Guide Questions

1. What is history? How is your understanding of history different from what

is explained from this lesson?

History is the study of the past. During our high school days, we were taught that
history is the subject where we learn about prominent figures, important events,
dates, and stories about the past. As a young kid, I thought that our history
subject, Araling Panlipunan/Sibika, was just about memorizing important people
of the past, their works and their birthdays. However, as I read and understood
the lesson, I learned that history could be something more.

History is our past that defines our today. History helps us understand how
societies have evolved, how cultures from different communities formed, and
how the events of the past have shaped the world we live in today. History plays
an important role in teaching us about the past, figuring out the problems of the
past and learning lessons that can avoid similar events in the future.

The lesson also taught me that history can also teach us about our family’s roots.
As defined by Mr. Gottschalk history is the “past of mankind.” History does not
have to revolve around the prominent figures of the past’s lives, it could also
revolve around our own community.

2. What does a historian do? As a student of history, what do you think will be
your duties?

A historian understands the past. Historians help people of today to understand

the past. A historian analyzes how societies have evolved, how the pasts cultural
practices and norms emerged, how events of yesterday shaped today, and
understand the important and prominent people of history. They provide
information about historical events, identify the problems, and provide solutions
that could be used in the present and future timelines.

As a student who is always learning something from our history, it is my duty to

analyze, understand, and study the past. It is my duty to examine primary and
secondary sources of historical information and shed light on stories that are
hidden and less known and share the information to my fellow students. It is also
my duty to stay informed about our history and play an important role in
preserving our cultural heritage.
3. What role does history take in the study of Philippine society, culture, and
identity?

History plays a vital role in understanding and studying the Philippines identity,
society, and culture. As a nation with a diverse heritage shaped by indigenous
roots and centuries of colonial influence, history serves as the guiding thread that
weaves together the story of how the Philippines has evolved.

History takes on a role of preserving the Filipinos cultural heritage, as history can
document the past traditions, practices, beliefs, and cultural expressions from
different Philippine communities. Moreover, as Philippines have a large colonial
influence from Spain, America, and Japan the study of history is crucial in
Filipinos so they can understand the influence that the Philippines have, so that
they can discover their natural Filipino ethnicity and identity.

Additionally, the study of history in the Philippines gives the Filipinos a chance to
admire their ancestor’s resiliency during the invasion of their colonizers. History
also gives us a chance to learn from our ancestor’s times of social oppression
and discrimination, by means of their social status and ethnicity. It gives us, the
new generation, a chance to learn from their mistakes and make the world a
better place.

The study of history sheds light on different aspects of the country's evolution
and the building of its cultural and social fabric due to the complicated history of
the Philippines, which involves a mixture of indigenous cultures, colonial
influences, and diverse ethnic groups.

4. How did the word “history” come about? Discuss its etymology and
evolution.

The English word “history” was discovered in 1390 meaning “the relation of
events, a story.” Which is derived from the Greek word ἱστορία/istoiα, historia
meaning “learning” or “to know by inquiry.” The derivation of the Greek noun
historia was from the verb historeîn meaning “to inquire” and historeîn from the
word ἵστωρ, hístōr meaning “witness.”
Furthermore, in Middle English the word “history” was interchangeable with the
meaning of story. This is also seen in the German word for history, Geschichte,
which means story and history. However, in present time, people can identify
which is history and which is a story. Stories can be based on the authors
imagination, it can be fictious. However, history is the true record of the past. It
 cannot be fictious. The word history refers to the events that happened that
shaped our present day.

5. How is history commonly defined according to Gottschalk?

In Mr. Louis Gottschalk’s book, “Understanding History: A Primer of Historical

Method,” history is defined as the “past of mankind.” The study of the past
informs us, humans of the new generation, about how we humans became who
we are today. The study of the past shows us how our past ancestors and people
developed today’s society, culture, norms, and identity. History teaches us about
yesterday, so that we can be better today.

