1.

1 Meaning and Relevance of History “things were always aspects of human

this way.” society.
Hello students! Welcome to GEC 002 Readings In
Philippine History. I know that you are both excited
and curious about this course and so am I. To start • Non-historians often
off, I want to ask a question: Why is studying history romanticize the past • History is exclusively
important? Or what is the importance of history to us and speak of the as a story of
“good old days” progress with
from the past to the future?
when they believe everything
We all know that as a learner or student, history that things were constantly
means boring or very hard to study. History contains generally better than improving.
a lot of years, names, and such to memorize when at present.
the examination is getting nearer. But what you did
not know is that HISTORY helps us develop a better • Non-historians derive
• Historians know that
understanding of the world. It helps us understand information mainly
all sources, even
other people and makes us good decision-makers from television,
those original to a
from learning from our past to create a brighter movies, and the
particular historical
future for ourselves. internet as well as
time period, have
some books or
some
I assume you are ready to embark on this whole new magazines. They
biases, omissions,
different learning journey. I believe you can make it generally accept any
contradictions, or
through this whole new change in our lives. Once sources uncritically
various other
again, welcome in GEC 002 Readings in Philippine as long as the source
limitations.
History. May your dreams become your present. is interesting.
Enjoy!
• Historians read
• Non-historians read
books or watch
books or watch
documentaries go to
What is History? documentaries of
archives in search
their choice.
Before we start discussing what is history, as well as of original records.
the importance and relevance of knowing what
history is, it's good for you to take this formative • Historians know that
assessment via Kahoot! first. Click on the icon of • Non-historians
the philosophy and
assume that
Kahoot (Links to an external site.) below, input the methodology of
historians have
Game PIN 03076295 to take the quiz and have fun! history have
always approached
changed over time
The best way to know what history is is to consult history the same
and will keep
what historians, experts in the study of history say way.
changing.
about history. Then, let's contrast it with what non-
historians say about it. Let's begin:
• Historians tend to
focus more on the
• Non-historians often specific, detailed
What is and what is not history? make broad developments that
generalizations about underpin the
History to Historians and Non-Historians people, ideas, events, generalizations, and
Non-Historians Historians or time periods in sometimes question
• Non-historians often • History is the study history. or reject the
say that “history of change over time, generalizations
repeats itself” or that and it covers all themselves.
 • Historians have Stories common to a particular culture, but not
• Non-historians may supported by external sources (such as the tales
various ways of
assume that time surrounding King Arthur), are usually classified
organizing history
periods are fixed and as cultural heritage or legends. History differs from
thematically and
absolute. myth in that it is supported by evidence. However,
chronologically.
ancient influences have helped spawn variant
interpretations of the nature of history which have
evolved over the centuries and continue to change
Meaning and relevance of history today. The modern study of history is wide-ranging,
and includes the study of specific regions and the
History was derived from the Greek study of certain topical or thematic elements of
word historia which means "knowledge acquired historical investigation. History is often taught as part
through inquiry or investigation." Historia became of primary and secondary education, and the
known as the account of the past of a person or of academic study of history is a major discipline in
group of people through written documents and university studies.
historical evidences.
Herodutus, a 5th-
History is the study of the past. Events occurring century BC Greek
before the invention of writing systems are historian (pictured
considered prehistory. History is an umbrella above) is often
term that relates to past events as well as the considered (within
memory, discovery, collection, organization, the Western
presentation, and interpretation of information about tradition) to be the
these events. "Father of history,"
or, by some, the
Scholars who focus on "Father of lies." Along with his contemporary
history are historian Thucydides (pictured on the right), he
called historians. The helped form the foundations for the modern study of
historian's role is to place human history. Their works continue to be read
the past in context, using today, and the gap between the culture-focused
