MODULE 1 - LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY
Definitions of History
• The record of the human past from the time written records began to
appear.
• Interpretative and imaginative study of surviving records of the past,
either written or unwritten, in order to determine the meaning and
scope of human existence. (Funtecha)
• Study of man, his growth and development in all aspects – political,
economic, social, cultural, and others. (S.P. Pathak, 2004)
• The recorded struggle of people for ever increasing freedom and for
newer and higher realization of the human person. (Constantino)
• History according to Llewelyn and Thompson (2020) is the study of
the past, specifically the people, societies, events, and problems of
the past as well as our attempts to understand them. It is a pursuit
common to all human societies.
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present
controls the past.”
- George Orwell (1984)
“History is the witness of the times, the light of the truth, the life of
memory, the teacher of life, and the messenger of antiquity.”
- Cicero Roman Statesman
Etymology “Historia” (Greek word) – learning by investigation or
inquiry.
A student of history should immerse himself in investigation or
inquiry to get the message of the past. Without investigation the study
of history is superficial.
Two Major Considerations
1) History relates to everything that had happened in the past.
2) History refers to a kind of research or inquiry.
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Meaning of History in Three Dimensions
1) History is focus on human activities
2) History as a field of inquiry, generally fall in the science, particularly
to the social sciences.
3) History is concerned with the past.
Important Elements of History
A. “Branch of Social Science”
• The study of facts based on observation and experimentation.
B. “Study of the Past”
• Peoples, event, places and even civilizations are one of the main
concerns in studying history. Therefore, we will study the past,
regarding Rizal’s life, works and writings that all happened in the
19th Century Philippines.
C. “Relation to the present and the future”
• Even if Rizal belonged to the 19th century, his life, works and
thoughts are relevant until today.
• His first novel, Noli Me Tangere, talks about the “social cancer” like
corruption, vices and wrong beliefs that are still existing up to this
time.
Relevance of History
• Bridging the gap between the present and the past
• Explaining the causes of things and events.
• Projecting the future
• Interpreting condition of a given space and time.
• Promoting Nationalism and Patriotism.
a) Nationalism - “the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests
of one’s own nation viewed as separate from the interests of
other nations or the common interests of all nations.” In short,
nationalism is a kind of excessive, aggressive patriotism
b) Patriotism - “devoted love, support, and defense of one’s
country; national loyalty.”
 MODULE 1 - LESSON 2: HISTORICAL SOURCES
Historical Sources
1) Primary sources are those sources produced simultaneously as the
event, period, or subject being studied.
a) physical evidence in history such as artifacts, relics, remains,
fossils and even oral tradition.
2) Secondary sources are sources produced by an author who relied on
primary sources to write the material. In other words, secondary sources
are products of historical research that other historians use for additional
information or as background to their study.
a) Published Materials - newspapers, magazines, journals, etc.
b) Unpublished Materials - letters, biographies, theses written by a
scholar. (i.e. The Diary of Anne Frank)
Historical Documentation
“No documents, no history…,” Teodoro Agoncillo
• Historical Documentation is very important for biography in the sense
that it is proof that the person was existing during his time.
• Primary Evidence - records, letters, birth and death certificates, voice
recordings, paintings, etc.
Ex. In the case of Rizal - Noli Me Tangere & the Epistolario Rizalino
(Letters of Rizal)
Historiography - process of writing historical details. It narrates history in a
proper way according to the time, space and depth.
“Historical Imagination” - when the reader puts himself in the picture of
writing history. For example, reading biographies puts you in the same
person in order for that person to come alive.
By employing historical imagination, we make the story come alive.
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Two Ways for Evaluating Historical Sources
1. External Criticism
a) Authenticity or originality by checking the validity of the source.
b) Physical characteristics
c) Consistency with the historical character of the time when it was
supposedly produced.
External Criticism
• Who wrote the document? For what purpose was the
document written?
• When was the document written?
• Is the date of the document accurate?
• Where was the document written?
• Do different forms or versions of the document exist?
2. Internal Criticism
a) Reliability or accuracy of an authenticated source
b) It has been subjected to external criticism
Internal Criticism
• Was the author present at the event?
• Was he a participant or observer of the event?
• Was the author competent to describe the event?
• Does the language of the document suggest a bias of any sort?
• Do other versions of the event exist?
MODULE 2 - LESSON 1: THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
First Cry of The Philippine Revolution
⎯ initial move of the Filipinos to begin the revolution for independence.
