CHAPTER 1 LESSON 1-3

LESSON1. MEANING AND RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

 HISTORY - is referred usually for accounts of phenomena especially human affairs in chronological
orders
- deals with the study of past events.
- GERMAN WORD FOR HISTORY: GESCHICHTE - derived from:
 GESCHEHEN - meaning to happen
 GESCHICHTE - meaning which has happened
 HISTORIA - it refers to a Greek word which means learning by inquiry
 HISTORIAN - He restores the total past of mankind in terms of his own experience.
 Theories constructed by historians in investigating history:
o FACTUAL HISTORY
o SPECULATIVE HISTORY

WHY STUDY HISTORY?

 The past aids an individual in understanding who he is.

 The past aids a nation understand its realities.
 allows us to see beyond textbooks and see the past through new lenses
Philippine History is in and of itself very interesting.
THE LIMITATION OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE.

 Historical knowledge is limited by the incompleteness of the records.

 The whole of history of the past (HISTORY-AS-ACTUALITY) can be known to historian only through
the surviving record of it (HISTORY-AS-RECORD).
 Most HISTORY-AS-RECORD is only the surviving part of the recorded part of the remembered part, of
the observed past of the whole.
 History is a subjective process of re-creation of historian. He restores the total past of mankind in terms
of his own experience.
AIM OF HISTORIAN

 VERISIMILITUDE - Latin word VERISIMILIS - like the truth

o VERY - True
o SIMILIS – Like

HOW IS HISTORY WRITTEN?

 HISTORICAL METHOD - The process of critically examining and analyzing the records and survivals
of the past
 HISTORIOGRAPHY - the imaginative reconstruction of the past
- The writing of history
 Historians must be sure that his records really come from past and are in fact what they seem to be and
that his imagination is directed toward re-creation not creation.
STEPS OF HISTORICAL ANALYSIS:
1. The selection of the subject of analysis
 2. Collection of probable sources of information of the subject
3. The examination of those sources for genuineness (either in full or part)
4. The extraction of credible particulars from sources proved genuine.
LESSON 2-3 SOURCES IN HISTORY

 SOURCE - by definition, one that provides information.

 Without it, the reconstruction of the past is impossible.
o PRIMARY SOURCE
o SECONDARY SOURCE

PRIMARY SOURCE
PRIMARY SOURCES - are original, first-hand account of an event or period that are usually written or made
during or close to the event or period.
o Testimonies of eyewitnesses or participants.
o Artifacts or Objects are also considered as such.
o Present during an experience or time period under study.

 TYPES OF PRIMARY SOURCE

o Original Documents - those capturing exact words or accounts of people, events, places, or
times.
o Creative Works -usually different forms of art, such as poetry, music, and paintings.
o Relics or Artifacts - these are pieces of physical evidence that give historians some insight into
the past
- Primary Sources can be classified into more than one of each category.
- Primary Sources - Account on how historical event unravelled, Directly interpret the source
SECONDARY SOURCE
o Already interpreted and analyzed data from primary sources.
o May include graphics, quotes and images from primary sources.
o Often removed from the event in question since it was not made first-hand by someone who
participated in the event.
- Secondary Sources - Aid in situating the context, Acquiring background knowledge in historical event
HISTORICAL CRITICISM

 Used to determine the merit of the course

 Not all sources should be taken as it is.
 In order for to be used as evidence in history, basic matters about its form and content must be settled.
o INTERNAL CRITICISM
o EXTERNAL CRITICISM

INTERNAL CRITICISM
o Evaluation deals with CREDIBILITY
o Is it credible or truthful?
o Accurate? Meaning?

 STEPS OF INTERNAL CRITICISM

1. Identifying the author
 - Reliability
- Mental processes
- Personal attitudes
2. Corroboration of historical facts
- Independent testimonies of two or more witnesses
3. Ability and willingness to tell the truth
- Nearness to the event
- Competence of witness
- Degree of attention
- Conscious or unconscious telling of falsehood

EXTERNAL CRITICISM
EXTERNAL CRITICISM - it refers to historical criticism which determines the authenticity of the source
o evaluation deals with AUTHENTICITY
o Forged? Faked? Fabricated? Hoax or Misinterpretation?
o Genuine? Authentic?
 STEPS IN EXTERNAL CRITICISM
1. Determine the date
2. Determine the author’s handwriting, signature or seal
3. Anachronism or inconsistencies in writing style
4. Anachronism or inconsistencies in reference to the events
5. Provenance or origin of the document
6. Semantics
7. Hermeneutics, clearness in meaning or ambiguity

CHAPTER 2 - TOPIC 1-8

Topic 1 - OPVL
ORIGIN, PURPOSE, CONTENT, VALUE, LIMITATION (OPCVL)

 is a technique for analyzing historical documents. It is used extensively in the International

Baccalaureate curriculum and testing materials, and is incredibly helpful in teaching students to be
critical observers and analytical thinkers.
I. ORIGIN
ORIGIN - In order to analyze a source, you must first know what it is. Sometimes not all of these questions can
be answered. The more you do know about where a document is coming from, the easier it is to ascertain
purpose, value and limitation. This is where you would also identify if it is a primary or secondary source.

 Who is the author?

 When was it created?
 When was it published?
 Where was it published?
 Who is publishing it?
NOTE: One is not more reliable than the other. Valuable information can be gleaned from both types of
documents. A primary document can tell you about the original author’s perspective; a secondary document can
tell you how the primary document was received during a specific time period or by a specific audience
II. PURPOSE
PURPOSE - This is the point where you start the real evaluation of the piece and try to figure out the purpose
for its creation. You must be able to think as the author of the document. At this point you are still only focusing
on the single piece of work you are evaluating.
CONTENT: This component requires a summary of the source in order to demonstrate your ability to
understand its meaning. Be careful not to place purpose and content together – they are two unique components!
You will use content to help assess the next two points (V & L) – so make sure you understand the document!

 What does the document “say?”

 What is the main idea of the source?
 What arguments, analysis, or conclusion are present within the source’s content?
NOTE: With reference to origin, purpose and content, analyze the values and limitations of the source
III. VALUE
VALUE – Now comes the hard part. Putting on your historian hat, you must determine: Based on who wrote it
(origin), when/where it came from, why it was created (purpose) and what the source says (content)…what
value does this document have as a piece of information? This is where you show your expertise and put the
source in context. Bring in your outside information here.

 What can we tell about the author and/or time period from the piece?
 Under what circumstances was the piece created and how does the piece reflect those circumstances?
 What can we tell about any controversies from the piece?
 What can we tell about the author’s perspectives from the piece?
 What was going on in history at the time the piece was created and how does this piece accurately
reflect it? (Put the document in historical context!)

NOTE: It helps if you know the context of the document and can explain what the document helps you to
understand about the context.
IV. LIMITATION
LIMITATION - The task here is not to point out weaknesses of the source, but rather to say: at what point does
this source cease to be of value to us as historians? With a primary source document, having an incomplete
picture of the whole is a given because the source was created by one person and naturally they will not have
given every detail of the context. Do not say that the author left out information unless you have concrete proof
(from another source) that they chose to leave information out. Also, it is obvious that the author did not have
prior knowledge of events that came after the creation of the document. Do not state that the document “does
not explain X” (if X happened later).

 What part of the story can we NOT tell from this document?
 Does the author represent a particular ‘side’ of a controversy or event?
 Does this piece inaccurately reflect anything about the time period?
 What does the author leave out and why does he/she leave it out (if you know)?
 What is purposely not addressed?
NOTE: Being biased does not necessarily limit the value of a source! If you are going to comment on the bias
of a document, you must go into detail. Who is it biased towards? Who is it biased against? What part of a story
does it leave out? What part of the story is MISSING because ofparts left out?

6 CS OF PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS

 CONTENT- (Main Idea: Describe in detail what you see.)

 CITATION - (Author/Creator: When was this created?)
 CONTEXT - (What is going on in the world, the country, the region, or the locality when this document
was created?)
 CONNECTIONS - (Prior Knowledge: Link this primary source to other things you already know or
have learned about.)
 COMMUNICATION - (Point-of-View or Bias: Is this source reliable?)
 CONCLUSIONS - (How does this primary source contribute to our understanding of history?)

SOAPSS

 SOAPSS – Subject, Occasion Audience, Purpose, Speaker Significance (literary analysis)

