CHAPTER 1 – Introduction to History: format but were just as valid.

Definition, Issues, Sources, and

Examples: oral traditions in forms of
Methodology
epics and songs, artifacta,
• History has always been known architecture, and memory.
as the study of the past.

• History was derived from the

Jacob Burckhardt
Greek word “historia” which
means knowledge acquired I. History is a record of what one
through inquiry or investigation. age finds worthy of one
another.
• History as a discipline existed
for around 2,400 years and is Example: Martial Law
as old as mathematics and
Henry Johnson
philosophy. This term was then
adapted to classical Latin II. A history and its broader sense
where it acquired a new is ever happen.
definition.
Smith V.S
• Historia became known as the
III. The value and interest depend
account of the past of a person
largely on the degree present is
or of a group of people through
illuminated in the past.
written documents and
historical evidence. That Example: Colonial to liberal
meaning stuck until the early
Rapson
parts of the 20th century.
IV. As a connected accounts of
• History became an important
the force and the progress of
academic discipline. It became
idea.
the historian’s duty to write
about the lives of important Example: Alibata to baybayin to
individuals like monarchs, abecedario to wikang tagalog to
heroes, saints, and nobilities. abakada to wikang filipino

• History was also focused on National Council of Educational

writing about wars, revolutions, Research (NCER)
and other important
V. History is the scientific study of
breakthroughs.
the past.
• Historians started using other
Example: Human Evolution by Charles
kinds of historical sources,
Darwin
which may not be in written
 3. Oral Tradition/History – Example:
Belief

4. Visual Documents and Articles –

Jawaharlal Nehru
Example: Photographs
VI. History is a story of
• Primary sources are those sources
manstruggle through the ages
produced at the same time as the
against nature and elements.
event, period, or subject being
studied. For example, if a historian
wishes to study the Commonwealth
ELEMENTS OF HISTORY (Philippine
Constitution Convention of 1935, his
History)
primary surces can include the
P – olitical Aspect – Barangay minutes of the convention,
(Datu/Data) newspaper clippings, Philippine
Commission reports of the US
E – conomical Aspect – Barter
Commissionera, records of the
change (Asia trading), after that is
convention, the draft of the
former change (piloncitos – first coin)
Constitution, and even photographs
R – eligion Aspect of the event. Eyewitness accounts of
convention delegates and their
S – ocial Aspect – Indio, Creoles,
memoirs can be used as a historical
Insulares, Peninsulares
study. Archival documents, artifacts,
I – ntelligence Aspect memorabilia, letters, census, and
government records, among others
A – rts Aspect – Spollarium by Juan
are the most common examples of
Luna
primary sources.

• Secondary sources are those

Historiography – Study of history sources which were produced by an
author who used primary sources to
Political Ecology – how humas
produce the material. In other words,
regulates the nature and natural
secondary sources are historical
resources.
sources which studied a certain
historical subject. For example, on the
subject of the Philippine Revolution of
Sources of Historical Data
1896, students can read Teodoro
1. Published Documents – Example: Agoncillo’s Revolt of the Masses:
Books, Newspaper The Story of Bonifacio and the
2. Unpublished Documents – Katipunan published originally in 1956.
Example: Journals The Philippine Revolution happened in
 th
the last years of the 19 century while Japanese reports and
Agoncillo published his work in 1956, declarations during the period
which makes the Revolt of the of the war should not be taken
Masses a secondary source. as a historical fact hastily.