sources from moments and Herodotus and the military-focused Thucydides
events, and filling in the remains a point of contention or approach in modern
gaps to the best of their historical writing.
ability. Written documents
are not the only sources History is and should be a science ... History is not the
historians use to develop their understanding of the accumulation of events of every kind which
past. They also use material objects, oral accounts, happened in the past. It is the science of human
ecological markers, art, and artifacts as historical societies.
sources.
No historian can be 100% objective, but historians
History also includes the academic discipline. which try to recognize their own limitations and biases.
uses narrative to describe, examine, question, and Historians try not to place the values, beliefs,
analyze a sequence of past events, investigate the behaviors, and attitudes of the present onto the
patterns of cause and effect that are related to them. topics they study. Historians try to understand their
Historians seek to understand and represent the past topics in the context of how and why people of that
through narratives. They often debate which era thought and behaved, and not how people think
narrative best explains an event, as well as the and act today.
significance of different causes and effects. Historians
also debate the nature of history and its usefulness Many different interpretations of all historical topics
by discussing the study of the discipline as an end in exist. Historians must work to recognize the
itself and as a way of providing "perspective" on the difference between facts and interpretations in their
problems of the present. field. Historiography refers to the study of history,
philosophy, and methodology of history. Historians
must be familiar with the historiography of their time we try to know why something happened—
particular area of study. whether a shift in political party dominance in
the Philippines, a major change in the teenage
Now, at least we are able to clear some suicide rate, or a conflict in the Cordilleras or the
misconceptions about history. Please bear in mind siege of Zamboanga and Marawi—we have to
that history is also a scientific field of study that look for factors that took shape earlier.
involves a lot of critical thinking, analysis, statistics,
and more. Don't fall into the traps of pseudo-
historians who profess to be historians proliferating
in the social media, okay?
3. History is Important in Our Own Lives. History
Importance of History well told is beautiful. Many of the historians who
most appeal to the general reading public know
The slogan of the National Historical Commission of the importance of dramatic and skillful writing—
the Philippines Institute (formerly National Historical as well as of accuracy. Biography and military
Institute) in their official website that history appeal in part because of the tales they
reads: "A Filipino society with citizens informed of contain. History as art and entertainment serves
their history, who love their country and are proud of a real purpose, on aesthetic grounds but also on
their cultural heritage" speaks volumes emphasizing the level of human understanding.
how important it is for you to know history. So, do
not be wondering why you are here in the collegiate
level enrolling in this Readings in Philippine History,
okay? 4. History Contributes to Moral
For our academic discussion, the following are the Understanding. History also provides a terrain for
reasons why we study history, courtesy of Peter N. moral contemplation. Studying the stories of
Stearns (1998) of American Historical Association: individuals and situations in the past allows a
student of history to test his or her own moral
sense, to hone it against some of the real
1. History Helps Us Understand People and
complexities individuals have faced in difficult
Societies. In the first place, history offers a
settings. People who have weathered adversity
storehouse of information about how people
not just in some work of fiction, but in real,
and societies behave. Understanding the
historical circumstances can provide inspiration.
operations of people and societies is difficult,
though a number of disciplines make the
attempt. An exclusive reliance on current data
would needlessly handicap our efforts. How can
we evaluate war if the nation is at peace—unless 5. History Provides Identity. History also helps
we use historical materials? How can we provide identity, and this is unquestionably one
understand genius, the influence of of the reasons all modern nations encourage its
technological innovation, or the role that beliefs teaching in some form. Historical data include
play in shaping family life, if we don't use what evidence about how families, groups, institutions
we know about experiences in the past? Some and whole countries were formed and about
social scientists attempt to formulate laws or how they have evolved while retaining cohesion.
theories about human behavior using history as
one of their bases.

