CONTENT AND CONTExTUAL

ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PRIMARY

SOURCES IN THE PHILIPPINES
REVIEW OF THE PAST DISCUSSION
LEARNING OBJETCIVES
• To familiarized oneself with the primary document in different
historical period of the Philippines.

• To learn history through primary source.

• To properly interpret primary sources through examining the content

and context of the document.

• To understand the context behind each selected documents.

CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN THE
PHILIPPINES

• In this module, we are to look at a number of primary sources from

different historical periods and evaluate these documents’ content in
terms of historical value, and examine the context of their production.
• These primary sources gave range from chronicles, official documents,
speeches, and cartoons to visual arts. Needless to say, different types
of sources necessitates different kinds of analysis and contain
different levels of importance.
CONTENT AND CONTECTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
The primary sources that may we going to examine are:

• Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage Around the World;

• The 1898 Declaration of Philippine Independence;
• Political Cartoon’s Alfred McCoy’s Philippine Cartoons:
Political Caricature of the American Era (1900-1941); and
• Corazon Aquino’s speech before the US Congress.
 THE FIRSY VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD
BY MAGELLAN by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

• This book was taken from the

chronicle of contemporary
voyagers and navigators of the
sixteenth century.
• One of them was Italian
nobleman Antonio Pigafetta,
who accompanied Ferdinand
Magellan in his fateful
circumnavigation of the world.
CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Pigafetta’s work instantly became a

classic that prominent literary men in
the West like William Shakespeare,
Michael de Montaigne, Giambattista
Vico referred to the book in their
interpretation of the New World.
 A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
• Pigafetta’s travelogue is one of the most
important primary in the study of the
precolonial Philippines. 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 Lapu-lapu’s forces in the Batthe of
Mactan, and in the departure of what was left
of Magellan’s from the islands.
• Examining the document reveals several
insights not just in the character of the
Philippines during the precolonial period, but
also on how the fresh eyed of the Europeans
regard a deeply unfamiliar, environment,
people, and culture.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

• Locating Pigafetta’s account in the context of its writing warrants a

familiarity on the dominant frame of mind in the age of exploration
which pervaded Europe in the 15th and 16th century.
• Students of history need to realize that primary sources used in the
subsequent written histories depart from certain perspective.
• Thus, Pigafetta’s account was also written from the perspective of
Pigafetta himself and was a product of the context of its production.
• The First Voyage Around the World by Magellan was published after
Pigafetta returned to Italy.
• What about the observation?
Antonio Pigafetta as he wrote his
firsthand observation and general
impression of the Far East including their
experiences in the Visayas. In Pigafetta’s
account their fleet reached what he
called the Ladrones Island or the “ Island
of the Thieves.”
• The Ladrones Island is
presently known as the
Marianas Islands. These
islands are located south-
southeast of Japan, west
southwest of Hawaii, north of
New Guinea, and east of
Philippines.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

• Here, he met two kings. The

first king was Raja Siagu, and
the other king was Raja
Colambo, king of Zuluan and
Calagan (Butuan and Caragua).
• Magellan ordered the chaplain
to preside a Mass by the shore.
• The two kings heard of this plan
and sent two dead pigs and
attended the Mass.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

• After the Mass, Magellan ordered that

the cross be brought with nails and
crown in place.
• The king concurred and allowed for
the cross to be planted.
• This Mass would go down in history as
the First Mass in the Philippines, and
the cross would be the famed
Magellan’s Cross still preserved at
present day.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

• Magellan also reached the

island of Cebu where he met
Raja Humabon, as a sign of
friendship, they had made a
blood compact with the Raja,
the king of Sugbu.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

• A principal man from the island of

Matan (Mactan) by the name Datu Zula
went to see Magellan and asked him to
fight the chief named Datu Silapulapu
( Lapulapu)
• Magellan agreed and expresses to go to
Mactan himself to fight the said chief.
• Outnumbered, Magellan died in the
battle.
 ANALYSIS OF PIGAFETTA’S
CHRONICLE
• The chronicle of Pigafetta was one of
the most cited documents by
historians who wished to study the
precolonial Philippines.
• Moreover, being the earliest detailed
documentation, it was believed that
Pigafetta’s writings account for the
“purest” precolonial society.
 ANALYSIS OF PIGAFETTA’S
CHRONICLE
• Nevertheless, there needs to have a more nuanced reading the source within
a contextual backdrop.
• A student of history should recognized certain biases accompanying the
author and his identity, loyalties, and the circumstances that he was in; and
how it affected the text that he produced.
• In reading Pigafetta’s description of the people, one has to keep in mind that
he was coming from 16th century European perspective.
• It should be understood that such observations were rooted from the context
of Pigafetta and of his era.
• These context should be used and understood in order to have a more
qualified reading of Pigafetta’s account.
PROCLAMATION
OF THE
PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE
JUNE 12, 1898
The Philippine declaration of
Independence occurred in Kawit, Cavite.
Filipino revolutionary forces under
General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the
sovereignty and independence of the
Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of
Spain.
 ABUSES & INEQUALITIES IN
COLONY
The Civil Guards & the unlawful shooting
of prisoners
Unequal protection of law between the
Filipino people and the “eminent
personage”
Unjust deportation and rendering of the
decision
 BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE

1. The Documents narrates the spread of the movement “like an electric

spark
2. Rizal’s Execution calling it unjust

3. Cavite Mutiny (execution of the martyred native priest)

4. Invokes the proclamation of Independence that would led the

Dictatorship of

Emilio Aguinaldo
5. Explanation on the Philippine flag
PARTS OF THE PHILIPPINE
FLAG 1.The White triangle represents
the distinctive emblem of famous
Katipunan society.
2.Three Stars represents the three
Islands of the Archipelago
3.The Sun represents the gigantic
strides
4.The Eight Rays symbolizing the
eight provinces of Manila
5. The Colors Blue, Red, & White
commemorates the flag of USNA
 ANALYSIS OF THE
“PROCLAMATION OF
THE
PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE”
1. Reveal historical truth about this important event in Philippine history.

2. Documents reflects the general revolutionary sentiments

3. “Philippine Revolution was an Agrarian Revolution”

4. The Treaty of Paris Agreement

5. Impression to the Victorious Revolutionary Government of Aguinaldo

6. Katipunan as the pioneer of the Revolutionary

Movement.
 ALFRED MCCOY’S
PHILIPPINE CARTOONS:
POLITICAL
CARICATURE OF THE
AMERICAN ERA (1900 –
1941)
Public post is not a
hereditary crown The cartoon shows a
politician from Tondo, named
Dr. Santos, passing his crown to
his brother – in – law, Dr.
Barcelona.

A filipino Guy was trying

to stop Santos, telling the latter
to stop giving Barcelona the
crown because it is not his to
begin with
 This was drawn by
Fernando Amorsolo. A Filipino
child who stole a skinny chicken
War Against Speculator because he had nothing to
eat. The police officer was
relentlessly pursuing the said
child.
A man wearing a salakot
named Juan de la Cruz was
grabbing the officer, telling him
to leave the small time
pockets and thieves and to
turn at the great thieves
instead.
He was pointing to huge
warehouse containing bulks of
COLORUM

The Philippines Free

Press published this
commentary when fatal
accidents involving colorum
vehicles and taxis occurred
often already
CINEM
A
•A blown up officer was
at the screen saying that
couple are not allowed to
neck and make love in the
theater.
•Two youngster
looked horrified while n
older couple seemed
amused
Uncle Sam Riding A Chariot

Uncle Sam Riding a

chariot pulled by Filipinos
wearing school uniforms.
The Filipino boys were
carrying American
objects like baseball bats,
whiskey, and boxing
gloves.
El Turno Los Partidos
•Was published by
Lipang Kalabaw on August
24, 1907.
•In the picture we can
see the Uncle Sam rationing
poeeidge to the politicians
and member of the
Progresista Party while
members of Nacionalista Party
look on and wait for their
turn.
 ANALYSIS OF THE
POLITICAL CARICATURES
DURING THE AMERICAN
PERIOD
1. Filipino Politician did not understand the essence
of democracy & the accompanying democratic
instititution and processes
2. Patronage became influential and powerful
3. Transition from a Catholic-centered, Spanish-
Filipino society to an imperial American-
assimilated one
4. “Sexual revolution” mindset
5. Condition of the poor Filipinos in the Philippines
REVISITING CORAZON
AQUINO’S SPEECH
BEFORE THE U.S.
CONGRESS
CORAZON “CORY” CONJUANGCO
AQUINO
Function as the symbol of the restoration of
democracy
A housewife who had always been in the
shadow of her husband and relatives and had no
experience in politics
Came from a rich haciendero family in Tarlac
and owned vast estate sugar palntation
PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
1986
Was recognized around the world for its peaceful
character
Protests from the different sectors frequented
different areas in the country
February 1986, Corazon Aquino convinced to run
against Marcos
The thousand of people who gathered overthrow
Ferdinand Marcos from presedency after 21
years
 SEPTEMBER 18, 1986
Cory went to United States and Spoke before the joint
session of the U.S Congress
Began her speech with the story of her leaving the United
states three years prior as a new widowed wife of Ninoy
Aquino
Cory attributed the peaceful EDSA Revolution to the
martyrdom of Ninoy
Talked about her miraculous victory through the peoples
struggle and initiatives as the president of restored
democracy
 Cory’s Peace agenda
Controversial topic Philippine Foreign Dept amounting $26
Billion
ANALYSI
S OF
CORY
AQUINO’S
SPEECH
1. Cory Aquino’s speech was important
event in political and diplomatic history
2. Ideology or the principles of the new
democratic government
3. Parallelism between Cory Aquino and
the Marcos’s government
 THANK
YOU
Prepared by: Dr. Dominadora I. Edulag