Topic 2 - Mga Aral nang Katipunan ng mga A.N.B. (Teachings of the Katipunan of the Sons of the
People)
1. Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy na walang lilim, kundi
damong makamandag.
(A life that is not dedicated to a great and sacred cause is like a tree without a shade, or a poisonous weed.)
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi sa talagang nasang gumawa ng
kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.
(A good deed lacks virtue if it springs from a desire for personal profit and not from a sincere desire to do
good.)
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang gawa, ang pagibig sa kapua at ang isukat ang bawat kilos,
gawa’t pangungusap sa talagang Katuiran.
(True charisty resides in acts of compulsion, in love for one’s fellow men, and in making true Reason the
measure of every move, deed, and word.)
4. Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao’y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa’y higtan sa
dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda…; ngunit di mahihigtan sa pagkatao.
(Be their skin dark or pale, all men are equal. One can be superior to another in knowledge, wealth, and
beauty... but not in being.)
5. Ang may mataas na kalooban inuuna ang puri sa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban inuuna ang
pagpipita sa sarili sa puri.
(A person with a noble character values honor aboce self-interest, while a person with an ignoble character
values self-interest above honor.)
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita’y panunumpa.
(An honorable man’s word is his bond.)
7. Huag mong sasayangin ang panahun; ang yamang nawala’y magyayaring magbalik; nguni’t panahong
nagdaan na’y di na muli pang magdadaan. Value of time
(Don’t waste time; lost wealth may be recovered, but time lost is lost forever.)
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi, at kabakahin ang umaapi.
(Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor.)
9. Ang taong matalino’y ang may pagiingat sa bawat sasabihin, at matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.
(An intelligent man is he who takes care in everything he says and keeps quiet about what must be kept secret.)
10. Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patnugot ng asawa’t mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay
tungo sa sama, ang patutunguhan ng iaakay ay kasamaan din.
(Along the thorny path of life, the man leads the way and his wife and children follow. If the leader goes the
way of perdition, then so do those who are led.)
11. Ang babai ay huag mong tignang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isang katuang at karamay sa mga
kahirapan nitong kabuhayan; gamitan mo ng buong pagpipitagan ang kaniyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang
inang pinagbuhata’t nagiwi sa iyong kasangulan.
(Do not regard a woman as a mere plaything, but as helpmate and partner in the hardships of this existence.
Have due regard to her weakness, and remember the mother who brought you into this world and nurtured you
in your infancy.)
12. Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak, at kapatid ng
iba.
(What you would not want done to your wife, daughter, and sister, do not do to the wife, daughter, and sister of
another.)
13. Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangus ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing
kahalili ng Dios wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa; wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, kahit laking
gubat at walang nababatid kundi ang sariling wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may
dangal at puri; yaong di napaaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdamdam at marunong lumingap sa
bayang tinubuan.
(A man’s worth does not come from him being a king, or in the height of his nose and the whiteness of his fac,
or in him being priest, a REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD, or his exalted position on the face of this earth. Pure
and truly noble is he who, though born in the forest and able to speak only his own tongue, behaves decently, is
true to his word, has dignity and honor, who is not an oppressor and does not abet oppressors, who knows how
to cherish and look after the land of his birth.)
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito at maningning na sumikat ang araw ng mahal na Kalayaan dito sa
kaabaabang Sangkalupuan, at sabugan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkalahi’t
magkakapatid ng ligaya ng walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagud, at mga tiniis na kahirapa’y
labis nang natumbasan. Kung lahat ng ito’y mataruk na ng nagiibig pumasuk at inaakala niyang matutupad ang
mga tutungkulin, maitatala ang kaniyang ninanasa sa kasunod nito.
(When these doctrines have spread and the brilliant sun of beloved liberty shines on these poor Islands, and
sheds its sweet light upon a united race, a people in everlasting happiness, then the lives lost, the struggle and
the suffering will have been more than recompensed.)

Topic 3 - Speech of Her Excellency Corazon C. Aquino

 President of the Philippines

 During the Joint Session of the United States Congress
 [Delivered at Washington, D.C., on September 18, 1986]

Three years ago, I left America in grief to bury my husband, Ninoy Aquino. I thought I had left it also to lay
to rest his restless dream of Philippine freedom. Today, I have returned as the president of a free people.
In burying Ninoy, a whole nation honored him. By that brave and selfless act of giving honor, a nation in
shame recovered its own. A country that had lost faith in its future found it in a faithless and brazen act of
murder. So in giving, we receive, in losing we find, and out of defeat, we snatched our victory.
For the nation, Ninoy became the pleasing sacrifice that answered their prayers for freedom. For myself and
our children, Ninoy was a loving husband and father. His loss, three times in our lives, was always a deep and
painful one.
Fourteen years ago this month was the first time we lost him. A president-turned-dictator, and traitor to his
oath, suspended the Constitution and shut down the Congress that was much like this one before which I am
honored to speak. He detained my husband along with thousands of others – senators, publishers and anyone
who had spoken up for the democracy as its end drew near. But for Ninoy, a long and cruel ordeal was reserved.
The dictator already knew that Ninoy was not a body merely to be imprisoned but a spirit he must break. For
even as the dictatorship demolished one by one the institutions of democracy – the press, the Congress, the
independence of the judiciary, the protection of the Bill of Rights – Ninoy kept their spirit alive in himself.
The government sought to break him by indignities and terror. They locked him up in a tiny, nearly airless
cell in a military camp in the north. They stripped him naked and held the threat of sudden midnight execution
over his head. Ninoy held up manfully–all of it. I barely did as well. For 43 days, the authorities would not tell
me what had happened to him. This was the first time my children and I felt we had lost him.
When that didn’t work, they put him on trial for subversion, murder and a host of other crimes before a
military commission. Ninoy challenged its authority and went on a fast. If he survived it, then, he felt, God
intended him for another fate. We had lost him again. For nothing would hold him back from his determination
to see his fast through to the end. He stopped only when it dawned on him that the government would keep his
body alive after the fast had destroyed his brain. And so, with barely any life in his body, he called off the fast
on the fortieth day. God meant him for other things, he felt. He did not know that an early death would still be
his fate, that only the timing was wrong.
At any time during his long ordeal, Ninoy could have made a separate peace with the dictatorship, as so
many of his countrymen had done. But the spirit of democracy that inheres in our race and animates this
chamber could not be allowed to die. He held out, in the loneliness of his cell and the frustration of exile, the
democratic alternative to the insatiable greed and mindless cruelty of the right and the purging holocaust of the
left.
And then, we lost him, irrevocably and more painfully than in the past. The news came to us in Boston. It
had to be after the three happiest years of our lives together. But his death was my country’s resurrection in the
courage and faith by which alone they could be free again. The dictator had called him a nobody. Two million
people threw aside their passivity and escorted him to his grave. And so began the revolution that has brought
me to democracy’s most famous home, the Congress of the United States.

The task had fallen on my shoulders to continue offering the democratic alternative to our people.
Archibald Macleish had said that democracy must be defended by arms when it is attacked by arms and by
truth when it is attacked by lies. He failed to say how it shall be won.
I held fast to Ninoy’s conviction that it must be by the ways of democracy. I held out for participation in the
1984 election the dictatorship called, even if I knew it would be rigged. I was warned by the lawyers of the
opposition that I ran the grave risk of legitimizing the foregone results of elections that were clearly going to be
fraudulent. But I was not fighting for lawyers but for the people in whose intelligence I had implicit faith. By
the exercise of democracy, even in a dictatorship, they would be prepared for democracy when it came. And
then, also, it was the only way I knew by which we could measure our power even in the terms dictated by the
dictatorship.
The people vindicated me in an election shamefully marked by government thuggery and fraud. The
opposition swept the elections, garnering a clear majority of the votes, even if they ended up, thanks to a corrupt
Commission on Elections, with barely a third of the seats in parliament. Now, I knew our power.
Last year, in an excess of arrogance, the dictatorship called for its doom in a snap election. The people
obliged. With over a million signatures, they drafted me to challenge the dictatorship. And I obliged them. The
rest is the history that dramatically unfolded on your television screen and across the front pages of your
newspapers.
You saw a nation, armed with courage and integrity, stand fast by democracy against threats and corruption.
You saw women poll watchers break out in tears as armed goons crashed the polling places to steal the ballots
but, just the same, they tied themselves to the ballot boxes. You saw a people so committed to the ways of
democracy that they were prepared to give their lives for its pale imitation. At the end of the day, before another
wave of fraud could distort the results, I announced the people’s victory.
The distinguished co-chairman of the United States observer team in his report to your President described
that victory:
“I was witness to an extraordinary manifestation of democracy on the part of the Filipino people. The
ultimate result was the election of Mrs. Corazon C. Aquino as President and Mr. Salvador Laurel as Vice-
President of the Philippines.”
Many of you here today played a part in changing the policy of your country towards us. We, Filipinos,
thank each of you for what you did: for, balancing America’s strategic interest against human concerns,
illuminates the American vision of the world.
When a subservient parliament announced my opponent’s victory, the people turned out in the streets and
proclaimed me President. And true to their word, when a handful of military leaders declared themselves
against the dictatorship, the people rallied to their protection. Surely, the people take care of their own. It is on
that faith and the obligation it entails, that I assumed the presidency.
As I came to power peacefully, so shall I keep it. That is my contract with my people and my commitment
to God. He had willed that the blood drawn with the lash shall not, in my country, be paid by blood drawn by
the sword but by the tearful joy of reconciliation.
We have swept away absolute power by a limited revolution that respected the life and freedom of every
Filipino. Now, we are restoring full constitutional government. Again, as we restored democracy by the ways of
democracy, so are we completing the constitutional structures of our new democracy under a constitution that
already gives full respect to the Bill of Rights. A jealously independent Constitutional Commission is
completing its draft which will be submitted later this year to a popular referendum. When it is approved, there
will be congressional elections. So within about a year from a peaceful but national upheaval that overturned a
dictatorship, we shall have returned to full constitutional government. Given the polarization and breakdown we
inherited, this is no small achievement.
My predecessor set aside democracy to save it from a communist insurgency that numbered less than 500.
Unhampered by respect for human rights, he went at it hammer and tongs. By the time he fled, that insurgency
had grown to more than 16,000. I think there is a lesson here to be learned about trying to stifle a thing with the
means by which it grows.
I don’t think anybody, in or outside our country, concerned for a democratic and open Philippines, doubts
what must be done. Through political initiatives and local reintegration programs, we must seek to bring the
insurgents down from the hills and, by economic progress and justice, show them that for which the best
intentioned among them fight.
As President, I will not betray the cause of peace by which I came to power. Yet equally, and again no
friend of Filipino democracy will challenge this, I will not stand by and allow an insurgent leadership to spurn
our offer of peace and kill our young soldiers, and threaten our new freedom.
Yet, I must explore the path of peace to the utmost for at its end, whatever disappointment I meet there, is
the moral basis for laying down the olive branch of peace and taking up the sword of war. Still, should it come
to that, I will not waver from the course laid down by your great liberator: “With malice towards none, with
charity for all, with firmness in the rights as God gives us to see the rights, let us finish the work we are in, to
bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and for his
orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all
nations.”
Like Lincoln, I understand that force may be necessary before mercy. Like Lincoln, I don’t relish it. Yet, I
will do whatever it takes to defend the integrity and freedom of my country.
Finally, may I turn to that other slavery: our $26 billion foreign debt. I have said that we shall honor it. Yet
must the means by which we shall be able to do so be kept from us? Many conditions imposed on the previous
government that stole this debt continue to be imposed on us who never benefited from it. And no assistance or
liberality commensurate with the calamity that was visited on us has been extended. Yet ours must have been
the cheapest revolution ever. With little help from others, we Filipinos fulfilled the first and most difficult
conditions of the debt negotiation the full restoration of democracy and responsible government. Elsewhere, and
in other times of more stringent world economic conditions, Marshall plans and their like were felt to be
necessary companions of returning democracy.
When I met with President Reagan yesterday, we began an important dialogue about cooperation and the
strengthening of the friendship between our two countries. That meeting was both a confirmation and a new
beginning and should lead to positive results in all areas of common concern.
Today, we face the aspirations of a people who had known so much poverty and massive unemployment for
the past 14 years and yet offered their lives for the abstraction of democracy. Wherever I went in the campaign,
slum area or impoverished village, they came to me with one cry: democracy! Not food, although they clearly
needed it, but democracy. Not work, although they surely wanted it, but democracy. Not money, for they gave
what little they had to my campaign. They didn’t expect me to work a miracle that would instantly put food into
their mouths, clothes on their back, education in their children, and work that will put dignity in their lives. But
I feel the pressing obligation to respond quickly as the leader of a people so deserving of all these things.
We face a communist insurgency that feeds on economic deterioration, even as we carry a great share of the
free world defenses in the Pacific. These are only two of the many burdens my people carry even as they try to
build a worthy and enduring house for their new democracy, that may serve as well as a redoubt for freedom in
Asia. Yet, no sooner is one stone laid than two are taken away. Half our export earnings, $2 billion out of $4
billion, which was all we could earn in the restrictive markets of the world, went to pay just the interest on a
debt whose benefit the Filipino people never received.
Still, we fought for honor, and, if only for honor, we shall pay. And yet, should we have to wring the
payments from the sweat of our men’s faces and sink all the wealth piled up by the bondsman’s two hundred
fifty years of unrequited toil?
Yet to all Americans, as the leader of a proud and free people, I address this question: has there been a
greater test of national commitment to the ideals you hold dear than that my people have gone through? You
have spent many lives and much treasure to bring freedom to many lands that were reluctant to receive it. And
here you have a people who won it by themselves and need only the help to preserve it.
Three years ago, I said thank you, America, for the haven from oppression, and the home you gave Ninoy,
myself and our children, and for the three happiest years of our lives together. Today, I say, join us, America, as
we build a new home for democracy, another haven for the oppressed, so it may stand as a shining testament of
our two nation’s commitment to freedom.
Watch this video: https://www.c-span.org/video/?45803-1/president-philippines-address-congress

