TITLE: THE RELEVANCE OF ORAL HISTORY IN THE PHILIPPINES

By: Fernando A. Santiago, Jr., PhD

interview - is a popular data gathering technique. Its use is not confined to academics for it is
also a common research practice in government, non-governmental organizations, business
and the mass media.
● interviews allow different voices to be heard. One may say that the interview is part of life
in the Philippines.
● The interview has been a popular method of gathering data since ancient times.
● Thucydides - Greek historian, was the first to use the method in writing the history of the
Peloponnesian War.
● The term “interview” is however a very broad meaning term. It is defined in the Merriam
Webster Dictionary as “a meeting at which information is obtained (as by a reporter,
television commentator, or pollster) from a person.” It is therefore simply an interaction
where information is gathered through questions.

oral history - interview associated with the discipline of history. It is defined as “research into the
past that records the memories of witnesses to the past in order to draw on direct and personal
experience of events and conditions.

Valerie Raleigh Yow - oral history remains as the “one most frequently used to refer to the
recorded in-depth interview.”

Allan Nevins - “paradoxical marriage of the old and the new”, who founded an oral history
program at Columbia University in 1948.

Oral History in the Philippines

oral tradition - defined as “verbal stories passed on from one generation to the next.”

f Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr - in precolonial times the lore of the race--the legends, tales,
proverbs, epics and songs, and the geneologies; in short, the customs and
traditions--were handed down from one generation to the next by word of mouth.

missionary chroniclers - they incorporated in works published in the seventeenth

and eighteenth centuries.
● Pedro Chirino,
● Marcelo de Ribadeneira
● Juan Francisco de San Antonio

Many aspects of precolonial Filipino culture were only put down in writing during the
Spanish colonial period and in fact, only in our own times have many of the lesser
known epics, which could indeed trace their origins to the precolonial period, been
transcribed, translated and studied by Filipino scholars

“Oral tradition” and “oral history” - Not synonymous. Rather than collecting stories that
have been handed down from generation to generation, oral history involves the
recording of an individual’s spoken memories. These memories may be about the
subject’s own life, people he/she had known or events he/she participated in.

Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr - a known practitioner of oral history, assessed its state in the
Philippines during the 1980s. He found that while most projects were personal efforts,
there were attempts by government agencies such as;
 ● National Historical Institute (NHI)
● National Archives

- to start their own oral history projects as early as 1979. However, “these hardly
went beyond the planning stage, hampered as they were by lack of funding,
manpower and equipment requirements, which are important components in the
actual undertaking of oral history projects.

The University of the Philippines Archives - had an oral history project that was initiated
as early as 1977. The project was begun in 1978 and by the early 1980s; five tapes
were produced that were partially transcribed. The transcription of the tapes was
however discontinued because the staff member appointed to transcribe them resigned.
Nonetheless, the U.P. Archives still planned to continue with the transcription and with
the other interviews. Unlike other projects; the oral history project of the U.P. Archives
did not have problems with funding. The problem was the lack of personnel to
undertake the project.

The University of the Philippines History Department - also had oral history projects
that involved Samuel K. Tan, Isagani Medina and Milagros Guerrero; and graduate
students under Dr. Tan. The project of Dr. Tan involved interviews with
Tausug-Samal leaders in the Mindanao conflict and with Sulu guerrillas during the
Second World War. Thirty five tapes were collected and partially transcribed.

● Isagani Medina produced “50 tapes of interviews on Cavite province and

Corregidor island, on the Japanese occupation, and on Philippine movies, which
now form part of his private collection.” The tapes were however un-transcribed
as of the early 1980s

Divine Word University - In the Visayas, in Tacloban City launched an oral history
project when it celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation in 1980
● German, American and Filipino former administrators, as well as distinguished
alumni were interviewed and eight tapes about the Tacloban Catholic Institute
and twelve tapes of memoirs on St. Paul's College were produced. The tapes
were still being transcribed in 1980.

Center for Local and Oral History of De La Salle University -The first Oral History Center
in the country, which was formally launched on March 8-9, 1990 during the First
National Conference on Local and Oral History.

