Lesson 8

Promoting and Preserving Historical and Cultural Heritage

A. Protection and Conservation of the National Cultural Heritage

An act that provides for the protection and Conservation of the national cultural
heritage as well as strengthening of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
(NCAA) is Republic Act No. 10066. This Act is known as the “National Cultural Heritage Act
of 2009”. This Act was approved on March 26, 2010 under the Presidency of Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo.

This Act has the following objectives:

1. Protect, preserve, conserve, and promote the nation’s cultural heritage, its property and
histories and the ethnicity of local communities.
2. Establish and strengthen cultural institutions, and
3. Protect cultural workers and ensure this professional development and well-being.

Local History

Local history refers to a written record of past events relating to local situations.
National histories actually sprouted from the contributions of local history. In other the
following are the controversial issues:

Importance of Local History

1. Local history enriches our understanding of our national history. It provides us with the
documentation and analysis of the broad processes which are important to the life of the
people. It is more than the study of towns, provinces, and regions of the Philippines and
the people who live there. The study of local history provides the foundation and the
substance of true national history is history in the local context.
2. More importantly, it encourages creative and innovative responses to development with
people with special talents and potentials. It provides more room for local initiatives to
develop and for local potentials to progress. Autonomy implies an exercise of freedom with
limited control or influence from the national government. Local history along with oral
history are basic to autonomy.

3. From this inexhaustible reservoir people can draw patriotic strength in times of crisis,
inspiration, in moments of despair, and direction, and in times of ambiguity and dilemma. It
is actually a reservoir of local data and memories of events, realties, and things that provide
the essences of local life. History is defined as an organized record of a meaningful past.

4. The Philippines has a strong and varied source of local history because it has 16 regions,
78 provinces, 1,537 municipalities, 69 cities, 41,925 barangays and over a hundred
ethnolinguistic groups. Here we can see community life in the context of social perspective.
Local history provides the vital task of putting the meaningful essence of community in
space and time.
5. National interests by reason of national purpose and will should represent the various
localities, sectors, and ethnic groups from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, regardless of creed,
origin, race, and gender. National history seeks together all diverse groups. By their very
nature both help unite the nation as an example of unity in diversity. Local and oral history
are fundamental to national interests.

6. Filipino historiography incorporates both approaches to national history. The difference

of Hispanic historiography is that it autocratic and prescriptive while the American is
liberal and democratic. This includes the Hispano-American historiographical tradtion we
have preserved in our national historiography.

7. In short, national history without local history is shallow just as local history without
national interest is parochial and divisive. It must derive substance and sustenance from
local history data before it can establish generalizations. Local history is an important tool
of decolonization. Nationalist historiography aims to decolonize the old views which is the
task of the Filipino historian.
Sources in Local History

History without sources is like a bird without wings. Sources are the foundation of
historical data and information. However, not all historical works with sources are
commendable.

This brings to the question on what sources to use and how to use them for historical
construction. History without sources is unthinkable but not all historical works with
sources are commendable.

Cultural Sources which are preserved evidences of human culture including archaeological
artifacts as far back in time as possible. Oral historical sources gathered from interviews
which represent the main focus of oral history as a methodology. Written source such as
reports, correspondences, speeches, memorials, petitions and any printed matter
available. Historical sources may be generally divided into:
• Secondary accounts which include accounts by individuals with some valid information
from eyewitnesses.
• Primary accounts such as eyewitness accounts.

Methodology of Local History

What is worth researching and what are those things to be researched are essential
matters in conducting historical research.

It must deal with a subject of historical value. Note everything which happened in the
past is worth researching. History is an academic discipline in which we look back where we
came from, how things changed and what particular path we have taken for what persons
and why we are where we are now. It must be an original work not a recycling or rehashed
work that has been written countless of times. It should present new information or at least
a new perspective, insight or interpretation.
Pre-requisites of Local History Research

These materials are useful in learning activities and make lectures and class
presentations relevant. They help you find leads in your own research. These helps you
from duplicating earlier research. A local historian must be familiar with the historical
literature of his region.

Secondary sources are based on primary sources the latter carry greater weight on the
accuracy of facts. Primary sources are those written and oral are eyewitness or
contemporaneous sources or observers in a particular historical era. Historical sources can
be obtained from primary and secondary sources. The quick answer was analysis but one
must remember there cannot be analysis without facts. Which is more important fact or
analysis?
Sources of Data: Primary Sources and Secondary Sources

Unpublished primary sources can be found in the UST archives the archdiocesan archives
of Manila and other ecclesiastical archives. Traveler accounts-writings by John Foreman,
Jean Mallat, Feodor Jagor. Friar accounts-works by Ignacio Alcina, Pedro Chirino, Aduarte,
Malumbres Plascencia. The Philippine Islands by James Alexander Robertson and Emma
Helen Blair which is a collection of documents and eyewitness accounts from the 15th to the
19th centuries.