• Tertiary Sources

Historical Method

1. External criticism - is the

practice of verifying the
Other Historical Method
authenticity of evidence by
examining its physical • Western
characteristics; consistency
1. Positivism – “No documents, no
with the historical characteristic
History” (only accept written history)
of the time when it was
produced; and the materials 2. Post colonialism – based after
used for the evidence. Example colonial
of the things that will be
3. Annales Schools of thought –
examined when conducting
challenge the annales of history
external criticism of a
document include the quality of • Philippine
the paper the type of the ink,
1. Pantayong pananao – us from
and the language and words
us perspective highlights the
used in the material, among
internal (Zeus Salazar)
others.
Importance of Studying History
2. Internal criticism - is the
examination of the truthfulness 1998 – Peter Stearns (Why study
of the evidence. It looks at the history?)
content of the source and
1. Understand people and societies.
examines the circumstance of
its production. Internal criticism 2. Understand change and how
looks at the truthfulness and society lives and comes to be.
factuality of the evidence by
3. Contributes to moral understanding.
looking at the author of the
source; its context; the agenda 4. Provide Identity.
behind its creation; the
5. Essential for good citizenship
knowledge which informed it;
(Nationalism and Patriolism)
and its intended purpose,
among others. For example, Values of History (Talakeu, Dr.
Havuchamdam and Dr. Nayak)
1. Disciplinary Value d. Practical consideration

2. Informative value – Treasure 3. Examining Author’s Background,

house of Information Main Arguments, Point of View

3. Cultural and Social Values – a. conceptualize

nurture and develop
b. Find Access
4. Political values
b. Read, understand, summarize
5. Nationalistic valve
c. Interpret, Analyze and Evaluate
6. Internationalistic Value
e. Use and incorporate
7. Educational Value

8. Intellectual Value
A Brief Summary of the First Voyage
9. Ethical value Around the World by Magellan by
Antonio Pigafetta
10. Vocational Value

• A chronicles of contemporary
Chapter 2 – Content and Contextual
voyagen and navigators of the 16th
Analysis of selected Sources in
century. One of them was Italian
Philippine history
nobleman Antonio Pigafetta, who
1.Interpretation of Historical events accompanied Ferdinand Magellan in
using primary source his fatefa circumnavigation of the
world.
CRITICAL TOOLS
• Pigafetta’s travelogue is one of the
-Careful observation of the source
mos important primary source in the
- Examining provenance study of the pre-colonial Philippines.
- Placement in context • The First Voyage Around the World
by Magellan was published after
- Interpretation of Authorial intention
Pigafetta returned to Italy. For this
- Comparison with other sources chapter, we will focus on the
chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta as he
2. Identification of importance of text
wrote his firsthand observation and
a. Analytical concept general impression of the Far East,
including their experiences in Visayas.
b. Ethical Concept
In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet
c. theoritical Concept
reached what be called the Ladrone
Island or the Island of the Thieves. He (uraca), figs, and two cochos. The
recounted: natives also gave them rice (umai),
cocos, and other food supplies.
“These people have no arms, but
use sticks, which have a fish bone at - Pigafetta detailed in amazement
the end. They are poor, but ingenious, and fascination the palm tree which
and great thieves, and for the sake of bore fruits called cocho, and wine. He
that we called these three islands the also described what seemed like a
Ladrone Islands” coconut. His description reads:

“This palm produces a fruit named

cocho, which is na large as the head,
The Ladrone Islands are presently
or thereabouts: its first husk is green,
known as the Marianas Islands.
and two fingers in thickness, in it they
These islands are located south-
find certain threads, with which they
southeast of Japan, west-southwest
make the cords for fastening their
of Hawaii, north of New Guinea, and
boats. Under this husk there is
east of Philippines.
another very hard, and thicker than
that of a walnut. They burn this
second rind, and make with it a
March 16, 1521
powder winch is useful to them.
- Ten days after they reached Under this rind there is a white
Ladrone Island, Pigafetta marrowe of finger’s thickness,
reported that they reached which they eat fresh with meat and
what Pigafetta called the isle of fish, as we do bread, and it has the
Zamal, now Samar but taste of an almond, and if anyone
Magellan decided to land in dried it he might make bread of it (p.
another uninhabited island for 72).”
greater security where they can
Pigafetta characterized the people as
rest for a few days.
“very familiar and friendly and
March 18, 1521 willingly showed them different
islands and the names of these
- Pigafetta recounted that after two
islands. The fleet went to Humunu
days
island (Homonhon) and there they
- Nine men came to them and found what Pigafetta referred to as
showed joy and eagerness in seeing the Watering Place of good signs. It is
them. Magellan realized that the men in this place where Pigafetta wrote
are reasonable and welcomed them that they found the first signs of gold
with food, drinks, and gifts. In turn, in the island They named the island
the natives gave them fish, palm wine with the nearby islands as the
archipelago of St. Lazarus. introduced to the king’s brother
th when was also a king of another
March 25
island. They went to this island and
- Pigafetta recounted that they saw Pigafetta reported that they saw
two Ballanghai (balangay), a long mines of gold. The gold was that
boat full of people in Mazzava parts of the ship and of the house of
Mazaua. The leader, who Pigafetta the second king were made of gold.
referred to as the king of the
- Pigafetta described this king as the
Ballangha (balangay), sent his men to
most handsome of all the men that he
the ship of Magellan. The Europeans
saw in this place. He was also
entertained these men and gave them
adorned with silk and gold
gifta. When the king of the balangay
accessories like a golden dagger,
offered to give Magellan a bar of gold
which he carries with him in a
and a chest of ginger, Magellan
wooden polished sheath.
declined. Magellan sent the
interpreter to the king and asked for - This king named Raia Calambu, king
money for the needs of his ships and of Zuluan and Calagan (Butuan and
expressed that he came into the Caragua and the first king was Rain
islands as a friend and not as an Singu.
enemy. The king responded by giving
Magellan the needed provisions of
food in chinaware. Magellan
exchanged gifts of robes in Turkish
March 31st
fashion, red cap and gave the people
knives and mirrors. - Which happened to be Easter
Sunday, Magellan ordered the
- The two then expressed their desire
chaplain to say a mass by the
to become brothers. Magellan also
shore The king heard of this
boasted of his men in armor who
plan and sent two dead pigs
cannot be struck with swords and
and attended the mass with the
daggers. The king was fascinated and
other king. Pigafetta reported
remarked that men in such armor can
that both kings participated in
be worth one hundred of his men.
the mass. He wrote: “when
Magellan further showed the king his
the offertory of the mass came,
other weapons, helmets, and artillery.
the two kings, went to kiss the
Magellan alse shared with the king his
cross like us, but they offered
charts and maps and shared how
nothing, and at the elevation of
they found the islands.
the body of our Lord they were
- After a few days, Magellan was kneeling like us, and adored
 our Lord with joined hands.” pay tribute as it was customary,
but Magellan refused. Magellan
After the mass, Magellan ordered that
said that he was a captain of a
the cross be brought, with nails and
king himself and thus would not
crown in place. Magellan explained
pay tribute to other kings.
that the cross, the nail, and the crown
Magellan’s interpreter
were the signs of his emperor and
explained to the king of Cebu
that he was ordered to plant it in the
that Magellan’s king was the
places that he will reach. Magellan
emperor of a great empire and
further explained that the cross will be
that it would do them better to
beneficial for their people because
make friends with them than to
once other Spaniards saw this cross,
forge enmity. The king of Cebu
then they would know that they have
consulted his council. By the
been in this land and would not cause
next day. Magellan’s men and
them troubles, and any person who
the king of Cebu, together with
might be held captive by them will be
other principal men of Cebu,
released. The king concurred and
met in an open space. There,
allowed for the cross to be planted.
the king offered a bit of his
This mass will go down in history as
