1.

1 Meaning and Relevance of History “things were always aspects of human

this way.” society.
Hello students! Welcome to GEC 002 Readings In
Philippine History. I know that you are both excited
and curious about this course and so am I. To start • Non-historians often
off, I want to ask a question: Why is studying history romanticize the past • History is exclusively
important? Or what is the importance of history to us and speak of the as a story of
“good old days” progress with
from the past to the future?
when they believe everything
We all know that as a learner or student, history that things were constantly
means boring or very hard to study. History contains generally better than improving.
a lot of years, names, and such to memorize when at present.
the examination is getting nearer. But what you did
not know is that HISTORY helps us develop a better • Non-historians derive
• Historians know that
understanding of the world. It helps us understand information mainly
all sources, even
other people and makes us good decision-makers from television,
those original to a
from learning from our past to create a brighter movies, and the
particular historical
future for ourselves. internet as well as
time period, have
some books or
some
I assume you are ready to embark on this whole new magazines. They
biases, omissions,
different learning journey. I believe you can make it generally accept any
contradictions, or
through this whole new change in our lives. Once sources uncritically
various other
again, welcome in GEC 002 Readings in Philippine as long as the source
limitations.
History. May your dreams become your present. is interesting.
Enjoy!
• Historians read
• Non-historians read
books or watch
books or watch
documentaries go to
What is History? documentaries of
archives in search
their choice.
Before we start discussing what is history, as well as of original records.
the importance and relevance of knowing what
history is, it's good for you to take this formative • Historians know that
assessment via Kahoot! first. Click on the icon of • Non-historians
the philosophy and
assume that
Kahoot (Links to an external site.) below, input the methodology of
historians have
Game PIN 03076295 to take the quiz and have fun! history have
always approached
changed over time
The best way to know what history is is to consult history the same
and will keep
what historians, experts in the study of history say way.
changing.
about history. Then, let's contrast it with what non-
historians say about it. Let's begin:
• Historians tend to
focus more on the
• Non-historians often specific, detailed
What is and what is not history? make broad developments that
generalizations about underpin the
History to Historians and Non-Historians people, ideas, events, generalizations, and
Non-Historians Historians or time periods in sometimes question
• Non-historians often • History is the study history. or reject the
say that “history of change over time, generalizations
repeats itself” or that and it covers all themselves.
 • Historians have
• Non-historians may
various ways of
assume that time
organizing history
periods are fixed and
thematically and
absolute.
chronologically.
Meaning and relevance of history
History was derived from the Greek
word historia which means "knowledge acquired
through inquiry or investigation." Historia became
known as the account of the past of a person or of
group of people through written documents and
historical evidences.
History is the study of the past. Events occurring
before the invention of writing systems are
considered prehistory. History is an umbrella
term that relates to past events as well as the
memory, discovery, collection, organization,
presentation, and interpretation of information about
these events.
Scholars who focus on
history are
called historians. The
historian's role is to place
the past in context, using
sources from moments and
events, and filling in the
gaps to the best of their
ability. Written documents
are not the only sources
historians use to develop their understanding of the
past. They also use material objects, oral accounts,
ecological markers, art, and artifacts as historical
sources.
History also includes the academic discipline. which
uses narrative to describe, examine, question, and
analyze a sequence of past events, investigate the
patterns of cause and effect that are related to them.
Historians seek to understand and represent the past
through narratives. They often debate which
narrative best explains an event, as well as the
significance of different causes and effects. Historians
also debate the nature of history and its usefulness
by discussing the study of the discipline as an end in
itself and as a way of providing "perspective" on the
problems of the present.
Stories common to a particular culture, but not
supported by external sources (such as the tales
surrounding King Arthur), are usually classified
as cultural heritage or legends. History differs from
myth in that it is supported by evidence. However,
ancient influences have helped spawn variant
interpretations of the nature of history which have
evolved over the centuries and continue to change
today. The modern study of history is wide-ranging,
and includes the study of specific regions and the
study of certain topical or thematic elements of
historical investigation. History is often taught as part
of primary and secondary education, and the
academic study of history is a major discipline in
university studies.
Herodutus, a 5th-
century BC Greek
historian (pictured
above) is often
considered (within
the Western
tradition) to be the
"Father of history,"
or, by some, the
"Father of lies." Along with his contemporary
historian Thucydides (pictured on the right), he
helped form the foundations for the modern study of
human history. Their works continue to be read
today, and the gap between the culture-focused
Herodotus and the military-focused Thucydides
remains a point of contention or approach in modern
historical writing.
History is and should be a science ... History is not the
accumulation of events of every kind which
happened in the past. It is the science of human
societies.
No historian can be 100% objective, but historians
try to recognize their own limitations and biases.
Historians try not to place the values, beliefs,
behaviors, and attitudes of the present onto the
topics they study. Historians try to understand their
topics in the context of how and why people of that
era thought and behaved, and not how people think
and act today.
Many different interpretations of all historical topics
exist. Historians must work to recognize the
difference between facts and interpretations in their
field. Historiography refers to the study of history,
philosophy, and methodology of history. Historians
must be familiar with the historiography of their
particular area of study.
Now, at least we are able to clear some
misconceptions about history. Please bear in mind
that history is also a scientific field of study that
involves a lot of critical thinking, analysis, statistics,
and more. Don't fall into the traps of pseudo-
historians who profess to be historians proliferating
in the social media, okay?
Importance of History
The slogan of the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines Institute (formerly National Historical
Institute) in their official website that
reads: "A Filipino society with citizens informed of
their history, who love their country and are proud of
their cultural heritage" speaks volumes emphasizing
how important it is for you to know history. So, do
not be wondering why you are here in the collegiate
level enrolling in this Readings in Philippine History,
okay?
