History is the reconstruction of the past based on written records, oral history, cultural artifacts

(drawings, paintings, things in the past that have been excavation) and folk traditions

Therefore, history is the interpretative and imaginative study of surviving records of the past, either
written or unwritten, in order to determine the meaning and scope of human existence.

SO, WHAT IS THE ROLE OR TASKS OF THE HISTORIAN?

To interpret facts in an orderly and intelligible manner; and

To discover patterns and trends which govern the behavior of people and of nations, and to make
generalizations of these.

WHY STUDY HISTORY?

1. Bridging the gap between the present and the past;

2. Explaining the causes of things and events;
3. Projecting the future;
4. Interpreting conditions of a given space and time;
5. Promoting nationalism and patriotism.

PERSPECTIVE IN THE STUDE OF HISTORY

Views or philosophies of history are ways of interpreting and explaining historical developments and the
interplay of personages, places, time and events

A. Cyclical view (Herodotus, 5th BC and Spengler)

- History repeats itself
- All human existence occurs in cycles
B. Providential view
- History is determined by God
- Recording the death struggle between God and evil; men is relegated to the role of a pawn
in a game of high stakes
C. Progressive or linear view
- Mankind is responsible for the advancement of civilization; complete faith in human abilities
rather than in divine intervention
- Mankind is getting better and better
D. Relativist view
- History creates its own subject
- Each new situation implies a reinterpretation of the past; relationship to the past is in a
constant state of change
- Subjective nature of historical knowledge
HISTORICAL SCHOOLS OF THOUGHTS

Positivism (18th-19th c) – this thought requires empirical and observable evidence before one can claim
that a particular knowledge is true. In the study of history, it is synonymous to “no document, no
history” which require historians to show written primary documents to write historical narrative.

Post-colonialism (20th c) – it is a reaction and an alternative to the colonial history that colonial powers
created and taught to their subjects. For former colonies, it aims at creating identities and
understanding of their societies against the shadow of their colonial past.

Annales School of History – a school of history born in France (i.e., Febre, Braudaul, Le Goff, Bloch);

- It challenges the canons of history; concern with social history and studied longer historical
periods
- It did away with the common historical subjects that were always related to the conduct of
states and monarchs
- “History from below”; people and classes are not reflected in the history of society in the
grand manner
- Married history with geography, anthropology, archaeology and linguistics

APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY

1. Clerico-Imperialist School – history is God’s grand design; influenced by the providential theory
of history (St. Augustine)
2. Assimilationist View – “history aimed at uniting the Filipinos to prepare them for membership in
the Spanish community of nations”
3. Nationalist School – it aimed to influence the destiny of the Filipino nation by pushing for
independence
4. Democratic-Imperialist School – dominated by the idea of the superiority of American culture;
Filipinos remained in the backdrop as silent and passive recipient of the blessings of American
civilization
5. Nationalist-Realist Transition School – history as art; it is the creative and imaginative
reconstruction of the past; mere presentation of facts does not constitute history”
6. Pure Nationalist School – the main idea is to study Philippine history from the Filipino point of
view or “pantayong pananaw”; “history of the articulate”
7. Leftist-Socialist or Marxist view – “history is a science, capable of being controlled, influenced,
and predicted.” History is an extension of class conflict, of dominance and exploitation of one
class by another.

REASONS FOR INTERPRETING PHILIPPINE HISTORY FROM A FILIPINO POINT OF VIEW

 Foreign interpretation is biased and prejudicial

 Filipinos have greater familiarity with and understanding of their own culture and history
 Filipino point of view can help promote nationalism and patriotism
JP Rizal annotated the work of Morga – came to the ph as a mid-level; morga wrote an account about __
“Spanish susesus de las islas pilipinas” – book Morga wrote

RELEVANCE OF HISTORY TO CULTURE & NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

- Culture is ‘a way of life’; integrated pattern of human knowledge, beliefs, values and
behavior
- Culture is a product of history
- National development is a cumulative experience of the Filipino people as shaped by their
past.

Philippine National Development – is the specific and unique social and historical experience of the
Filipino people as a nation.

- It is a cumulative experience of the Filipino as shaped by their past as a nation reflected in

their national goals, achievements, economic independence, national identity, political
institutions, citizen’s well-being

“WHY NATIONS FAIL?”

- A nation fails not just because of culture, geography and economic policies
- One major factor why a nation fails and become a basket case is political leadership who
forgets history.
- Please do not forget history and the lessons of history, so that you’ll be generous, not
selfish; humane rather than cruel; and look after the interest of our country. (James
Robinson and Daron Acemoglu, 2012)

HISTORIAGRAPHY

- History of history
- The object of the study is history itself, i.e., How was certain historical text written? Who
wrote it? What was the context of its publication? What historical method was employed?
What were the sources used?
- Allow the students to have a better understanding of history, by providing not only with
historical facts, but the understanding of these facts. The historian’s contexts and methods.
It teaches the student to be critical in the lessons of history presented to him.

PHILIPPINE HISTORIOGRAPHY: A TIMELINE

Pre-Filipino Nationhood (10th – 1565) – Spanish Colonialism (1565-1898) – Revolutionary Period (1896-
1902) – American Colonialism (1898-1945) – Japanese Occupation (1942-1945) – Liberation Post-
Colonial Government (1946-1972) – Marcos Martial Law Years (1972-1986) – Post-Martial Law/Post-
EDSA (1986-)

HISTORICAL SOURCES

Primary sources – are those sources, produced at the same time as the event, period, or subject being
studied. Ex. Newspaper clippings, reports, photographs of events, eyewitness accounts, archival
documents, artifacts, memorabilia, letters, census, government records

Secondary sources- are those sources which were produced by an author who used primary sources to
produce the material. Also known as historical sources. Ex. History books, articles, scholarly journals

Note: it is the subject of historical research that determines what counts are primary or secondary
sources.

HOW DO HISTORIANS ASCERTAIN HISTORICAL TRUTH?

External criticism – is the practice of verifying the utheticity of evidence by examining its physical
characteristics; consistency with the historical characteristic of the time when it was produced; and the
materials used for the evidence

Ex. Quality of paper, the type of the ink, language and words used in the material

Internal criticism – is the examination of the truthfulness of the evidence. It looks at the content of the
source and examines the circumstances of its production. It looks at the truthfulness and factuality of
the evidence by looking at the author of the source, its context, the agenda behind the creation, the
knowledge which informed it, and its intended purpose

Ex. Validating Japanese reports and declarations during WW II; the Code of Kalantiaw and Maragtas;
Marcos war medals during WW II