blood and demanded that
the first mass in the Philippines, and
Magellan do the same.
the cross will be the famed
Pigafetta recounts:
Magellan’s cross still preserved at
present day. “Then the king said that he was
content, and as a greater sign of
After seven days, Magellan and his
affection he sent him a little of his
men decided to move and look for
blood from his right arm, and wished
islands where they can acquire more
he should do the like. Our people
supplies and provisions. They learned.
answered that he would do it. Besides
Of the islands of Ceylon (Leyte),
that, he said that all the captains who
Bohol, and Zzubu (Cebu) and
came to his country had been
intended to go there. Raia Calambu
accustomed to making a present to
offered to pilot them in going to Cebu,
him, and he to them, and therefore
the largest and the richest of the
they should ask their captain if he
islands.
would observe the custom. Our
April 7th of the same year people answered that he would, but
as the king wished to keep up the
- Magellan and his men reached
custom. Let him begin and make a
the port of Cebu. The king of
present, and then the captain would
Cebu, through Magellan’s
do his duty.”
interpreter, demanded that they
The following day. Magellan spoke people answered that thy
before the people of Cehu about would obey the commands of
peace and God. Pigafotta reported the captain and do all that he
that the people took pleasure in told them. The captain took the
Magellan’s speech. Magellan then king by the hand, and they
asked the people who would succeed walked about on the
the king after his reign and the people scaffolding, and when he was
responded that the eldest child of the baptized he said that he would
king, who happened to be a daughter, name him Don Charles (Carlos),
would be the next in line. Pigafetta as the emperor his sovereign
also related how the people talked was named; and he named the
about, how at old age, parents are no prince Don Fernand (Fernando),
longer taken into account and had to after the brother of the
follow the orders of their children as emperor, and the King of
the new leaders of the land. Magellan Mazavva, Jehan: to the Moor
responded to this by saying that his he gave the name of
faith entails children to render honor Christopher, and to the others
and obedience to their mother and each a name of his fancy.”
father. Magellan preached about their
After eight days, Pigafetta counted
faith further and people were
that all of the island’s inhabitants
reportedly convinced Pigafetta wrote
were already baptized. He admitted
that their men were overjoyed seeing
that they burned a village down for
that the people wished to become
obeying neither the king nor Magellan.
Christians through their free will and
The mass started to be conducted by
not because they were forced or
the shore everyday. When the queen
intimidated.
came to mass one day, Magellan
gave her an image of the Infant Jesus
made by Pigafetta himself. The king
On the 14th of April
of Cebu swore that he would always
- The people gathered with the be faithful to Magellan. When
king and other principal men of Magellan reiterated that all of the
the islands. Magellan spoke to newly baptized Christians need to
the king and encouraged him burn their idols but the natives gave
to be a good Christian by excuses telling Magellan that they
burning all of the idols and needed the idols to heal a sick man
worship the cross instead. The who was a relative to the king.
king of Cebu was then baptized Magellan insisted that they should
as a Christian. Pigafetta wrote instead put their faith in Jesus Christ.
“To that the king and all his They went to the sick man and
baptized him. After the baptismal, their shields made of thin wood,
Pigafetta recorded that the man was and perhaps wounded their
able to speak again. He called this a arms, yet did not stop them.
miracle. The captain shouted not to fire,
but he was not listened to. The
On the 26th of April
islanders seeing that the shots
- Zula, a principal man from the of our guns did them little or no
island of Matan (Mactan) went harm would not retire, but
to see Magellan and asked him shouted more loudly, and
for a boat full of men so that he springing from one side to the
would be able to fight the chief other to avoid our shots, they at
named Silapulapu (Lapulapu). the same time drew nearer to
Such chief, according to Zula, us, throwing arrows, javelins,
refused to obey the king and spears hardened in fire, stones,
was also preventing him from and even mad, so that we
doing so. Magellan offered could hardly defend ourselves.
three boats instead and Some of them cast lances
expressed his desire to go to pointed with iron at the captain
Mactan himself to fight the said -general.”
chief. Magellan’s forces
Magellan died in that battle. The
arrived in Mactan in daylight.
natives, perceiving that the bodies of
They numbered 49 in total and
the enemies were protected with
the islanders of Mactan were
armors, aimed for their legs instead.
estimated to number 1,500. The
Magellan was pierced with a
battle began. Pigafetta
poisoned arrow in his right leg. A few
recounted: “When we reached
of their men charged at the natives
land we found the islanders