Topic 4 - Antonio Pigafetta. First Voyage Around the World

A. Historical Context
One of the benefits that the Europeans gained from Crusaders was the discovery of some products that
were not available in their home country. These included porcelain, silk, incense, herbs, perfumes, fabrics,
carpets, spices and other oriental products. Of all these Asian products, spices became the most expensive and
in-demand commodity among Europeans because of their numerous uses such as food preservation, flavor
enhancement, and even medicine. Since spices were a very lucrative commodity, many merchants aspired to
monopolize their supply and distribution in European markets.
Asian goods reached Europe either via the Silk Road of the Arabian-Italian trade route. Both routs were
expensive and often times disrupted by wars, natural calamities and bandits. The closing of the land route of the
Spice Trade with the conquest by the Ottoman Empire of Constantinople (present-day Turkey and the “gateway
to the West” then) in 1453 forced European kingdoms to look for ways to purchase spices directly from the
source. They decided to explore the oceans to look for ways to the famed Spice Islands.
Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal put up a maritime school that trained sailors to the Spice Islands
(the modern-day Moluccas Island) and other islands in South East Asia via the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian
Ocean.. this route enables them to trade directly with the producers of spices and other Oriental goods. The
numerous economic benefits it gave to Portugal made other monarchs envious and prompted them to search for
a new trade route to Asia. This led to the discovery of many territories previously unknown to the Europeans,
through inhabited already and known to other races.
The marriage of Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon (1469) couple with the
victory of the Catholic monarchs over the Moors in the Battle of GHranada (1492) resulted in the rise of Spain
as a world power. With the domestic problems already under control, Spain started to explore their economic
options outside the Iberian Peninsula. Inspired by the success of Portugal, they aspired to have a fair share in the
spice trade. They financed the trans-Atlantic voyages of Christopher Columbus (1942 to 1502) which resulted
to the discovery of the territories on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Decades later, the Spanish monarch
also supported the plan of Ferdinand Magellan to go to the East by sailing westward, a proposal that Portugal
refused to finance.
 The Magellan-Elcano expedition left the port of San Lucar de Barrameda in Seville on August 20,
1519with around 270 men of different nationalities. One of its main objectives was to search for a new maritime
path to the Spice Islands that would not violate Spain’s treaty with Portugal. Along the way, the expedition
suffered natural and man-made challenges and out of five ships that left Spain only three reached the
Philippines. The first couple of weeks of their stay in the Philippines were marked with hospitality and cordial
exchanges of goods. The local inhabitants traded with them and some were even converted to Christianity.
Lapu-lapu, the chieftain of Mactan, refused to trade with the Spaniards and when Magellan learned this, he
wage war with him. Despite their superiority, in terms of arms and training, the Spaniards lost the battle and one
of the casualties is Magellan himself. When the survivors returned to Cebu, they were also treacherously
attacked by their former allies. This prompted them to leave the island. By that time, their number was kjust
enough to man two ships, the Victoria (now under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano) and the Trinidad.
The expedition finally reached the Spice Islands and managed to purchase a large amount of spices before
leaving. Unfortunately, the Trinidad and her crew were captured by the Portuguese or their journey back.
On September 7, 1552, Elcano and 17 survivors arrived in Spain aboard the ship Victoria. One of them
was Antonio Pigafetta, the assistant of Magellan who kept a journal that became the main source of what we
know now about the first encounter of the Spaniards and the Filipinos.

B. About the Author

Antonio Pigafetta (1491-c.1534), born about 1490 in the town of Vicenza, Venice, Italy, was the eldest
son of Giovanni Pigaffeta and second wife Angela Zoga. He studied astronomy, geography and cartography an
during his younger years worked in ships owned by the Knights of Rhodes.
His biographers described his as a well-educated young man possessing an avid curiosity of the world
around him. He joined the delegation og Monsignor Francesco Chieregati when the latter was assigned as Papal
Nuncio to Spain in 1519. It was during this time when Pigafetta became acquainted with the lucrative spice
trade and heard the news of the voyage to be undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan. After getting the approval of
the Spanish sovereign, he left Barcelona and went to Seville. He presented his credentials to Magellan and to
the Casa de la Contratacion, the office in charge of voyages to the New World. He was admitted as one of the
sobresalientes (supernumeraries), or men coming from prominent families who will join the trip for the love of
adeventure and for the advancement of military service. Pigafetta survived the challenges and catastrophes that
the expedition encountered along the way, including being wounded in the battle of Mactan. He was among the
18 survivors who returned to Spain on Sept 6, 1522 aboard the Victoria with Juan Sebastian Elcano.
From Seville, Pigafetta reported to his Majesty King Carlos V and gave him a handwritten account of
what happened to them during the journey before the returning to his native Italy. Very little is known as to
what happened to him during the latter part of his life except on some accounts that he joined the Knights of the
St. John of Jerusalem in its battle against the Turks. He died sometime in 1534.

