Readings in

Philippine History
“What is History?
Understanding Its
Nature, Sources, and
Issues”
ek 1
We
 Introduce
Begin with a quick question to activate prior knowledge:

“Where do we usually learn about the past?”

Stories from elders Museums and
historical sites School lessons
and or parents

Social media and

Books and textbooks Other sources
online articles

Movies and Photographs, diaries,

documentaries letters

(Reviewing Previous Lesson or Presenting the New Lesson) Jens Martensson 4

 Introduce

“Some of the ways we learn about history include folk stories

passed down through generations, information found in textbooks,
family heirlooms or stories, and even online content. But have you
ever thought about which of these we can actually trust as
evidence?”

“Today, we’ll explore how historians decide which sources are

reliable, and how they evaluate a source’s credibility, authenticity,
and origin.”

(Reviewing Previous Lesson or Presenting the New Lesson) Jens Martensson 5

 Need
“How do we know if a historical source is
trustworthy and useful for historians?”
"A historical source is trustworthy and useful if it is accurate,
comes from someone who witnessed the event, has not been
changed or faked, and can be traced to its original origin."

(Establishing a Purpose for the Lesson) Jens Martensson 4

 Showcase
Source A: A scanned page
from a soldier’s personal
diary written during World
War II.

Source B: A recent
newspaper article
summarizing the events
described in the same diary.

“Which of these do you think is the primary

source? Why?”
(Presenting Examples/Instances of the Lesson) Jens Martensson 5
 Teach

Define History and Its Etymology

• Definition: History is the study of past events, particularly how

they affect people, societies, and cultures.

• Etymology: The word history comes from the Greek word

“historia,” which means “inquiry” or “knowledge acquired through
investigation.”

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #1) Jens Martensson 6
 Teach

Clarification:

History is not just the past itself—it is our interpretation and

investigation of the past based on evidence.

The past is what actually happened; history is how we study and

understand what happened.

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #1) Jens Martensson 7
 Teach

Key Questions and Issues in History

• “What really happened?” - Asks about the actual events based on evidence and facts, not just opinions or stories.

• “What is the truth?” - Seeks to understand the most accurate and fair version of the past, even if it's complex.

• “Whose story is being told?” - Questions whose voice or perspective is being shared—who is speaking and who
is being left out.

• “What sources are being used?” - Looks at the evidence—documents, photos, artifacts, testimonies—that
support the story.

• “Can history be objective or is it always influenced by

perspective?” - Explores whether history can be completely neutral, or if it’s shaped by the beliefs and views of those who write it.

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #1) Jens Martensson 8
 Teach

Activity Tip: Write these questions on the board or show them in a

slide and ask students to reflect:

“Have you ever heard two different stories about the same event?
Why do you think that happens in history too?”

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #1) Jens Martensson 9
 Teach

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #1) Jens Martensson 10
 Reinforce

Differentiate Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary Sources Secondary Sources
Firsthand evidence or original
Interpretations, summaries, or analyses
records created at the time of the
based on primary sources
event
Examples: letters, diaries,
Examples: textbooks, articles,
photographs, official documents,
documentaries, biographies
eyewitness accounts
Created by people who experienced Created by people who did not witness
the event the event directly

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #2) Jens Martensson 11
 Reinforce

Tip for students:

If the person was there, it’s likely
primary. If the person is reporting
what happened, it’s secondary.

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #2) Jens Martensson 12
 Reinforce
Emphasize the 3 Key Elements When Evaluating Sources
Element Definition Questions to Ask
Can the author or Who wrote this? Are they
Credibility
creator be trusted? biased or knowledgeable?
Is the source real, Is it a genuine document? Is
Authenticity
original, or fake? it edited or manipulated?
Where did the source
What is the source's origin?
Provenance come from and how
How has it been preserved?
did it survive?

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #2) Jens Martensson 13
 Reinforce
Activity Prompt: Show a photo or sample document and
ask students to analyze it using these 3 elements.

•Authenticity: Is the photo edited or

original? Is it from a reliable archive?
•Provenance: Where was the photo first
published or stored? What is its history?
•Credibility: Who took the photo? Was it a
journalist, protester, or government official?

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #2) Jens Martensson 14
 Reinforce
Activity Prompt: Show a photo or sample document and
ask students to analyze it using these 3 elements.

•Credibility: Was the letter written by a

real Katipunan member or leader?
•Authenticity: Is it a verified copy or a
reproduction?
•Provenance: Where was it found?
Who preserved or published it?

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #2) Jens Martensson 15
 Reinforce
Activity Prompt: Show a photo or sample document and
ask students to analyze it using these 3 elements.

Credibility: Is the article written by a reputable

journalist or newspaper?
Authenticity: Is the clipping from the original
newspaper or a reprint?
Provenance: Which library, archive, or collection
did it come from?

(Discussing New Concepts and Practicing New Skills #2) Jens Martensson 16
 Think

(Making Generalizations and Abstractions) Jens Martensson 17

 Inspect
Source Analysis Table
No. Primary / Credible? Provenance Brief Explanation
Secondary Clear?
1. A handwritten letter from a Filipino soldier during Primary Yes Yes Original handwritten letter from WWII,
World War II, preserved in the National Library. preserved in a trusted archive (National
Library).
2. A textbook summary of the Philippine-American Secondary Yes Yes A textbook is a secondary source that
War published in 2020. interprets past events, and recent
publication indicates updated research.
3. A social media post claiming a new discovery No No Social media post with no sources is
about Jose Rizal, with no sources cited. Secondary not credible and has unclear origins or
verification.
4. An official birth certificate of President Manuel L. Yes Yes Official document from the PSA, issued
Quezon, issued in 1878, archived by the Philippine Primary at the time of birth—verified and
Statistics Authority. reliable.
5. A YouTube video explaining the Katipunan using Secondary Yes (with No Educational video using reenactments
reenactments and actor voiceovers. caution) is a secondary source; credibility
depends on the producer, but
provenance is not clear.

(Evaluating Learning) Jens Martensson 18

 Inspect
Source Analysis Table
No. Primary / Credible? Provenance Brief Explanation
Secondary Clear?
6. A newspaper clipping from 1896 reporting on Andres Primary Yes Yes A historical newspaper from 1896 is
Bonifacio's trial. a firsthand account, assuming it is
preserved and verified.
7. A modern research article that uses primary documents to Yes Yes Scholarly analysis using primary
analyze the Marcos dictatorship, written by a university Secondary sources by an expert makes it
professor. credible and well-documented.
8. A painting of a Spanish priest baptizing an indigenous Secondary Yes (as art) Yes A painting from 2005 is an
Filipino, created in 2005 for an exhibit. interpretation of the past, not an
original artifact, but provenance is
likely documented through the
exhibit.
9. A photocopy of Emilio Aguinaldo’s proclamation of No (uncertain) No A photocopy is not the original and
Philippine independence, with an unknown date of Primary (Copy) lacks clear reproduction date,
reproduction. reducing its reliability.
10. An online encyclopedia entry on the EDSA People No / Partially NO Written by anonymous contributors;
Power Revolution, citing multiple sources but written by Secondary even with sources, lack of author
anonymous contributors. accountability weakens credibility
and provenance.

(Evaluating Learning) Jens Martensson 19