For our academic discussion, the following are the
reasons why we study history, courtesy of Peter N.
Stearns (1998) of American Historical Association:
1. History Helps Us Understand People and
Societies. In the first place, history offers a
storehouse of information about how people
and societies behave. Understanding the
operations of people and societies is difficult,
though a number of disciplines make the
attempt. An exclusive reliance on current data
would needlessly handicap our efforts. How can
we evaluate war if the nation is at peace—unless
we use historical materials? How can we
understand genius, the influence of
technological innovation, or the role that beliefs
play in shaping family life, if we don't use what
we know about experiences in the past? Some
social scientists attempt to formulate laws or
theories about human behavior using history as
one of their bases.
2. History Helps Us Understand Change and How
the Society We Live in Came to Be. The second
reason history is inescapable as a subject of
serious study follows closely on the first. The
past causes the present, and so the future. Any
time we try to know why something happened—
whether a shift in political party dominance in
the Philippines, a major change in the teenage
suicide rate, or a conflict in the Cordilleras or the
siege of Zamboanga and Marawi—we have to
look for factors that took shape earlier.
3. History is Important in Our Own Lives. History
well told is beautiful. Many of the historians who
most appeal to the general reading public know
the importance of dramatic and skillful writing—
as well as of accuracy. Biography and military
history appeal in part because of the tales they
contain. History as art and entertainment serves
a real purpose, on aesthetic grounds but also on
the level of human understanding.
4. History Contributes to Moral
Understanding. History also provides a terrain for
moral contemplation. Studying the stories of
individuals and situations in the past allows a
student of history to test his or her own moral
sense, to hone it against some of the real
complexities individuals have faced in difficult
settings. People who have weathered adversity
not just in some work of fiction, but in real,
historical circumstances can provide inspiration.
5. History Provides Identity. History also helps
provide identity, and this is unquestionably one
of the reasons all modern nations encourage its
teaching in some form. Historical data include
evidence about how families, groups, institutions
and whole countries were formed and about
how they have evolved while retaining cohesion.
6. Studying History Is Essential for Good
Citizenship. A study of history is essential for
good citizenship. This is the most common
justification for the place of history in school
curricula. Sometimes advocates of citizenship
history hope merely to promote national identity
and loyalty through a history spiced by vivid
 stories and lessons in individual success and
morality.
7. History Develops in the Students the Ability to
Assess Evidence.The study of history builds
experience in dealing with and assessing various
kinds of evidence—the sorts of evidence
historians use in shaping the most accurate
pictures of the past that they can. Learning how
to interpret the statements of past political
leaders—one kind of evidence—helps form the
capacity to distinguish between the objective
and the self-serving among statements made by
present-day political leaders.
8. History Develops in the Students the Ability to
Assess Conflicting Interpretations. Learning
history means gaining some skill in sorting
through diverse, often conflicting
interpretations. Understanding how societies
work—the central goal of historical study—is
inherently imprecise, and the same certainly
holds true for understanding what is going on in
the present day.
9. History Is Useful in Your Career and in the World
of Work. History is useful for work. Its study
helps create good business people,
professionals, and political leaders. The number
of explicit professional jobs for historians is
considerable, but most people who study history
do not become professional historians. Rather, it
the professionals from various fields become
later on historians by building on the concrete
foundation of historiography during the
academic preparation as what you are doing
right now.
1.2 The Historical Sources
When the news on the discovery of the discovery of
fossilized remains of a rhinoceros (Rhinoceros
philippinensis) in Kalinga province erupted, the local
and world news heralded a change on how world
history is to be viewed. Such discovery has a
tremendous impact not only in the academic world
but also in the greater society due to its historical,
anthropological, societal, as well as economic, to
name a few. Undoubtedly, historians have to rewrite
their pages of history in order to accommodate this
primary source of history. This is our topic, the
historical sources.
The remains of a butchered rhino.
What is Historical Source?
Any leftover of the past can be considered a source. It
might well be a document, and we often think of
history as a textual discipline, based on the
interpretation of written texts, but it might also be a
building, a piece of art or an ephemeral object – a
train ticket, say, or perhaps a pair of shoes. These are
all 'sources' because they all provide us in different
ways with information which can add to the sum of
our knowledge of the past.
Sources only become historical evidence, however,
when they are interpreted by the historian to make
sense of the past. In the case of the Kalinga rhinos, it
would just be a piece of debris during the excavation
process that would be dumped elsewhere had it not
preserved, analyzed, and reported by the experts.
It all depends on what the historian wants to know.
This is why it makes little sense to ask if something is
'good historical evidence', without knowing what
evidence it's supposed to provide. For us, students of
history, we need to classify these historical sources so
we know their historical value.
Primary and secondary sources
With the past as history's subject matter, the
historian's most important research tools are
historical sources. In general, historical sources can
be classified between primary and secondary
sources. The classification of sources depends on the
historical subject being studied.
1. Primary sources are those produced at the same
time as the event, period, or subject being
studied. For example, if a historian wishes to
study the Commonwealth Constitution
Convention of 1935, his primary sources can
include the minutes of the convention,
newspaper clippings, Philippine commission
reports of the U.S. representatives, among
others. Other examples of primary sources
include:
o Autobiographies and memoirs
o Diaries, personal letters, and
correspondence
o Interviews, surveys, and fieldwork
o Internet communications on email, blogs,
listservs, and newsgroups
o Photographs, drawings, and posters
o Works of art and literature
o Books, magazine and newspaper articles
and ads published at the time
o Public opinion polls
o Speeches and oral histories
o Original documents (birth certificates,
property deeds, trial transcripts)
o Research data, such as census statistics
o Official and unofficial records of
organizations and government agencies
o Artifacts of all kinds, such as tools, coins,
clothing, furniture, etc.
o Audio recordings, DVDs, and
video recordings
o Government documents (reports, bills,
proclamations, hearings, etc.)
o Patents
o Technical reports
o Scientific journal articles reporting
experimental research results
2. On the other hand secondary sources are
those which are produced by an author who
used primary sources to produce the material.