The two-day event involved practitioners of “the art and craft of local and oral history”
such as;
● Dr. Ma. Belen Alampay, Dr. Lilia Realubit, Dr. Florentino Hornedo, Prof. Henry
Funtecha, Prof. Erlinda Kintanar-Alburo, Dr. Mardonio Lao and Dr. Samuel Tan.

The Center for Local and Oral History had a ninefold vision
1. Collecting documents, souvenir programs, photographs, books, pamphlets,
monographs, and letters of prominent persons related to local and oral history.
2. Setting up and maintaining a local and oral history archives, which is the repository of
cassette tapes, video tapes, transcriptions of interviews with eminent personalities, as
well as of pictures, publications and other valuable materials related to local and oral
history.
3. Conducting research and writing on the political, economic, social and cultural
aspects of the towns, provinces and regions mentioned above. Topics may also include
the People's Power revolution of 1986, the coup d'etat of 1989, or the Japanese
occupation in towns, provinces or regions.
4. Advising M.A. and A.B. thesis writers on studies of the above-mentioned areas.
5. Publication of bibliographies and occasional papers on the areas mentioned above,
as well as the publication of the CLOH Newsletter to inform readers about the activities
of the Center and of the activities of scholars, students and others along the lines of
local and oral history.
6. Spearheading the publication of a projected annual Philippine Journal of Local and
Oral History with the assistance of other academic institutions and cultural agencies.
7. Conducting seminars, symposia, and conferences on local and oral history.
8. Acting as a clearinghouse of information regarding documentation, research and
writing of the history of towns, provinces and regions.
9. Administering and selecting the recipient of the DLSU Center for Local and Oral
History Prize for distinguished contributions to the field of local and oral history

On February 23, 2007, the center was renamed as the Marcelino A. Foronda, Jr.
Center for Local and Oral History (MFCLOH) and the “Conference on the State of
Oral History in the Philippines” was conducted at De La Salle University.

The papers presented and their presenters were: “The Legacy of Dr. Marcelino
Foronda, Jr. to Oral History in the Philippines” by Prof. Jose Victor D. Jimenez, De
La Salle University, Manila; “Tungkol sa Kasaysayang Pasalita: Ilang Makabuluhang
Obserbasyon” by Dr. Evelyn A. Miranda, University of the Philippines, Diliman;
“Kasaysayang Pasalita at Kwentong Buhay sa Panlipunang Pananaliksik:
Pagbabahagi Mula sa Sosyolohiya” by Dr. Clemen C. Aquino, University of the
Philippines, Diliman

Other Notable Oral History Conferences

1998 - Philippine National Historical Society, the Philippine Centennial Commission and
the National Historical Institute chaired by Dr. Samuel K. Tan, conducted sixteen
seminar-workshops on local and oral history throughout archipelago, as part of the
celebration of the centennial of Philippine independence.

● Seminars-workshop were held in Vigan, Tuguegarao, Los Baños, Muñoz

(Nueva Ecija), Naga, Miag-ao, Dumaguete, Dapitan, Davao, General Santos,
Cotabato City, Bago City, Calapan, Surigao City, Koronadal, and Bangued
(Abra).

● A National Conference on Oral and Local History was then held at the
Manila Hotel from November 23-25, 1998. The proceedings of the
seminars-workshop have been published under the titleHistory from the
People, Kasaysayan Mula sa Bayan.

Notable Oral Histories in the Philippines

Writers in English by Edilberto N. Alegre and Doreen G. Fernandez. - The book is a

compilation of interviews with fourteen of the first generation Filipino writers in English:
Paz Benitez Marquez, Casiano T. Calalang, Luis Dato, Leon Ma. Guerrero, Ma. Luna
Lopez, Angela Manalang Gloria, Loreto Paras Sulit, SP Lopez, Bienvenido Santos,
Arturo Rotor, Jose Garcia Villa and Francisco Arcellana, a work that may be classified
as one on the “history of literature in the Philippines.” It was said that the “oral quality
of the interaction found in the book serves as a sharp contrast to the texture of
old and dusty documents that historians enjoy.” It shows that interviews serve as
a treasure trove of information. It certainly proves that oral history can be useful
to social and cultural historians

