HIRAYA

Professor Neilson A. Silva

A Module
on Readings
in
Philippine
History
 INTRODUCTION
Lesson 1: Understanding History:
Definition, Issues and Importance

Take the Challenge

In this lesson ,challenge yourself to attain the

following learning outcomes:
·        
Understand the meaning of history as an academic
discipline;
·        
Apply the knowledge in history in assessing and
analysing historical events;
Appreciate the importance of history in the social
and national life of the Philippines.

Introduction
Have you tried applying for a job? Or have
you ever think of possible questions which
might be asked when applying? It is very
common that you will be asked about your past
experiences or what studies have you finished
or skills certification have you completed. In
this situation, you will be evaluated on the way
questions have been answered. However, it is In a similar way, history, which is
not enough that you gave them an research into the past, makes us
answer. You must present and make them understand the present. In this lesson,
believed that you are truthful. This you will get to understand history as a
means that you have to present evidence like discipline and as a narrative. This lesson
certificates, grades and other introduces history as a discipline and as
academic records and documents from your a narrative. It presents the definitions
school or previous employer. which transcends the common
Your future employer will be interested to you definition of history as a study of the
depending on past.
your previous backgrounds and personal
history as this will make them better
understand you.
I
 Activity

We will be defining
HISTORY as a
discipline. Using the clues
given below, list down
words that starts in the letter
in each column. These
words MUST be closely
related in the study of
HISTORY.

Analysis

Based on your answers in the Activity, answer the following questions:

1.From your words listed in the column, how will you define History as a discipline?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Are all events of today considered as history of tomorrow? Justify your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Can there be history even without writings? Prove your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
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 Abstraction
• History was
derived from the
1. Definition and Subject Matter
Greek word historia

History has always been known as the study of the past. You as a
student, and history as a general education often dread the subject for
its notoriety in requiring you to memorize dates, places, names, and
events from distant eras. This low appreciation of the discipline may
be rooted from the shallow understanding of history’s relevance to
your lives and respective contexts. While the popular definition of
• History has always
history as the study of the past is not wrong, it does not give justice to
been known as the
the complexity of the subject and its importance to human
study of the past.
civilization.
History was derived from the Greek word historia which means
“knowledge: acquired through inquiry or investigation”. This term
was then adapted to classical Latin where it acquired a new definition.
Historia became known as the account of the past of a person or a
group of people through written documents and historical evidences.
Furthermore, it is the records of the significant human events that
• History is the
happened in the past. It includes what people had thought, shared and
records of the
done in the past.
significant human
Philippine History is a people’s history. As defined by Renato
events that
Constantino, is “the recorded struggle of people for ever increasing
happened in the
freedom and for newer and higher realization of the human person.
past.
Based on Constantino’s supposition that Philippine history is a story
of struggle, the study has to be reassessed with a nationalist perspective
in the interest of objectivity. This is to allow the modern Filipino to
form a clearer picture of his ancestors’ conditions and sentiments from • Historiograpy is
the point of view of Filipino writers to correct some historical the history of
impressions made by colonial historiography. history.

2. Questions and Issues in History

Indeed, history as a discipline has already turned into a complex and
dynamic inquiry. Your simple questions like what is history? Why
study history? And history for whom? These questions can be
answered by historiography. In simple terms, historiography is the
history of history. The former is all about the study of the past while
the latter’s object of the study is history itself.
 One of the issues confronted by history is the accusation that
history is always written by victors. This connotes that the
narrative of the past is always written from the bias of the
powerful and more dominant player. For instance, the history of
the Second World War in the Philippines always depicts the
United States as the hero and the Imperial Army as the
oppressors.
Another issues in history as a discipline is correcting the errors
of published historical works. One example of this is history
textbooks. Many times it has been a controversy about textbooks
being used with different dates of events, places and even the
Renato Constantino occurrence itself. History as a systematic knowledge changes
overtimes. Like science, new discoveries in history means new
History is always written information and facts. And from this, historians do have
by victors different points of view. One example of this is the location of
the first mass in the Philippines. Out of this situation arise
another issue in history as a discipline. Rewriting history from a
Filipino perspective calls for differences in views specifically if
Rewriting history from a the event have been initially and further studied by foreign
Filipino perspective calls perspective. It is in this crisis that a call for local
for differences in views contextualization is a must.

3. Uses and Importance of History

Here we’ll take a closer look at why history is important and
explore why everyone should make it a point to study it in
depth.

1. History helps us develop a better understanding of the world.

You can’t build a framework on which to base your life without

understanding how things work in the world. History paints us
a detailed picture of how society, technology, and government
worked way back when so that we can better understand how it
works now. It also helps us determine how to approach the
History helps us develop a
future, as it allows us to learn from our past mistakes (and
better understanding of
triumphs) as a society.
the world.
2. History helps us understand ourselves.

To understand who you are, you need to develop a History helps us understand
sense of self. A large part of that is learning where you ourselves.
fit into the story of your country or the global
community in the grand scheme of things. History tells
you the story of how your nation, city, or community
came to be everything that it is. It tells you where your
ancestors came from and tells you who they were. Most History helps us learn to
importantly of all, it gives you the ability to spot (and understand other people.
appreciate) the legacies you may have inherited from
them.

