READINGS IN

PHILIPPINE HISTORY
BY: JEMIMAFRAILIN A. ESPINAS, LPT
LEARNING OBJECTIVES :

By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

• To understand the meaning of history as an academic

discipline and to be familiar with the underlying
philosophy and methodology of the field.

• To examine and assess critically the value of historical

evidences and sources.

• To appreciate the importance of history in the social and

national life of the Philippines.
History in Traditional Understanding

• Study of the past.

• Chronological record of significant events often including an

explanation of their causes.

• Is the account of the past of a person or a group of people

through written documents and historical evidences.
History in Modern Understanding

• Came from the Greek word “Historia” that means

“knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation”

• History also focused on writing about wars, revolutions, and

other important breakthroughs
 KEY CONCEPTS

• POSITIVISM – is the school of thought that emerged

between the 18th and 19th century. This thought requires
empirical and observable evidence before one can claim that
a particular knowledge is true. Positivism also entails an
objective means of arriving at a conclusion. In the discipline of
history, the mantra “no document, no history” stems from this
very same truth, where historians were required to show
written primary documents in order to write a particular
historical narrative. Positivist historians are also expected to
be objective and impartial not just in their arguments but also
on their conduct of historical research.
 “NO DOCUMENT, NO HISTORY”

means that unless a written

document can prove a certain
historical event, then it cannot be
considered as a historical fact.
Historical Events

EDSA PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION – FEBRUARY

Photos by : ROMEO MARIANO
25, 1986
 Photo by: Recto Mercene of Times Journal

OLD STREET IN
CAVITE The Assassination of
June 12, 1898 – Philippine Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino
Independence Day Jr.
 Importance of Studying History

• To unite a nation
• To make sense of the present
• To not repeat mistakes of the past
• To inspire people to keep their good practices to move
forward.
Importance and Uses of History

Given are the uses of history as summarized by Foray and Salevouris (1988).
Some of these are interestingly explained by B.H. Lidedell Hart (1971)

• History provides a source of personal and social identity.

• History helps us understand the problems of the present.
• History – good history – corrects misleading analogies and “lessons” of
the past.
• History can help one develop tolerance and open-mindedness.
• History helps us better understand all human behavior and all aspects
of the human condition.
• History provides the basic background for many disciplines.
• History can be a source of entertainment.
• History, when studied, can teach many critical skills.
 History and Historian

Historian
is a person of his own who is influenced by
his own context, environment, ideology,
education, and influences, among others.
“FACTS CANNOT SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES”

• Historian’s job is not just to seek historical evidences and

facts but also to interpret these facts. It is the job of the
historian to give meaning to these facts and organize them
into timeline, establish causes and write history. In that
sense, his interpretation of the historical facts is affected by
his context and circumstance. 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.
HISTORICAL METHODOLOGY

• Comprises certain technique and rules that historian

follows 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
account and oral sources as valid historical evidence. In
doing so, historical claims done by historians and the
arguments that they forward in their historical writings,
while they maybe influence by historian inclinations, can
still be validated by using reliable evidence and employing
correct and meticulous historical methodology.
Historiography

• Writing of history (Historical Writing)

• It is the study of history
• Based on critical examination of sources, selection of
particular details from authentic materials in those sources
and the synthesis of those details into a narrative.
• Understanding and comprehending historical events and of
people
• Done through “Historical Research” with the aid of “
Historical Methodology”
Role of Historians

• To look at the available sources and select the most

relevant for history and subject of study.

• To organize the past that is being created.

• To seek for the meaning of recovering the past to let the

people see the continuing relevance of memories
( Historical Understanding).
HERODOTUS

• FATHER OF HISTORY

• Was the first writer to do

systematic investigation
of historical events.
 SOURCES OF HISTORY

• The study of History is a relentless search for the truth. This

truth is about the event of the past which are contained in
their sources.
• In the study of history sources are always important.
• SOURCES are where the information come from. In a technical
sense the source of historical information is the document.
• DOCUMENT – is a written material that says about a historical
event. The document can be narration, a copy of speech, a
letter, a receipt, an eyewitness account or a book. These are
only some of the sources of history.
UNWRITTEN SOURCES BUT CAN BE
AUTHORITATIVE
• Some sources are not written but can be
authoritative. These are relics, memorabilla,
pictures, drawings, sketches, fossils, and
remains. These are sources who are living
individuals. They are called eyewitnesses if
they were present when the event happened.
When use in historical research they are
referred to as respondents or informants.
HISTORICAL SOURCES

1. PRIMARY SOURCES

• include documents or artifacts created by a witness or

participant of the event
• “firsthand testimony” , “Eyewitness accounts”
• It may include diaries, letters, interviews, photographs,
newspapers.
EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY SOURCES
• Autobiographies
• Speeches
• Essay by person expressing his own view
• Receipts
• Letters of the editor expressing the writer’s view
• Laws, ordinances, letters of instructions
• Newspaper articles reporting directly about the event
• Diaries and Journals
• Reports, Letters, Editorials, Transcript of Records
• Eyewitness accounts
6 points of inquiries to evaluate Primary
sources (Garraghan,1950)

1. Date – when was it produced?

2. Localization – where did it originate?
3. Authorship – who wrote it?
4. Analysis – what pre-existing material served as the basis
for its production?
5. Integrity – what was its original form?
6. Credibility - what is the evidential value of its content?
HISTORICAL SOURCES

2. SECONDARY SOURCES

• Produced by authors who used and interpreted primary

sources
• Analyzed a scholarly question and often use primary source
as evidence
• Include books, theses, dissertations, textbooks, magazines,
knowledge of historians
• Written few years after the exact time of the event
 Drill : Identify whether Primary or
Secondary sources
1. “ Batas Militar: Martial Law Under President Ferdinand E. Marcos Full
Documentary”
2. “ La Revolution Filipina” of Apolinario Mabini
3. National Historical Commission of the Philippines YouTube Channel
4. Historical Data Papers from National Library of the Philippines
5. “War Memoirs of Jose P. Laurel” by Jose P. Laurel
6. “Brains of the Nation” by Resil B. Mojares
7. “ A Question of Heroes” by Nick Joaquin
8. “ Anting- anting ni Manuel Quezon” at National Museum of the
Philippines- Museum of Anthropology
9. “ Veneration Without Understanding” by Renato Constantino
10. Homo luzonensis ecofacts (fossils) unearthed by UP Archaeological
Studies Program
 ASSESSMENT 1 :

• Below is a definition of history by Zeus A. Salazar (1999). Examine

it carefully then answer the question following the definition.

“ Ang KASAYSAYAN ay SALAYSAY hinggil sa nakaaran o

nakalipas na may SAYSAY –kahulugan, katuturan, at kabuluhan – sa
SARILING LIPUNAN at KULTURA o kabuuang kinabibilangan. Ito ay
iniuulat gamit mga konsepto at kategoryang sariling kultura.”

A. What does the author mean or imply by “Ang kasaysayan ay

salaysay…..na may saysay sa sariling Lipunan at kultura”?
END OF LESSON 1