For example, on the subject of the Philippine
Revolution of 1896 students can read Teodoro
Agoncillo's Revolt of the Masses: The Story of
Bonifacio and the Katipunan published originally
in 1956. Other examples of secondary source
include:
o Bibliographies
o Biographical works
o Reference books, including dictionaries,
encyclopedias, and atlases
o Articles from magazines, journals, and
newspapers after the event
o Literature reviews and review articles (e.g.,
movie reviews, book reviews)
o History books and other popular or scholarly
books
o Works of criticism and interpretation
o Commentaries and treatises
o Textbooks
o Indexes and abstracts
1.3 Criticism of Historical Sources
Hello my dear students! This topic will teach you how
to criticize a historical source. In this time and age of
proliferation of fake news, this skill is very much
indispensable. So, join me now and let us begin to
learn how to criticize a historical source and see
whether these are historically accurate or not. Here
we go!
Historical studies on the meaning of past events in an
attempt to interpret the facts and explain the cause
of events, and their effect in the present events. In
doing so, historians rely heavily on primary historical
data (direct accounts of events, archival data - official
documents, personal records, and records of
eyewitnesses) and less frequently on secondary
historical data (information from persons who didn’t
witness the event; e.g. textbooks, newspapers,
encyclopedias).
Although the Greek historian Herodotus was
acknowledged as the "Father of History", it was
Thucydides (photo on the right, courtesy of
Wikimedia Commons), an ancient Greek historian, is
the pioneer of historical criticism of historical data.
Hence, he was acclaimed as the "Father of Scientific
History" due to his splendid work on "The History of
Peloponnesian Wars."
When we read a piece of historical work, we have to
be critical and discerning. We may utilize criticism of
historical data as explained below.
Criticism of Historical Sources
The historian should be able to conduct an external
and internal criticism of the source, specially the
primary sources which can age in centuries.
Evaluation of historical data and information is often
referred to as historical criticism and the reliable data
yielded by the process are known as historical
evidence. Historical evidence is derived from
historical data by the process of criticism, which is of
two types: external and internal criticism.
External criticism is the practice of verifying the
authenticity of evidence by examining its physical
characteristics of the time when it was produced; and
the materials used for the evidence.
Here, evidence is examined based on physical
characteristics like materials used for the evidence,
the structure, layout and the design are scrutinized
also.
Involves finding out if the sources material is genuine
and if passes textual integrity. External criticism in
historical research evaluates the validity of the
document this is,where and by whom it was
produced.
Internal criticism, on the other hand, is the
examination of the truthfulness of the evidence.
It looks at the truthfulness and factuality of the
evidence by looking at the author of the source and
its context.
Internal criticism evaluates the meaning accuracy and
truth worthiness of the content of document.
Internal criticism concerned with the accuracy and
meaning of the data contained in the document.
How to Criticize a Historical Source
In the advent of social media as a very ubiquitous
platform of airing self-expressions and views, it is
your job, as student-historians, to evaluate and
criticize the historicity of these posts / websites /
blogs and even YouTube videos proliferating around.
This task requires you criticize and evaluate historical
website and any other website which publishes
events in history with their accompanying
interpretations, explanations, assumptions, and even
predictions.
Criteria in Analyzing a Historical Source
Criteria Things to evaluate/analyze
• The historical event posted and
accompanying interpretation is
accurate and verifiable
• Make sure author provides e-mail or
Accuracy
a contact address/phone number.
• Know the distinction between
author and Webmaster.
• What credentials are listed for the
authors? Are they educated to be or
trained in historiography?
Authority
• Where is the document published
and verified?
• Determine if page is a mask for
advertising; if so information might
be biased.
• View any Web page as you would an
infomercial on television. Ask
Objectivity yourself why was this written and
for whom?
• Check if there are monetary matters
or motivation behind the motive of
posting
• Is the post current or latest?
• When was it produced? When was it
Currency
updated'
• Is it free or is there a fee, to obtain
the information?
• Is there an option for text only, or
Coverage
frames, or a suggested browser for
better viewing?
1.4 Historical Context and Analysis
Welcome to this topic on Historical analysis! After
knowing the meaning and relevance of history, we
have actually answered the question "what?" in
history. It is now time for us dig into the question
"why?" and at the same time, learn the surrounding
circumstances or sort of the "history of the history".
Sounds interesting, right?
So, let us begin by learning first what is historical
context.
Historical Context
Historical context is an important part of life and
literature, and without it, memories, stories, and
characters have less meaning. Historical context deals
with the details that surround an occurrence. In more
technical terms, historical context refers to the social,
religious, economic, and political conditions that
existed during a certain time and place. Basically, it's
all the details of the time and place in which a
situation occurs, and those details are what enable us
to interpret and analyze works or events of the past,
or even the future, rather than merely judge them by
contemporary standards (Fleming, 2019).
Historical context is the social, political, cultural,
economic, and environmental situations that
influence the events or trends we see happen during
that time. Therefore, if we are unfamiliar with the
traditions, culture, thinking, or events happening at
any time in history, we could misinterpret or lose the
meaning of a piece of writing we are reading.
Therefore, in order to fully understand a source, you
must place it within the context of the time period in
which it was produced. This process is called
contextualizing. Contextualizing a historical source
involves paying attention to the people who
produced it, the time in which they worked, what was
going on during that time, and how what was going
on may have influenced the production of the source.
