COURSE LEARNING PACKETS TEMPLATE Document Code FM-STL-014

Saint Louis University Revision No. 01

School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts Effectivity August 15, 2022
Page 1 of 3

MODULE 1: Analysis of Primary Sources

The picture to the left is an artifact popularly known as the

Laguna Copperplate Inscription. It was dated 900 CE (as
inscribed) and is the earliest known written document in
Philippine History. Decoded by Dutch anthropologist
Antoon Postma in 1992, the inscription written in Kawi
script tells of a cancellation of debt.

As a side note, the picture on the cover of this module is

the Golden Tara or the Agusan image found in 1917at
Agusan del Sur. It is a 21 karat gold statuette dating
between the 9th and 10th centuries. It is currently housed
in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

Unit 1: Historical Method: Typologies and Repositories of Primary and Secondary

Sources; Internal and External Criticism

At the end of this unit, the students must be able to:

Define the meaning and relevance of history and differentiate between primary and
secondary sources; written and unwritten sources; external and internal analysis.

Engage

Complete the following sentences:

1. History is ___________________________________________________________________________

2. Studying History is important because _______________________________________________

3. Historical sources come from _______________________________________________________

Property of and for the exclusive use of SLU. Reproduction, storing in a retrieval system, distributing, uploading or posting online, or transmitting in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise of any part of this document, without the prior written permission of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 1
 COURSE LEARNING PACKETS TEMPLATE Document Code FM-STL-014
Saint Louis University Revision No. 01
School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts Effectivity August 15, 2022
Page 2 of 3

Explore

The following are examples of historical sources. Try to identify whether they are primary
or secondary sources. Put a check mark on the corresponding column.

Source Primary Secondary

1. Relics

2. Autobiography

3. Biography

4. Book review

5. Diary

6. Encyclopedia

7. History Book

8. Journal Article

9. Oral history

10. Recording

Explain
History simply put is the study of past events. However, it can be stated that the relevance
of studying history goes beyond simple and is not confined within the said discipline, albeit,
its importance is viewed in the light of providing significant information as to how present-
day challenges in various areas of human experience may be addressed. For instance,
study of history in the context of medicine aids in providing information about trends in
diseases, illnesses, and their treatments; what went wrong and what worked. History has
also aided engineering and architecture with information on the progress of building
structures given a specific natural and social context. The list for outlining the practical uses
of history in other domains goes on and so we delve on a different kind of purpose, that of
studying history for nation building.

Historians Renato Constantino and Fr. John N. Schumacher, SJ each have articulated a
need for rewriting history, particularly a people’s history. Renato Constantino wrote his
book with the objective of writing a history that comes from the point of view of the Filipinos,
especially the grassroots. The essay of John Schumacher on the other hand, examines that
contention of Renato Constantino. Schumacher agreed on the point of writing a people’s
history but for him, he believes that other lenses or frameworks be used in studying history.

Property of and for the exclusive use of SLU. Reproduction, storing in a retrieval system, distributing, uploading or posting online, or transmitting in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise of any part of this document, without the prior written permission of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 2
 COURSE LEARNING PACKETS TEMPLATE Document Code FM-STL-014
Saint Louis University Revision No. 01
School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts Effectivity August 15, 2022
Page 3 of 3

Indeed, the major lapse of our nation’s history is the heavy influence of American colonial
historiography and the Hispanocentric stance of historical resources. These produced a
Philippine History that focused on the Spanish Rule, the Revolutionary period, and the
American colonial era. In this area even, there were misrepresentations as according to
Schumacher as the responses coming from different provinces were not represented.
There is also a heavy historical discourse on the deeds of our recognized heroes but
Constantino takes a precarious stance toward this arguing that the so-called historical
deeds lacked critical evaluation.

And so, the task at hand is to revisit our history with the objective of clarifying
misconceptions, correcting misrepresentations, focusing on the collective struggles of the
people and showing the Filipino as also the primary agents of history.

To enrich the learning of history at present, a different approach is presented, one that
engages the learner with history itself to be able to examine the sources of history with
critical eyes and be able to connect an event and to its context.

Elaborate
This course as aforementioned provides a learning experience of history where you
the learners are faced with the historical documents with which you can make objective
analyses and interpretations that are context appropriate. But to reiterate, the kind of
historical sources that will be studied are primary ones.

Simply put, historical sources may be classified as either primary or secondary.

Primary sources are first hand or direct evidences to an event. These sources were made
specifically during the time period being examined. They can be eyewitness accounts,
records, photographs, original documents to name a few. Secondary sources on the other
hand are already interpretations of the primary source. Examples include journal articles,
textbooks, and the like.

Historical sources may also be written and unwritten. Written sources include literary
works, diplomatic or legal documents, and social documents. Unwritten sources pertain to
artifacts and oral testimonies. Now that you have an idea about these, let us test your
understanding.

References:
Constantino, R. (1974), A Past Revisited (Pre-Spanish-1941), pp. 3-11
Schumacher, J. N. (1996). The Making of a Nation, Essays on Nineteenth-Century Filipino
Nationalism. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila Press pp.7-15

Property of and for the exclusive use of SLU. Reproduction, storing in a retrieval system, distributing, uploading or posting online, or transmitting in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise of any part of this document, without the prior written permission of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 3