There might be racial prejudice and bias which tend to distort their observations and
perceptions. One must be critical in using these sources.

Many other sources in the PNA. Disfunciones-deaths, Bautismos-baptism, Asuntos

criminals-crimes. Filipinos Ilistres –Illustrious Filipinos, Sediciones y Rebelliones-for studying
the formation of towns-For those who can read Spanish may consult the following:
Selecting a Research Topic

Another area is institutional history such as the history of an academic institution or a

business company. One may do an economic history such as the history of the mining
sector, the weaving industry. One may research a particular era such as the Philippine
Revolution, Peacetime of the Japanese Occupation. Another topic would be the story of a
site or structure such as a church or even a series of historical sites. Such biographies
should include previously unknown information. Other topics maybe biographical.

It is up for the researcher to use his creativity and insight in unearthing and retrieving
data from local sources. Local primary sources are now available for all these topics.
Women’s histories-now increasingly popular. Cultural history includes changes in the
practices of the communities such as the Tingguianes and the Apayaos.
Practical Guidelines for Data-Gathering

There may be other practical steps which you have found useful and which work is
best for you. Take proper care of primary materials such as old photographs, manuscripts,
or maps. Such materials are extremely rare and one of a kind and need special handling.
Organize your data into primary and secondary sources or according to major topics or
chronologically. Always indicate the source of information, such as the title and date of a
document, or the bibliographic data for the printed materials such as books, pamphlets
and magazines. These are based on the text and analysis and a summation of your
findings. Analysis-this is your explanation and interpretation of the data that you have
provided and that this explains your analytical framework or theory that you employed.
Text-this is the main bulk of your written account. This must be organized and coherent.
An outline for this section is necessary.
Bibliography

This is the listing of sources including books that were used which could be classified as
primary or secondary, published or unpublished, oral or written. Endnotes/footnotes these
are required in academic research but may not be always applicable. Appendix and glossary-
these are materials which could not be incorporated into the text but would add to the
clarity and depth of your research.

Contemporary historian utilize a nationalist perspective. This is not anti-foreign but it

reflects our nationalist consciousness and sentiment. Writing down history is not simply
putting down facts in paper but it should be done through a proper framework or context.
Language-first decide in what language to use. You may choose to write in vernacular but if
you decide to have a wider audience English would be the best language. Writing in English
does not mean a lack of nationalism.
Shortcomings and Ethical Issues in Local History Writings

In many instances local historians allow their personal biases to distort their work by
hiding certain unfavorable facts, misinterpreting events and passing off false information
as true which result in the work becoming a propaganda instead of an accurate rendering
of the past. Tendency of local historians to slant their narrative in favor of powerful
families or portray a national personality in the hope of achieving reflected glory or
gaining patronage and reward from the family. There is too much emphasis on local
celebrities and personalities who mat appear important but they are not i.e. longest
serving mayor or councilor. Indiscriminate presentation of facts in the belief that all data
gathered must not go to waste. There maybe rigid conformity to periodization which
conforms to national history i.e. Pre-Spanish, Spanish, and American periods. There
maybe difficulty in relating cause and effect. The historian should take to account various
local and external forces.
Oral History

Oral history is a historical source of a special nature. Its special nature lies in the fact it
is unwritten source of information which consists of verbal testimonies which are
reported statements involving the past.

Oral history is not a discipline history. It is only a methodology of history in which first-
hand historical events are recounted by the eyewitness through the intervention of a
historian.

Filipino historian like T.A Agoncillo and Isabelo de los Reyes used oral history in
obtaining historical information. However, the popular use of oral history as a
methodology is relatively new even among professional historians.

The main technique of oral history is interview. This techniques goes as far back as
ancient time including that of Homer and Herodotus who used the technique in their
prototype of historical discourse.
Importance of Oral History

Its importance to Modern Historiography

Though not suited for historical analysis, oral tradition can be used as traditional
material. These come in the form of epics, tales, genealogies, and legends. Oral tradition-
this comes from collective consciousness of a people.

Eyewitness Account

Hearsay does not qualify as eyewitness account because the event was not witnessed
by the narrator and remembered by the impormant himself. Eyewitness accounts do not
fall the realm of oral tradition. Eyewitness accounts are given by people who are actually
in the place of a historical event or were actually its participants.
Rumor Account

It becomes useful as a historical source. If it is corroboration by other sources,

otherwise it should be dismissed as an uncorroborated hearsay. It is transmitted from one
person to another. A rumor is a verbal account which does not always concern the
present.

The Practice of Oral History

Where written documents are lacking oral history may be used as long as this is
corroborated by other sources. The best example was created by Dr. Marcelino Foronda of
De la sale University who organized students to conduct interviews of important
personalities starting from the 70’s. Recently historical bodies have engaged in oral
history.

Oral history also gives the power to marginalized people who have no access to
writing or could not write or those who have no time to write history, their view of past.