C. About the Book

Pigafetta kept a detailed journal of what happened to them from the time they left Seville in 1519 until
they returned to Spain three years after. When he returned to Italy, many of his associates asked him to write a
formal account of the Magellan expedition and have it published. He followed their advice and, after doing it,
he presented his draft to Pope Clement VII, Philippe de Villiers L’Isle-Adam (grandmaster of the Knights of
Rodes) and to Lious of Savoy (mother of King Francis I of France), hoping that they would help him finance its
publication. Unfortunately, he was unable to find a financer who would pay the deposit required by the printer
because by that time, the accounts of Maximillianus Transylvanus and Peter Martyr were already out and
interest on Magellan expedition had died down. Sometime in 1536, a condensed version of his manuscript was
published in Venice by Jacques Fabre.
The original journal of Pigafetta did survive time. What was handed down to us are copies of the
manuscript that were never printed in his lifetime. Three of them were in French and two were kept in
Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. The third one was originally owned by British collector Sir Thomas Phillipps.
Later, Beinecke Rare Book bought it and is now kept in the Manuscript Library of Yale University in New
Haven. The fourth copy was written in mixed Italian, Spanish, and Venetian languages and could be found in
the Ambrosian Library in Milan. In 1800, Carlo Amoretti published an Italian version and the following year a
French version came out in Paris. An English version was published in 1819. James Alexander Robertson made
his own English version of the Ambrosian copy and it appeared in The Philippine Islands opus (Volume 33) as
well as in a separate edition.
Of the four known primary sources that dealt with Magellan expedition, Pigafettas’s account is the
longest and most comprehensive. It recounted the individual fates of the five ships (Trinidad, San Antonio,
Concepcion, Santiago, and Victoria) that comprised the Magellan expedition. It narrated lucidly how they
gallantly survived the unforeseen problems and challenges, such as shortage of food, various types of diseases,
the crew’s lack of confidence in Magellan’s leadership, and the hostile attitude of the people they encountered
during the journey. Pigafetta’s account also included maps glossaries of narrative words and geographic
information and descriptions of flora and fauna of the places they visited.
Pigafetta’s travelogue contributed immensely to the enrichment of Philippine historiography. His
writing provided us a glimpse of the political, economic and social conditions of the islands in the Visayan
region during 16th century. He described vividly the physical appearance, social life, religious beliefs and
cultural practices of the people they encountered in the islands of Samar, Leyte and Cebu. His account contains
data about the economic activities of the local folks and the goods they offered for trade. He got all this
information through the help of Magellan’s slave/interpreter, Enrique de Malacca. Pigafetta likewise gave us an
eyewitness account of the dearh of Magellan in the battle of Mactan.
The report of Pigafetta is quite long and is not here in its entirety. Fort this chapter, we will focus on the
chronicles of Pigafetta as he wrote the firsthand observation and general impression of the Far East including
their experiences in the Visayas. In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet reached what we called the Ladrones Islands
or the “Islands of the Thieves.” He recounted”
“These people have no arms, but use sticks, which have a fish boneat the end. They are poor, but
ingenious and great thieves, and for the sake of that we called these three islands the Ladrones Islands.”
The Ladrones Islands is presently known as the Marianas Islands. These islands are located south-
southeast of Japan, west-southwest of Hawaii, North of New Guinea and east of the Philippines. Ten days after
they reached Ladrones Islands, Oigafetta reported that they reached what Pigafetta called the isle of Zamal, now
Samar but Magellan decided to land in another uninhabited island for greater security where they could rest for
a few days.pigafetta recounted that after two days,March 18, nine men came to them and showed joy and
eagerness in seeing them. Magellan realized that the men were reasonable and welcomed them with food, drinks
and gifts. In turn, the native gave them fish, pal wine (uraca), figs, and two cochos. The natives also gave them
rice (umai), cocos and other food supplies. Pigafetta detailed in amazement and fascination the pal tree which
bore fruits called cocho and wine. He also described that seemed like a coconut. His description reads:
“The palm produces a fruit named cocho, which ia as large as the head, or thereabouts: its husk is green,
and two fingers in thickness, im it they find certain threads, with which they make the cords for fastening their
boats. Under this husk there is another very hard and thicker than that of a walnut. They burn this second rind,
and make with it a powder which is useful to them. Under this rind there is a white marrow of a finger’s
thickness, which they eat fresh with meat and fish, as we do bread, and it has the taste of an almond, and if
anyone dried it he might make bread of it (p.27).”
 Pigafetta characterized the people as “very familiar and friendly” and willingly showed them different
islands and the names of these islands. The fleet went to Humunu Island (Homonhon) and there they found
what Pigafetta referred to as the “Watering Place of Good Signs.” It is in this place where Pigafetta wrote that
they found the first signs of gold in the island. They named the island with the nearby islands as the
Archipelago of St. Lazarus. They left the island, then on March 25th, Pigafetta recouted that they saw two
ballanghai (balangay) , a long boat full of people in Mazzava/Mazaua. The leader, who Pigafetta referred to as
king of the ballanghai (balangay), sent his men to the ship of Magellan. The Europeans entertained these men
and gave them gifts. When the king of the balangay offered to give Magellan a bar of gold and a chest of ginger,
Magellan declined. Magellan sent the interpreter to the king and and asked for money for the needs of the ship
and expressed that he came into the islands as a friend and not as enemy. The king responded by giving
Magellan needed provisions of food in chinaware. Magellan exchanged gifts of robes in Turkish fashion, red
cap, and gave people knives and mirrors. The two then expressed their desire to become brothers. Magellan also
boasted of his men in armor who could not be struck with swords and daggers. The king was fascinated and
remarked that men in such armor could be worth one hundred of his men. Magellan further showed the king his
other weapons, helmets, and artilleries. Magellan also shared with the king his charts and maps and shared how
they find the islands.
After few days, Magellan was introduced to the king’s brother who was also a king of another island.
They went to this island and Pigafetta reported that they saw mines of gold. The gold was abundant that parts of
the ship and of the house of the second king were made of gold. Pigafetta described this king as the most
handsome of all the men that he saw in this place. He was also adorned with silk and gold accessories like a
golden dagger, which he carried with him in a wooden polished sheath. This king was named Raia Calambu,
king of Zuluan and Calagan (Butuan and Caragua), and the first king was Raia Siagu. On March 31st, which
was happened to be Easter Sunday, Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the shore. The king
heard of this plan and sent two dead pigs and attended the Mass with the other King. Pigafetta reported that both
king participated in the mass. He wrote:
“…when the offertory of the mass came, the two kings, went to kiss the cross like us, but they offered
nothing, and at the elevation of the body of our Lord they were kneeling like us, and adored our Lord with
joined hands.”
After the mass, Magellan ordered that the cross be brought with nails and crown in the place. Magellan
explained that the cross, the nail, and the crown were the signs of his emperor and that he was ordered to plant it
in the places he would reach. Magellan further explained that the cross would be beneficial for their people
because once other Spaniard saw this cross, then they would know that they had been in this island and would
not cause them troubles and any person who might be held captives by them would be released. The king
concurred and and allowed for the cross to be planted. The mass in the Philippines and the cross would be
famed Magellan’s Cross still preserved at present day.
After seven days, Magellan and his men decided to move and look for the islands where they could
acquire more supplies and provisions. They learned of the islands of Celyon (Leyte), Bohol, And Zubu (Cebu)
and intended to go there. Raia Calambu offered to pilot them in going to Cebu, the largest and the richest of the
islands, By April 7th of the same year, Magellan and his men reached the port of Cebu. The king of Cebu,
through Magellan’s interpreter, demanded that they pay tribute as it was customary, but Magellan refused.
Magellan said that he was a captain of a king himself and thus would not pay tribute to other kings. Magellan’s
interpreter explained to the king of Cebu that Magellan’s king was the emperor of a great empire and that it
would do them better to make friends with them than forge enmity. The king of Cebu consulted his council. By
the next day, Magellan’s men and the king of Cebu, together with other principal men of Cebu, met in pen
space. There, the king offered a bit of his blood and demanded that Magellan do the same. Pigafetta recounts:
“Then the king said that he was content, and as a greater sign of affection he sent him a little of his
blood from his right arm, and wished he should do the like. Our people answer that he would do it. Besides that,
he said that all captains who came to his country had been accustomed to make a present to him, and he to them,
and therefore they should ask their captain if he would observe the custom. Our people answered that he would;
but as the king wished to keep up custom, let him begin and make a present, and captain would do his duty.”
The following day, Magellan spoke before the people of Cebu about peace and God. Pigafetta reported
that the people took pleasure on Magellan’s speech. Magellan then asked people who would succeed the king
and after his reign and the people responded that the eldest child of the king who happened to be a daughter,
would be the next in line. Pigafetta also related how the people talked about, how at old age, parents were no
longer taken into account and had to follow orders from their children as the new leaders of the land. Magellan
responded to this by saying that his faith entailed children to render honor and obedience to their parents.
Magellan preach about their faith further and people were reportedly convinced. Pigafetta wrote that their men
were overjoyed seeing that the people wished to become Christians through their free will not because they
were forced or intimidated.
On the 14th of April, the people gathered with the king and other principal men of the islands. Magellan
spoke to the king and encouraged him to be a good Christian by burning all of the idols and worhip the cross
instead. The king of Cebu was then baptized as a Christian. Pigafetta wrote:
“To that the king and all his people answered that they would obey the commands of the captain and do
all that he told them. The captain took the king by the hand, and they walked about on the scaffolding, and when
he was baptized he said that he would name him Don Charles (carlos), as the emperor his sovereign was named;
and he named the prince Don Fernand (Fernando), after the brother of emperor, and the King of Mazavva,
Jehan: to the Moor he gave the name of Christopher, and to others each name of his fancy.”
After eight days, Pigafetta counted all of the island’s inhabitants were already baptized. He admitted that they
burned a village down for obeying neither the king nor Magellan. The mass was conducted by the shore every
day. When the queen came to the Mass one day, Magellan gave her an image of the Infant Jesus made by
Pigafetta himself. The king of Cebu swore that he would always be faithful to Magellan. When Magellan
reiterated that all of the newly baptized Christians need to burn their idols, but the native gave excuses telling
Magellan that they needed the idols to heal a sick man who was relative to the king. Magellan insisted that they
should instead out their faith in Jesus Christ. They went to the sick man and baptized him. After the baptismal,
Pigafetta recorded that the man was able to speak again. He called this a miracle.
On the 26th of April, Zula, a principal man from the island of Matan (Mactan) went ot see Magellan
and asked him for a boat full of men so that he would be able to fight the chief named SIlapulapu (Lapulapu).
Such chief, according to Zula, refused to obey the king and was also preventing him from doing so. Magellan
offered three boats instead and expressed his desire to go to Mactan himself to fight the said chief. Magellan’s
forces arrived in Mactan in daylight. They numbered 49 in total and the islanders of Mactan were estimated to
number 1,500. The battle began. Pigafetta recounted:
“When we reached land we found the islanders fifteen hundred in number, drawn up three squadrons;
they came down upon us with terrible shouts, two squadrons attacking us on flanks, and the third in front. The
captain then divided his men in two bands. Our musketeers crossbow-men fired for an hour from a distance, but
did nothing, since the bullets and arrows, though they passed through their shields made of thin wood, and
perhaps wounded their arms, yet did not stop them. The captain shouted not to fire, but he was not listened to.
The islanders seeing that the shots of the guns did them little or no harm would not retire, but shouted more
loudly, and springing from one side to the other to avoid our shots, they at the same time drew nearer to us,
throwing arrows, javelins, spears hardened in fire, stones, and even mud, so that we could hardly defend
ourselves. Some of them cast lances pointed with iron at the captain-general.”
Magellan died in that battle. The natives, perceiving that the bodies of the enemies were protected
with armors, aimed for their legs instead. Magellan was pierced with a poisoned arrow in his right leg. A few of
their men charged at the natives and tried to intimidate them by burning an entire village but this only enraged
the natives further. Magellan was specifically targeted because the natives knew that he was the captain general.
Magellan was hit with a lance in the face. Magellan retaliated and pierced the same native with his lance in the
breast and tried to draw his sword but could not lift it because of his wounded arm. Seeing that the captain has
already deteriorated, more natives came to attack him. One native with a great sword delivered a blow in
Magellan’s left leg, brought him face down and the natives ceaselessly attacked Magellan with lances, swords,
and even with their bare Hands. pigafetta recounted the last moments of Magellan:
“Whilst the Indians were thus overpowering him, several times he turned around towards us to see if
we were all in safety, as though his obstinate fight had no other object than to give an opportunity for the retreat
of his men.”
Pigafetta also said that the king of Cebu who has baptized could have sent help but Magellan
instructed him not to join the battle and stay in the balangay so that he would see how they fought. The king
offered the people Mactan gifts of any value and amount in exchange of Magellan’s body but the chief refused.
They wanted to keep Magellan’s body as memento of their victory.
Magellan’s men elected Duarte Barbosa as the new captain. Pigafetta also told how Magellan’s
slave and interpreter named Henry betrayed them and told king of Cebu that they intended to leave as quickly as
possible as possible. Pigafetta alleged that the slave told the king that if he followed the slave’s advice, then the
king could acquire the ships and the goods of Magellan’s fleet. The two conspired and betrayed what was left of
Magellan’s men. The king invited these men to a gathering where he said he would present the jewels that he
would send for the King of Spain. Pigafetta was not able to join the twenty-four men who attended because he
was nursing his battle wounds. It was only a short time when he heard cries and lamentations. The natives had
slain all of the men except the interpreter and Juan Serrano who was already wounded. Serrano was presented
and shouted at the men in the ship asking them to pay ransom so he would be spared. However, they refused
and would not allow anyone to go to the shore. The fleet abandoned Serrano. They left Cebu and continued
their journey around the world.