It also involves understanding how the source's
language, concepts, and terms were used within that
historical context, since meanings change over time.
In short, contextualizing a source increases a writer's
credibility since it demonstrates the writer’s
willingness to understand the source and its time
period on its own terms.
Why is Context Important?
The word “context” has a pretty large and abstract
definition. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary,
context is “the parts of a discourse that surround a
word or passage and can throw light on its meaning"
(2020). It is abstract because this definition implies
that “context” can be anything providing meaning. It
can take any shape or form as long as it clarifies what
one is trying to say. Context adds specificity to your
reading of historical events and directs the your
attention to a particular train of thought.
Thus avoiding, to a certain extent, unwanted
interpretation (Samson, 2019). Maybe that is why,
Gary Vaynerchuck said that: "Content is king, but
context is God!" It is like looking at a wider range of
visible horizon, not just looking through a tunnel.
In summary, context is information that helps the
message of a history text make sense. Whether it’s a
novel, a memoir, or a collection of short stories, a
piece of writing can be interpreted variably
depending on the contextual factors provided by the
author. Some context is obviously stated and some
requires a close reading of the history work—so it’s
important for every student of history to know what
context is and how to use it in their readings of
Philippine history.
1.5 Historical Analysis of Pigafetta's Account of
Magellan's Arrival in the Philippines
Now that you know what is historical context and its
importance in your readings of Philippine history, it is
now time for you to do analysis of a sample historical
event in Philippine history. For this activity, we will
use a sample of historical account of Antonio
Pigafetta's "The First Voyage around the World
(1519-1522): An Account of Magellan's Expedition"
which is pictured below:
This document reveals several insights not just in the
character of the Philippines during pre-colonial
period, but also on how the fresh eyes of the
European regard a deeply unfamiliar terrain,
environment, people and culture. Published after
Pigafetta returned to Italy, his work became a classic
that prominent literary men in the West like William
Shakespeare, Michel de Montaigne and Giambattista
Vico referred to the book in their interpretation of
the New World.
Pigafetta's travelogue, when published in Europe in
1535, became a worldwide sensation. Situated during
the time when Europe, known as the Old World, is
actively seeking for lands to discover and conquer
motivated by Gold, Glory, and God (Three Gs), this
historical account became a bestseller, teasing the
imagination of the European readers about raw
tropical beauty of Oriental lands, beautiful women,
bountiful lands awash of gold, spices, and natural
resources.
Thus, this book became of one of the most important
primary sources in the study of precolonial
Philippines. Importantly, his account was also a major
referent to the events leading to Magellan’s arrival in
the Philippines, his encounter with local leaders, his
death in the hands of Lapulapu’s forces in the Battle
of Mactan and in the depature of what was left of
Magellan’s fleet from the islands. Thus, completing
what was known as the first circumnavigation of the
world.
This is the historical context that we are going to
analyze in this module.
Doing Historical Analysis
In order to fully understand a source, you must place
it within the context of the time period in which it
was produced. Contextualizing a historical source
involves: paying attention to the people who
produced it, the time in which they worked, what was
going on during that time, and how and what was
going on may have influenced the production of the
source.
It also involves understanding how the source's
language, concepts, and terms were used within that
historical context, since meanings change over time.
In short, contextualizing a source increases a writer's
credibility since it demonstrates the writer’s
willingness to understand the source and its time
period on its own terms.
Questions to Consider in doing Historical Context
Analysis
Who produced the historical source? In this part, you
need to provide a brief description of the
author/writer/publisher of the historical event.
Include photos/images and other ways to introduce
the source.
What is the genre of the source? In the case of
Pigafetta's work, it is considered as a travelogue, an
account of the voyage as the official chronicler of
Magellan's expedition. Other historical sources may
include diary entry, an eyewitness account, a
published book, a receipt, a log in the train ride,
among others. You need to identify the genre of the
source you are reading.
Now let's apply these questions to a sample of
historical account of Pigafetta from his book, The
First Voyage Around the World, online version. It is
the account of the first ever landing and arrival of
Magellan to the Philippine Islands on march 16, 1521,
pages 71 - 75. You can read it online from this link.
This was given to you in advanced as required reading
in the beginning of this module.

How might this genre shape its content and Module 1 Summary
viewpoint? In the case of Pigafetta's travelogue, it
History is the study of the past. Events occurring
highlighted his own personal viewpoint, judgment
before the invention of writing systems are
and biases towards the things that he saw, people
considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term
that he met, as well as customs, traditions, and other
that relates to past events as well as the memory,
cultural highlights he witnessed in his travels. In your
discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and
analysis later on, you need to consider the genre
interpretation of information about these events.
because there is difference in the way or the
approach in which the historian may write the
historical event..
It was derived from the Greek word "historia" which
When was it produced? How does the timing of its means "knowledge acquired through inquiry or
production relate to other events? Pigafetta's investigation".
travelogue was published in 1535 and it received
critical acclaim worldwide during that time. Spain was
the most powerful empire on Earth during that time
Primary sources are those produced at the same time
and its publication further glorified its name and the
as the event, period, or subject being studied.
death of Magellan on the hands of the natives
headed by Lapu-lapu was portrayed as a sacrifice in
the attainment of Spain's greater glory. Its timing was
significant to the growing interest and fascination of Secondary sources are those which are produced by
Westerners towards the Eastern people, its culture, an author who used primary sources to produce the
its natural resources, riches, and treasures. You need material.
to situate the time and surrounding circumstances
during which the event was written.