3. History helps us learn to understand other people.

History isn’t just an essential introduction to your own

History teaches a working
country, ethnic heritage, and ancestry. It’s also a
understanding of change.
valuable tool when it comes to understanding those
who are different from us. Global, national, and
regional history books help us understand how other
cultures affect our own.

4. History teaches a working understanding of change.

It goes without saying that change can be a difficult

concept to understand. Each of us has a different
experience with the rest of the world – an experience
shaped by societal norms, cultural differences, personal
experiences, and more. We know when we as
individuals crave change and why. History helps us
better understand how, when, and why change occurs
(or should be sought) on a larger scale.

5. History gives us the tools we need to be decent

citizens.
History gives us the tools
Good citizens are always informed citizens, and no one
we need to be decent
can consider himself to be an informed citizen without citizens.
a working knowledge of history. This is the case
whether we’re talking about our role in our
community or in regards to our nation on the whole.
History helps us become better voters and more
effective members of any type of society. It helps put us
in a position to better inform others as well.
 6. History makes us better decision makers.
History makes us better
decision makers.
“Those that do not learn history are doomed to repeat
it.” Those words were first spoken by George
Santayana, and they are still very relevant today because
of how true they are. History gives us the opportunity to
learn from past mistakes. It helps us understand the
many reasons why people may behave the way they do.
History helps us develop
As a result, it helps us become more compassionate as
a new level of
people and more impartial as decision makers.
appreciation for just
about everything
7. History helps us develop a new level of appreciation
for just about everything.

History is more than just the living record of nations,

leaders, and wars. It’s also the story of us. It’s packed
with tales of how someone stood up for what they
believed in, or died for love, or worked hard to make
their dreams come true. All of those things are concepts
we can relate to; it’s enriching to know that so could the
likes of Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, or Martin
Luther King.

Plus, history is just plain interesting. Everything you

like about your favourite movies, television shows, and
fiction novels is yours to experience right here in reality
when you study history. Explore the possibilities today
and step into a whole new world that will change who
you are forever.
 Reflect on This

Now that you have learned the concept of history including its issues and importance,
reflect on this:

WE ARE NOT MAKERS OF HISTORY,

WE ARE MADE BY HISTORY
-Martin Luther King Jr.
_

Prepare and submit a Historical Excerpt in Philippine History. Make sure

you read and understand the content of your chosen work. Submissions will
be next meeting.
 Lesson 2: Elements of History

Take the Challenge

In this lesson ,challenge yourself to attain the following learning

outcomes:

Discuss an excerpt in Philippine History

Identify the elements of history

Introduction

Philippine History has been an important tool for us to be

reminded on the essence of events in the past that molded us
into what we are today. Things will never happen again as the
lessons of the past will always remind us to move forward and
gets solutions to every single issues confronting our world.
This might probably be the best consideration why we still
have Philippine History in College Curriculum despite the
demise of the old courses. Learning History is not just about
getting facts, learning people and places, it's actually going
beyond and discovering what lies in the deeper side of stories.
It's like time travelling.

At this point in time, let's discover more of Philippine history as

we proceed with the next activity.
 Activity

At this point, let's have some Buzz Session. You go to your group and i'll give you time to
share with the members your chosen Philippine History Excerpt. Make sure each of you
participated. After sharing, the group has to choose one excerpt which will be used in the
class discussion. Re-discuss the chosen excerpt among the members and use the matrix below
to serve as basis of what will be shared in the class discussion.

Title

People Place Period Sources

Analysis

From the excerpts shared by different groups,  are there new things that
you've just learned in Philippine History? How does it feel upon
knowing it?
 Abstraction

You might be wondering in the activity why is there a need for us to understand the
historical excerpt just presented by discussing the people involved, the time, places and
even sources. These are actually the elements in History.

History is made accurate and scientific through a process which we called

Historiography. It is the writing of history, especially the writing of history based on
the critical examination of sources, the selection of particular details from the
authentic materials in those sources, and the synthesis of those details into a narrative
that stands the test of critical examination.

People as an element refers to the subject. They are the actors of history. They're the
one being responsible to the movement of an event. They;re sometimes the villain,
the one in control or in most of the time, the heroes. Places are settings through
which a certain event had happened. Presently, they served as landmarks where
history was molded.

Period refers to the time frame when a certain event happened. Oftentimes, people
called it an era of Before Christ and an era of After Death. This is something that
focuses more on the Christian aspect of humanity. In a period where people live in the
time of belongingness, the use of either BC and AD had been replaced by a new term
that is more historical in perspective. From Before Christ to Before Common Era to
After Death becoming Common Era. Sounds good as it eliminate the division of
humanity based on religious perspective. Lastly, the sources of history. An element
that needs further scientific studies. In the next coming lessons, you'll soon find out
how sources came to be and classifications are being identified.

Finally upon learning the elements of History, let's focus on your local history.
Write a short historical clip about your locality. You may ask your
grandparents, parents or authorities that can give you informations. Make sure
that the elements are present in your clip. Guidelines, rubric and format are in
your teams, be sure to check them out.