CHAPTER 3

PHILIPPINE HISTORY:
SPACES FOR CONFLICT
AND CONTROVERSIES
Two key concepts that need to be defined before proceeding to
the historical analysis of problems in history are interpretation
and multiperspectivity.
Making Sense Past: Historical
Interpretation
• History is not just the study of the past but also how it affects the present.
• Geoffrey Barraclough defines history as uncovering important past aspects based on
incomplete evidence, highlighting that historical narratives are shaped by historians'
judgments rather than pure facts.
• These interpretations rely on primary sources, which may not be easily understood
by everyone, leading to potential misinterpretations.
• How we interpret history can vary based on individual perspectives and the context
of the time.
• As history students, it’s crucial to critically evaluate different interpretations,
recognizing that our understanding can evolve and that conflicting accounts can
shape our national identity.
• Assessing primary sources and their interpretations is essential for a reliable
understanding of history.
 Code of Kalantiaw
• The Code of Kalantiaw was once believed to
be a genuine legal code from the epic history
of Maragtas and a source of pride for Aklan.
• A historical marker in Batan, Aklan, credited
Datu Bendehara Kalantiaw with establishing
this penal code around 1433.
• However, in 1968, historian William Henry
Scott revealed it was a hoax, tracing its
origins to a fictional work by Jose E. Marco
written in 1913, which falsely attributed the
code to a priest named Jose Maria Pavon.
• While many Filipino historians accept Scott's
findings, some still believe in the code's
legitimacy.
 "Sa Aking Mga Kabata"
• "Sa Aking Mga Kabata" is a poem often attributed to
Jose Rizal when he was eight, featuring the famous
lines "Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita/mahigit
sa hayop at malansang isda."
• However, there is no evidence that Rizal wrote it; the
poem was first published in 1906 by Hermenegildo
Cruz, who claimed to have received it from Gabriel
Beato Francisco, who, in turn, got it from Rizal's
alleged friend, Saturnino Raselis—whom Rizal never
mentioned.
• Additionally, the poem uses the word "kalayaan," which
Rizal encountered only later through a translation by
Marcelo H. del Pilar, and its spelling uses letters "k"
and "w" instead of "c" and "u," a change Rizal
suggested as an adult.
• This raises doubts about its authenticity, as it should
Multiperspectivity
• Multiperspectivity is a key concept in history that highlights the need to
view events, people, and cultures from various angles.
• This approach recognizes that there are multiple valid interpretations of the
past, though each may be biased and incomplete.
• Historians often select sources and emphasize certain interpretations based
on their own goals, which can result in misinterpretations or omissions.
• By exploring diverse sources and viewpoints, multiperspectivity helps
uncover discrepancies and contradictions, leading to a more balanced
understanding of history.
• This method enriches historical scholarship and offers audiences a nuanced
view of the past, recognizing that different types of sources provide
different truths.
Case Study 1: Where Did the First Catholic
Mass Take Place in the Philippines? (March
31, 1521)
• This case study examines the historiography surrounding the site
of the First Catholic Mass in the Philippines, rather than its
significance.
• For a long time, Butuan was thought to be the site of this event,
a belief supported by a monument erected in 1872 near the
Agusan River.
• This claim was based on a basic reading of primary sources.
• However, as scholarship on Philippine history developed in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries, historians began to reassess
the evidence, leading to a reevaluation of the accepted
interpretation.
• The key sources used for this are Francisco Albo's logbook from
Magellan's ship Trinidad and Antonio Pigafetta's detailed
Primary Source: Albo's Log

• On March 16, 1521, while sailing from the Ladrones, the crew
spotted land identified later as Yunagan but avoided it due to
shallow waters.
• They then anchored at Suluan, where local canoes fled, and
continued to an uninhabited island likely called Homonhon to
gather wood and water.
• They next reached Leyte, referred to as Seilani, known for its
gold, before sailing to Mazava (Limasawa), where the friendly
locals showed them three gold-rich islands.
• They returned to Seilani and then to Cebu (Subu), where they
secured provisions and made a peace pact with the local king.
• Albo's account suggests that Mazava corresponds to
Limasawa, and while he does not mention the first Mass, he
describes the planting of a cross on a mountain overlooking
three islands.
Primary Source: Pigafetta's Testimony on the Route of Magellan’s
Expedition