Historical criticism is a literary criticism in the light of
How might political, social, religious, or economic historical evidence or based on the context in which a
events occurring at the same time have influenced work was written, including facts about the author’s
the production of the source? Pigafetta's book, The life and the historical and social circumstances of the
First Voyage Around the World, was published under time.
the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church. It is
noted that during that time, the church was very
active in its quest to christianize undiscovered lands
External criticism is the practice of verifying the
in uncharted territories. Simultaneously, the state
authenticity of evidence by examining the physical
(government) of Spanish empire used th opportunity
characteristics of the source, time and the materials.
to further expand its borders, and in the process,
accumulating land, riches, and fame all in the name
of God, gold and glory.
Internal criticism is the examination of the
truthfulness of the evidence.
In the advent of social media as a very ubiquitous
platform of airing self-expressions and views, it is
very important to you, as student-historians, to
evaluate and criticize the historicity of these posts /
websites / blogs and even YouTube videos
proliferating around. To criticize and evaluate
historical websites and any other websites which
publishes events in history with accompanying
interpretations, explanations, assumptions, and even
predictions can never be overemphasized in order to
combat historical revisionism and proliferation of
fake/misleading news.
2.1 The KKK and the Kartilya ng Katipunan
This discussion tackles the founding of "KKK" or
"Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga
Anak ng Bayan" and the rules that our Katipuneros
have to include in joining the group. So, stay active to
answer the following questions!
The Founding of KKK
1. Bonifacio founded the “Katastaasang
Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan” (KKK) on July 7, 1892 in a house on
Azcarraga street (now Claro M. Recto), in Tondo
Manila.
2. The Katipunan had colorful beginnings. As a
symbol of the member’s loyalty, they performed
the solemn rite of sanduguan (blood compact),
wherein each one signed his name with his
own blood..
3. The members agreed to recruit more people
using the “triangle system” of enlistment. Each
original member would recruit tow new
members who were not related to each other.
Each new member would do the same thing, and
so on down the line. Members were also asked
to contribute one Real (about 25 centavos) each
month in order to raise funds for the association.
4. The two principal aims of the KKK as gathered
from the writings of Bonifacio: 1. Unity of the
filipino people, 2. separation from spain by
means of Revolution
5. Rizal doubtless approved the first aim but
refused to accept the second and this was the
reason that he refused to go along with the
“Katipuneros” (soldiers’ of the Katipunan) and
voluntarily surrendered that leads him to prison
and death. – To achieve unity of the Filipinos,
propaganda work must be done and this was
through massive education and civic trainings of
the Katipuneros. To that end, Bonifacio prepared
his now well-known decalogue, and Jacinto his
famous “Kartilya ng Katipunan” (Primer of the
Katipunan)
6. These are the rules in Kartilya. The Kartilya can
be treated as the Katipunan’s Code of conduct
which contains 14 rules that instruct the way a
Katipunero should behave.
“Kartilya ng Katipunan”
Below is a translated version of the rules:
1. The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and
reasonable purpose is a tree without a shade, if
not a poisonous weed.
2. To do good for personal gain and not for its own
sake is not virtue.
3. It is rational to be charitable and love one's
fellow creature, and to adjust one's conduct,
acts and words to what is in itself reasonable.
4. Whether our skin be black or white, we are all
born equal: superiority in knowledge, wealth and
beauty are to be understood, but not superiority
by nature.
5. The honorable man prefers honor to personal
gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor.
6. To the honorable man, his word is sacred.
7. Do not waste thy time: wealth can be recovered
but not time lost.
8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor
before the law or in the field.
9. The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful
in keeping secrets.
10. On the thorny path of life, man is the guide of
woman and the children, and if the guide leads
to the precipice, those whom he guides will also
go there.
11. Thou must not look upon woman as a mere
plaything, but as a faithful companion who will
share with thee the penalties of life; her
(physical) weakness will increase thy interest in
 her and she will remind thee of the mother who
bore thee and reared thee.
12. What thou dost not desire done unto thy wife,
children, brothers and sisters, that do not unto
the wife, children, brothers and sisters of thy
neighbor.
13. Man is not worth more because he is a king,
because his nose is aquiline, and his color white,
not because he is a *priest, a servant of god, nor
because of the high prerogative that he enjoys
upon earth, but he is worth most who is a man
of proven and real value, who does good, keeps
his words, is worthy and honest; he who does
not oppress nor consent to being oppressed, he
who loves and cherishes his fatherland, though
he be born in the wilderness and know no
tongue but his own.
14. When these rules of conduct shall be known to
all, the longed-for sun of liberty shall rise brilliant
over this most unhappy portion of the globe and
its rays shall diffuse everlasting joy among the
confederated brethren of the same rays, the
lives of those who have gone before, the
fatigues and the well-paid sufferings will remain.
If he who desires to enter (the katipunan) has
informed himself of all this and believes he will
be able to perform what will be his duties, he
may fill out
. An Excerpt from the Second Paragraph of the
Kartilya which states that “The object pursued by this
association is great and precious: to unite in ideas
and purposes all filipinos by means of a strong oath
and from union derive force with which to tear the
veil that obscures intelligence and thus find the true
path of reason and light” – The strong oath was
documented and signed with the signed with the
blood of the “Katipuneros” (blood (blood compact).
They swore at the Katipunan creed; Katipunan creed;
to defend the oppressed, fight the fight the
oppressor even to the extent of supreme self-
supreme self- sacrifice.
An Excerpt from the Second Paragraph of the
Kartilya which states that – One of the most
important Katipunan documents was the Kartilya ng
Katipunan. – The original title of the document was
“Manga (sic) Aral Nang (sic) Katipunan ng mga A.N.B.”
Or “Lesson of the Organization of the Sons of
Country”.
Therefore,the KKK members agreed on the following
objectives:
▪ The political goal was to completely separate the
Philippines from Spain after declaring the country’s
independence.
