The Development

of Philippine
Historiography
LECTURE/ DISCUSSION
 The Philippine Historiography refers to the study
and understanding of Philippine history and how
it organized by the Filipino historians.
 It involves examining key defining events,
identifying key historians for each events and
exploring the key debates surrounding these
events.
 The history of the Philippines spans over four (4)
centuries, from its colonization by Spain in the
16th century to its independence in the 20th
century to its independence in the 20th century.
 Understanding Philippine historiography is
important for gaining insights into the country’s
economy and its evolution over time.
 Philippine Historiography was began when
Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines
in 1521 and the advent of Spanish Colonial
Period in 1565.
 It comprises the historical and archival
research and writings on the history of the
archipelago throughout Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao.
 Filipinohistorians devoted their time in effort
in collecting manuscripts, documents and
historical evidences for their writings.
The Period in the Philippine History
 1. Early Philippines Period, 22,000 BC-1521
AD - This is the period of dominance of native Filipino
culture. During this period, the islands that composed this
country that would eventually be called the Philippines
were ruled by the barangay system of politics and
government, spoke the varied but related Malayo-
Polynesian languages (such as Bisaya, Tagalog, Ilocano,
Maguindanao), believed in the indigenous animistic
religion. Foreigners and their influences (such products
and ideas) had penetrated the archipelago, but these
were only added to the larger native Filipino culture.
 2. Spanish Colonialism Period, 1521-1898 -The
period of Hispanization (to become Spanish-like) of the
Philippine islands. Although the native Filipino culture was
not totally erased, it was combined with a significant
amount of Spanish culture. Filipinos became Roman
Catholics, local languages accepted numerous Spanish
words and phrases, native clothing was modified to
resemble Hispanic wardrobe, kitchens cooked Spanish
food (such as caldereta, afritada, pochero), the free
trading economy was replaced by the galleon monopoly,
and the independent island barangays were united into
the single Spanish colony called Las Islas Filipinas.
 3. Period of Filipino Nationalism, 1872-1913
The period of the development of the Filipino identity. The
previously disunited people, who saw themselves as
separate ethnic groups unrelated to each other; as
Bisayans only, as Tagalogs only, as Ilocanos only, began
to identify themselves into the larger group called
Filipinos. Then as a group, they have united to clamor for
changes to the colonial conditions they have suffered for
hundreds of years. This period was a time for a campaign
for these changes. Early for reforms, later for
independence.
 4. American Colonialism Period, 1898-
1946 - It is the period of ascendance of the
American flag over these 7000 islands. When the
US politicians determined the goals of Philippine
development. When American businessmen
introduced to Filipino taste new products. When
American teachers re-educated the Filipino
children. When American missionaries taught new
religions besides Catholicism and Islam to the
Filipinos. It was the time when Filipinos became
little brown Americans.
 5. Japanese Occupation Period, 1941-
1945 - The short period of Japanese control of the
Philippines during the Second World War. It was
the time when the Japanese military ruled the
country, and Japanese culture was introduced,
even forced, into the Filipinos. But it was also a
time of resistance by Filipinos against Japanese
rule and Japanese influences (such as language,
books, products, practices, ideas).
 6.Period of the Philippine Republic, 1946-
present- The period of Philippine independence
from foreign control. When the country had finally
been set free from successive colonizers: Spanish,
American, and Japanese; the government is now
totally in the hands of Filipinos. However, it was
also a time of big challenges: recovering from the
devastation of the war, resolving the conflict
between rich and poor, ending a people’s rebellion,
and pursuing socio-economic development.
Zeus Atayza Salazar

 Is a Filipino historian, anthropologist and

philosopher of history,best known for
pioneering an emic perspective in Philippine
called “Pantayong Pananaw”.
 Heis considered as “Father of New Philippine
Historiography”.
 Salazar spent 30 years teaching History in
University of the Philippines
Teodoro Agoncillo

A prominent Filipino historian from the 20th

century.
 Heis considered as “First Filipino Historian”.
With his contemporary Renato Constantino .
 They are renowned for promoting a distinctly
nationalist point of view of Filipino History.
Herodotus

 He is considered as “Father of
Historiography”.
 Set3 goals for the discipline- 1. memoria, 2.
selection, 3. theory.
Laguna Copperlate Inscription

 The earliest record of a Philippine language

and the presence of writing in the islands
Malay and Negritos
 Malays were the first people who live in the
country. While Negritos were the first
inhabitants.
Filipino historians from the Nationalist
History Tradition

 Teodoro Agoncillo
 Horacio dela Costa
 Gregorio Zaide
 Nick Joaquin
 Cesar Adib Majul
 O.D Corpuz
Filipino historians from the Critical
Historiography Tradition

 Carlos Quirino
 F. Landa Jocano
 Felix M. Keesing
 William Henry Scott
Writers from the folkloristics tradition

 Damiana Eugenio
 Gilda Cordero- Fernando
 Grace Odal-Devora
Historian and Writers from the Postmodern,
Local/ethnic tradition

 Ambeth Ocampo
 Bambi Harper
 Melba Padilla Maggay
 Vicente L. Rafael
 Luciano P.R Santiago
 Luis Camara Dery