Forgotten Heroes: Japan’s Imprisonment of American Civilians in the Philippines,

1942-1945, An Oral History by Michael Onorato - The book is a compilation of oral
histories of imprisoned American civilians during the Second World War: Maurice and
Virginia Chapman, James J. Halsema, Henry Sioux Johnson, Leo Cullum and James B.
Reuter; and Claude A. Buss. The oral histories conducted by Onorato were presented in
the following format:
● Preface: each interview had a preface where the author introduced the subject/s
and also shared his impressions about the interviewee/s and his general insights
on the interview itself.
● Copyright: one for each interview.
● Transcription: the transcription of the interview which included photographs.
● Notes: The author defined terms, provided context and other details

Kwentong Bayan: Noong Panahon ng Hapon: Everyday Life in a

Time of War by Thelma B. Kintanar, Clemen C. Aquino, Patricia B. Arinto and Ma.
Luisa T. Camagay. - It involves written and interview accounts from individuals from
various walks of life that experienced the war. The authors came from various academic
backgrounds: English and Literature, Sociology and History.
● The significance of this work is that the authors demonstrated the
interdisciplinary nature of the “interview” method. They also showed various
approaches to gathering and handling data.
● The researcher believes that the above discussed works represent landmarks in
oral history writing in the Philippines.
● Aside from proving that oral history is an effective medium for data collection,
these works also show that oral history is able to capture details often
lacking in traditional historical documents. Oral history can be more than a
dry narration of details, as shown in the above works, it can also document
the vitality of the subject and his/her memory. However, they also exposed
certain issues that must be discussed.

Issues
Scholarly Standards for Interview and Transcription

● Many oral historians think that interviewing is simply a matter of asking

questions, recording the answers and transcribing the interview. There is no
standard prescribed for Filipino oral historians and thus oral histories come in
various forms and styles.

Ronald Grele - pointed out that many oral historians have “shown little regard for
interviewing techniques developed by other disciplines such as anthropology, sociology,
folklore, or even industrial relations.” Because little attention has been given to the
proper formulation of questions and even to transcription and editing techniques, it can
be said that no scholarly standard for interviewing has been established for oral history.

several methods that may be adopted by oral historians such as;

● “Open Question with Prompt-Supported Answering and Interviewer Listening,”
● SQUIN or “Single Question Aimed at Inducing Narrative”
● “Heavily- Structured” interview based on Kvales Process Typology.
 Various Approaches to Interviewing

Open Question with Prompt-Supported Answering and Interviewer Listening -

The semi-structured interview process involves the interviewer drafting initial questions
but remaining flexible to follow up on points raised by the interviewee. The flow of the
discussion depends on the questions asked, and the interviewer may stick to the draft
or adapt as the conversation evolves. This approach is widely used by oral historians in
the Philippines and can vary based on circumstances. Different types of interview
dynamics include the hostile interview (interviewer as an opponent), limited survey
interview (mechanical responses), rapport interview (good relations), asymmetrical-trust
interview (interviewer as a guide), depth interview (peers), and phenomenal interview
(caring companions).

Single Question Aimed at Inducing Narrative or SQUIN - is designed to encourage

storytelling in three sessions.

1. Initial Elaboration of Story Around Topics: The interviewer asks a single question
to elicit a full narrative from the interviewee, allowing them to narrate freely. Notes are
taken throughout.

2. Extracting More Story from Topics: After a break, the interviewer asks follow-up
questions in the same order as topics were raised in the first session, aiming to derive
additional stories and insights. Note-taking continues.

3. Further Questions Arising from Preliminary Analysis: In the final session, the
interviewer analyzes notes from sessions 1 and 2, addressing any missed topics or new
insights that emerged. This structured reflection helps identify follow-up points and
areas needing clarification.

Strengths:
- Allows for the emergence of unexpected issues and insights.
- Capitalizes on the interviewee's knowledge and narrative style.
- Provides a comprehensive understanding through structured reflection.

Concerns:
- Risk of the interview becoming anecdotal or biased towards the interviewee's
perspective.
- Potential for the process to be time-consuming and resource-intensive, particularly in
terms of recording and analysis.

