CHAPTER 1

HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY:

MEANING AND RELEVANCE
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Explain history as an academic discourse;
• Apply historical methodologies;
• Discuss the development of historiography, particularly Philippine
historiography.
• Discuss the importance of history in the creation of national identities
and development and make it part of Filipino consciousness.
WHAT IS HISTORY?
 MEANING OF HISTORY

•History as always been known as the study of the past.

•History was derived from the Greek word historia

which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry
or investigation.”
 MEANING OF HISTORY

•History is concerned with the study of the human past.

(Barnes, 1963)

•History is not just the past but also and principally the
present and future. (Medina)
 WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY HISTORY?

• History must be studied because it is significant both to

society and people for it helps us better understand
ourselves, our strengths, limitations and aspirations.
(Stern)
• The study of history became possible with the development of
writing.
 History can be divided into different branches as follows:
 General history – which covers political, economic, diplomatic and military
history.
 Economic history – which includes economic thoughts and economic system.
 Cultural history – which covers local and ethnic history; social history and
myth history.
 HISTORY AND PHILIPPINE HISTORIOGRAPHY

• Historiography is the art of writing. It also refers to the theory

and history of historical writing.

•The term historiography is rooted from the Greek word “historia”

which means past and “graphier” which means to write.
 HISTORY AND PHILIPPINE HISTORIOGRAPHY

• Using Filipino as medium of instruction, history

defined as ang kasaysayan ay isang salaysay tungkol
sa nakalipas na may saysay sa isang grupo ng tao.
With this definition, the study of Philippine history is
redirected to what the people believe to be important
to them.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE HISTORIOGRAPHY
• For so many years, Filipino historians became followers of a
very rigid tradition in writing history – a tradition based on
positivism.
• Positivism – holds that historical knowledge and
interpretation ought to be based upon verifiable data gathered
after examination of documents through internal and external
criticisms
 1.1 THE WRITING OF HISTORY DURING THE
SPANISH PERIOD

• The early historians were Spanish friars, their accounts

were focused on the Spanish history of the Philippines,
specifically their missionary experience in the country.
 1.1 THE WRITING OF HISTORY DURING THE
SPANISH PERIOD

Dominican Order of St. Recollect

Augustinians Jesuit Fathers
Order Francis Fathers
 1.2 SECULAR HISTORIANS DURING THE
SPANISH PERIOD

• The writing of history during the Spanish period was

not confined to the hands of the friars. As a prof, many
secular historians had shown great interest in the
Philippine affairs which they recorded
 1.2 SECULAR HISTORIANS DURING THE
SPANISH PERIOD

Dr. Antonio de Morga Antonio Pigafetta

(Spanish official) Filipino Illustrados
(Foreign Writer)
 1.3 FILIPINO HISTORIANS DURING THE
SPANISH PHILIPPINES

Jose Rizal Marcelo del Pilar Graciano Lopez Jaena Antonio Luna
 1.3 FILIPINO HISTORIANS DURING THE
SPANISH PHILIPPINES

• The Filipino illustrados like Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar,

Graciano Lopez Jaena, Pedro Paterno, Antonio Luna, Marcelo
Ponce, and Isabelo delos Reyes, among others, can be considered
as the first Filipino nationalist-historians who defended the
Philippines and the Filipino from a very biased portrayal by
foreign historians.
 1.4 THE WRITING OF HISTORY DURING THE
AMERICAN PERIOD

• The writing of history during American Period can be considered

better compared to the writings of history during the Spanish
Period. Although, most of the writings of the Americans about the
Philippines were extremely biased, still there were few Americans
who wrote in favor of the Filipinos.
 1.4 THE WRITING OF HISTORY DURING THE
AMERICAN PERIOD

• Historians during this period can be classified into the following:

• Filipino Illustrado
• American colonial officials
• non-colonial officials
• so-called academic historians
 1.5 HISTORICAL WRITINGS DURING THE
THIRD REPUBLIC

• History writing during this period was influenced by the cold war. The
Philippines, being known as an ally of the United States tried to combat
communism by privileging the achievements of the colonizers in Philippine
history.

• Most of the writings during this period are actually the history of
the colonist/colonizers in the Philippines.
 READINGS

• Reading no. 1 – THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY HENCE

• Reading no. 2 – DASALAN AT TOKSOHAN
• Reading no. 3 – PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUAN LUPA