READINGS IN PH. HISTORY A.Y.

2022-2023 1

LESSON 1.1: MEANING AND RELEVANCE 4. the former Leader of Pailah, Jayadewah. To the
OF HISTORY effect that His Honor Namwran, through the
 History – a chronological record of significant events. Honorable Scribe
 Derived from the Greek word “historia”, meaning 5. was totally cleared of a debt to the amount of I
inquiry or knowledge acquired by investigation. kati and 8 suwama (weight of gold), in the
 Study of past events presence of His Honor the Leader of Puliran,
6. Kasumuran; His Honor the Leader of Pailah,
 Historiography – refers to how, what, and why namely: Ganasakti; (and) His Honor the Leader
history is written 7. of Binwangan, namely: Bisruta. And (His Honor
Namwran) with his whole family, on orders by the
 Methods and practices used in producing
Chief of Dewata,
history. 8. representing the Chief of Mdang, because of his
 Development of history as a discipline loyalty as a subject (slave?) of the Chief,
 Philosophy or significance of historical writing therefore all the descendants
 Theory of history and history of historical writing 9. of His Honor Namwran have been cleared of the
 Study of history whole debt that His Honor owed the Chief of
Dewata. This (document) is (issued) in case
 History – a chronological record of significant events. 10. there is someone. whosoever, some time in the
future. who will state that the debt is not yet
 Derived from the Greek word “historia”, meaning
acquitted of His Honor…
inquiry or knowledge acquired by investigation.
WHY STUDY HISTORY
PREHISTORY AND HISTORY
 History helps us understand people and societies
 Prehistory – period where the information of the past  Offers a storehouse of information about how
were recorded in materials other than written people and societies behave.
documents.  Offers the only extensive evidential base for the
 Artifacts, drawings, paintings, sculptures. contemplation and analysis of how societies
function.
 History – information derived from written records of  People need to have some sense of how
past experiences. societies function simply to run their own lives.
 Derived from the Greek word “historia”, meaning
inquiry or knowledge acquired by investigation.  History helps us understand change and how the
society we live in came to be
PREHISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES  The past causes the present, and so is the
future.
 Laguna Copperplate Inscription – earliest written  Through history we grasp how things change.
document known in the Philippines  Through history we begin to comprehend the
 First legal document recorded in the Philippines factors that cause change.
 Contain the release of the children of  Through history we understand what elements
Namwaran, the bearers, from their obligation. of an institution or a society persist despite
 822 of the Saka Eara, the month of Waisaka, change.
and the fourth day of waning moon. (Monday,
April 21, 900 AD)  History contributes to moral understanding
 Found in 1989 at Lumban, Laguna  Provides a terrain for moral contemplation
 Studying the stories of individuals and situations
TRANSLATED VERSION OF THE LCI
1. Hail! in the Saka-year 822; the month of March- in the past test
April; according to the astronomer: the 4th day of
the dark half of the moon; on  History provides identity
2. Monday. At that time, Lady Angkatan together  Historical data include evidence about how
with her relative, Bukah by name families, groups, institutions and whole
3. the child of His Honor Namwran, was given, as a countries were formed and about how they have
special favor, a document of full acquittal, by the evolved while retaining cohesion.
Chief and Commander of Tundun  Histories that tell the national story meant to

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READINGS IN PH. HISTORY A.Y. 2022-2023 2

drive home an understanding of national values documents, reports, photographs, literature, and
and a commitment to national loyalty. other creative outputs.

 Studying History is Essential for Good Citizenship  Secondary Sources – based on primary sources
 To promote national identity and loyalty through  Explains certain events of the past through
a history spiced by vivid stories and lessons in evaluation and interpretation of the records
individual success and morality. created during a historical period.
 Most common justification for the place of  Researches, textbooks, journals, commentaries,
history in school curricula. biographies, criticism, reviews of literacy, and
 Provides data about the emergence of national creative works.
institutions, problems, and values.
 Offers evidence about how nations have  Tertiary Sources – based from secondary sources
interacted with other societies, providing
international and comparative perspectives. IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY SOURCES
 Helps understand how recent, current, and
prospective changes that affect the lives of  Direct contact with the original records and artifacts
citizens invites students to explore the content with active
 Encourages habits of mind that are vital for and deeper analysis, and to respond thoughtfully;
responsible public behaviour
 Critical thinking is developed as students probe
SKILLS THAT A STUDENT MAY DEVELOP IN the context, purpose, meaning, bias, and
STUDYING HISTORY perspectives in their analysis of the past;