6. Studying History Is Essential for Good

Citizenship. A study of history is essential for
2. History Helps Us Understand Change and How good citizenship. This is the most common
the Society We Live in Came to Be. The second justification for the place of history in school
reason history is inescapable as a subject of curricula. Sometimes advocates of citizenship
serious study follows closely on the first. The history hope merely to promote national identity
past causes the present, and so the future. Any and loyalty through a history spiced by vivid
 stories and lessons in individual success and tremendous impact not only in the academic world
morality. but also in the greater society due to its historical,
anthropological, societal, as well as economic, to
name a few. Undoubtedly, historians have to rewrite
their pages of history in order to accommodate this
7. History Develops in the Students the Ability to primary source of history. This is our topic, the
Assess Evidence.The study of history builds historical sources.
experience in dealing with and assessing various
kinds of evidence—the sorts of evidence
historians use in shaping the most accurate
pictures of the past that they can. Learning how
to interpret the statements of past political
leaders—one kind of evidence—helps form the
capacity to distinguish between the objective
and the self-serving among statements made by
present-day political leaders.

The remains of a butchered rhino.

8. History Develops in the Students the Ability to
Assess Conflicting Interpretations. Learning
history means gaining some skill in sorting
through diverse, often conflicting What is Historical Source?
interpretations. Understanding how societies
work—the central goal of historical study—is Any leftover of the past can be considered a source. It
inherently imprecise, and the same certainly might well be a document, and we often think of
holds true for understanding what is going on in history as a textual discipline, based on the
the present day. interpretation of written texts, but it might also be a
building, a piece of art or an ephemeral object – a
train ticket, say, or perhaps a pair of shoes. These are
all 'sources' because they all provide us in different
ways with information which can add to the sum of
9. History Is Useful in Your Career and in the World our knowledge of the past.
of Work. History is useful for work. Its study
helps create good business people, Sources only become historical evidence, however,
professionals, and political leaders. The number when they are interpreted by the historian to make
of explicit professional jobs for historians is sense of the past. In the case of the Kalinga rhinos, it
considerable, but most people who study history would just be a piece of debris during the excavation
do not become professional historians. Rather, it process that would be dumped elsewhere had it not
the professionals from various fields become preserved, analyzed, and reported by the experts.
later on historians by building on the concrete
foundation of historiography during the It all depends on what the historian wants to know.
academic preparation as what you are doing This is why it makes little sense to ask if something is
right now. 'good historical evidence', without knowing what
evidence it's supposed to provide. For us, students of
1.2 The Historical Sources history, we need to classify these historical sources so
we know their historical value.
When the news on the discovery of the discovery of
fossilized remains of a rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Primary and secondary sources
philippinensis) in Kalinga province erupted, the local With the past as history's subject matter, the
and world news heralded a change on how world historian's most important research tools are
history is to be viewed. Such discovery has a historical sources. In general, historical sources can
be classified between primary and secondary in 1956. Other examples of secondary source
sources. The classification of sources depends on the include:
historical subject being studied. o Bibliographies
o Biographical works
1. Primary sources are those produced at the same o Reference books, including dictionaries,
time as the event, period, or subject being encyclopedias, and atlases
studied. For example, if a historian wishes to o Articles from magazines, journals, and
study the Commonwealth Constitution newspapers after the event
Convention of 1935, his primary sources can o Literature reviews and review articles (e.g.,
include the minutes of the convention, movie reviews, book reviews)
newspaper clippings, Philippine commission o History books and other popular or scholarly
reports of the U.S. representatives, among books
others. Other examples of primary sources o Works of criticism and interpretation
include: o Commentaries and treatises
o Autobiographies and memoirs o Textbooks
o Diaries, personal letters, and o Indexes and abstracts
correspondence
o Interviews, surveys, and fieldwork 1.3 Criticism of Historical Sources
o Internet communications on email, blogs,
listservs, and newsgroups Hello my dear students! This topic will teach you how
o Photographs, drawings, and posters to criticize a historical source. In this time and age of
o Works of art and literature proliferation of fake news, this skill is very much
o Books, magazine and newspaper articles indispensable. So, join me now and let us begin to
and ads published at the time learn how to criticize a historical source and see
o Public opinion polls whether these are historically accurate or not. Here
o Speeches and oral histories we go!
o Original documents (birth certificates,
property deeds, trial transcripts) Historical studies on the meaning of past events in an
o Research data, such as census statistics attempt to interpret the facts and explain the cause
o Official and unofficial records of of events, and their effect in the present events. In
organizations and government agencies doing so, historians rely heavily on primary historical
o Artifacts of all kinds, such as tools, coins, data (direct accounts of events, archival data - official
clothing, furniture, etc. documents, personal records, and records of
o Audio recordings, DVDs, and eyewitnesses) and less frequently on secondary
video recordings historical data (information from persons who didn’t
o Government documents (reports, bills, witness the event; e.g. textbooks, newspapers,
proclamations, hearings, etc.) encyclopedias).
o Patents
o Technical reports
Although the Greek historian Herodotus was
o Scientific journal articles reporting
acknowledged as the "Father of History", it was
experimental research results
Thucydides (photo on the right, courtesy of
Wikimedia Commons), an ancient Greek historian, is
the pioneer of historical criticism of historical data.
Hence, he was acclaimed as the "Father of Scientific
2. On the other hand secondary sources are History" due to his splendid work on "The History of
those which are produced by an author who Peloponnesian Wars."
used primary sources to produce the material.
For example, on the subject of the Philippine When we read a piece of historical work, we have to
Revolution of 1896 students can read Teodoro be critical and discerning. We may utilize criticism of
Agoncillo's Revolt of the Masses: The Story of historical data as explained below.
Bonifacio and the Katipunan published originally
Criticism of Historical Sources events in history with their accompanying
interpretations, explanations, assumptions, and even
The historian should be able to conduct an external predictions.
and internal criticism of the source, specially the
primary sources which can age in centuries.
Criteria in Analyzing a Historical Source