D. Analysis of Pigafetta’s Chronicle

The chronicle of Pigafetta was one of the most cited documents by historians who wished to study the
precolonial Philippine. As one of the earliest written accounts, Pigafetta was seen as a credible source for the
period, which was prior unchronicled and undocumented. Moreover, being the earliest detailed documentation,
it was believed that Pigafetta’s writings account for the “purest” precolonial society. Indeed, Pigafetta’s work is
of great importance in the study of Philippine history. Nevertheless, there needs to have a more nuanced reading
of the source within a contextual backdrop. A student of history should recognize certain biases accompanying
the author and his identity, loyalties, and the circumstances that he was in; and how it affected the etxt that he
produces. In the case of Piagafetta, the reader needs to understand that he was a chronicler commissioned by the
King of Spain to accompany and document a voyage intended to expand the Spain empire. He was also of noble
descent who came from a rich family in Italy. These attributes influenced his narrative, his selection of details to
be included in the text, his cgaracterization of the people and of the species that he encountered, and his
interpretation and retelling of the events. Being a scholar of cartography and geography, Pigafetta was a ble to
give details on geography and climate of the spices that their voyage had reached.
In reading Pigafetta’s description of the people, one has to keep in mind that he was coming from the
sixteenth century European perspective. Hence, the reader might notice from a sixteenth century European
perpective. Hence, the reader might notice how Pigafetta, whether implicitly or explicitly, regarded the
indigenous belief systems and way of life as inferior to that of Christianity and of the European. He would
always remark on the nakedness of the natives or how he was fascinated by their exotic culture. Pigafetta also
noticeably emphasized the natives’ amazement and illiteracy to the European artillery, merchandise and other
goods, in the same way that Pigafetta repeatedly mentioned the abundance of spices like ginger, and of precious
metals like gold. His observations and assessments pf the indigenous cultures employed the European standards.
He3nce, when they saw the indigenous attires of the natives, Pigafetta saw them as being naked indeed.
Pigafetta’s perspective was too narrow to realize that such attire was only appropriate to the tropical climate of
the islands. The same was true for materials that the natives used for their houses like palm and bamboo. These
materials would let more air come through the house and compensate for the hot climate in the islands.
It should be understood that such observations were rooted from the context of Pigafetta and of his
era. Europe, for example, was dominated by the Holy Roman Empire, whose loyalty and purpose was the
dominations of the Catholic Church all over the world. Hence, other belief systems different from Christianity
were perceived to be blasphemous and barbaric, even demonic. Aside from this, the sixteenth century European
economy was mercantilist. Such system measures the wealth of kingdoms based on their accumulation of
bullions or precious metals like gold and silver. It was not surprising therefore that Pigafetta would always
mention the abundance of gold in the islands as shown in his description of leaders wearing gold rings and
golden daggers, and of the rich gold mines. An empire like that of the Spain would indeed search for new lands
where they could acquire more gold and wealth to be on top of all European nations. The obsession with spices
might be odd for the Filipinos because of its ordinariness in the Philippines, but understanding the context
would reveal that spices were scarce in Europe and hence were seen as prestige goods. In that era, Spain and
Portugal coveted the control of Spice Islands because it would have led to a certain increase in wealth, influence
and power. These contexts should be used and understood in order to have a more qualified reading of
Pigafetta’s account.

E. Relevance:
A. European Historiography
1. It preserved and popularized the achievements of the Magellan-Elcano expedition.
2. Credit must be given to Magellan expedition for proving that the world is not flat but an oblate sphere and
they demolished the myth that there is boiling water at the equator.
3. Magellan and his men completed the circumnavigation of the world.
4. They confirmed that the Portuguese route is not the only way to the Spice Islands. They proved theory that
one can go to the east by sailing west.
5. They brought to the attention of the Europeans that on the other side of the American continent exists a
large body of water which they named Pacific Ocean (Mar Pacifico)
B. Philippine historiography
1. It contains important details about the conditions of the Visayan Islands in the 16th century. Some of the
prominent leaders during that time, their economic activities, social and cultural practices, and religious beliefs.
2. Source of historical information about the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines, the First Mass and
the conversion of Rajah Humabon and his wife and the story of the image of the Sto. Nino.
3. Numerous accounts about the Filipinos when they met the Spaniards the Spaniards. Some Filipinos were
easily befriended while others refused to interact and trade with them.
4. Lapu-lapu was the first Filipino who led the resistance movement against Spanish rule and successfully
thwarted the first attempt of the Spaniards to take control of the Philippines.

Topic 5 - Customs of the Tagalogs by Fray Juan de Plasencia

A. Historical Context
 During the first century of Spanish rule, the colonial government had difficulty running local politics
because of limited number of Spaniards who wanted to live outside of Intramuros. This situation forced Spanish
officials to hold position of gobernadorcillo. To ensure that gobernadorcillos would remain loyal to the Crown,
the friars assigned in the parishes were instructed to supervise and monitor the activities of the former. Hence,
the friars ended up performing the administrative duties that colonial officials should have been at the local
level. They supervised the election of the local executives helped in the collection of taxes, were directly
involved in educating the youth and performed other civic duties. Consequently, the friars became the most
knowledgeable and influential figure in the pueblo.
The friars who were assigned in mission territories were required periodically to inform their superiors
of what was happening in their respective areas. They prepared reports on the number of natives they converted,
the people’s way of life, their socio-economic situation and the problems they encountered. Some of them
submitted short letters while others who were keen observers and gifted writer wrote long dispatches. On top of
the regular reports they submitted, they also shared their personal observations and experiences. Plasencia’s
Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalogs (Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589) is an example of this kind of
work. It contains numerous information that historians could use in reconstructing the political and socio-
cultural history of the Tagalog region. His work is a primary source because he personally witnessed the events
and his account contained his observations.

B. About the Author

Fray Juan de Plasencia (Joan de Portocarrerro, real name) was a member of Franciscan order who came
together with the first batch of the Franciscan Order who came together with the first batch of missionaries to
the Philippines in 1578. He and the fellow, Franciscan Fray Diego de Oropesa, were assigned to do the mission
works in the Sourthern Tagalog area. Plasencia also helped the foundation and organization of numerous towns
in Quezon, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan. His continuous interaction with the people he converted to Christianity
enables him to write a work titled Reacion de las Custombres de Los Tagalogs (Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589)
where he vividly described the political, social, economic and cultural practices of the Filipinos before they
were Christianized.
Plasencia did not limit himself to the task of administering the sacraments and babtizing new converts.
He believed that catechism or explaining the basic tenets of the Catholic faith is another very important function
of a missionary. His biggest challenge at that time was how to make the articles of faith comprehensible to
people who have never heard of Christ or the Catholic Church. He wrote the Doctrina Christiana En Lengua
Espanola y Tagala which later became the first printed book in the Philippines in 1593. He used it as reading
material for those Filipinos who wished to deepen their faith in the newly-accepted religion. Plasencia died
Liliw, Lagguna in 1590.

