SOC. SCI.

13: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

FIRST SEMESTER 2020-2021

MODULE # ​1

TITLE/TOPIC: ​Meaning and relevance of history

● distinction of primary and secondary sources
● external and internal criticism
● repositories of primary sources and different kinds of primary sources

OVERVIEW

This chapter introduces history as a discipline and as a narrative. It presents the definition which
transcends the common – history as the study of the past. It includes also the distinction between
history and historiography. History has been adjudged as boring and useless, hence, its importance or
relevance is presented and discussed. The distinction between primary and secondary sources is also
be discussed in relation to the historical subject matter being studied and the historical methodology
employed by the historian. In order to evaluate sources, external and internal criticisms will be
explained. Lastly, the task of the historian as the arbiter of facts and evidences in making his
interpretation and forming historical narrative will be tackled.

OBJECTIVES

After this module, the students shall have:

- Define history and historiography

- Demonstrate understanding on the importance of history
- Evaluate primary sources for their credibility, authenticity, and provenance

PRE-TEST

Write TRUE if the statement is true and FALSE, if false.

1. History is the study of the past.​ TRUE

2. Sources that were not written should not be used in writing history.​ FALSE
3. The subject of historiography is history itself.​ TRUE
4. History has no use for the present, thus, the saying “past is past” is true. ​FALSE
5. Only primary sources may be used in writing history. ​FALSE
6. External criticism is done by examining the physical characteristics of a source. ​TRUE
7. Internal criticism is done by looking at a source’s quality of paper and type of ink, among others.
FALSE

DISCUSSION

1. Meaning and Relevance of History

WHAT IS HISTORY? WHAT IS HISTORIOGRAPHY?
Old/traditional New understanding
understanding
- Study of the past Greek work ​historia​ - Knowledge - Is the history of history
- a chronological acquired through inquiry or - the writing of history, especially the
record of investigation. writing of history based on the
significant events - Account of the past of a critical examination of sources, the
(such as those person or of a group of people selection of particular details from
affecting a nation through written documents the authentic materials in those
or institution) and historical evidences sources, and the synthesis of those
often including - Sources are oral traditions in details into a narrative that stands
forms of epics and songs, the test of critical examination. The
 an explanation of artifacts, architecture, and term historiography also refers to
their causes memory. the theory and ​history​ of historical
writing.
History Historiography
Object the past, the events that happened in the past, history itself
of and the causes of such events
study

Importance of history
- to unite a nation
- to legitimize regimes and forge a sense of collective identity through collective memory
- to make sense of the present
- to not repeat mistakes of the past
- to inspire people to keep their good practices to move forward

Two Schools of Thought in Understanding History

1. Positivism
- requires empirical and observable evidence
- believes that “no document, no history”

2. Postcolonialism

- looks at two things in writing history: 1) to tell the history of their nation that will highlight their identity
free from that of colonial discourse and knowledge, and 2) to criticize the methods, effects, and idea of
colonialism.
- a reaction and an alternative to the colonial history that colonial powers created and taught to their
subjects.

2. Historical Sources

PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY

Produced at the same time as the Produced by authors Produced by authors using
event, period, or subject being who used primary primary sources.
studied. sources.
Include documents or artifacts created Analyze a scholarly
by a witness to or participant in an question and often use
event. They can be firsthand primary sources as
testimony or evidence created during evidence.
the time period that you are studying. Include books and
May include diaries, letters, articles about a topic.
interviews, oral histories, They may include lists
photographs, newspaper articles, of sources, i.e.
government documents, poems, bibliographies, that
novels, plays, and music. The may lead you to other
collection and analysis of primary primary or secondary
sources is central to historical sources.
research.

ex. 1. Biography 1. a chapter in a textbook about

1. Autobiography 2. Description based a person’s life based on a
2. Birthday party (event) on the pictures/videos biography
-Pictures/videos captured during the captured during the 2.
event or statements of those who event or Comments/descriptions/interpre
were present. interpretation/stories tations based on the secondary
based on the sources (description,
interpretation/stories of those
 statements of those who saw the pictures, watched
present in the event. the videos and heard the
statements)

3. External and Internal Criticisms

EXTERNAL INTERNAL
Verification of ​authenticity​ by examining Looks at the ​truthfulnes​s and ​factuality​ of
physical characteristics; consistency with the the evidence by looking at the author of the
historical characteristics of the time when it source, its context, the agenda behind its
was produced; materials used. creation, the knowledge which informed it,
We can ask the following questions: and its intended purpose.
1. when was it written? It looks at the content of the source and
2. where was it written? examines the circumstance of its production.
3. who was the real author? We can ask the following questions:
4. why did it survive? 1. was it written by eyewitnesses or
5. what were the materials used? secondhand account (author)?
6. were the language and words used in the 2. why was it written?
document consistent with the language and 3. is there consistency?
words being used during those times? 4. what are the connotations?
7. is it authentic? 5. what is the literal meaning?
6. what is the meaning in context?
Ex. Sa Aking Mga Kabata – attributed to Rizal
It was a long-held belief that the poem ​Sa Aking mga Kabata​ (To My Fellow Children) was written by
Dr. Jose P. Rizal. According to popular belief, Rizal wrote the poem in 1869 to express the importance
of loving one’s native tongue. This is the poem where one finds the popular line, “​Ang hindi magmahal
sa kanyang salita, mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda.​ ”