Evaluation of historical data and information is often Criteria Things to evaluate/analyze

referred to as historical criticism and the reliable data
yielded by the process are known as historical • The historical event posted and
evidence. Historical evidence is derived from accompanying interpretation is
historical data by the process of criticism, which is of accurate and verifiable
two types: external and internal criticism. • Make sure author provides e-mail or
Accuracy
a contact address/phone number.
External criticism is the practice of verifying the • Know the distinction between
authenticity of evidence by examining its physical author and Webmaster.
characteristics of the time when it was produced; and
the materials used for the evidence. • What credentials are listed for the
authors? Are they educated to be or
Here, evidence is examined based on physical trained in historiography?
characteristics like materials used for the evidence, Authority
• Where is the document published
the structure, layout and the design are scrutinized and verified?
also.

Involves finding out if the sources material is genuine • Determine if page is a mask for
and if passes textual integrity. External criticism in advertising; if so information might
historical research evaluates the validity of the be biased.
document this is,where and by whom it was • View any Web page as you would an
produced. infomercial on television. Ask
Objectivity yourself why was this written and
for whom?
Internal criticism, on the other hand, is the
• Check if there are monetary matters
examination of the truthfulness of the evidence.
or motivation behind the motive of
posting
It looks at the truthfulness and factuality of the
evidence by looking at the author of the source and
its context. • Is the post current or latest?
• When was it produced? When was it
Currency
Internal criticism evaluates the meaning accuracy and updated'
truth worthiness of the content of document.
• Is it free or is there a fee, to obtain
Internal criticism concerned with the accuracy and the information?
meaning of the data contained in the document. • Is there an option for text only, or
Coverage
frames, or a suggested browser for
How to Criticize a Historical Source better viewing?

In the advent of social media as a very ubiquitous

platform of airing self-expressions and views, it is
your job, as student-historians, to evaluate and
criticize the historicity of these posts / websites / 1.4 Historical Context and Analysis
blogs and even YouTube videos proliferating around.
Welcome to this topic on Historical analysis! After
This task requires you criticize and evaluate historical
knowing the meaning and relevance of history, we
website and any other website which publishes
have actually answered the question "what?" in willingness to understand the source and its time
history. It is now time for us dig into the question period on its own terms.
"why?" and at the same time, learn the surrounding
circumstances or sort of the "history of the history".
Sounds interesting, right? Why is Context Important?