• On March 16, 1521, Magellan's expedition sighted "Zamal"

(Samar) after sailing 300 leagues from the Ladrones (Marianas).
• The next day, they landed on the uninhabited island of
"Humunu" (Homonhon) at 10 degrees North latitude, where
they set up tents for the sick and named the archipelago the
"Islands of Saint Lazarus."
• They encountered local men on March 18, who returned with
food on March 22. Magellan renamed the island "Watering Place
of Good Omen" because of its water springs and signs of gold.
• They departed Homonhon on March 25, sailing past several
islands, and anchored at "Mazaua" on March 28, where they
stayed for seven days.
• On April 4, guided by the king of Mazaua, they sailed to Cebu,
arriving on April 7.
• Both Albo and Pigafetta confirm these events, with Pigafetta
providing more details about their time in Mazaua.
Primary Source: Pigafetta and Seven Days in Mazaua

• On March 28, 1521, Magellan's expedition anchored near an island where they had seen a
light the previous night.
• They were approached by a small boat with eight natives, who received trinkets as gifts.
Later, two larger boats arrived, one with the native king, who stayed on his boat during the
exchange.
• The next day, on Good Friday, Magellan sent his interpreter to request food supplies,
leading to a visit from the king, who embraced Magellan and exchanged gifts, taking two
Spaniards, including Pigafetta, as guests.
• After a night of feasting, Pigafetta returned to the ships on March 30.
• On Easter Sunday, March 31, a Mass was held, and a cross was planted on a hill with the
kings of Mazaua and Butuan present.
• Magellan then asked for guidance to food-rich ports, and they were directed to Zubu
(Cebu).
• The king of Mazaua agreed to guide them after his harvest, but their departure was
delayed until April 2 and 3. They finally left for Cebu on April 4.
• Jesuit priest Miguel A. Bernad suggests that Pigafetta's account omits the Agusan River, a
Case Study 2: What Happened in the Cavite
Mutiny? (January 20, 1872)
• The year 1872 marked two significant events
in Philippine history: the Cavite Mutiny and
the martyrdom of three priests—Mariano
Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora—
known as GOMBURZA.
• These events played a crucial role in shaping
the Philippine Revolution later in the century.
• However, this year is also controversial due
to differing perspectives on these events,
each supported by primary sources.
• This case study focuses on the Cavite Mutiny,
a key moment that contributed to the rise of
nationalism among Filipinos at that time.
 Spanish Accounts of the Cavite Mutiny
• Spanish historian Jose Montero y Vidal documented
the Cavite Mutiny of 1872 as an attempt to
overthrow Spanish rule in the Philippines, though his
account was criticized for bias, alongside Governor
General Rafael Izquierdo’s report that implicated the
native clergy seeking to secularize parishes.
• The mutiny stemmed from the abolition of labor
privileges and tax exemptions at the Cavite arsenal,
fueled by revolutionary sentiments and anti-
monarchical propaganda.
• Organized in secret, the rebellion involved educated
native leaders and aimed to place a priest in power.
• On January 20, 1872, a failed attack occurred due to
miscommunication, leading to the quick suppression
of the revolt, with prominent leaders, including
Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, executed on
February 17, 1872, as a warning to Filipinos.
 Differing Accounts of the Events of
1872
• Differing accounts of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny exist,
notably from Filipino scholar Dr. Trinidad Pardo de
Tavera, who argued that Spanish residents and
friars exaggerated the incident to serve their
interests.
• He noted that dissatisfaction among Filipino soldiers
and laborers stemmed from harsh policies, including
the removal of privileges and restrictions on
education, which the friars used to distract from their
declining influence due to impending reforms from
the Central Government in Madrid.
• Tavera and French writer Edmund Plauchut claimed
the mutiny was manipulated by the friars and
General Izquierdo to justify their dominance.
• Although investigations indicated a need for reforms
in various sectors, Izquierdo's oppressive policies
heightened tensions, leading to the martyrdom of
GOMBURZA and laying the groundwork for the
Philippine Revolution of 1898.
Case Study 3: Did Rizal Retract?
• Jose Rizal is celebrated as a hero of the revolution for his writings that aimed to end
colonialism and inspire Filipinos to build their nation.
• His major works, including Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, focused on exposing
the injustices of the friars, not the Catholic religion itself.
• Because of this, any document from Rizal that renounces his criticisms of the friars and
the Church could harm his reputation as a revolutionary leader.
• Such a document, known as "The Retraction," supposedly signed by Rizal shortly before
his execution, declares his renewed belief in the Catholic faith and retracts his previous
writings against the Church.
• There are four versions of the retraction text.
• The first was published on December 30, 1896, in La Voz Española and Diario de Manila
on the day of Rizal's execution.
• The second appeared in Barcelona's La Juventud on February 14, 1897, written
anonymously but later identified as Fr. Vicente Balaguer.
• The "original" text was only discovered in the archdiocesan archives on May 18, 1935,
after nearly forty years of being missing.
 Primary Source: Rizal's Retraction
Source: Translated from the document found by Fr. Manuel
Garcia,
C.M. on 18 May 1935

