THEORIES ON PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the importance of history in the creation of national identities and
development and make it a part of Filipino consciousness;
Evaluate primary sources and secondary sources for their credibility, authenticity
and provenance;
Apply historical methodologies as tools in the study of history
II. Introduction
This chapter will discuss the meaning and relevance of history. It also presents the
distinction between primary and secondary sources, the external and internal criticism
and repositories of primary sources and different kinds of primary sources.
Furthermore, emphasis will be given to the effort of Filipino scholars to develop a
Filipino philosophy as basis of historical interpretation.
III. Lesson/Unit/Study Guide/ Notes
The table below is the matrix of the topics to be learned in this chapter.
Topics Important Points
Different meaning of history as defined
by different philosophers and different
1 Meaning and Importance of History historians. Concept of history by the
.
Filipino historians are also given
importance.
Historical methodology comprises
certain
techniques and rules that historians
2 History and the Historian: follow in order to properly utilize
. sources
Historiography and Historical Methods and historical evidences in writing
history.
With the past as history’s subject matter,
the historians’ most important research
tools are historical sources. In general,
3 Historical Sources historical sources can be classified
.
between primary and secondary sources.
The classification of sources between
theses categories depends on the
historical subject being studied.
IV. Learning Activities
Topic 1: Meaning and Importance of History
A. Picture Analysis. Test your memory by identifying what events in history
were illustrated in the following pictures. Then describe at least 2 sentences about the
picture. Write your answers inside the box.
Who said what? Meaning and Importance of History. The following are
definitions and concepts of history according to different philosophers and Filipino
historians.
The word ‘history’ derives
from my usage of historía to I argued the importance of
define my ‘inquiries’ or
‘researches’. My inquiries coming up with terms before
are here set down to preserve engaging in a discourse. In
this way, there will be a
the memory of the past by common ground for the
putting on record. exchange of discussion.
HERODOTUS SOCRATES
Table 1: Definition of History according to different Filipino historians.
Filipino Historians Meaning and importance of History
“History deals with the past, not with the future.
Teodoro Agoncillo We use history to avoid the mistakes of the past,
not to recreate the very same events. You
cannot.”
History is the achievement of man not the
Renato Constantino individual but the collective. Therefore, we
cannot
assume that history is a primary work of an
individual leader but a collective effort of the
people.
Defined history as the dynamic process of
dealing
Samuel Tan wit the past in which the stages or aspects of
development are interrelated, brought about by
the
understanding of the present and the future.
According to him history is a collective events.
“Mga pangyayari na may saysay para sa grupo
ng
Zeus Salazar taong sinasaysayan nito”. Advocated the use of
Filipino in historical discourse.
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Topic 1 C.
Discuss the importance of studying history. Write your answers in 5 sentences.
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Topic 2: Historical Methodology
My past revisited.
Make a timeline of the significant events that happened in your life from the past
until the present. They should be arranged in chronological order. Don’t forget to
write the year.
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2. In relation to your timeline, answer the following questions in 2 sentences.
2.1 Why did you choose to write those certain events of your life in the timeline?
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2.2 How did you feel while revisiting your past and writing them?
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B. Introduction: History and the Historian
Is history an objective discipline? If it is not, is it still worthwhile to study history? These
questions have haunted historians for many generations. Indeed an exact and accurate account of
the past is impossible for the very simple reason that we cannot go back to the past. We cannot
access the past directly as our subject matter. Historians only get to access representation of the
past through historical sources and evidences.
Therefore, it is the historian’s job not to seek historical evidences and facts but also to
interpret these facts. “ Facts cannot speak for themselves.” it is the job of the historian to give
meaning to these facts and organize them into a timeline, establish causes and write history.
Meanwhile, the historian is not a blank paper who mechanically interprets and analyzes present
historical fact. He is a person of his own who is influenced by his own context, environment,
ideology, education and influences, among others. In that sense , his interpretation of the
historical fact is affected by his context and circumstances. His subjectivity will inevitably
influence the process of his historical research: the methodology that he will use , the facts that he
shall select and deem relevant, his interpretation, and even the form of his writings. Thus, in one
way or another, history is always subjective. If that is so, can history still be considered as an
academic and scientific inquiry?
Historical research requires rigor. Despite the fact that historians cannot ascertain absolute
objectivity, the study of history remains scientific because of the rigor research and methodology
that historians employ. Historical methodology comprises certain techniques and rules that
historians follow in order to properly utilize sources and historical evidences in writing history.