 The ability to assess evidence  In the interaction with the various sources from the
 History builds experience in dealing with and past, a learn-led inquiry is being fostered;
assessing various kinds of evidence.
 One kind of evidence helps form the capacity to  There is a realization that history is a reflection of
distinguish between the objective and the self- various perspectives of those who interpret the past
serving statements events; and

 It brings back to story to history allowing students to

 Ability to assess conflicting interpretations
share the author's perspectives
 Learning history means gaining some skill in
sorting through diverse, often conflicting LESSON 1.3: INTERNAL AND
interpretations. EXTERNAL CRITICISM
 Identifying conflicting interpretations is an
essential citizenship skill for which history  Historical Method - probing primary sources that will
provides training be used in writing history
 Includes source criticism which studies the
 Experience in assessing past examples of change external and internal validity of sources.
 Vital to understanding change in society today.
 Analysis of change means developing some  Source Criticism asks the following questions
capacity for determining the magnitude and (According to Gilbert J. Garranghan and Jean
significance of change. Delanglez in 1946)
 When was the source, written or unwritten,
LESSON 1.2: DISTINCTION BETWEEN PRIMARY produced?
AND SECONDARY SOURCES  Where was it produced?
 By whom was it produced?
 Primary sources – original records of a certain event  From what pre-existing material was it
by people who have actually experienced or produced?
witnessed it.  In what original form was it produced?
 Includes letters, legislations, newspaper,  What is the evidential value of its contents?
articles, diaries, interviews, government

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READINGS IN PH. HISTORY A.Y. 2022-2023 3

 External Criticism – determine the authenticity of  If a number of independent sources contain the
sources by examining the date, locale, creator, same message, the credibility of the message is
analysis, and integrity of the historical source. strongly increased
 Materials used in a source must match the time
and place whit it was produced.  The tendency of a source is its motivation for providing
some kind of bias. Tendencies should be minimized
or supplemented with opposite motivations.
 Internal Criticism – determine the credibility of the
source.
 If it can be demonstrated that the witness or source
 Studies the content of the source to know its has no direct interest in creating bias then the
truthfulness. credibility of the message is increased.
 Content must be reasonable and historically PROCEDURES TO EXAMINE
precise CONTRADICTORY SOURCES
 Rely on a data which is NOT supported by
evidence.  If the sources all agree about an event, historians
can consider the event proved;

 However, majority does not rule; even if most

sources relate events in one way, that version will
not prevail unless it passes the test of critical textual
analysis;

 The source whose account can be confirmed by

reference to outside authorities in some of its parts
can be trusted in its entirety if it is impossible similarly
to confirm the entire text;

 Code of Kalantiaw – introduced as written by Datu  When two sources disagree on a particular point, the
Kalantiaw of Negros in 1943 historian will prefer the source with most
 It was found out to be a hoax according to "authority" that is the source created by the expert or
William Henry Scott by the eyewitness;
 It was a forgery written by Jose E. Marco in
1913.  Eyewitnesses are, in general, to be preferred
especially in circumstances where the ordinary
PRINCIPLES OF SOURCE CRITICISM FOR observer could have accurately reported what
DETERINING RELIABILITY transpired and, more specifically, when they deal with
facts known by most contemporaries;
 Human sources may be relics such as a fingerprint; or
narratives such as a statement or a letter. Relics are  If two independently created sources agree on a
more credible sources than narratives. matter, the reliability of each is measurably
enhanced;
 Any given source may be forged or corrupted.
Strong indications of the originality of the source  When two sources disagree and there is no other
increase its reliability. means of evaluation. then historians take the source
which seems to accord best with common sense.
QUESTIONS THAT SHALL BE ASKED TO
 The closer a source is to the event which it purports
EVALUATE EYEWITESS OF PRIMARY SOURCES
to describe, the more one can trust it to give an
accurate historical description of what actually  Is the real meaning of the statement different from
happened. its literal meaning?