▪ The moral goal was to teach the Filipinos good
manners, cleanliness, hygiene, fine morals, and how
to guard themselves against religious fanaticism..
▪ The civic goal was to encourage Filipinos to help
themselves and to defend the poor oppressed.
It is your turn to interpret this part of history. You
may view more inputs about the KKK and Kartilya in
the following presentation. Feel free to click the
attached file. Feel free to click the attached file. How
the code of conduct of Katipunan be a reflection of
love for country?
2.2 Reading the Proclamation of the Philippine
Independence
This discussion is about glimpse and pieces of the
historical events happened during Philippine
Declaration of Independence Day. To know about
more, read the information below including the
pinned file below. Stay active!
Below are the glimpse and pieces of the historical
event:
1. On June 12, 1898 , The Philippine Declaration of
independence was proclaimed in Cavite el Viejo
(presentday Kawit, Cavite) by Filipino
revolutionary forces under General Emilio
Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and
independence of the Philippine Islands from the
colonial rule of Spain.
2. It was 1896 when the Philippine Revolution
began. Eventually, the Spanish signed an
agreement with the revolutionaries – Emilio
Aguinaldo went into exile in Hongkong. At the
outbreak of the Spanish-American war.
3. Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hong
Kong to Manila Bay leading a squadron of U.S.
Navy ships on May 1, 1898 as the United States
defeated the Spanish in the Battle of Manila Bay
and the U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo back to
the Philippines.
4. On June 12,1898, Independence was proclaimed
between four and five in the afternoon in Cavite
at the ancestral home of General Emilio
Aguinaldo. The event saw the unfurling of the
 National Flag of the Philippines, made in Hong
Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo,
and Delfina Herboza.
5. The performance of the Marcha Filipina
Magdalo, as the national anthem, now known as
Lupang Hinirang, which was composed by Julián
Felipe and played by the San Francisco de
Malabon marching band and the Act of the
Declaration of Independence was prepared,
written, and read by Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista in Spanish.
6. The Declaration was signed by ninety-eight
people, among them an American army officer
who witnessed the proclamation who attended
the proceedings, Mr. L. M. Johnson, a Coronel of
Artillery. The proclamation of Philippine
independence was, however, promulgated on 1
August, when many towns had already been
organized under the rules laid down by the
Dictatorial Government of General Aguinaldo
7. The declaration was not recognized by the U.S.
nor Spain and Spain later sold the Philippines to
the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris
ended the Spanish-American War. Then came
the Philippine-American War as the Philippine
Revolutionary Government did not recognize the
treaty or American sovereignty, and
subsequently fought and lost a conflict with
United States.
8. When Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by U.S.
forces, and issued a statement acknowledging
and accepting the sovereignty of the United
States over the Philippines, following World War
II, the US granted independence to the
Philippines on July 4, 1946 via the Treaty of
Manila known as Treaty of Paris, (1898)
9. In 1964, President Diosdado Macapagal signed
into law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June
12 as the country's Independence Day.
10. President Macapagal explained why such a move
is appropriate in a speech he delivered on June
12, 1962. Since the nation’s right to liberty is not
derived from the grant or recognition of another
but is an attribute it naturally holds, Mr.
Macapagal found it “proper that what we should
celebrate not the day when other nations gave
recognition to our independence, but the day
when we declared our desire to exercise our
inherent and inalienable right to freedom and
independence.”
He further explained that compared to the
independence granted by the Americans in
1946, the declaration of independence in 1898 is
signified by the determination and unity of local
government leaders to revolt.
He credited General Aguinaldo for galvanizing
the entire nation to action, that when he
“formally assumed political command and
declared his country free from [colonizers], a
nation came into being.”
“There had been other Asian revolutions before.
But the revolution which culminated on June 12,
1898 was the first successful national revolution
in Asia since the coming of the West, and the
Republic to which it gave birth was the first
democratic Republic outside of the Western
hemisphere,” he added.
11. President Macapagal’s speech also hinted at
reasons why Philippine independence is worth
celebrating. Independence Day obviously stands
as a reminder of that long-fought battle for
freedom and the people behind it.Many who are
very observant of our history might see the
nuances within the narratives, which are worth
exploring. It still stands true, nonetheless, that
the June 12 declaration was a fruit of a united
resolve.
“I moved the observance of the anniversary of
our independence to this day,” President
Macapagal spoke, “because a nation is born into
freedom on the day when such a people, molded
into a nation by a process of cultural evolution
and a sense of oneness born of common struggle
and suffering, announces to the world that it
asserts its natural right to liberty and is ready to
defend it with blood, life and honor.”
The nation’s rough yet triumphant journey to
freedom is one of those things Filipinos should
never forget. This commemoration is an
admonition for Filipinos to cultivate a thirst for
knowing the rich history of the country, including
its struggle for independence.
Mr. Macapagal, in fact, recognized in his speech
the heroes whose “acts of patriotism and
nationalism” contributed towards gaining the
independence that the nation now enjoys.
 He cited heroes such as Lapu-Lapu; Rajah
Soliman; Rajah Lakandula; Francisco Dagohoy;
Diego and Gabriela Silang; Apolonario de la Cruz;
Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora (more
known as GomBurZa); and Dr. Jose Rizal, among
others.
Independence Day also serves as an apt moment
for Filipinos to reflect on who they are in light of
all these, and of what they could give in return as
benefactors of this emancipation which took
pains to be attained.
“[I]t is fitting that as we commemorate the
anniversary of the declaration of our
independence and as we recall the glorious
events surrounding it,” the late statesman said,
“we should examine ourselves and ask if we
have been worthy of the heritage of freedom
which our heroes bequeathed to us and for
which thousands of our patriots so willingly shed
their blood. Let independence day therefore be
an occasion not only for commemoration, but
for spiritual self-examination.”
