historians, thus paving way to a more
inclusive study of history.
Definition of History (cont…)
• Inclusivity in the study of history meant
tapping other fields as sub-disciplines in
coming-up with a more accurate historical
facts.
- Songs, stories, epics, architecture, artifacts
memory
- Archaeologist, Biologists, Botanist, etc.
History and Historiography
(cont…)
• History concerns itself primarily with
the study of past, the events that took
place in the past, and how did such events
happened or what caused them to happen.
While historiography’s object of study is
history itself.
History and Historiography
(cont…)
To make sense of this definition here is an
outline:
History – study of events (when, where, whom,
how)
Historiography - (i.e. how was a particular text
written? Who wrote it? Why was it written?
What was the context of its publication? What
particular method/s was used? What were the
sources used by the author?)
Primary and Secondary
Sources
A historian’s primary tool of query in
his/her studies are what we call as historical
sources, in general sources are classified as
either a primary or a secondary source. The
classification between these two categories
depends upon the historical subject being
studied.
Primary and Secondary Sources
(cont…)
• Primary sources are sources that came or
are produced at the same time as the event,
period, or subject being studied.
- Archival documents, artifacts,
memorabilia, letters, census, and government
records, newspaper clippings, eyewitness
accounts, photographs.
Primary and Secondary Sources
(cont…)
• Secondary sources on the other hand are
sources which were produced by an author
who used primary sources to produce the
material. In other words, these are historical
sources which studied a particular or certain
historical subject.
Primary and Secondary Sources
(cont…)
To make sense of the difference between primary
and secondary sources here is an example:
When you wish to study the life of Rizal, the
primary sources you can use are the original
manuscripts of his novels, interviewing his living
relatives, going through his left items, going to the
places he traveled and lived. Now when you wish to
publish the product of your study, that published
work of yours is a secondary source.
Primary and Secondary Sources
(cont…)
Does this mean that books can only be viewed as
secondary sources?
- No. Books are usually referred to as secondary
sources even tertiary at times, but not automatically.
For example, if one wishes to study the the Education
during the Period of Martial Law in the Philippines,
he/she may utilize books which was used during that
period of time as his/her primary sources.
Criticisms on primary and secondary
sources
Primary and secondary sources are
important tools of historical studies,
however historians and students must be
very careful in scrutinizing these sources as
to not be a victim of deception and to arrive
at the historical truth.
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)
External criticism is the practice of conducting
verifications upon the physical characteristics; its
consistency with the historical characteristic of the
time when it was produced; and the materials used
for the evidence in order to confirm its
validity/authenticity.
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)

Verifying the type or quality of the paper used,

the type of ink, and the language and words used in
the material.
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)
Internal criticism on the other hand focuses on
the examination of the evidence and its truthfulness.
It looks upon the content of the source and examines
the circumstance of its production.
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)

Looks at the truthfulness and factuality of the

evidence by looking at the author of the source, its
context, the agenda behind its creation, the
knowledge which informed it, and its intended
purpose, among others.
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)
Why is it important to perform criticisms on both
sources?
-Validating historical sources is important
because the use of unverified, falsified and untruthful
historical sources can lead to equally false
conclusions. Without thorough criticisms of
historical evidences historical deceptions and lies
will be highly probable.
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)
Remember this images?
Both of them are manipulated fake

External
Criticism Internal
Criticism
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)
Criticisms on primary and secondary sources
(cont…)

Kalayaan

Ka=Ca
Primary and Secondary sources
School of thoughts in history
1. Positivism
This is a school of thought in history which existed between the
eighteenth and nineteenth century. It believes the adequacy of
empirical and observable evidence before claiming that a particular
knowledge is true. Positivism also entails an objective means of
arriving at a conclusion. The mantra of traditional historians which
says “no documents, no history” came from this very truth as well.
Primary and Secondary sources
2. Postcolonialism
As the name itself implies, this school of thought emerged in
the early 20th century when formerly colonized nations are freed
from their captors, it is the period where former colonies of a
much more powerful countries began to search for their own
identities and understanding of their societies against that of
which was imposed of their colonizers. Postcolonialism aims at
two things when writing history: first is to narrate the history of
their nation that will highlight their identity free from that of
colonial discourse and knowledge, and second is to criticize the
methods, effects, and idea of colonialism.
Primary and Secondary sources
2. Postcolonialism
As the name itself implies, this school of thought emerged in
the early 20th century when formerly colonized nations are freed
from their captors, it is the period where former colonies of a
much more powerful countries began to search for their own
identities and understanding of their societies against that of
which was imposed of their colonizers. Postcolonialism aims at
two things when writing history: first is to narrate the history of
their nation that will highlight their identity free from that of
colonial discourse and knowledge, and second is to criticize the
methods, effects, and idea of colonialism.
Primary and Secondary sources
3. Annales School of History
This is a school of thought in history that challenged the
very standards and body of accepted history. The most
common subject of historical study during the birth of this
school of thought had always something to do with monarchs
and the conduct of states, however known historians who
practiced this school of thought studied other historical
subjects. Scholar of the Annales school of thought focused on
Societal and History and studied longer historical periods They
advocated that the commoners, who are often left-out and not
reflected in the stage of history, be provided with space in the
records of mankind.
Primary and Secondary sources
With all these prevailing school of thoughts in
History, a dilemma still presents itself in the form of
an accusation which is “history is always written by
victors” or to translate it in our native tongue “ang
mga nananalo ang siyang naglalathala ng
kasaysayan” a case commonly presented in different
repertoire of history which suggests that the tale of
the past is always written in favor of the powerful
and the more dominant character in history.
Primary and Secondary sources
Primary and Secondary sources
 Chapter II: Content and
Contextual Analysis of
selected Primary Sources in
History
A brief summary of
the First Voyage
Around the World by
Magellan, by
Antonio Pigafetta
 Antonio Pigafetta