⎯ CRY meaning “public proclamation” (Merriam Dictionary)
⎯ Spaniards “El Grito De Rebelion” meaning “call for revolution”
⎯ Marked by tearing cedulas
1. Balintawak
A. Guillermo Masangkay
✓ One of the members of the Katipunan
✓ Designated to build the KKK in Cavite
✓ Friend and adviser of Bonifacio
• First Cry-Balintawak - August 26,1896 (1932 interview by the Sunday
Tribune Magazine)
• Revolution began on August 23, 1896 in Pugadlawin (1957 Interview
with Bagong Buhay)
2. Pugadlawin
B. Teodoro Agoncillo
✓ Was a prominent 20th century Filipino historian
✓ Author of Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio and the
Katipunan
✓ History of the Filipino People
• Based his article from Pio Valenzuela’s narratives
• Valenzuela’s accounts published as Memoirs of the KKK & the
Revolution
• Valenzuela’s first version was the Cry of Balintawak as fresh from his
memory in an inter August 26, 1896 view by a Spanish investigator
• Later with a fading memory and without consulting written documents
of the Philippine Revolution, he wrote in his Memoirs of the Philippine
Revolution that the Cry happened in Pugadlawin August 23, 1896
Historical Context
Supremo Bonifacio proceed to a designated meeting place outside of the
city to decide on the next move
Discovery of the KKK is August 19, 1896
Original plan- revolution to start at the end of August
Early arrest of revolutionaries led to the early plan to revolt
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Controversy: The focal point of the issue which calls for a debatable discussion
is based on the textual analysis of various historical critics, re: the credibility of
sources.
In view of the controversy on the tale of Unang Sigaw, which
have been presented in different versions as early historians and
writers came up with a bewildering array of dates, places and
difference in interpretation of the term “cry”, the resulting “Cry of
Balintawak” dispute lasted for decades. As there were some errors
made by early historians on the subject, wherein historical facts
are believed to be manipulated and distorted.
Source: Prof. Xiao’s Video Clip
Different Versions in The Dates and Places
➢ August 22, 1896 - Kangkong
➢ August 23, 1896 - Pugadlawin
➢ August 24, 1896 - Bahay Toro
➢ August 26, 1896 – Balintawak
inconsistencies in the data
Places - all the places mentioned are found in Balintawak
the cry did not happen in only one place but in many places
which all are located in Balintawak
According to Guerrero as mentioned by Prof Xiao, what
needs to be remembered is the date of the establishment of a
Filipino government and not the issue on the cry
The interpretations are affected by the following factors:
1. Oversimplification - occurs when an interpretation does not offer
enough details to provide a fuller picture of what happened in the
past, which could lead to an incomplete and inaccurate version of
the historical account.
2. Inadequate evidence – occurs when we perpetuate a reading of the
past that may have been wrong in the first place
3. Tentativeness - the quality of not being certain or confident
MODULE 2 - LESSON 1: THE FIRST MASS
Analysis of Historical Events
Introduction
• One of the aims of Spanish colonization is to spread Christianity
⎯ planted the wooden cross (proof of conquest of the territory)
⎯ converted the natives to Christianity
⎯ Held the First Mass: March 31, 1521 - Easter Sunday
Controversy: Chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta and Francisco Albo’s
(Magellan’s companion) logbook. (rediscovery of two primary sources)
Site of the First Mass
Francisco Albo’s Logbook
Chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta
(Magellan’s Companion)
Mazaua Mazava
About Limasawa
• Philippine Committee on Geographic Names:
⎯ Limasawa (Mazaua, Mazava)
• Limasawa was derived from Massaua
⎯ According to Jayme C. de Veyra
• Location of Limasawa tallies with that of Mazzaua
• Reason for going to Limasawa
⎯ Though the northern portion is hilly but the southern
portion is all level land with few hills, It has fertile land,
natives were friendly, there was enough food, water and
wood. Here the Mass could be said with solemnity and the
cross could be planted on the top of the hill facing south,
west or east.
A. Interpretation Of the Accounts of Pigafetta by
Scholars/Historians
1. Written in the book of Blair and Robertson “The Philippine
Islands” published 1906 (reproduced the Italian text of
Pigafetta’s chronicles with English Translation)
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
2. Limasawa has been generally accepted since then to mean
Masaua (Bernad, 1983).
B. Geographical Location or Route of The Voyage
1. Magellan - eastern coast of Leyte with Hibuson island on his
left, down to Panaon island which looks like a part of Leyte.
2. Mazaua is separate island from Limasawa
3. From Panaon, the wind was blowing westward from the
Pacific, considering that this was late March to April, the east
wind is strong. They went west or southwest toward the island
of Limasawa. This was affirmed in the book of Arcilla in
history 1998
❖ Butuan or any other point of Mindanao coast was not in the
itinerary of Magellan’s expedition. (The survivors went there
only after Magellan’s death).
C. Arguments for Limasawa as to Legislations and Celebrations
1. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2733 - An act to declare the site in
Magallanes, Limasawa island in the province of Leyte, where
the first mass in the Philippines was held as a national shrine,
to provide for the preservation of historical monuments and
landmarks thereat, and for other purposes
❖ Dispute was officially settled in March 1998 by the National
Historical Institute panel composed of several historians, some
were from UP Diliman Department of History. The National
Historical Institute (NHI) ruled in favor of Limasawa
❖ Decision reaffirmed in 1998
Primary Evidence
- Gold, Balanhai, Porcelain Dishes, Nipa, Wine, Sago, Ricefields
- The kings of Butuan and Masao are brothers. It is against
human experience if their kingdoms are far from each other.
- Mazaua is Masao, Butuan