Certain rules apply in cases of conflicting accounts in different sources, and how to properly treat
eyewitness accounts in different sources , and how to properly treat eyewitness accounts and oral
sources as valid historical evidences. In doing so, historical claims done by the historians and the
arguments that they forward in their historical writings, while may be influenced by the
historian’s inclinations, can still be validated by using reliable evidences and employing correct
and meticulous historical methodology.
(Source: Candelaria, John Lee P. and Alporha, Veronica C. 2018. Readings in Philippine
History. Rex Book Store, Inc.)
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Based on the readings on the previous page, answer the following in 5
sentences:
2.1 What is the relationship between history and the historian?
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2.2 Why is it that most of the time historians have the tendency of being
“biased’ in writing history?
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2.3 Explain the quote of Teodoro Agoncillo: “The role of the Filipino
historian must be the role of all historians. There is, of course, [Filipino
history], but as rule, the role of the historian is to tell the truth-- in so far as
documents are concerned.”
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Topic 3: Historical Sources: Primary and Secondary Sources.
A. What happened today?
Write in the table on the next page the events that being experienced today. On
the right column, write the significant events that you have experienced today. On the
left column, think of an experience/s that your friend/family members/strangers which
he/she shared it to you. Be sure to ask for their consent. Write 5 sentences in each
column.
Experience shared by my
My experience today friends/family/strangers to me
2. Based on your answers above, answer the following questions.
2.1. Which of the experiences above is considered as a primary source?
Why?
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2.2. Which of the experiences above is considered as a secondary source?
Why?
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B. Primary and Secondary Sources in History
Historical research/writing is dependent on the availability of primary
sources, documentary sources, secondary event or testimonies of the authorities.
Historical Sources
Sources – an object from the past or testimony concerning the past on which
historians depend in order to create their own depiction of that past. (Howell
and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an Introduction to Historical Method)
Tangible remains of the past (Anthony
Brundage, Going to Sources)
*Categories of Historical Sources
I. Written Sources:
Published materials (Books, magazines, journals, Travelogue
transcription of speech
Manuscript (any handwritten or typed record that has not been printed
Archival materials, Memoirs, diary)
II. Non- written Sources:
Oral history
Artifact
Ruins
Fossils
Art works
Videorecordings
Audiorecordings
What are Primary Sources?
Testimony of an eyewitness
A primary source must have been produced by a contemporary of the event
it narrates
A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or
created during the time under study.
These sources were present during an experience of time period and offer
an inside view of a particular event.
(http://www/Princeton.edu/-refdesk/primary2.h)
Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic
under investigation. They are created by witnesses or recorders who experienced
the events or conditions being documented.
(http://www.yale.edu/collections_collaborative/primarysources/primarysources.html)
These sources are created at the time when the events or conditions are
occurring, it can also include autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories
recorded later.
Primary sources are characterized by their content, regardless of whether
they are available in original format, in microfilm/microfiche, in digital format, or
in published format.
Four Main Categories of Primary Sources
Written sources
Images
Artifacts
Oral testimony
Sample of Primary Source
Primary Sources: (Documented) Oral Testimony
“My first day was a scary one. There was a patient whose earlobes were so long…
he had no nose, only two holes on his face, and no fingers, only the palm of his
hands…the other patients were in different stages of deformity- ( Sr. Maria Luisa
Montenegro, SPC 1940)
What are Secondary Sources?
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are
one or more steps removed from the event.
Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in
them. (http://www.princeton.edu/-refdesk/primary2.html)
Examples:
History textbook
Printed materials (serials, periodicals which interprets previous research)
What is Historical Criticism?
History as an academic discipline follows the very rigid tradition set by logical
positivism. This tradition gives weight on the use of documents and other tangible
artifacts as basis of historical fact.
As a science, It should remain faithful to the tradition of producing knowledge
based on scientific methodology which is highly objective. At this juncture, it is
imperative to all students of history to understand internal and external criticism.
What is internal criticism? Why is it important to understand internal criticism?
Internal criticism deals with the analysis of the content of the documents. This
means that the historian should evaluate the relevance of the content of the
documents to the time and place of the phenomenon.
On the other hand, external criticism deals with analysis on the form of
documents. This criticism allows the historian to evaluate the authencity of the
documents by giving importance to the author of the document and rhe time when the
document was written.
To sum up, internal and external criticisms are not only very important tools in
establishing the validity of historical writing but also in establishing the validity of
the discipline of history an academic discipline.
Course Outline GECREA
Reporting Gr1 - Issues and insights on pre-colonial Philippines
Reporting Gr2 - Issues and insights on Philippine Spanish Era
Reporting Gr3 - Issues and insights on the Philippine Revolution Against Spain
Reporting Gr4 - Issues and insights on Philippine Commonwealth and WWII
Reporting Gr5 - Issues and insights on Contemporary Philippines History