and tried to intimidate them by
fifteen hundred in number,
burning an entire village but this only
drawn up in three squadrons;
enraged the natives further. Magellan
they came down upon us with
was specifically targeted because the
terrible shouts, two squadrons
natives knew that he was the captain
attacking us on the flanks, and
general. Magellan was hit with a
the third in front. The captain
lance in the face. Magellan retaliated
then divided his men in Our
and pierced the same native with his
musketeers and crossbow-
lance in the breast and tried to draw
men fired for half an hour from
his sword but could. Not lift it
a distance, but did nothing,
because of his wounded arm. Seeing
since the bullets and arrows,
that the captain has already
though they passed through
deteriorated, more natives came to
attack him. One native with a great these men to a gathering where he
sword delivered a blow in said he would present the jewels that
Magellan’s left leg, brought him face he would send for the King of Spain.
down and the natives ceaselessly Pigafetta was not able to join the
attacked Magellan with lances, twenty-four men who attended
swords, and even with their bare because he was nursing his battle
hands. Pigafetta recounted the last wounds. It was only a short time
moments of Magellan: “Whilst the when they heard cries and
Indians were thus overpowering him, lamentations The natives had slain all
several times he turned round of the men except the interpreter and
towards us to see if we were all in Juan Serrani who was already
safety, as though his obstinate fight wounded. Serrano was presented
had no other object than to give an and shouted at the mes in the ship
opportunity for the retreat of his men.” asking them to pay ransom so he
would be spared. However, they
Pigafetta also said that the king of
refused and would not allow anyone
Cebu who was baptized could have
to go to the shore. The fleet departed
sent help but Magellan instructed him
and abandoned Serrano. They left
not to join the battle and stay in the
Cebu and continued their journey
balangay so that he would see how
around the world.
they fight. The king offered the
people Mactan gifts of any value and
amount in exchange for Magellan’s
The KKK and the “Kartilya ng
body bu the chief refused. They
Katipunan
wanted to keep Magellan’s body as
a memento for their victory. The Kataastaasan,
Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng
Magellan’s men elected Duarte
mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) or
Barbosa as the new captain.
Kotipunan is arguably the most
Pigafetta also told how Magellan’s
important organization formed in
slave and interpreter named Henry
Philippine history. While anti-colonial
betrayed them and told the king of
movements, efforts, and
Cebu that they intend to leave as
organizations have already been
quickly as possible Pigafetta alleged
done centuries prior to the foundation
that the slave told the king that if he
of the Katipunan, it was only this
followed the slave’s advice, then the
organization that envisioned a
king could acquire the ships and the
goods of Magellan’s fleet. The two 1. united that every Filipino nation that
conspired and betrayed what was left will revolt against the Spaniards.
of Magellan’s men. The king invited
2. the total independence of the
country from Spain. - 18 years old when he joined the
movement.
Previous armed revolts had already
occurred before the foundation of the - He was a law student in the
Katipunan, but none of them University of Santo Tomas.
envisioned a unified Filipino nation
- Despite his youth, Bonifacio
revolting against the colonizers. For
recognized the value and intellect of
example, Diego Silang was known as
Jacinto that upon seeing Jacinto’s
an Ilocano who took up his arms and
Kartilyo was much better than the
led one of the longes running revolts
Decalogue he wrote, h willingly
in the country. Silang, however, was
favored that the Kartilya be
mainly concerned about his locality
distributed to their fellow Katipuner
and referred to himself as El Rey de
Jacinto became the secretary of the
llocos (The King locos). The
organization and took charge of the
imagination of the nation was largely
short-lived printing press of the
absent in the aspirations of the local
Katipunan.
revolts before Katipunan. On the
other hand, the propaganda
movements led by the ilustrados like
April 15, 1897
Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lópe
Jaena, and Jose Rizal did not - Bonifacio appointed Jacinto as a
envision a total separation of the commander of the Katipunan in
Philippines from Spain, but only Northern Luzon (Jacinto was 22 years
demanded equal rights, old.)
representation, and protection from
- Jacinto died of Malaria at the young
the abuses of the friars.
age of 24 in the town of Magdalena,
In the conduct of their struggle, Laguna.
Katipunan created a complex structur
The Kartilya can be treated as the
and a defined value system that will
Katipunan’s code of conduct. It
guide the organization as a collective
contained fourteen rules that instruct
aspiring for a single goal. One of the
the way a Katipunero should behave,
most important Katipunan documen