C. About the Text

The original document of Customs of the Tagalogs is currently kept in the Archivo General de Indias
(A.G.I.) is Seville, Spain. A duplicate copy of it is kept in the Achivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental (A.E.L.O.), in
Madrid, Spain. An English translation appeared in Volume VII of the Blair Aand Robertson’s The Philippine
Island. Another English translation was publiched as part of the volume for pre-colonial Philippines in the
second series of the Filipiniana Book Guild.
D. OUTLINE OF THE TEXT
Las Costumbres de los Indios Tagalos de Filipinas By Juan de Plasencia (ppt)
A. Social Classes
  Chieftain (Datu)
 Nobles (Maharlika)
 Commoners (Aliping Namamahay)
 Slaves (Aliping Saguiguilir)
Social Classes
1. DATU - chief, captain of wars, whom governed, obeyed and reverenced
2. NOBLES OR MAHARLIKA - Free- born, they do not pay taxes.
3. COMMONERS OR ALIPING NAMAMAHAY - They live in their own houses and lords of their
property and gold
4. SLAVES OR ALIPING SA GUIGUILIR - They serve their master in his house and his cultivated lands
and can be sold.
SLAVES

 A person becomes slave by:

(1) by captivity in war,
(2) by r e a s o n o f d e b t ,
( 3 ) b y inheritance,
(4) by purchase, and
(5) by committing a crime
 Slaves can be emancipated through:
(1) by forgiveness,
(2) b y p a y i n g d e b t ,
( 3 ) b y con don a tio n , a n d
( 4 ) by bravery (where a slave can possibly become a Datu) or by marriage
B. HOUSES - Made of wood, bamboo, and nipa palm.
C. MODE OF DRESSING

 MALE
o Headgear is called Putong (symbolizes the number of persons the wearer had killed)
o (Upper) a jacket with short sleeves called kanggan.
o (Lower) bahag
 FEMALE
o (Upper) Baro or Camisa
o (Lower) Saya

D. GOVERNMENT - The unit of government is called BARANGAY ruled by a chieftain, and consist of 30 to
100 families together with their relatives and slaves
E. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

 The chieftain’s executive function includes implementing laws, ensuring order and giving protection to
his subject.
 Disputes between individuals were settled by a court made up of the chieftain and council of elders.
F. INHERITANCE

 The 1st son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s position;
 if the 1st son dies, the 2nd son succeeds their father;
 in the absence of male heirs, it is the eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain.
G. Marriage Customs

 Men were in general, monogamous; while their wives are called Asawa.
 Courtship begins with Paninilbihan.
 Prior to marriage the man requires to give a dowry:
(1) Bigay- kaya (a piece of land or gold);
(2) Panghihimuyat (a gift for the brides parents);
(3) Bigay-suso (for brides wet nurse).
 Marriage between couples belonging to defferent social classes were not common.
 Several grounds of divorce are:
(1) Adultery,
(2) Abandonment on the part of the husband,
(3) Cruelty, and
(4) Insanity
H. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

 They worship many gods and goddesses:

(1) bathala, supreme being;
(2) Idayanale, god of agriculture;
(3) Sidarapa, god of death;
(4) Agni, god of fire;
(5) Balangaw, god of rainbow;
(6) Mandarangan, god of war;
(7) Lalahon, god of harvest; and
(8) Siginarugan, god of hell.
 Also believe in sacred animals and tress
I. SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS

 Believe in Aswang, Dwende, K a p r e , T i k b a l a n g , Patyanak/Tiyanak.

 They also believe in magical power of amulet and charms such as anting-anting , kulam and gayuma or
love potion.
J. ECONOMIC LIFE

 Agriculture in the plane lands: planting of rice, corn, banana, coconut, sugar canes and other kinds of
vegetable and fruits.
 Hunting in high lands.
 Fishing in river banks and sea.
 Shipbuilding, weaving, poultry, mining and lumbering.
 Domestic trade of different barangays by boat.
 Foreign trade with countries like Borneo, China, Japan, Cambodia, Java, and Thailand.
K. LANGUAGE AND SYSTEM OF WRITING ✣

 Major languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinan, Pangpangan, S u g b u h a n o n , H i l i g a y n o n ,

Magindanaw and Samarnon this languages is originated from the Malayo-Polenisian language.
 System of writing: the alphabets consisted of 3 vowels and 14 consonants called Baybayi.
 They used tap of tress as ink and pointed stick as pencil.
 They wrote on large plant leaves, bark of a tree or bamboo tubes
https://lens.csuandrews.net/pluginfile.php/169184/mod_page/content/2/Customs%20of%20the%20Tagalogs
%20ppt.pptm

E. Relevance:
1. It covers numerous topics that are relevant in may disciplines such as politics. It contains information
about the social classes, political stratifications and legal system of the Tagalog region.
2. It preserves and popularizes the unwritten customs, traditions and religious and superstitious of the
Filipinos.
3. His writings about the Customs of the Tagalogs helped the priests and missionaries to become effective
evangelizers.
4. Disprove the claim of some Spaniards that when they arrived in the Philippines, Filipinos were still
uncivilized and lacking in culture. According to Plasencia, Filipinos were already politically and economically
organized. They had a functioning government, tax system, set of laws, criminal justice system, indigenous
calendar and long-standing customs and traditions. They had concept of Supreme Being (Bathala), practiced
burial customs and believed in life after death. Lastly, the people he met were wearing garments and gold
ornaments and their houses were decorated with idols.

Topic 6 - Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence (Acta dela Proclamacion de la Independencia del
Pueblo Filipino)
A. Historical Context
In April 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out as a result of the U.S. intervention in the Cuban
War of Independence. The U.S. attacked Spain’s Pacific Possession, which led to its involvement in the
Philippine Revolution. Commodore George Dewey sailed from Hongkong to Manila Bay aboard U.S.S
Olympia and led the Squadron of the U.S. Navy.
In May 1898, the Battle of Manila Bay ensued. Emilio Aguinaldo decided to return to the Philippines
from Hongkong, bringing with him the first Philippine flas sewn by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo and
Delfina Herbosa. Upon arriving in Manila, Aguinaldo proceeded to his mansion in Kawit, Cavite to rally all
Filipinos to unite and fight against the Spaniards in the historic battle cry of the “Hour Celebration.” Together
with the Americans, the Filipinos assaulted the Spaniards in the Battle of Manila Bay. However, the said battle
was perceived to be a mock battle as arrangements were already made between the Americans and the
Spaniards, which the latter would hand over the Philippines including Guam and Puerto Rico to the former.
Such arrangements were already finalized in the Treaty of Paris.
After the Battle of Manila Bay, there were still skirmishes between Filipinos and Spaniards in various
provinces in the Philippines. The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence (Acta dela Proclamacion de la
Independencia del Pueblo Filipino) written by Ambrocio Rianzares Bautista had the intention to encourage
Filipinos to fight against the Spaniards. Aguinaldo formally declared Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite
on June 12, 1898. It was symbolically accompanied by playing of the National Anthem composed by Julian
Felipe with lyrics by Jose Palma from his poem Filipinas. At the same time, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista read
the Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence in Spanish. The United States of America, however, never
recognized this declaration.
The Acta dela Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino was among the documents lost
during the height of the pilferage of historical documents in the 1980’s. the centennial anniversary of the
Philippine independence heightened the demand for such documents in the black market. The document was
finally returned to the National Library in 1994 after a professor from the University of the Philippines,
Milagros Guerrero, negotiated for its return.

B. About the Author

Ambrocio Rianzares Bautista (also known as “Don Bosyong’) was born on December 17,
1830 in Biñan, Laguna to Gregorio Enriquez Bautista and Silvestra Altamira. He studied Law at the University
of Sto. Tomas and earned his degree in 1865 (at 35 years old).
He solicited funds to finance the campaign for reforms in the Philippines and became member of the La
Liga Filipina, Cuerpode Compromisarios, and La Propaganda. He was arrested and imprisoned in Fort Santiago
by the Spaniards as he was suspected of being involved in the Philippine Revolution but managed to defend
himself and was eventually released.
He became the first adviser of President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 and contrary to popular belief; it
was Bautista, and not Aguinaldo, who waved the Philippine flag before the jubilant crowd during the
proclamation of the Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite. On July 14, 1898, he was elected as the
president of the Philippines in Revolutionary Congress in Tarlac and was later appointed judge of the Court of
First Instance of Pangasinan. He died on December 4, 1903 (72 years old) from a fatal fall from s horse-drawn
carriage.

C. About the Text

On June 10, 1896, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued on-sentence decree appointing his Auditor General
of War, Ambrocio Rianzares Bautista, as a “special commissioner” to write the Act of Declaration of Philippine
Independence. The result was a sixtee-page document that contained the aspirations of freedom from the
Spanish rul, the sacrifices made, and the revolution that resulted from it. It was the text of this declaration that
was read in Kawit in the afternoon of the celebration of the declaration of independence. Copies of the
document were made and distributed. However, there was a problem in determining how many witnesses really
signed the declaration. The copies classified under Philippine Revolutionary Papers (PRP) in the National
Library had varying numvers. Later research by historian=writer Jim Richardson placed the total number of the
signees at 177.

The Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence (Translation by Sulpicio Guevara)