I declare myself a catholic and in this Religion in which I was born

and educated I wish to live and die.

I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings,

publications and conduct has been contrary to my character as
son of the Catholic Church. I believe and I confess whatever she
teaches and I submit to whatever she demands. I abominate
Masonry, as the enemy which is of the Church, and as a Society
prohibited by the Church. The Diocesan Prelate may, as the
Superior Ecclesiastical Authority, make public this spontaneous
manifestation of mine in order to repair the scandal which my acts
may have caused and so that God and people may pardon me.

Manila 29 of December of 1896

Jose Rizal
• The authenticity of the retraction document signed by Jose Rizal has been
questioned, primarily due to the lack of eyewitness accounts, with Jesuit friar Fr.
Vicente Balaguer being the only one supporting its existence.
• Balaguer claimed that Rizal confessed multiple times, attended Mass, and
prayed the rosary, which seemed unusual for him.
• However, in 2016, Professor Rene R. Escalante uncovered another account from
the Cuerpo de Vigilancia, detailing Rizal's last hours in prison.
• The report, written by Federico Moreno, noted that on December 30, 1896,
Rizal initially refused to sign a prepared retraction document but later submitted
his written statement to Father March.
• The account also described Rizal's marriage to his lover before his execution,
adding credibility to the existence of the retraction document without
mentioning Balaguer.
• Despite the controversy, many scholars believe that Rizal's legacy remains intact
and continues to inspire the Filipino fight for independence.
 Case Study 4: Where Did the Cry of Rebellion
Happen? (August 1896)
• In the late 19th century, revolutionary events swept through Spanish
colonies, including the Philippines.
• The term "El Grito de Rebelion" or "Cry of Rebellion" was used to
describe the uprisings, with the Philippines' Cry occurring in August
1896, northeast of Manila, marking the start of the rebellion against
Spanish rule.
• This event is significant in the fight for independence.
• The exact date and location of the Cry are debated.
• Historian Teodoro Agoncillo points to the moment when Bonifacio
tore a tax receipt in front of the Katipuneros as a key event.
• Some view the first military clash with Spaniards as the Cry itself.
• After the failed Pact of Biak-na-Bato, Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned
the "Himno de Balintawak" to reignite the struggle.
• A monument to the Heroes of 1896 stands at the intersection of
EDSA Avenue and Andres Bonifacio Drive, though the reason for its
location remains unclear. The Cry of Balintawak was celebrated on
August 26 until 1962.
 Different Dates and Places of the Cry
• There are many different accounts of the Cry of Rebellion, with varying dates
and locations.
• Lt. Olegario Diaz claimed it happened in Balintawak on August 25, 1896, while
historian Teodoro Kalaw placed it in Kangkong, Balintawak, during the last
week of August.
• Katipunero Santiago Alvarez said it occurred in Bahay Toro, Quezon City, on
August 24, and Pio Valenzuela reported it at Pugad Lawin on August 23.
• Historian Gregorio Zaide also identified Balintawak but on August 26, and
Teodoro Agoncillo supported Valenzuela’s date.
• On August 26, a key meeting took place at Apolonio Samson's house, where
Katipunan leaders, including Bonifacio, discussed the uprising, urging the
crowd to revolt and destroy their cedulas.
• Bonifacio and others first sought refuge in Balintawak around August 19-20,
and on August 22, about 500 Katipuneros gathered at Samson's house.
• On August 23, over 1,000 met at Juan Ramos' house in Pugad Lawin, where
many tore their cedulas.
• The different accounts likely arise from the movement between these sites, all