• Venetian Scholar.
• Born from a wealthy Venetian family.
• A student of navigation.
• Was commissioned by the king of
Spain to serve as chronicler in the
travels of Magellan.
 Summary of content
• Became prominent in the west that famous
people of literature such as William Shakespeare,
Michel de Montaigne, and Giambattista Vico
referred to his work in their interpretation of the
New World.

• One of the most important primary sources

there is in the study of precolonial Philippines.
 Summary of content
• Entails a detailed sequence of events leading
to Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines, his
encounter with local leaders, and ultimately his
death in the hands of Lapu-Lapu’s force in the
Battle of Mactan.

• Document shows the character of the

Precolonial Philippines in that period.
 Summary of content

• Provides insights as to how the Europeans

regard a deeply unfamiliar terrain,
environment, people, and culture.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s
chronicles
We will focus on Pigafetta’s chronicles as he
wrote his firsthand observation and general
observation of the Far East. The first island they
reached is the island they called Ladrones islands.

“These people have no arms (weapons), but

use sticks, which have a fish bone at the end. They
are poor, but ingenious, and great thieves, and for
the sake of that we called these three islands the
Ladrones Islands”
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s
chronicles
“These people have no arms (weapons), but
use sticks, which have a fish bone at the end. They
are poor, but ingenious, and great thieves, and for
the sake of that we called these three islands the
Ladrones Islands”
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
The Ladrones Islands, now known as the
Marianas Island.

Ten days after they reached Ladrones Islands,

Pigafetta reported that they reached what Pigafetta
called the isle of Zamal, now Samar.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
In Pigafetta’s claim, he said that after a couple
of days, March 18, nine men came to them
expressing joy and willingness to interact. After
realizing that the natives who approached them are
reasonable, Magellan welcomed them with food,
drinks, and gifts. The locals reciprocated with
food.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
Pigafetta described the people as “very
familiar and friendly”, they willingly showed them
different islands and taught them its names. Their
fleet went to Humunu Islands (Homonhon), it is
where Pigafetta found what he referred to as
“Watering Place of Good Signs” as this is where
they found the first trace of gold in the island.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
As they left the island on the 25th of March,
Pigafetta mentioned that they saw two ballanghai
(balangay), a long boat full of people in
Mazzava/Mazaua. The king of the balangay, whose
name is Raia Siagu, offered a bar of gold and a
chest full of ginger to Magellan, but he didn’t
accept the offering.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
Days went by, Magellan was then introduced
to the king’s brother who’s also a king of
another island. They went to this island and
Pigafetta reported in his writing that they saw
mines of gold. He also mentioned gold was
abundant that parts of the ship and of the house
of the second king were made out of gold.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
On the 31st day of March, which happened to be Easter Sunday,
Magellan ordered the chaplain to conduct a mass by the shore. When
Raia Calambu heard of this, he sent two dead pigs and attended the mass
with the other king, who also joined the mass as Pigafetta accounted. He
wrote:

“…when the offertory of the mass came, the two kings, went to kiss the
cross like us, but they offered nothing, and at the elevation of the body
of our Lord they were kneeling like us, and adored our Lord with joined
hands.”
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
This event would go down in history as the “First Mass in the Philippines”,
or by the most recent suggestion of National Historical Commission of
the Philippines, the Easter-Sunday Mass of 1521
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
After the Mass, Magellan ordered that the cross be brought with nails
and crown in place, the king agreed and allowed the cross to be
planted.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
A week passed, Magellan decided
to search for more provisions needed
in his ship and decided to look for
more islands, they learned of the
islands of Ceylon (Leyte), Bohol, and
Zzubu (Cebu), Raia Calambu offered
to guide them in going to Cebu which
is the largest and the richest of the
three.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
• On the 7th day of April they arrived at the
port of Cebu.
• They met with the King of Cebu, and was
compelled to pay tribute.
• Magellan refused, saying that he is a
captain of a King himself and that he will
not pay homage to another King.
• A blood-pact or sandugo
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
“Then the king said that he was content, and as a
greater sign of affection he sent him a little of his blood
from his right arm, and wished he should do the like.
Our people answered that he would do it. Besides that,
he said that all the captains who came to his country
had been accustomed to make a present to him, and he
to them, and therefore they should ask their captain if
he would observe the custom. Our people answered that
he would; but as the king wished to keep up the
custom, let him begin and make a present, and then the
captain do his duty.”
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
• Magellan then preached about religion, obedience
and honoring ones parents.
• The island’s inhabitants were then baptized, Raja
Humabon who is then being referred to as the King
of Cebu was given the name Don Carlos, and the
Prince Don Fernando.
• Pigafetta admitted in his writings that they burned an
entire village because they refused to believe neither
Magellan nor the King.
• Idols were also burned.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
On the 26th day of April, Zula, a principal man
of the king of Cebu from the island of Matan
(Mactan) went to Magellan to request for a boat
full of men so that he would be able to fight the
chief named Silapulapu (Lapulapu). Lapulapu,
according to Zula, refused to abide by the king’s
order and is prohibiting him to obey as well.
Magellan offered three boats and expressed his
desire to go to Mactan himself to fight Lapulapu.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
Magellan and his forces arrived in Mactan in
daylight, with only 49 men in total whilst
Lapulapu’s forces were comprised of atleast 1,500
individuals. The battle of Mactan erupted
afterwards.
• The Spaniards lost as their guns and cannons
proved to be ineffective against the natives.
• Magellan died in the battle, and the natives
refused to give his body back as it was viewed
as a war token.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(con…)
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account
In order to make sense of the accounts of
Pigafetta we have to understand that his
perspective comes from the era he was in, his
background as a wealthy born Venetian Scholar,
and as a European. For example when they’re in
the Ladrones island, he specifically mentioned that
the people there are poor yet ingenious, and he also
mentioned vivid descriptions about their
armaments.
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(cont…)
Excerpts from Pigafetta’s chronicles
(cont…)
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account
It can also be noted how he gave attention to
the presence of spices such as ginger and the
presence of gold and its uses.

• Europe, during those times, practices the

Mercantilism, an economic set-up that relies on
economical practice of trading, and during those
times one of the most beneficial products that is
rare in Europe are spices such as ginger.
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account (cont…)

• Gold is also important in mercantilist nations as

the power and wealth are being measured to the
accumulation of bulk of gold that a kingdom
has.
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account (cont…)

Pigafetta also mentioned his observation about

the women of the precolonial Philippines,
particularly about the way they dress, and how, at
least to Pigafetta’s observation, they’re practically
naked.
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account (cont…)
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account (cont…)

You can also spot several biases that leans toward

the favor of the Spaniards according to the
accounts of Pigafetta.
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account (cont…)

• The people they encounter were always charmed

by Magellan and his company according to the
scripts of Pigafetta.
• The actions taken by Magellan and the
brainswashed population were always justified
(like burning an entire village in Cebu and the
burning of idols of the villagers)
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account (cont…)

• The people they encounter were always charmed

by Magellan and his company according to the
scripts of Pigafetta.
• The actions taken by Magellan and the
brainswashed population were always justified
(like burning an entire village in Cebu and the
burning of idols of the villagers)
Analysis of Pigafetta’s Account (cont…)
 A glance at selected Philippine political
caricatures in Alfred McCoy’s Philippine
Cartoons: Political Caricature of the
American Era (1900-1941)
A glance at selected Philippine political
caricatures
Political cartoons and caricature
are a rather recent art form, which
veered away from the classical art by
exaggerating human features and
poking fun at its subjects. Such art
genre and technique became an
effective tool of publicizing opinions
through heavy use of symbolism,
which is different from a verbose
written editorial and opinion pieces.
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
The first example shown
above was published in The
Independent on May 20, 1916.
The cartoon shows a politician
form Tondo, named Dr. Santos,
passing his crown to his brother-
in-law, Dr. Barcelona.
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
Transition from Monarchic occupation towards the Democratic
system confused the people.

NEPOTISM
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
Published by The Independent on
the 16th day of June 197. This one was
drawn by National Artist in painting
Fernando Amorsolo. Here, we see a
Filipino child who stole a skinny
chicken because he had nothing to eat.
The Police officer was relentlessly
pursuing the said child.
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
• The transition from a colony to a
functioning democratic economy
favored the elites but not the
poor.
• Government forces bat an eye of
the major corporation’s fault but
pursues the mistakes of the poor.
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
This third cartoon below was a
commentary on the unprecedented
cases of colorum automobiles in the
streets of the city. The Philippine Free
Press published this commentary
when fatal accidents involving
colorum vehicles and taxis occurred
too often already.
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
The fourth cartoon illustrates
a cinema. A blown-up police
officer was at the screen saying
that couples are not allowed to
neck and make love in the
theater. Two youngsters look
horrified while an older couple
seemed amused.
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
Describes the meeting point of the conservative and liberated Filipino mindset.
A glance at selected Philippine political caricatures
(Cont…)
Published by Lipang Kalabaw on the
24th day of August 1907. In the picture,
we can see Uncle Sam rationing porridge
to the politicians and members of the
Progresista Party (sometimes known as
the Federalista Party) while members of
the Nacionalista Party look on and wait
for their turn. This cartoon depicts the
patronage of the United Sates being
coveted by politicians form either of the
party.