Heavily-Structured interview based on Kvales Process Typology

● Introducing Question: Opens the interview, allowing the interviewee to set the
background for the topic.
● Follow-up Question: Encourages elaboration on the initial response.
● Probing Question: Delves deeper into the content of the answers.
● Specifying Question: Seeks more precise details and descriptions.
● Direct Question: Introduces specific topics and dimensions of the interview.
● Indirect Question: Acts as a projective question for broader insights.
● Structuring Question: Sets the direction for the rest of the interview.
● Silence: Gives the interviewee time to reflect, possibly leading to further
information.
● Interpretive Question: Clarifies the interviewee's meanings.
The strength of this approach is its systematic nature, ensuring efficient use of time
and resources while gathering relevant information aligned with specific objectives.
However, its rigidity can limit spontaneous questions and prevent the exploration of new
information that might arise during the interview.

This method is designed for accuracy and reliability, crucial in fields like history, where
evidence must be trustworthy. Although technical, it is just one of many possible
interview approaches that can be adapted to meet the interviewer’s needs.

Transcription

Another consideration is the transcription of the interview. Transcribing is described as

an instrumentation practice, examining sound data from an audio tape to create visual
data for printing out on paper.
● Foronda found in the early 1980s that most oral history projects were at the
transcription stage. It also seems that most of these projects were never
completed. Even the oral history project of the U.P. Archives, which had sufficient
funding, faced difficulty during the transcription of the interviews.
● Based on the Philippine experience, it may thus be said that transcription is the
most difficult aspect of the oral history project. This however is not a problem
only in the Philippines for it is experienced by oral historians in general. What
follows are Matheson’s views on transcription.
● Oral historians produce a lot of text from interviews and transcription is a step
taken to manage and analyze recorded data. However, despite its importance,
many researchers find the task of transcribing to be “tiresome, lengthy, and
(to be a) challenging process that takes specialized skills, patience, and
physical ability.” It is often described as being “intensive and tough” and
as being a “lonely and tiring”

But some are of the view that transcribing one’s own interview has its advantages.
It allows the researcher to become more familiar with the data. It allows the
building of an additional theoretical sensitivity during the research process. The
researcher “takes the opportunity to listen carefully and think deeply about the
recorded voices and the interview context, using sensory and other memory.” It
provides an opportunity for interviewers to critique their own work and improve upon
their own interviewing technique.

● transcription should allow its reader to re-enact the interview exactly as it

transpired. Words should be transcribed precisely as they were stated with
intonations, sighs, pauses, and all other sounds that were recorded. There are
transcription symbols that make this possible such as “Silverman’s
Simplified Transcription Symbols.”
● It should also be considered that the form of transcription is guided by
“theoretical and practical considerations.
● realistically speaking, a transcription will never be exactly the same as the
actual interview, in the end, analysis and interpretation will still depend
upon the transcript. This is the reason why transcription must be taken very
seriously by oral historians
 Memory

Another issue with oral history has to do with memory and its reliability. Oral histories
are based on firsthand experiences and thus their reliability depends on how the
experience was remembered. In other words, the authenticity of the narration depends
primarily on the accuracy of memory.

Summary of the Paper: Oral History in the Philippines

Defining Oral History: The document differentiates between the broader concept of
"oral tradition," which encompasses the transmission of stories and cultural knowledge
across generations, and "oral history," which specifically involves recording individuals’
spoken memories about their own lives, the people they knew, and the events they
witnessed

Origins and Evolution: While the use of interviews to gather information has ancient
roots, the modern form of oral history, incorporating technology like tape recorders,
originated in the mid-20th century with historian Allan Nevins' project at Columbia
University [3]. This project, focused on recording the memories of prominent white men,
marked the beginning of a widespread movement that continues to this day [3, 4].

Growth in the Philippines:

Early efforts to establish formal oral history projects in the Philippines emerged in the
1970s, primarily within academic institutions like the University of the Philippines and
government agencies like the National Historical Institute. However, these initial
endeavors often faced challenges related to funding, staffing, and equipment.
The establishment of the first Oral History Center in the Philippines at De La Salle
University in 1990 signaled a significant step in promoting and formalizing the practice
of oral history in the country

Notable Oral History Projects and Conferences:

The document highlights several significant oral history conferences held in the
Philippines, such as the First National Conference on Local and Oral History in 1990
and the series of workshops conducted in 1998 as part of the Philippine centennial
celebrations.

