Readings in

Philippine
History
General Learning Objectives
• To understand the meaning of history as an academic
discipline and to be familiar with the underlying
philosophy and methodology of the discipline.

• To apply the knowledge in historical

methodology and philosophy in assessing
and analyzing exisiting historical narratives
General Learning Objectives

• To examine and assess critically the value of historical

evidences and sources.

• To appreciate the importance of history in

the social and national life in the Philippines.
 Main lesson objectives
Define what history is.
Determine the relevance of history to
mankind
Discuss the nature of the history
Identify the primary and secondary
sources in understanding the
Philippine History.
Analyze the context, content, and
perspective of different kinds of
primary sources.
Understanding History
Sociologists define history as the study of
life in society in the past,in its aspects, in
relation to present developments and future
hopes. It focuses on the story of a an in
time, an inquiry into the past based on the
valid evidences.
Understanding History
History informs the present generation of
events that happened on the past, when it
happened, and how it happened. It is an
inquiry into the inevitable changes in
human affairs in the past and the ways
these changes affect, influence or
determine the patterns of life in the society.
Understanding History
History is aimed at helping students to
understand the existing social, political,
religious and economic conditions of
people.
Understanding History
History explains the background of our
religion , customs, and traditions among
pthers.
 The term HISTORY was
derived from the Greek
word “historia” which
means inquiry of
knowledge acquired from
investigation.
 History is the study of the
past as it is prescribed in
written documents. It
provides the analysis and
interpretation of the human
past enabling us to study
continuity and changes that
take place over time.
Jacob Burckhardt Jawaharal Nehru
Henry Johnson History is the story of mans
struggle through the ages against
History is the record History, in its nature and the elements against
wild beast and the jungle and
of what one age broadest sense, is some of his own mnakinf who
finds worthy of note everything that ever have tried to keep him downand to
in another happened. exploithim fortheir own benefit
Nature of History
• History is the study of the present in the
light of the past.
2. History is the study of man.

3. History is concerned with man in time.

4. History is concerned with man in space.

5. History provides an objective record of
happenings.
Nature of History
6. History is multisided.
7. History is a dialogue between the events of
the past and progressively emerging future
ends.

8. History is not only narration but it also an

analysis.
9. Continuity and coherence are the necessary
requisites of history.
10.History is relevant.
11. History is comprehensive.
Relevance of History
• History helps us understand people and
societies.
• History contributes to moral understanding.

• History provides identity.

• Studying history is essential for good
citizenship.

• History is useful in the world of work.

 Primary Sources
Primary sources are defined as first-hand or present-day accounts of an
event or topic. These are original materials and are considered as the most
leading evidence of time or events that took place because they were
authored by witnesses when the event arose (Delozier, n. d). According to
UCI Libraries (n. d), primary sources allow researchers to get as close as
possible to what truly supervenes during a historical event or era. Archives,
manuscripts, photographs, audio and video recordings, films, journals,
published books, newspapers, magazines, government publications, artifacts
such as clothing, costumes and furniture, autobiographies, memoirs and oral
histories are various substantial precedents that were written, taken and
existed at that time. However, not all sources are credible and reliable,
especially during the era where disinformation is chronic. As per UPSTATE
Library (2022), there’s a need to evaluate sources to ensure trustworthiness
and eminence. Internal characteristics such as the intended audience,
purpose of the material, whether it is produced for propaganda and
viewpoint of the source stipulate whether it is suitable to use
History as an academic discipline heavily relies on primary
sources as evaluated by a community of scholars , who
report their findings in books, articles and papers. As one
historian says “ Primary sources are absolutely
fundamental to history.
Examples of primary sources
• autobiographies and memoirs
• diaries, personal letters and correspondences