The word “context” has a pretty large and abstract

definition. From the Merriam-Webster dictionary,
So, let us begin by learning first what is historical
context is “the parts of a discourse that surround a
context.
word or passage and can throw light on its meaning"
Historical Context (2020). It is abstract because this definition implies
that “context” can be anything providing meaning. It
Historical context is an important part of life and
can take any shape or form as long as it clarifies what
literature, and without it, memories, stories, and
one is trying to say. Context adds specificity to your
characters have less meaning. Historical context deals
reading of historical events and directs the your
with the details that surround an occurrence. In more
attention to a particular train of thought.
technical terms, historical context refers to the social,
religious, economic, and political conditions that
existed during a certain time and place. Basically, it's
all the details of the time and place in which a
situation occurs, and those details are what enable us
to interpret and analyze works or events of the past,
or even the future, rather than merely judge them by
contemporary standards (Fleming, 2019).

Historical context is the social, political, cultural,

economic, and environmental situations that Thus avoiding, to a certain extent, unwanted
influence the events or trends we see happen during interpretation (Samson, 2019). Maybe that is why,
that time. Therefore, if we are unfamiliar with the Gary Vaynerchuck said that: "Content is king, but
traditions, culture, thinking, or events happening at context is God!" It is like looking at a wider range of
any time in history, we could misinterpret or lose the visible horizon, not just looking through a tunnel.
meaning of a piece of writing we are reading.
In summary, context is information that helps the
message of a history text make sense. Whether it’s a
novel, a memoir, or a collection of short stories, a
Therefore, in order to fully understand a source, you piece of writing can be interpreted variably
must place it within the context of the time period in depending on the contextual factors provided by the
which it was produced. This process is called author. Some context is obviously stated and some
contextualizing. Contextualizing a historical source requires a close reading of the history work—so it’s
involves paying attention to the people who important for every student of history to know what
produced it, the time in which they worked, what was context is and how to use it in their readings of
going on during that time, and how what was going Philippine history.
on may have influenced the production of the source.
It also involves understanding how the source's
language, concepts, and terms were used within that
1.5 Historical Analysis of Pigafetta's Account of
historical context, since meanings change over time.
Magellan's Arrival in the Philippines

Now that you know what is historical context and its

In short, contextualizing a source increases a writer's importance in your readings of Philippine history, it is
credibility since it demonstrates the writer’s now time for you to do analysis of a sample historical
event in Philippine history. For this activity, we will tropical beauty of Oriental lands, beautiful women,
use a sample of historical account of Antonio bountiful lands awash of gold, spices, and natural
Pigafetta's "The First Voyage around the World resources.
(1519-1522): An Account of Magellan's Expedition"
which is pictured below:
Thus, this book became of one of the most important
primary sources in the study of precolonial
Philippines. Importantly, his account was also a major
referent to the events leading to Magellan’s arrival in
the Philippines, his encounter with local leaders, his
death in the hands of Lapulapu’s forces in the Battle
of Mactan and in the depature of what was left of
Magellan’s fleet from the islands. Thus, completing
what was known as the first circumnavigation of the
world.

This is the historical context that we are going to

analyze in this module.

Doing Historical Analysis

In order to fully understand a source, you must place

it within the context of the time period in which it
was produced. Contextualizing a historical source
involves: paying attention to the people who
produced it, the time in which they worked, what was
going on during that time, and how and what was
going on may have influenced the production of the
source.
This document reveals several insights not just in the
character of the Philippines during pre-colonial
period, but also on how the fresh eyes of the It also involves understanding how the source's
European regard a deeply unfamiliar terrain, language, concepts, and terms were used within that
environment, people and culture. Published after historical context, since meanings change over time.
Pigafetta returned to Italy, his work became a classic In short, contextualizing a source increases a writer's
that prominent literary men in the West like William credibility since it demonstrates the writer’s
Shakespeare, Michel de Montaigne and Giambattista willingness to understand the source and its time
Vico referred to the book in their interpretation of period on its own terms.
the New World.