and which specific values should he
was the Kartilya ng Katipunan. The
uphold. Generally, the rules that are
original title of the document was Aral
contained in the Kartilya can be
Nang Katipunan ng mga A.N.B. or
classified into two. The first group
“Lessons of the Organization of the
contains the rules that will make the
Sons of Country.”
member an upright individual and the
• The document was written by Emilio second group contains the rules that
Jacinto in the year 1896. Jacinto will guide the way he treats his fellow
men. VIII. The prudent man is sparing
in words and faithful in
keeping
Below is the translated version of the
Secrets.
rules in Kartilya.
IX. On the thorny path of life,
I. The life that is not
man is the guide of woman
consecrated to a lofty and
and the children, and if the
reasonable purpose is a tree
guide leads to the precipice,
without a shade, if not a
those whom he guides will
poisonous weed.
also go there.
II. To do good for personal
X. Thou must not look upon
gain and not for its own
woman as a mere plaything,
sake is not virtue.
but as a faithful companion
III. It is rational to be charitable who will share with thee the
and love one’s fellow penalties of life; her
creature, and to adjust (physical) weakness will
one’s conduct, acts and increase thy interest in her
words to what is in itself and she will remind thee of
reasonable. the mother who bore thee
and reared thee.
IV. Whether our skin be black or
white, we are all born equal: XI. What thou dost not desire
superiority in knowledge, wealth done unto thy wife, children.
and beauty are to be understood, Brothers and sisters, that do
but not superiority by nature. not unto the wife, children,
brothers and sisters of thy
IV. The honorable man prefers
neighbor.
honor to personal gain, the
scoundrel, gain to honor. XII. Man is not worth more
because he is a king,
V. To the honorable man, his
because his nose is aquiline,
word is sacred.
and his color white, not
VI. Do not waste thy time: because he is a priest, a
wealth can be recovered but servant of God, nor because
not time lost. of the high prerogative that
he enjoys upon earth, but he
VII. Defend the oppressed and
is worth most who is a man
fight the oppressor before
of proven and real value,
the law or in the field.
who does good, keeps his
 words, is worthy and honest; Philippine Independence
he who does not oppress
Every year, the country
nor consent to being
commemorates the anniversary of
oppressed, he who loves
the Philippine Independence
and cherishes his fatherland,
proclaimed on 12 June 1898 in the
though he be born in the
province of Cavite. Indeed such an
wilderness and know no
event is a significant turning point in
tongue but his own.
the history of the country because it
XIII. When these rules of signaled the end of the 333 years of
conduct shall be known to Spanish colonization. There have
all, the longed- for sun. of been numerous studies done on the
Liberty shall rise brilliant events leading to the independence
over this most unhappy of the country but very few students
portion of the globe and its had the chance to read the actual
rays shall diffuse everlasting document at the declaration. This is in
joy among the confederated spite of the historical importance of
brethren of the same rays, the document and the details that the
the lives of those who have documents reveal on the rationale
gone before, the fatigues and circumstance of that historical
and the well-paid sufferings day in Cavite. Interestingly, reading
will remain. If he who the details of the sa document in
desires to enter has hindsight is telling the kind of
informed himself of all this government that was created under
and believes he will be able Aguinaldo, and the forthcoming hand
to perform what will be his of the United States of America in the
duties, he may fill out the next few years of the newly created
application for admission republic. The declaration was a short
2,000-word document, which
summarized the reason behind the
As the primary governing document, revolution against Spain, the war for
which determines the rules of independence, and the future of the
conduct in the Katipunan, properly new republic under Emilio Aguinaldo.
understanding the Kartilya will thus
The proclamation commenced with a
help in understanding the values,
”hara’terization of the condition in
ideals, aspirations, and even the
the Philippines during the Spanish
ideology of the organization.
colonial period. The document
specifically mentioned abuses and
inequalities in the colony. The
Reading the “Proclamation of the
declaration says:”…taking into between the Filipino people and the
consideration, that their inhabitants “eminent personages. Moreover, the
being already weary of bearing the line mentioned the avarice and greed
ominous yoke of Spanish domination, of the clergy like the friars and the
on account of the arbitrary arrests Archbishop himself. Lastly, the
and harsh treatment practiced by the passage also condemned what they
Civil Guard to the extent of causing see as the unjust deportation and
death with the connivance and even rendering of other decisions without
with the express orders of their proper hearing, expected of any