 How well could the author observe the thing he

 A primary source is more reliable than a secondary reports? Were his senses equal to the observation?
source, which is more reliable than a tertiary source,
and so on.  How did the author report and what was his ability to

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READINGS IN PH. HISTORY A.Y. 2022-2023 4

do so? maximum limit of 150 years, at least in cultures

 Regarding his ability to report, was he that excel in oral remembrance)
biased?  The critical spirit must have been sufficiently
developed while the tradition lasted, and the
 When did he report in relation to his necessary means of critical investigation must
observation? have been at hand.
 Critical-minded persons who would surely
 What was the author's intention in
have challenged the tradition – had they
reporting?
considered it false - must have made no such
 Are there additional clues to intended challenge.
veracity?
 Do his statements seem inherently improbable: e.g., LESSON 1.4: KINDS OF REPOSITORIES OF
contrary to human nature, or in conflict with what we PRIMARY RESOURCES.
know?
 Published Documents – those that are intended for
 Some types of information are easier to observe and public distribution.
report on than others.
 Newspapers, magazines, books, reports,
 Are there inner contradictions in the document? government documents, laws, court decisions,
literary works, posters, maps, and
QUESTIONS THAT SHALL BE ASKED TO advertisements.
EVALUATE INDIRECT EYEWITESS OR  It does not immediately mean that they are
SECONDARY SOURCES reliable
 From whose primacy testimony does the secondary
 Readers must comprehend not just the
witness base his statements?
substance of the document but also the
 Did the secondary witness accurately report the background of the author.
primary testimony as a whole?
 Unpublished Documents – documents such as
 If not, in what details did he accurately report the diaries, journals, letters, wills, and other personal
primary testimony?
papers.
CONDITIONS FOR ORAL TRADITIONS AS A
 May be difficult to locate as they are kept in
SOURCE OF HISTORY
private.
 Broad Conditions  These are confidential and are restricted from
public use like personal letters.
 The tradition should be supported by an
unbroken series of witnesses, reaching from
the immediate and first reporter of the fact to the  Oral Traditions – histories or stores transferred
living mediate witness from whom we take it through generations
from, or to the one who was the first to commit it  Oral histories, artworks, and artifacts.
to writing.  Come from people who have actually witnessed
 There should be several parallel and or experienced the past events.
independent series of witnesses testing to the  It is essential that their reliability is properly
fact in question. evaluated.

 Particular Conditions  Artworks and artifacts – These are visual documents

 The tradition must report a public event of that tell us several views of the past from the
importance, such as would necessarily be perspectives of creators.
known directly to a great number of persons.
 Drawings, Paintings, Sculptures, Photographs,
 The tradition must have been generally
believed, at least for definite period of time. and Artifacts
 During that definite period it must have gone
without protest, even from persons interested  National Archives of the Philippines – Organized
in denying it. under R.A 9470, passed on May 21, 2007
 The tradition must be one of relatively limited  Established to store, preserve, conserve, and
duration (Elsewhere, Garraghan suggests a make available to the public records, papers,

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READINGS IN PH. HISTORY A.Y. 2022-2023 5

periodicals, books, or other items selected for

permanent reservation.
 Materials may be in the form of electronic,
audio-visual, or print.
 NAP is holding about 60,000,000 archival
documents.
 Spanish Collection comprises an estimate of
13,000,000 manuscripts from the 16th to 19th
century with 400 titles on various aspects of
Philippine history
 Spanish Rule – royal decrees of Spanish
monarchs, reports of Spanish governors-
general.
 American and Japanese Occupation
Records – includes Philippine National Guard
records, civil service rosters, war trials
 Recent Records – notarial documents,
registers, civil service records, 1,000 cubic
meter of inactive records of national/local
governments

 National Library of the Philippines – repository of

the printed and recorded cultural heritage of the
country and other intellectual, literary, and information
sources.
 Established by a royal decree on August 12,
1887
 Named as the Museo-Biblieoteca de Filipinas.
 Its mission is to acquire, organize, conserve,
and preserve Filipiniana materials
 Provide equitable access to library resources.
 Has one of the largest collections of materials in
various forms in the country.
 It holds Rizal’s novels, including the unfinished
novels, and the Philippine Declaration of
Independence.

 National Museum of the Philippines – operates the

National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of
Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History,
National Planetarium, and other branch museums
around the country.
 Covers fine arts, archaeology, ethnography, and
natural history.

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