Questions to Consider in doing Historical Context

Pigafetta's travelogue, when published in Europe in Analysis
1535, became a worldwide sensation. Situated during
Who produced the historical source? In this part, you
the time when Europe, known as the Old World, is
need to provide a brief description of the
actively seeking for lands to discover and conquer
author/writer/publisher of the historical event.
motivated by Gold, Glory, and God (Three Gs), this
Include photos/images and other ways to introduce
historical account became a bestseller, teasing the
the source.
imagination of the European readers about raw
What is the genre of the source? In the case of Now let's apply these questions to a sample of
Pigafetta's work, it is considered as a travelogue, an historical account of Pigafetta from his book, The
account of the voyage as the official chronicler of First Voyage Around the World, online version. It is
Magellan's expedition. Other historical sources may the account of the first ever landing and arrival of
include diary entry, an eyewitness account, a Magellan to the Philippine Islands on march 16, 1521,
published book, a receipt, a log in the train ride, pages 71 - 75. You can read it online from this link.
among others. You need to identify the genre of the This was given to you in advanced as required reading
source you are reading. in the beginning of this module.

How might this genre shape its content and Module 1 Summary
viewpoint? In the case of Pigafetta's travelogue, it
History is the study of the past. Events occurring
highlighted his own personal viewpoint, judgment
before the invention of writing systems are
and biases towards the things that he saw, people
considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term
that he met, as well as customs, traditions, and other
that relates to past events as well as the memory,
cultural highlights he witnessed in his travels. In your
discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and
analysis later on, you need to consider the genre
interpretation of information about these events.
because there is difference in the way or the
approach in which the historian may write the
historical event..
It was derived from the Greek word "historia" which
When was it produced? How does the timing of its means "knowledge acquired through inquiry or
production relate to other events? Pigafetta's investigation".
travelogue was published in 1535 and it received
critical acclaim worldwide during that time. Spain was
the most powerful empire on Earth during that time
Primary sources are those produced at the same time
and its publication further glorified its name and the
as the event, period, or subject being studied.
death of Magellan on the hands of the natives
headed by Lapu-lapu was portrayed as a sacrifice in
the attainment of Spain's greater glory. Its timing was
significant to the growing interest and fascination of Secondary sources are those which are produced by
Westerners towards the Eastern people, its culture, an author who used primary sources to produce the
its natural resources, riches, and treasures. You need material.
to situate the time and surrounding circumstances
during which the event was written.
Historical criticism is a literary criticism in the light of
How might political, social, religious, or economic historical evidence or based on the context in which a
events occurring at the same time have influenced work was written, including facts about the author’s
the production of the source? Pigafetta's book, The life and the historical and social circumstances of the
First Voyage Around the World, was published under time.
the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church. It is
noted that during that time, the church was very
active in its quest to christianize undiscovered lands
External criticism is the practice of verifying the
in uncharted territories. Simultaneously, the state
authenticity of evidence by examining the physical
(government) of Spanish empire used th opportunity
characteristics of the source, time and the materials.
to further expand its borders, and in the process,
accumulating land, riches, and fame all in the name
of God, gold and glory.
Internal criticism is the examination of the
truthfulness of the evidence.
In the advent of social media as a very ubiquitous
platform of airing self-expressions and views, it is
very important to you, as student-historians, to
evaluate and criticize the historicity of these posts /
websites / blogs and even YouTube videos
proliferating around. To criticize and evaluate
historical websites and any other websites which
publishes events in history with accompanying
interpretations, explanations, assumptions, and even
predictions can never be overemphasized in order to
combat historical revisionism and proliferation of
fake/misleading news.