commanders, who sometimes went civilized nation.
to the extreme of ordering the
From here, the proclamation
shooting of prisoners under the
proceeded with a brief historical
pretext that they were attempting to
overview of the Spanish occupation
escape, in violation of the provisions
since Magellan’s arrival in Visayas
of the Regulations of their Corps,
until the Philippine revolution, with
which abuses were unpunished and
specific details about the latter,
on account of the unjust deportations,
especially after the Pact of Biak-na-
especially those decreed by General
Bato has collapsed. The document
Blanco, of eminent personages and
narrated the spread of the movement
of high social position, at the
“like an electric spark” through
instigation of the Archbishop and
different towns and provinces like
friars interested in keeping them out
Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas,
of the way for their own selfish and
Bulacan, Laguna, and Morong, and
avaricious purpose, deportations
the quick decline of Spanish forces in
which are quickly brought about by a
the same provinces. The revolt also
method of procedure more execrable
reached Visayas thus the
than that of the Inquisition and which
independence of the country was
every civilized nation rejects on
ensured. The document also made
account of a decision being rendered
mention of Rizal’s execution, calling
without a hearing of the persons
it unjust. The execution, as written in
accused”
the document, was done to “please
The above passage demonstrates the the greedy body of friars in their
justifications behind the revolution insatiable desire to seek revenge
against Spain. Specifically cited are upon and exterminate all those who
the abuse by the Civil Guards and the are opposed to their Machiavellian
unlawful shooting of prisoners whom purposes, which tramples upon the
they alleged as attempting to escape. penal code prescribed for these
The passage also condemned the islands.” The document also
unequal protection of the law narrated the Cavite Mutiny of January
1872 that caused the infamous selected by God, in spite of his
execution of the martyred native humble origin, to effect the
priesta Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, redemption of this unfortunate people,
and Jacinto Zamora, “whose as foretold by Doctor Jose Rizal in the
innocent blood was shed through the magnificent verses which he
intrigues of those so-called religious composed when he was preparing to
orders” that incited the three secular be shot, liberating them from the yoke
priests in the said mutiny. of Spanish domination in punishment
of the impunity with which their
The proclamation of Independence
Government allowed the commission
also invoked that the established
of abuses by its subordinates.”
republic would be led under the
dictatorship of Emilio Aguinaldo. The Another detail in the proclamation
first mention was at the very that is worth looking at is its
beginning of the proclamation. It explanation on the Philippine flag that
stated: “In the town of Cavite Viejo, was first waved on the same day. The
in this province of Cavite, on the document explained:
twelfth day of June eighteen hundred
“And finally, it was unanimously
and ninety-eight, before me. Don
resolved that this Nation, Independent
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Auditor
from this day, must use the same flag
of War and Special Commissioner
used heretofore, whose design and
appointed to proclaim and solemnize
colors are described in the
this act by the Dictatorial Government
accompanying drawing, with design
of these Philippine Islands, for the
representing in natural colors the
purposes and by virtue of the circular
three arms referred to. The white
addressed by the Eminent Dictator of
triangle represents the distinctive
the same Don Emilio Aguinaldo y
emblem of the famous Katipunan
Famy.”The same was repeated
Society, which by means of its
toward the last part of the
compact of blood urged on the
proclamation. It states:
masses of the people to insurrection;
“We acknowledge, approve and the three stars represent the three
confirm together with the principal Islands of this Archipelago,
Luzon, Mindanao and Panay, in which
Orders that have been issued
this insurrectionary movement broke
therefrom, the Dictatorship
out; the sun represents the gigantic
established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo,
strides that have been made by the
whom we honor as the Supreme
sons of this land on the road of
Chief of this Nation, which this day
progress and civilization, its eight rays
commences to have a life of its own,
symbolizing the eight provinces of
in the belief that he is the instrument
Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga,
Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and
Batangas, which were declared in a
state of war almost as soon as the
first insurrectionary movement was
initiated; and the colors blue, red and
white, commemorate those of the
flag of the United States of North
America, in manifestation of our
profound gratitude towards that Great
Nation for the disinterested protection
she is extending to us and will
continue to extend to us.”