These conferences provided platforms for knowledge sharing, discussion of

methodological issues, and the development of a community of oral history practitioners
in the country.

Published works like “The Writer and his Milieu,” “Forgotten Heroes,” and “Kwentong
Bayan” demonstrate the potential of oral history to capture personal experiences and
insights that traditional historical documents often miss

Methodological Issues and Challenges:

Lack of Standardization: A key challenge in the practice of oral history in the

Philippines is the absence of established scholarly standards for conducting interviews
and transcribing recordings. This lack of uniformity can raise questions about the
reliability and comparability of oral history data.
Navigating Interview Approaches: The document examines different interview
approaches and techniques, including:

● Open Question with Prompt-Supported Answering: This semi-structured

approach allows flexibility in pursuing topics that emerge during the conversation,
but it requires careful planning and attention to the interviewee's responses to
maintain focus.
● Single Question Aimed at Inducing Narrative (SQUIN): This method
encourages storytelling by using open-ended questions and prompts, allowing for
the exploration of unforeseen topics. However, it can also lead to lengthy
interviews and potential digressions from the main research focus.
● Heavily-Structured Interview: This approach employs a structured sequence of
questions to gather specific information related to the research objectives. While
it provides focus and efficiency, it may limit opportunities to explore unanticipated
insights.
The Labor of Transcription: Transcribing interviews is widely acknowledged as a
time-consuming and demanding task While professional transcription services are an
option, the document highlights the benefits of researchers transcribing their own
interviews, as it allows for deeper engagement with the data and critical reflection on
their interviewing techniques.

The Nature of Memory

Recognizing the limitations of human memory is crucial in oral history. The

document explores factors that can influence the accuracy and completeness of
recalled information, including:

● Flashbulb Memories: Vivid memories of significant events, while often imbued

with strong emotions and perceived accuracy, are not necessarily more reliable
than other types of memories.
● Schemas: Preexisting knowledge structures and expectations can shape how
individuals remember and recount events, leading to the preservation of general
patterns at the expense of specific details.
● Eyewitness Accounts: While highly valued, eyewitness accounts are
susceptible to suggestion and the introduction of false memories, particularly
over time.
● Forgetting: Memory loss is a natural process influenced by factors like aging,
trauma, and the intentional suppression of irrelevant information.
● Sampling Strategies: The document acknowledges that selective sampling
methods, often employed in oral history due to practical constraints, can raise
concerns about the representativeness of the collected data. However, it argues
that similar concerns can be raised regarding the use of documentary sources,
and that the choice of sampling strategy ultimately depends on the research
question and goals.

Strengthening and Promoting Oral History

The document advocates for specific measures to address methodological concerns

and foster the growth of oral history in the Philippines:

Collaborative Forums: Conferences, workshops, and seminars provide valuable

opportunities for oral historians to share their experiences, discuss best practices, and
work towards the development of shared scholarly standard.
Building Communities: Establishing more oral history centers can create dedicated
spaces for training, research support, archiving, and the publication of oral history
projects, contributing to the growth of a vibrant community of practitioners.
Engaging Local Communities: Reaching out to local historical societies and
organizations to promote training in oral history techniques and encourage the
development of local oral history collections can broaden the reach and impact of the
methodology.

The Enduring Relevance of Oral History

The document emphasizes that oral history offers a valuable and distinct perspective on
the past, complementing traditional historical sources in several ways:

Humanizing History: It provides a platform for capturing personal experiences,

emotions, and perspectives often absent from official documents, offering a more
nuanced and empathetic understanding of historical events.
Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Oral history allows for the inclusion of perspectives
from individuals and groups whose stories might otherwise remain untold, contributing
to a more democratic and inclusive historical narrative.
Documenting a Changing World: In an era where digital communication is replacing
traditional written forms, oral history serves as an essential tool for preserving memories
and experiences that might otherwise be lost to history.
Conclusion: The document argues that despite inherent methodological challenges,
oral history holds immense potential for enriching our understanding of the past. By
engaging critically with issues of memory, ethics, and methodology, and by fostering a
supportive community of practitioners, oral history can continue to play a vital role in
shaping a more inclusive and vibrant historical narrative in the Philippines.