References:
History - New World Encyclopedia. (2020). Newworldencyclopedia.org.
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/History

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Activity 2
Research on what Teodoro Agoncillo, Reynaldo Ileto, and Renato Constantino
said about history. Do you agree with them? Share your findings and opinions
with the class.

Teodoro Agoncillo, Reynaldo Ileto, and Renato Constantino are 20 th century

prominent Filipino historians in the Philippines. They are historians who made
noteworthy contributions to the study of Philippine history. Agoncillo, Ileto, and
Constantino were historians during the post-war, and share a common interest in
history. Though they have unique perspectives and opinions.
Firstly, we have Teodoro Agoncillo. He is a Filipino historian prominent for his
nationalist approach in the Philippine history. His works revolved in the experiences of
Filipinos, which unfolded through their very own eyes. In Ocampo’s book, Talking
History: Conversations with Teodoro A. Agoncillo, Sir Agoncillo states that “our history
deals with our past, not our future. We use our history to avoid mistakes that happened
from our past, not to do the same events again.” Which I agree with.
The study of our past simply tells us the value of learning from our past and using
it for our benefit of not recreating the same mistakes again. Though we cannot replicate
the same event from happening again because of the different timeline, it is still very
important to hold on from the lessons of the past. As we learned from this chapter,
studying history is to learn from the problems of the past and make informed decisions
in our present and future by it.
Next is Mr. Reynaldo Ileto. He is known for his book “Pasyon and Revolution:
Popular Movements in the Philippines, 1840-1910.” His works revolve around Filipino
culture, religion, and politics. Reynaldo shares that “forgetting as a part of remembering
because what we choose to remember and what we choose to forget say a lot about
who we are, where we come from, where we want to go, and why we are the way we
are.”
I disagree with Mr. Reynaldo’s opinion because selective memory can lead to a
distorted historical narrative and create bias. It is a discussion of ethical beliefs since
there will be some distortion of the complete historical record. Distortion of our memory
might result in a skewed understanding of the past and lead to further misinterpretation.
That might cause injustice for those who were affected by the war, the invasion of
foreign countries and the inequalities of the past.
Lastly is Mr. Renato Constantino. He is one of the young Filipinos who risked
their lives in opposing ex-president Marcos’s dictatorship. He urged nationalist
movement to Filipinos during the 20th century. He dedicated his life to the Philippines
national independence, freedom rights and justice.
In his published book in, 1975 “The Philippines: A Past Revisited,” he shares that
"History should fulfill the role of connecting apparently separate facts and occurrences
into a cohesive historical progression, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the
entirety of social reality." Additionally, Sir Constantino sees history as a means of
“liberation” for the people of Philippines.
I agree with Sir Constantino’s opinion about history because our Philippine
history should be about the stories of the Philippine history from the Filipino perception.
We, Filipinos, should separate our selves from our colonial mentality and miseducation
and find our true Filipino selves. Our nationalism as Filipinos is our weapon for colonial
terrorisms.
In conclusion, these historians collectively emphasize the transformative power
of history. They remind us that history is not a mere recollection of events, but a
dynamic tool that can shape our present and future. As we navigate the complexities of
our society, the insights of Agoncillo, Ileto, and Constantino serve as guideposts, urging
us to learn from our past, question prevailing narratives, and forge a path toward a more
enlightened and empowered future. Their contributions highlight the ongoing dialogue
between the past and the present, emphasizing the importance of historical awareness
in shaping a better Philippines.

References:

Agoncillo, T. A., & Ocampo, A. R. (1995). Talking History.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1516134.Talking_History
Ocampo, A. R. (2017, April). Forgetting as part of remembering. INQUIRER.net;
INQUIRER.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/103363/forgetting-part-remembering
Renato Constantino: The Centennial Filipino Scholar, 1919–1999. (2023). Journal of
Contemporary Asia.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00472330080000301?
journalCode=rjoc20
Teodoro A. Agoncillo | GOVPH. (2023). Official Gazette of the Republic of the
Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/teodoro-a-agoncillo/
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