Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Sta. Mesa, Manila

A.Y. 2020-2021

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

GEED10033

Unit 1: Understanding History Using

Primary and Secondary Course

Submitted by:

Sect. Code: 1BSMAGEED10033

Submitted to:

Date: November 25, 2020

 Renowned science-fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and Naval officer
Robert A. Heilein wrote in his novel: Time Enough for Love, “A generation which ignores
history has no past – and no future” which I can interpret as history being vital in our
lives regardless of the time [ CITATION Goo \l 13321 ]. Mistakes from the past are lessons
for the present and future generation as their victories are inspirations and motivations
to do the same and even better. With that being said, the analysis and credibility of a
source to understand history is as important as history itself.

According to Morehouse, (2020), There are three types of sources of information

which are the primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. Primary
sources first-hand materials or data from witnesses or participants at the time of the
event. They are documented in a written manner in forms of original written works such
as poems, diaries, court records, interviews, surveys, research/fieldwork, and published
research in scholarly journals[ CITATION Uni \l 13321 ].

When the primary sources are used, analyzed, and interpreted, they are now
considered secondary sources. They are reference materials and interpretation, review,
or synthesis of the available original resource. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks,
and the likes are reference materials. Additionally, secondary sources can also be
interpretation of an archived footage of an event.

Lastly, at the process of summarizing, or synthesizing the secondary sources

further, it will be classed as tertiary sources. Tertiary sources are also the labels used
for the labels of the primary sources and the secondary sources [ CITATION Woo20 \l
13321 ]. These could be presented as indexes, abstracts, and databases. According to
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, index is a alphabetically arranged bibliographical
information or citations. It gives additional credibility as it presents a fuller identity of the
document such as the author, titles of the book, article, and/or journal, publisher and
publisher date, volume, issue number, and page numbers [ CITATION Woo20 \l 13321 ] .
Abstracts are, also in accords to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a summary of points or
the essentials of a writing when it is in a larger quantity. Databases are a usually large
collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval.
 After the classification of the sources whether it is a primary source, secondary
source, or tertiary source, the subsequent step is testing the authenticity and credibility
of the sources to be used[CITATION Agu20 \l 13321 ]. Authenticity and credibility are
essential in the process of reporting and/or writing since it eliminates or mitigates the
chances of misinformation and/or miseducation from misleading sources. If the source
to be used, for example, in a historical document, it eliminates attempts of altering or
retraining the accuracy of historical data. Moreover, it will help in identification of data or
sources that would be worthy to use. To authenticate, there are certain values, although
are not specifically limited to, that would be required which are free from bias and
influence, accurate, properly cited, objective, and critical.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, repositories are places, rooms, or

containers where something is deposited or stored thus historical repositories are where
historical data are safekept. From the continuous advancement in today’s technology,
digital repositories are created. Mass digitization of data opens up a brand new method
of access for those that need it [ CITATION Hui16 \l 13321 ]. To name some of the
repositories in the Philippines, there are Asia Pacific Research Center, Rizal’s Library,
American Historical Collection & Pardo de Tavera Room in Ateneo de Manila University,
University Archives in De La Salle University, Filipinas Heritage Library, National Library
of the Philippines, Archives of the University of Santo Tomas, National Archives of the
Philippines, Archdiocesan Archives of Manila, Manila Observatory Archives, University
of the Philippines Main Library, Historical Collection of the United States Embassy, SIL
Philippines, and Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Additional repositories
not mentioned are established by local historical networks in towns or provinces as
centers (Agustin M. , De Amboy, Gambito, Pelleja, & Pascual, 2020; Abraham, 2015).

In relation to this, repositories in other countries are available that adds

information to the Philippine History. Spanish depositories contain the colonization
period of the Spanish. Mexican depositories contain the period wherein Mexico and
Philippines are Spanish territories at the time, accessible through the Archivo de le
Nacion de Mexico. Like Spanish depositories, British depositories and American
depositories contains their occupation in the Philippines.
References
Abraham, T. (2015). Philippines. Retrieved from Repositories of Primary Sources:
https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/t-abraham/asia.html#ph
Agustin, M., De Amboy, S., Gambito, J., Pelleja, M., & Pascual, M. (2020). The
Repositories of Historical Sources. In M. Agustin, S. De Amboy, J. Gambito, M.
Pelleja, & M. Pascual, Readings in Philippine History (pp. 3-5).
Agustin, M., De Amboy, S., Gambito, J., Pelleja, M., & Pascual, M. (2020). Unit 2: Tests
of Authenticity and Credibility. In M. R. Agustin, S. De Amboy, J. C. Gambito, M.
Pelleja, & M. D. Pascual, Readings in Philippine History (pp. 8-12).
Goodreads. (n.d.). Robert A. Heinlein: Time Enough for Love. Retrieved from
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/205.Robert_A_Heinlein
Huistra, H., & Mellink, B. (2016). Phrasing history:Selecting sources in digital
repositories. Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary
History, 220-229.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Abstract. Retrieved from Merriam-Webster
Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abstracts
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Database. Retrieved from Merriam-Webster
Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/databases
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Index. Retrieved from Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/index
Merriam-Webster Distionary. (n.d.). Repository. Retrieved from Merriam-Webster
Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repository
Morehouse, S. (2020, October 8). Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Information
Sources. Retrieved from Suny Empire State College, Research Skills Tutorial
Course Program: https://subjectguides.esc.edu/researchskillstutorial/primary
University of Maryland. (n.d.). Research Guides: Philippine and Filipino American
History & Heritage. Retrieved from Univerisity Libraries - Maryland:
https://lib.guides.umd.edu/c.php?g=544222&p=3730243
Woodley, M. (2020, August 20). Three Types of Resources. Retrieved from McQuad
Library: https://libguides.merrimack.edu/research_help/Sources