For President Macapagal, the heroes have a right
to ask of Filipinos how strong their Republic is
today. This evokes a sense of responsibility left
for us to be productive and truthful citizens.
These heroes, he added, might well ask the
businessman if he did his best to improve his
methods of production and to increase his
marketing efficiency. They also might well ask
students if they have been diligently studying
“not only for high marks, but for the sake of
learning,” in order to fully contribute to the
nation’s overall progress. They might well ask
politicians if they are placing the Nation’s greater
good above their “narrow self-interest”.
“Our heroes might well ask us all: What have you
done for your country
2.3 A Glance of Selected Philippine Political Caricature
in Alfred McCoy’s Philippine Cartoons: Political
Caricature of the American Era (1900-1941)
Hello students! This lesson is about Alfred McCoy and
the Philippine Political Cartoons in the American Era.
So stay focused!
Background Information
Alfred W. McCoy was a professor of history at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was born on the
8th of June 1945 and was educated at Columbia
University, Yale University. He and other historian
took interest in the study of poiltics in the Philippines
and represented their interpretation of the situation
by using cartoons.
Philippine political cartoons gained full expression
during the American era. Filipino artists recorded
national attitudes toward the coming of the
Americans as well as the changing mores and times.
While the 377 cartoons compiled in this book speak
for themselves, historian Alfred McCoy’s extensive
research in Philippine and American archives provides
a comprehensive background not only to the
cartoons but to the turbulent period as well. Artist-
writer Alfredo Roces, who designed the book,
contributes an essay on Philippine graphic satire of
the period.
Some of the notable caricature were:
• Vince Sotto, the publisher of the INDEPENDENT,
a never missed a chance to attack the catholic
church
• In 1906, the Philippine Supreme Court had ruled
that the Roman Catholic Church was the legal
owner of all disputed properties, thus stripping
the nationalistic Aglipayan Church of the Parish
Churches it had occupied right after the
revolution.
• During the mid 19th century from Alejandro
Roces, whose descendants became publishes of
the Manila Times. While Santa Cruz Church still
stands, the controversial parish house became a
branch of Phil. Trust, a church owned bank.
• Fernando Amorsolo , gives the illustration his
usual racist edge. While the corrupt Filipino
police man is shown with normal features, the
chinese are caricatured as emaciated, leering
creatures more rodent than human.
• In 1917 a mysterious informant named Pedro
Chua wrote the Philippines free press alleging
that senior police where accepting bribes from
chinese gambling houses in Binondo and Quiapo
district."
• Vicente Sotto's independent insisted , in this
editorial cartoon, that Chua's charges were
accurate.
• Although the Independent's cartoon depicts
Harrison as a hero, his suggested reform was
hardly heroic. Despite the stern rhetoric, which
obviously appealed to the paper's penchant for
hyperbole. Harrison's suggested reform was little
more than a temporary palliative.
• 1908 the nationalist weekly "El Penacimiento"
published an editorial filled Aves de Rapina (birds
of prey) which attacked the Philippine
commission's secretary of the interior, Dean C.
Norcester for abusing his office to the exploit the
country.
• Eventually the protest reached Malacanang
Palace and Governor Francis B. Harrison made a
tentative move towards reform. In a letter to the
Director General of the civil service, the
governor denounced the rapacious demans of
the landlords. He suggested passage of a bill
which sets rents at 12% of assessed value of the
property.
2.5 The Code of Kalantiaw
Hello students! In this lesson you will learn about the
information of Code of Kalantiaw and try interpreting
the story if it is a hoax like other historians have in
mind or not. So, stay awake and focus!
Background Information
In the famous epic story of Maragtas, there was was
this mythical legal code called "The Code of
Kalantiaw". Datu Kalantiaw is considered by the
Visayans as the third head of Panay. It was
named after Datu Kalantiaw, who allegedly wrote it
in 1433. It was written about by Jose E. Marco in
1913 in his historical fiction "Las Antiguas Leyendes
de la Isla de Negros" (The Ancient Legends of the
Island of Negros). He ascribed its source to a priest
named Jose Maria Pavon.

2.4 Revisiting Corazon Aquino’s Speech Before the

U.S. Congress

In this discussion, you will learn about a historic

speech that managed to sway in our favor the vote
for an emergency $200-million aid appropriation of
former President Cory Aquino. So stay active!

The Scenario

When former President Corazon Aquino spoke before

a joint session of the United States Congress in
September of 1986, her speech was interrupted by
eleven applause and ended with a standing
ovation. It was her first visit to America since the
dictator Ferdinand Marcos had been deposed in
February of the same year, and the Philippines was
Source of Image:
reckoning with everything his administration had
inflicted. That included $26 billion in total foreign /prabook.com/web/datu.kalantiaw/2532925
debt, and a communist insurgency that grew,
The historian Josue Soncuya wrote about the Code of
throughout the Marcos era, from 500 armed guerillas
Kalantiaw in 1917 in his book "Historia Prehispana de
to 16,000.
Filipinas" (Prehispanic History of the Philippines)
So Aquino lodged an appeal for help. Addressing the where he transferred the location of the origin of the
House, she delivered. Code from Negros to Panay because he contended
that said Code may have been related to the
Binirayan festival.
The story on this Code has been recognized through
the ages by known authors. In 1968, however,
historian William Henry Scott asserted in his Doctor
of Philosophy thesis, Critical Study of the Prehispanic
Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History
that there is no evidence that any Filipino ruler by the
name of Kalantiaw ever existed or that the Kalantiaw
penal code is any older than 1914.