In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, this 12th day of June 1898:
BEFORE ME, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War Counsellor and Special Delegate designated to proclaim and
solemnize this Declaration of Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines, pursuant to, and
by virtue of, a Decree issued by the Engregious Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy,
The undersigned assemblage of military chiefs and others of the army who could not attend, as well as the
representatives of the various towns,
Taking into account the fact that the people of this country are already tired of bearing the ominous joke of
Spanish domination,
Because of arbitrary arrests and abuses of the Civil Guards who cause deaths in connivance with and even under
the express orders of their superior officers who at times would order the shooting of those placed under arrest
under the pretext that they attempted to escape in violation of known Rules and Regulations, which abuses were
left unpunished, and because of unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos, especially those decreed by General
Blanco at the instigation of the Archbishop and friars interested in keeping them in ignorance for egoistic and
selfish ends, which deportations were carried out through processes more execrable than those of the Inquisition
which every civilized nation repudiates as a trial without hearing.
Had resolved to start a revolution in August 1896 in order to regain the independence and sovereignty of which
the people had been deprived by Spain through Governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who, continuing the course
followed by his predecessor Ferdinand Magellan who landed on the shores of Cebu and occupied said Island by
means of a Pact of Friendship with Chief Tupas, although he was killed in the battle that took place in said
shores to which battle he was provoked by Chief Kalipulako ** of Mactan who suspected his evil designs,
landed on the Island of Bohol by entering also into a Blood Compact with its Chief Sikatuna, with the purpose
of later taking by force the Island of Cebu, and because his successor Tupas did not allow him to occupy it, he
went to Manila, the capital, winning likewise the friendship of its Chiefs Soliman and Lakandula, later taking
possession of the city and the whole Archipelago in the name of Spain by virtue of an order of King Philip II,
and with these historical precedents and because in international law the prescription established by law to
legalize the vicious acquisition of private property is not recognized, the legitimacy of such revolution can not
be put in doubt which was calmed but not complete stifled by the pacification proposed by Don Pedro A.
Paterno with Don Emilio Aguinaldo as President of the Republic established in Biak-na-Bato and accepted by
Governor-General Don Fernando Primo De Rivera under terms, both written and oral, among them being a
general amnesty for all deported and convicted persons; that by reason of the non-fulfillment of some of the
terms, after the destruction of the plaza of Cavite, Don Emilio Aguinaldo returned in order to initiate a new
revolution and no sooner had he given the order to rise on the 31st of last month when several towns
anticipating the revolution, rose in revolt on the 28th , such that a Spanish contingent of 178 men, between Imus
Cavite-Viejo, under the command of major of the Marine Infantry capitulated , the revolutionary movement
spreading like wild fire to other towns of Cavite and the other provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas,
Bulacan, Laguna, and Morong, some of them with seaports and such was the success of the victory of our arms,
truly marvelous and without equal in the history of colonial revolutions that in the first mentioned province only
the Detachments in Naic and Indang remained to surrender; in the second all Detachments had been wiped out;
in the third the resistance of the Spanish forces was localized in the town of San Fernando where the greater part
of them are concentrated, the remainder in Macabebe, Sexmoan, and Guagua; in the fourth, in the town of Lipa;
in the fifth, in the capital and in Calumpit; and in last two remaining provinces, only in there respective capitals,
and the city of Manila will soon be besieged by our forces as well as the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac,
Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, and some others in the Visayas where the revolution at the time of the
pacification and others even before, so that the independence of our country and the revindication of our
sovereignty is assured.
And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the
protection of our Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, The United States of America, we do hereby proclaim and
declare solemnly in the name by authority of the people of these Philippine Islands,
That they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they have ceased to have allegiance to the
Crown of Spain; that all political ties between them are should be completely severed and annulled; and that,
like other free and independent States, they enjoy the full power to make War and Peace, conclude commercial
treaties, enter into alliances, regulate commerce, and do all other acts and things which and Independent State
Has right to do,
And imbued with firm confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to support this
Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and with our sacred possession, our Honor.
We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders emanating from the same, the Dictatorship established by
Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we reverse as the Supreme Head of this Nation, which today begins to have a life
of its own, in the conviction that he has been the instrument chosen by God, inspite of his humble origin, to
effectuate the redemption of this unfortunate country as foretold by Dr. Don Jose Rizal in his magnificent verses
which he composed in his prison cell prior to his execution, liberating it from the Yoke of Spanish domination,
And in punishment for the impunity with which the Government sanctioned the commission of abuses by its
officials, and for the unjust execution of Rizal and others who were sacrified in order to please the insatiable
friars in their hydropical thirst for vengeance against and extermination of all those who oppose their
Machiavellian ends, trampling upon the Penal Code of these Islands, and of those suspected persons arrested by
the Chiefs of Detachments at the instigation of the friars, without any form nor semblance of trial and without
any spiritual aid of our sacred Religion; and likewise, and for the same ends, eminent Filipino priest, Doctor
Don Jose Burgos, Don Mariano Gomez, and Don Jacinto Zamora were hanged whose innocent blood was shed
due to the intrigues of these so-called Religious corporations which made the authorities to believe that the
military uprising at the fort of San Felipe in Cavite on the night of January 21, 1872 was instigated by those
Filipino martyrs, thereby impeding the execution of the decree- sentence issued by the Council of State in the
appeal in the administrative case interposed by the secular clergy against the Royal Orders that directed that the
parishes under them within the jurisdiction of this Bishopric be turned over to the Recollects in exchange for
those controlled by them in Mindanao which were to be transferred to the Jesuits, thus revoking them
completely and ordering the return of those parishes, all of which proceedings are on file with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to which they are sent last month of the year of the issuance of the proper Royal Degree which,
in turn, caused the grow of the tree of the liberty in our dear land that grow more and more through the
iniquitous measures of oppressions, until the last drop of our chalice of suffering having been drained, the first
spark of revolution broke out in Caloocan, spread out to Santa Mesa and continued its course to the adjoining
regions of the province were the unequalled heroism of its inhabitants fought a one sided battle against superior
forces of General Blanco and General Polavieja for a period of 3 months, without proper arms nor ammunitions,
except bolos, pointed bamboos, and arrows.
Moreover, we confer upon our famous Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo all the powers necessary to enable him
to discharge the duties of Government, including the prerogatives of granting pardon and amnesty,
And lastly, it was results unanimously that this Nation, already free and independent as of this day, must used
the same flag which up to now is being used, whose designed and colored are found described in the attached
drawing, the white triangle signifying the distinctive emblem of the famous Society of the "Katipunan" which
by means of its blood compact inspired the masses to rise in revolution; the tree stars, signifying the three
principal Islands of these Archipelago - Luzon, Mindanao, and Panay where the revolutionary movement
started; the sun representing the gigantic step made by the son of the country along the path of Progress and
Civilization; the eight rays, signifying the eight provinces - Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija,
Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas - which declares themselves in a state of war as soon as the first revolt was
initiated; and the colors of Blue, Red, and White, commemorating the flag of the United States of America, as a
manifestation of our profound gratitude towards this Great Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us
and continues lending us.
And holding up this flag of ours, I present it to the gentlemen here assembled:
(The text is followed by the Signatures of the Witnesses)
Who solemnly swear to recognize and defend it unto the last drop of their blood.
In witness thereof, I certify that this Act of Declaration of Independence was signed by me and by all those here
assembled including the only stranger who attended those proceedings, a citizen of the U.S.A., Mr. L.M.
Johnson, a Colonel of Artillery.
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista
War Counsellor and Special Delegate-Designate
D. Analysis of the “Declaration of Philippine Independence”
A re-examination of the document on the declaration of independence can reveal some often
overlooked historical truths about this important event in Philippine history. Aside from this, the document
reflects the general revolutionary sentiment of that period. For example, the abuses specifically mentioned in
the proclamation like friar abuse, racial discrimination, and inequality before the law reflect the most
compelling sentiments represented by revolutionary leadership. However, no mention was made about the more
serious problem that affected the masses more profoundly (i.e, the land and agrarian crisis felt by the numerous
Filipino peasants in the 19th century) This is ironic specially when renowned Philippine Revolution historian,
Teodoro Agoncillo, stated that the Philippine revolution was an agrarian revolution. The common revolutionary
soldiers fought in the revolution for the hope of owning the lands that they were tilling once friar estates in
different provinces like Batangas and Laguna dissolve, if and when the revolution succeeded. Such aspects and
realities of the revolutionary struggle were either unfamiliar to the middle class revolutionary leaders like
Emilio Aguinaldo, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista and Felipe Buencamino, or were intentionally left out because
they were landholders themselves.
The proclamation also gives us the impression on how the victorious revolutionary government of
Aguinaldo historicized the struggle for independence. There were mentions of past events that were seen as
important turning points of the movement against Spain. The execution of GOMBURZA, for example, and the
failed Cavite Mutiny of 1872 was narrated in detail. This shows that they saw this event as a significant
awakening of the Filipinos in the real conditions of the nation under Spain. Jose Rizal’s legacy and martyrdom
was also mentioned in the document. However, the Katipunan as the pioneer of the revolutionary movement
was only mentioned once toward the end of the document. There was no mention of the Katipunans foundation.
Bonifacio and his co-founders were also left out. It can be argued, thus, that the way of historical narration
found in the document also reflects the politics of the victors. The enmity between Aguinaldo’s Magdalo and
Bonifacio’s Magdiwang in the Katipunan is no secret in the pages of our history. On the contrary, the wars led
by Aguinaldo men with the forces of the United States were discussed in detail.
The point is even official records and documents like the proclamation of independence, while truthful
most of the time, still exudes the politics and biases of whoever is in power. This manifests in the selectiveness
of the information that can be found in these records. It is the task of the historian, thus, to analyze the content
of these documents in relation to the dominant politics and the contexts of the people and the institutions
surrounding it. This tells us a lesson on taking primary sources like official government records within the
circumstances of this production. Studying one historical subject, thus, entails looking at multi primary sources
and pieces of historical evidences in order to have a more nuanced and contextual analysis of our past.

Topic 7 - A Glance at Selected Philippine Political Caricature in Alfred McCoy’s Philippine Cartoons:
Political Caricature of the American Era (1900-1941)
A. Historical Background
The Spanish colonial period in the Philippines was characterized by strict censorship resulting in a lack of
political liberty and minimal avenues for expressing political views. Spanish censorship banned religious
publications, thus compelling newspaper publications to be distributed underground. However, the transition to
the American colonial period provided leeway in the publication of independent newspapers. Initially,
newspapers were scrutinized by the government to ensure that they did not contain anti-American sentiments
which were branded as subversive and were confiscated. As such, the four decades of the American colonial
rule became a formative period in Philippine history.
 Censorship was loosened when a civil government was established in 1901. This gave the Filipinos the right to
published without prior censorship of the government. Two months after censorship was removed, Rafael
Palma launched El Renacimiento (Rebirth) which became the most influential of the early nationalist
newspapers campaigning for the right to free press. Whenever the Americans left offended with any
publication, they used libel and sedition laws to obstruct the developing hostilities. After facing two libel suits,
El Renacimiento had to discontinue. Nevertheless, Martin Ocampo and Fernando Ma. Guererro established a
new publication, La Vanguardia, in the same office and survived until World War II as one of Manila’s leading
newspaper.

B. About the Author

Alfred McCoy was born on June 8, 1945 in Massachusetts USA. He earned hi BA in European Studies from
Columbia College in 1968. He finished his MA in Asian Studies at the University of California in Berkeley in
1969 and his PhD in Southeast Asian History of Yale University in 1977. He studied Philippine political
caricatures to understand the social and political context of the Philippines during American period and later
worked with Alfredo Roces, his co-author of Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricatures of the American Era.
Though McCoy did not create any political caricatures, his interest in them urged him to compile such
caricatures from various sources to produce a single collection.
Alfredo Reyes Roces was born on April 29, 1923. He was a painter, an essayist and a versatile artist who
considered being a prominent figure in Philippine art. His paintings started with a figurative style but soon
began to amalgamate expressionism, Fauvism, and expressionism.