However, in his recent book ​Rizal: Makata,​ National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario clarifies that the
poem was not by Rizal. Almario provides pieces of evidence to prove his point, and one of these is a
letter Rizal wrote his brother Paciano in 1886. In the letter, Rizal admitted to finding it difficult to
translate into Filipino the German word ​freiheit,​ or the Spanish word ​libertad​ (freedom or liberty in
English), which Rizal found in the story of William Tell.

It was in Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s translation of Rizal’s article, ​El Amor Patrio (Ang Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang
Lupa),​ that Rizal saw the word “​malaya”​ or “​kalayaan​” as the Tagalog equivalent of the word “​libertad​.”

According to Almario, since Rizal only discovered the Tagalog word kalayaan when del Pilar
translated ​El Amor Patrio​ in 1882, it was unlikely that Rizal wrote ​Sa Aking mga Kabata​, which uses the
word ​kalayaan,​ in 1869.

3. Role of the Historian

- to look at the available historical sources and select the most relevant and meaningful for history and
for the subject matter that he is studying.

- to organize the past that is being created so that it can offer lessons for nations, societies, and
civilization.

- to seek for the meaning of recovering the past to let the people see the continuing relevance of
provenance, memory, remembering, and historical understanding for both the present and the future.

EVALUATION

A. Read the following scenarios and classify the sources discovered as primary, secondary, or tertiary
sources and explain why in one sentence.
1. Michael was exploring the Kalinga State University Library. He wanted to study the history of the
Kalinga during the 19​th​ Century. In one of the books, he saw an old photograph of a group of people
wearing their traditional clothes – g-strings and tapis, clipped among the pages. At the back of the
photo was an inscription that says: “The Ykalingas, June 12, 1882.” (5pts)

Is the photograph a primary, secondary or tertiary source? ​ Primary Source because it include
documents or artifacts created by a witness or a participant on an event.

2. Your instructor in English asked you to write your life’s story. You did your task and wrote about
yourself. (5pts)

Is your written life story a primary, secondary or tertiary source? Why?

Secondary source because it analyze a scholarly question often use primary sources as evidence.

B. Using examples of a primary source, identify a primary source and a secondary source that can be
used in the writing of your life story. Explain how it qualifies as a primary source and as a secondary
source. (10pts)

Primary Source Secondary Source

Autobiography Biography
It qualifies as Primary Source because you It qualifies Secondary Source If others wrote
are the one who wrote your story not others. your story. And if it was just based on Primary
They can be firsthand testimony or evidences. Source.

C. True or False: Write YES if the statement is True and NO if the statement is FALSE. (5pts)

1. History is not really important in understanding and appreciating the present. ​NO
2. History does not only refer to written documents but also artifacts, edifices and oral traditions among
others. ​YES
3. Historiography helps students of history to be critical in studying history. ​YES
4. External and internal criticisms are important in knowing the truth whether in history or in life.​YES
5. In using historical sources, secondary sources are more reliable than primary sources. ​NO

D. Evaluate, based on this document, whether or not this message to General Antonio Luna is true and
it came from President Emilio Aguinaldo. Apply external and internal criticisms. (10pts)

“​PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC TO THE SECRETARY OF

WAR, DAGUPAN. Paging for an important meeting, therefore you
are ordered to come here immediately. This is in response to your
previous telegram about urgent matters to discuss. It is really an
emergency.​ ”

This telegram was written on June 4,1899 at teleqraph office. It

was from Emilio Aguinaldo to send it to Antonio Luna. It was
missing for more than a century but they foun out that this was in
custody Antonio Luna's daughter in law and it is still in good condition. This letter was written in Spanish
language because that was their language that they used in those times.

This telegram wrote by Emilio because he wanted to meet Antonii Luna in Cabanatuan. But it was
not a meeting, he was just waiting the General's death.

REFERENCES

Candelaria, John Lee, Alphora, Veronica. “Introduction to History: Definition, Issues,

Sources, and Methodology” in ​Readings in Philippine History​. Manila: Rex Bookstore,
2018.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Internal-and-External-Criticism-from-Neuman-2003-p421_fig1_27
9943052
https://www.britannica.com/topic/historiography
https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/himig/featured-song-sa-aking-mga-kabata/
https://guides.lib.uw.edu/c.php?g=344285&p=2580599
https://www.esquiremag.ph/the-good-life/pursuits/antonio-luna-emilio-aguinaldo-letter-a1957-201811
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Prepared by:

HENRY P. BILAN
Subject-in-Charge