• interviews, surveys, fieldwork

• photographs, drawings, posters
One of the leading sources of truth and evidence is photographs just like
this snapshot of the legendary peaceful revolution of EDSA
People Power onFebruary 22, 1986 captured by Pete Reyes. This
photograph showcased the heroic deeds and the unity of millions
of Filipinos from all walks of life including nuns who handed
out rosaries and flowers to the military personnels guarding the
Malacañang Palace with Main Battles Tanks (MBTs),to march along
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to put an end to the dictatorship of
the late President Ferdinand Marcos (Official Gazette, 2016). Based on
what can be seen in the photograph, people, alongside with thenuns, seem
to be chanting their outcry to the government
Spoliarium of Juan Luna (1884) as the second primary source of information(Google Arts and
Culture, n. d). This painting on a canvas where Luna spenteight months accomplishing it is an
artwork depicting dying gladiators. It wassubmitted to the Exposición Nacional de Bellas
Artes in 1884 in Madrid,where it earned its first gold medal award. The National Museum
appraises itas the largest painting in the Philippines with 4.22 meters x 7.675 metersmeasurements.
As seen from the naked eye, at the center of the paintingwere fallen gladiators being dragged by
Roman Soldiers. On its left werespectators watching from a distance waiting for the opportunity
to strip ofthe cold body, meanwhile, at the opposing side a depressing mood
wasdepicted with an old man carrying a torch seemingly searching for a relativeand a woman
agonizing over the death of her loved one. A deeper take ofthe significance of the oil on canvas
painting of the great Juan Luna is tosymbolize the anguish and countless loss of lives of the Filipino
people duringthe Spanish’s reign.
 The third primary source is the published book by the Philippines’ Nationalhero, Dr. Jose Rizal,
the El Filibusterismo or The Reign of Greed (Bernus andHermoso, n.d) . El filibusterismo
can be labeled a primary source ofinformation because it covers Philippine history
and how Rizal used hiswisdom to fight for Filipinos. He attempted to defend the Filipinos
againstforeign invaders who criticized them of being dumb and ignorant. Filipinosmay have
been dumbing at the time because foreigners ruled the countryand enslaved Filipinos in their
own country because of poverty and othercountries conquering the Philippines, the
Filipinos may have lackedinformation. It also focuses on how Filipinos were
treated by violent andaggressive government officials throughout the Spanish colonial period.
Theyenslaved his countrymen in their own country because they envisionedowning
the Philippines at the time. Spanish officials exert their power and willto frighten the Filipinos
into giving their country to the colonials. Reading thebook will provide you with a plethora of
data, including the history of thePhilippines and how some of the language and
phrases used in thePhilippines have been combined with Spanish
 The fourth primary source is an artifact displayed in the National Museum ofthe Philippines, the Manunggul
Jar. This jar is one of the numerous jars foundin a burial cave that was discovered by Victor Decalan, Hans
Kasten andother volunteer workers from the United States Peace Corps in March 1964.Manunggul, was part of
the archaeologically significant Tabon Cave Complexin Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan (Chua, 2022). As seen
in the display imageof a Manunggul Jar, its lid cover features a ship-of-the-dead figure
whichsymbolizes the journey of the deceased souls into the afterlife. It’s alsoobservable that the
figures of people in the boat were hugging their kneesclose to the chest which is a widespread practice of
indigenous people in theIslands when they are having memorial ceremonies. And a delicate pattern ofpottery is
displayed on the surface of the jar’s external characteristics. Oneof the remarkable strengths of artifacts is that
it showed the culture andtradition of our ancestors and it exhibits artistry of the early
Filipinosreflected in those fine lines and intricate designs. An obsolete sign thatFilipinos were
not as dumb as portrayed by the foreign invaders. TheManunggul jar also served as evidence of
our common heritage with ourAustronesian-speaking ancestors in spite of the diverse culture of
thePhilippines
 The fifth and last primary source is the La Solidaridad, a newspaper
createdand published in Spain on December 13, 1888 by the notable
heroines ofPhilippine History. The organization was composed of
liberal parties exiled in1872 and students from Europe
universities. This newspaper aimed toincrease awareness of
what’s really occurring in the colony of Spain andpropagate a
closer relationship between the two countries. The first issue ofLa
Solidaridad came out on February 15, 1889. It is defined as the
gatheringof libertarian ideals as they are expressed on a daily basis in
government,research, artistry, poetry, business, farming, and industrial.
La Solidaridad ythe Propaganda Movement gave birth to this
organization.
 Different Kinds of Primary sources

Literary or Cultural
Sources Information about people
• Novels, plays, •
poems census records
• Television shoes, • obituaries
movies, videos • newspapers articles
• Paintings and • Bio and
photographs autobiographies
Accounts that describe events, Finding info about a place
people or ideas • maps and atlases
•
•
Newspapers • census info
•
Chronicles or historical accounts
essays and speeches • statistics
•
•
journals and letters
Philosophical treatises or manifestors • photographs
• city directories
• local libraries or
historical societies
• archives
3 types of written sources
• Narrative or Literary
sources
2. Diplomatic sources

3. Social Documents
Secondary Sources
Generally describe, discuss, interpret, comment
upon, analyze, evaluate, summarize, process
primary sources. These can be articles in
newspapers or popular magazines., book, movie
reviews, or articles found in scholarly journals
that discuss or evaluate someones else original
research.
 History if lifeless to those remain
ignorant of it. Hence, history helps us
to foretell, appreciate, and enlighten is
to the present.