READINGS IN PHILIPPINE
HISTORY
Focus
-to develop historiographical
skills connected to context and
content analysis, applying both
analytical strategies in themes
and topics across the Philippine
past.
(reading, analyzing,
interpreting)
ORIGIN
- From the Greek word “historia”, which means
inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation”
- Has been existing for 2,400 years and is as old
as mathematics and philosophy
MEANINGS:
- Is the study of the past of a person of group of
people through written documents and historical
evidences.
- Focuses on the lives of prominent personalities
such as kings, saints and heroes
- Also interested on writing about wars,
revolutions and other important events.
HERODOTUS
was a Greek historian who was
born in the Persian Empire (now
asTurkey) and lived in the fifth
century BC
He is often referred to as "The
Father of History", because he
used scientific method and
systematically arranged facts and
collected materials
Herodotus’ classical work, The
Histories, serves as a record of the
ancient traditions, politics,
geography, and clashes of various
cultures that were known in
Western Asia, Northern Africa and
Greece at that time
Herodotus claims to have traveled extensively around the
ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for
his book, almost all of which covers territories of the Persian
Empire.
TRADITIONAL HISTORIANS
believed in the philosophical idea of
POSITIVISM.
POSITIVISM- requires empirical (scientific
method) and observable evidence before one can
claim that a particular knowledge is true.
Therefore, traditional
historians live by the
mantra
“NO DOCUMENT, NO HISTORY”
(historians need to present written
documents to support their historical
findings)
However, as an academic discipline, history
progressed and was open to validate historical facts
beyond written records.
SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORY
States use history to unite a nation (used to
forge collective identity and create a sense of
oneness)
it allows us to understand our past, which in
turn allows to understand our present. If we
want to know how and why our world is the
way it is today, we have to look to history for
answers.
SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORY
We learn from the past and its mistakes so people will
not repeat them again.
can provide us with insight
into our cultures of origin as
well as cultures with which we
might be less familiar, thereby
increasing cross-cultural
awareness and understanding.
It can be used for a particular purpose or
audience
Example:
Jose Rizal and Pedro Paterno wrote history
of the pre-colonial people to point out to the
Spaniards that Filipinos were already
civilized and have their own culture even
before the Spaniards came.
4 Steps in Historical Research
1. defining the problem or hypothesis to be investigated
2. searching for relevant source material;
3. summarizing and evaluating the sources the researcher is
able to locate;
4. interpreting the evidence obtained and then drawing
conclusions about the problem or hypothesis.
HISTORICAL SOURCES
2 classifications of sources:
1. Primary
- those that were produced at the same time as the
event, period or subject being studied.
Examples:
Minutes of meeting during the Tejeros Convention
The Tejeros Convention was the meeting held
between the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions
of the Katipunan at San Francisco de Malabon,
Cavite on March 22, 1897. These are the first
presidential and vice presidential elections in
Philippine history.
Letters (such letters of Dr. Jose
Rizal to his family)
Artifacts
Memorabilia and autobiography
written by historical
personalities themselves
2. Secondary Sources
are sources produced or
written by authors who used
primary sources (which can
be subjected to the author’s
own interpretation and
opinion)
Historians’ job and
characteristics:
1. To seek not only historical evidences
and facts but must also be able to
interpret them
(facts cannot speak for themselves)
2. Must be credible (academically and professionally)
3. Requires rigor (uses scientific menthods)
4. Should have passion, focus and never stop seeking for truth and
evidences
Both primary and secondary sources are
useful in reading, learning and
understanding history. However, one should
carefully scrutinize these sources to avoid
fallacy and deception.
Both primary and secondary sources are
useful in reading, learning and
understanding history. However, one should
carefully scrutinize these sources to avoid
fallacy and deception.
2 Types of Content Evaluation
1. External criticism (physical)
- refers to the genuineness of the documents a
researcher uses in a historical study by studying the
historical characteristics of the time when it was
produced, and the materials used for the evidence.
Examples:
Type of paper used in the
historical writing evidence
Quality and type of ink
Languages/words used in the material
Ex: antipara (eyeglasses)
abaniko (pamaypay)
panghimagas (desserts)
bumbilya (wala pang kuryente nung panahon ng
Kastila)
2. Internal criticism
- also called “higher criticism” because it examines the
truthfulness and accuracy of the evidence by looking at
the author or source of information, its context, agenda,
knowledge which informed it, and its intended purpose
Examples:
1. Journals, news report and even memoirs are not
necessary historically truthful and could contain lies.
2. Code of Kalantiaw- rules set by certain Datu Kalantiaw
which was even sold to the National Library and regarded
as an important pre-colonial document, until in 1968 it
was founded to be a hoax.
Therefore, it is important that when we read facts and
information, we should not take them as they were
presented to us, We must also learn to analyze, intepret
and discern their truthfulness and authenticity.