HIST 11 – READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

MODULE 3
HISTORICAL CRITICISM

INTRODUCTION
Now that you are done with the second module which is the Sources of History, let’s proceed
to the last lesson of the first chapter. On the previous module, you learned about the different kinds of
written and non-written historical sources. In order for a source to be used as evidence in history,
basic matters about its form and content must be settled.

ANALYSIS
Hello there! My name is Abigail, I need to go shopping. However, I cannot
go to the mall right now due to lockdown. So, I downloaded Zalada, an online
shopping application. Upon scrolling, some of the items are fake. I am afraid of the
possibility of checking out products that are not original. Can you help me find
authentic products?

Help Abigail in checking the authenticity of the product by encircling “Add to Cart” button.

Search in Ladaza

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 Search in Ladaza

How was your experience? Did you have fun? I had a lot of fun too! Thanks for helping me
out! I cannot imagine my online shopping experience without your help. I learned a lot from you.
Since we really cannot easily avoid fake items online, it is really important to check quality of the
product that we’re eyeing for. We need to examine if it’s original or fake so that it will not be a waste
of effort, time, and money.

Just like history, we also need to check the authenticity and the credibility of the historical
texts that we use in learning. Continue to study the module to find out ways in doing historical
criticism. Are you ready?

You may go to the next page to continue the last topic of the Chapter 1.

APPLICATION
I. Critique the authenticity and credibility of the following texts.

Jose Rizal messaged Josephine Bracken thru WeChat app.

1. What is the problem of the text?

The problem in the text is that it is not authentic since people in Jose Rizal's era, instead of
using social platforms to message each other, they communicate through exchanging letters.

2. What type of historical criticism should be done with the text and why?

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 Internal criticism is a type of historical criticism that should be applied to the text since it can
examine the document's authenticity and convey the truth about events' proximity, such as
when Jose Rizal chose to communicate via letter rather than telephone.

“OMG!” said Lapu-lapu.

1. What is the problem of the text?

The text's problem is that the phrase or expression "OMG" didn't exist during the Lapu-
Lapu’s era. Lapu-lapu saying "OMG" is impossible  considering that the majority of Filipinos
in the 1500s were ignorant in English.

2. What type of historical criticism should be done with the text and why?

External criticism is a type of historical criticism that ought to be done on the text because it
could establish the text's credibility. The phrase "OMG" did not exist prior to the year 1976,
hence the text appears to be a false or fabricated document.

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