C. About the Text

Political cartoons and caricature are rather recent art form, which veered away from the classical art by
exaggerating human features and poking fun as its subjects. Such genre and technique became a part of the print
media as a form of social and political commentary, which usually targets persons of power and authority.
Cartoons became an effective tool of publicizing opinions through heavy use of symbolism, which is different
from verbose written editorial and opinion pieces. The unique way that a caricature represents opinion and
captures the audience’s imagination is reason enough for the historians to examine these political cartoons.
Commentaries in mass media inevitably shape public opinion and such kind of opinion is worthy of historical
examination.
In his book of Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricatures of the American Era(19001941, Alfred McCoy,
together with Alfredo Roces, complied political cartoons published in newspapers dailies and periodical in the
aforementioned time period. For this part, we are going to look at selected cartoons and explain the content of
each one.
The first example shown above was published in The Independent on May 20, 1916. The cartoon shows a
politician from Tondo , named Dr. Santos, passing his crown to his brother-in-law, Dr. Barcelona. A Filipino
guy (as depicted wearing salakot and barong tagalog) was trying to stop Santos, telling the latter to stop giving
Barcelona the crown because it is not his to begin with.
The second cartoon was also published by the The Independent on June 16, 1917. This was drawn by Fernando
Amorsolo and was a commentary to the workings of Manila Police at that period. Here, we see a Filipino child
who stole a skinny chicken because he had nothing to eat. The police officer was relentlessly pursuing the said
child. A man wearing a salakot, labered Juan de la Cruz was grabbing the officer, telling him to leave the small-
time pick pockets and thieves and to turn at the great thieves instead. He was pointing to huge warehouses
containing bulks of rice, milk and grocery products.

The third cartoon was a commentary on the unprecedented cases of colorum automobile in the city streets. The
Philippine Free Press published this commentary when fatal accidents involving colorum vehicles and taxis
occurred too often already.
This fourth cartoon depicts a cinema. A blown-up police officer was at the screen saying that couples are not
allowed to neck and make love the theater. Two youngsters look horrified while an older couple seemed
amused.

The next cartoon was published by the The Independent on November 27, 1915. Here, we see the caricature of
Uncle Sam riding a chariot pulled by Filipinos wearing school uniforms. The Filipino boys were carrying
American objects like baseball bats, whiskey and boxing gloves. McCoy, in his caption to the said cartoon, says
that this cartoon was based on an event in 1907 when William Howard Taft was brought to the Manila pier
riding a chariot pulled by students of Liceo de Manila. Such was condemned by the nationalist at that time.

For more cartoons, click the link below. These are selected sections and cartoon from Philippine Cartoons:
Political Caricature of the American Era. You may read it if you want.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alfred_Mccoy/publication/
315678206_Selected_sections_and_cartoons_from_'Philippine_Cartoons_Political_Caricature_of_the_America
n_Era_1900-1941'_edited_by_Alfred_W_McCoy_and_Alfredo_R_Roces_1985/links/
58dacc6992851ce5e94aa561/Selected-sections-and-cartoons-from-Philippine-Cartoons-Political-Caricature-of-
the-American-Era-1900-1941-edited-by-Alfred-W-McCoy-and-Alfredo-R-Roces-1985.pdf

D. Analysis of the Political Caricatures during the American Period

The selected cartoons illustrate not only the opinion of certain media outfits about the Philippine society
during the American period but also paint a broad image of society and politics under United States. In the
arena of politics for example, we see the price that Filipinos paid for democracy modeled after the Americans.
First, it seemed that Filipino politicians at the time did not understand well enough the essence of democracy
and the accompanying democratic institutions and processes. This can be seen in the rising dynastic politics in
Tondo as depicted in the cartoon published by The Independent. Patronage also became influential and
powerful, not only between clients and patrons but also between the newly formed political parties composed of
the elite and the United States. This was depicted in the cartoon in the cartoon where the US, represented by
Uncle Sam, provided doll outs for members of the Federalista while the Nacionalista politicians looked on and
waited for their turn. Thus, the essence of competing political parties to enforce choices among the voters was
cancelled out. The problem continues up to the present where the politicians transfer from one party to another
depending on which party was powerful in specific period of time.
The transition from a Catholic-centered, Spanish-Filipino society to an imperial American-assimilated
one, and its complications, were also depicted in the cartoons. One example is the unprecedented increase of
motorized vehicles in the city. Automobiles became popular mode of transportation in the city and led the
emergence of taxis. However, laws and policy of implementation was mediocre. This resulted in the increasing
colorum and unlicensed vehicles transporting people around the city. The rules governing the issuance of
driver’s license was loose and traffic police could not be bothered by rampant violations of traffic rules. This is
a direct consequence of the drastic urbanization of the Philippine society. Another sample is what McCoy called
the “sexual revolution” that occurred in the 1930s. Young people, as early as that period disturbed conservative
Filipino mindset by engaging in daring sexual activities in public places like cinemas. Here, we can see how
that period was the meeting point between the conservative past and the liberated future of the Philippines.
Lastly, the cartoons also illustrated the conditions of poor Filipinos in the Philippine now governed by
the US. From the looks of it, nothing much has changed. For example, a cartoon depicted how police authorities
oppress petty Filipino criminals while turning a blind eye on boarders who monopolized goods in their huge
warehouses (presumably Chinese merchants)

Topic 8 - Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo

A. Background of the Author

 Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit, Cavite.
 Son of C arlos Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy, a Chinese mestizo couple with eight (8) children which
Emilio was the seventh.
 The Aguinaldo family was quite well-to-do as his father Carlos was the community’s appointed
gobernadorcillo (municipal governor)
 He attended high school at Colegio de San Juan de Letran but he had to stop because of his father’s
death.
 He then took up the responsibility of helping his mother run their farm.
 At 17, he became the Cabeza Barangay of Binakayan.
 At 25, he became Cavite Viejo’s first gobernadorcillo capitan municipal
 He joined the Katipunan and used the nom de guerre, Magdalo
 He became the President of the First Philippine Republic and the Biak-na-Bato Republic.
 Youngest president at the ageof29.
 Battles fought: Philippine Revolution, Spanish– American War, Philippine American War
 Emilio Aguinaldo died in Quezon City on February 6, 1964 from heart attack
 He was 94 years,10 months and 15days old when he died.
 Aguinaldo’s Funeral

B. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DOCUMENT

 The original memoirs in Tagalog was prepared by Aguinaldo in his own handwriting between 1928 to
1946.
  It was at the c l ose of 1963 when Aguinaldo, after much deliberation decided to publish his memoirs in
1967.

C. Contents of the Book

Chapter28: My Bloodiest Fight

 From August 31 to September 1, 1896, under his command, the Filipino revolutionaries defeated the
Spanish troops at Cavite.
 My Bloodiest Fight General Candido Tria Tirona and Captain Simeon Alcantara were among the
casualties of this battle.
 The whole province of Cavite was completely liberated from the Spaniards on November 1896.
Chapter 30: Magdiwang Council Reorganized

 Cavite was liberated through the efforts of both the Magdiwang and Magdalo councils.
 Magdiwang (monarchial) King- Andres Bonifacio
 Magdalo (republican) President– Baldemoro Aguinaldo
 Magdiwang - Noveleta, San Francisco de Malabon, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Ternate, Maragondon,
Magallanes, Bailen, Alfonso, Indang and San Roque
 Magdalo - Caviteel Viejo, Imus, Dasmarinas, Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Nunez, Bacoor, and Carmona
Chapter 38: My Election to the Presidency

 An assembly was called upon to bridge the gap between Magdiwang and Magdalo factions.
 The assembly turned out to be an election of leaders for the new revolutionary government.
 Aguinaldo was elected President while Bonifacio was elected Director of the Interior.
 Aguinaldo was at Pasong Santol in Dasmariñas on March 22,1897.
 He learned of his election as President of the new revolutionary government
 Aguinaldo’s brother, General Crispulo Aguinaldo persuaded him to go to Tejerosto take his oath of
office.
 At 7:00 in the evening, Aguinaldo,Trias and Riego de Dios took their oaths of office
 On March 24,1897, Aguinaldo received news that Bonifacio and his ministers met in a council as passed
a resolution declaring null and void the meeting at Tejeros.
 Aguinaldo revealed the plot of Bonifacio to kidnap him
 Pasong Santol fell in the hands of the Spaniards
Chapter 42: Military Court

 Charges were made against the Bonifacio brothers.

 A military court was created with Colonel Jose Lipana as presiding judge.
Chapter 44: Death ofthe Bonifacio Brothers

 The Bonifacio brothers were found guilty and sentenced to death.

 Aguinaldo commuted the sentencetobanishment.
 Generals Pio del Pilar and Mariano Noriel persuaded Aguinaldo to impose the original sentence.

D. Contribution to the Grand Narrative of Philippine History

  Contribution to the Grand Narrative of Philippine History It gives us an insight into the personal
thoughts and feelings of Aguinaldo which will help in a deeper understanding of PhilippineHistory.
 Contribution to the Grand Narrative of Philippine History Aguinaldo’s memoirs which is a first hand
narrative of the First Philippine Republic president which offers a different perspective and provides a
basis for corroboration of other historical sources.
 Contribution to the Grand Narrative of Philippine History It is an attempt of Emilio Aguinaldo to wash
his hands on the tragic death of Andres Bonifacio. Thus, it is away of vindicating himself from negative
aspersions against him.
E. Relevance of the Document
Relevance of the Document Issues affecting contemporary leaderships were caused by or rooted from the past –
Power struggle – Lack of unity – Treachery