Although the said Code ceases to be part of the texts
of Philippine history, however, many still believe its
validity.
ARTICLE I
You shall not kill, neither shall you steal, neither shall
you do harm to the aged, lest you incur the danger of
death. All those who infringe this order shall be
condemned to death by being drowned in the river,
or in boiling water.
ARTICLE II
You shall obey. Let all your debts with the headman
be met punctually. He who does not obey shall
receive for the first time one hundred lashes. If the
debt is large, he shall be condemned to thrust his
hand in boiling water thrice. For the second time, he
shall be beaten to death.
ARTICLE III
Obey you: let no one have women that are very
young nor more than he can support; nor be given to
excessive lust. He who does not comply with, obey,
and observe this order shall be condemned to swim
for three hours for the first time and for the second
time, to be beaten to death with sharp thorns.
ARTICLE IV
Observe and obey; let no one disturb the quiet of the
graves. When passing by the caves and trees where
they are, give respect to them. He who does not
observe this shall be killed by ants, or beaten to
death with thorns.
ARTICLE V
You shall obey; he who exchanges for food, let it be
always done in accordance with his word. He who
does not comply, shall be beaten for one hour, he
who repeats the offense shall be exposed for one day
among ants.
ARTICLE VI
You shall be obliged to revere sights that are held in
respect, such as those of trees of recognized worth
and other sights. He who fails to comply shall pay
with one month's work in gold or in honey.
ARTICLE VII
These shall be put to death; he who kills trees of
venerable appearance; who shoot arrows at night at
old men and women; he who enters the houses of
the headmen without permission; he who kills a
shark or a streaked cayman.
ARTICLE VIII
Slavery for a doam (a certain period of time) shall be
suffered by those who steal away the women of the
headmen; by him who keep ill-tempered dogs that
bite the headmen; by him who burns the fields of
another.
ARTICLE IX
All these shall be beaten for two days: who sing while
traveling by night; kill the Manaul; tear the
documents belonging to the headmen; are malicious
liars; or who mock the dead.
ARTICLE X
It is decreed an obligation; that every mother teach
secretly to her daughters matters pertaining to lust
and prepare them for womanhood; let not men be
cruel nor punish their women when they catch them
in the act of adultery. Whoever shall disobey shall be
killed by being cut to pieces and thrown to the
caymans.
ARTICLE XI
These shall be burned: who by their strength or
cunning have mocked at and escaped punishment or
who have killed young boys; or try to steal away the
women of the elders.
ARTICLE XII
These shall be drowned: all who interfere with their
superiors, or their owners or masters; all those who
abuse themselves through their lust; those who
destroy their anitos (idols) by breaking them or
throwing them down.
ARTICLE XIII
All these shall be exposed to ants for half a day: who
kill black cats during a new moon; or steal anything
from the chiefs or agorangs, however small the
object may be.
ARTICLE XIV
These shall be made slave for life: who have beautiful
daughters and deny them to the sons of chiefs, and
with bad faith hide them away.
ARTICLE XV
Concerning beliefs and superstitions; these shall be
beaten: who eat the diseased flesh of beasts which
they hold in respect, or the herb which they consider
good, who wound or kill the young of the Manaul, or
the white monkey.
ARTICLE XVI
The fingers shall be cut-off: of all those who break
idols of wood and clay in their alangans and temples;
of those who destroy the daggers of the of the
tagalons, or break the drinking jars of the latter.
ARTICLE XVII
These shall be killed: who profane sites where idols
are kept, and sites where are buried the sacred things
of their diwatas and headmen. He who performs his
necessities in those places shall be burned.
ARTICLE XVIII
Those who do not cause these rules to be obeyed: if
they are headmen, they shall be put to death by
being stoned and crushed; and if they are agorangs
they shall be placed in rivers to be eaten by sharks
and caymans.
Module 2 Summary
Bonifacio founded the “Katastaasang
Kagalanggalangang Katipuanan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan” (KKK) on July 7, 1892 in a house on Azcarraga
street (now Claro M. Recto), in Tondo
Manila. sanduguan (blood compact) was a sign of
Katipunan member's loyalty. The Kartilya can be
treated as the Katipunan’s Code of conduct which
contains 14 rules that instruct the way a Katipunero
should behave.
Some of the rules of Kartilya:
Rule 1: The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and
reasonable purpose is a tree without a shade, if not a
poisonous weed.
Rule 7: Do not waste thy time: wealth can be
recovered but not time lost.
Rule 14: When these rules of conduct shall be known
to all, the longed-for sun of liberty shall rise brilliant
over this most unhappy portion of the globe and its
rays shall diffuse everlasting joy among the
confederated brethren of the same rays, the lives of
those who have gone before, the fatigues and the
well-paid sufferings will remain. If he who desires to
enter (the katipunan) has informed himself of all this
and believes he will be able to perform what will be
his duties, he may fill out.
On June 12, 1898 , The Philippine Declaration of
independence was proclaimed in Cavite el Viejo
(presentday Kawit, Cavite) by Filipino revolutionary
forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed
the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine
Islands from the colonial rule of Spain.
On June 12,1898, Independence was proclaimed
between four and five in the afternoon in Cavite at
the ancestral home of General Emilio Aguinaldo. The
event saw the unfurling of the National Flag of the
Philippines, made in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo,
Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herboza.
When Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by U.S. forces,
and issued a statement acknowledging and accepting
the sovereignty of the United States over the
Philippines, following World War II, the US granted
independence to the Philippines on July 4, 1946 via
the Treaty of Manila known as Treaty of Paris, (1898)
In 1964, President Diosdado Macapagal signed into
law Republic Act No. 4166 designating June 12 as the
country's Independence Day.