Notes in GECREA 2nd Sem 24 1

Readings in Philippine History
Chapter 1: Meaning and relevance of history

A. Distinction of Primary and Secondary Sources;
B. External and Internal Criticism
C. History Traditional Understanding:
• Study of the past
• Chronological record of significant events often including an explanation of their causes
D. Modern Understanding: • Came from Greek word “Historia” that means “Knowledge acquired
through inquiry or investigation” • Sources are oral traditions in forms of epics, songs, artifacts,
architecture, memory etc.
- “Ang kasaysayan ay SALAYSAY na may SAYSAY sa SINASALAYSAYANG SALINGLAHI.” -Zeus Salazar
- “Pantayong Pananaw” (Salazar, 1974)
E. Divisions of History
Pre-History • period where no written records exist or when the writings of people were not preserved •
analyzed through fossils and artifacts by Archaeologists and Anthropologists
History • period when man started to write and record events using a system of writing • analyzed
through wood carves, engraved metals, written papyrus, written papers
It is studied by “Historians”
F.Role of Historians
• To look at the available sources and select the most relevant for history and subject of study
• To organize the past that is being created
• To seek for the meaning of recovering the past to let the people see the continuing relevance of
memories (Historical Understanding)
G. Historiography
• “Writing of history” (Historical Writing)
• Based on critical examination of sources, selection of particular details from authentic
materials in those sources and the synthesis of those details into a narrative
• Done through “Historical Research” with the aid of “Historical Methodology”
-Looking for data through Historical sources.
-Determining the data as a Primary or Secondary source.
- Analyze the data through historical criticisms.
-Writing the entire narrative.
H. Importance of History
• To unite a nation
• To legitimize regime 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
I. Historical Timeframe of the Philippines
Pre-historic era
Spanish era
American era
Contemporary era – present
Japanese era 9000 BCE or 7000 BCE 21st Century
J. Distinction of Primary and Secondary Sources; External and Internal Criticism
Historical Sources
1. Primary Sources • Produced at the same time as the event being studied (Contemporary Accounts) •
Include documents or artifacts created by a witness or participant of the event • “Firsthand testimony,”
“Eyewitness accounts” • It may include diaries, letters, interviews, photographs, newspapers
6 Points of inquiries to evaluate Primary sources (Garraghan, 1950):

1. Date- When was it produced?
2. Localization- Where did it originate?
3. Authorship- Who wrote it?
4. Analysis- What pre-existing material served as the basis for its production?
5. Integrity- What was its original form?
6. Credibility- What is the evidential value of its content?
2. Secondary Sources • Produced by authors who used and interpreted primary sources • Analyzed a
scholarly question and often use primary source as evidence • Include books, theses, dissertations,
journals, magazines, knowledge of historians • Written few years after the exact time of the event
Primary and Secondary sources should be evaluated its validity and credibility by asking these
questions:
1. How did the author know about the given details? Was the author present at the event?
2. Where did the information come from? Is it a personal experience, an eyewitness account etc.?
3. Did the author conclude based on a single or multiple source?
In terms of historical reliability,

Primary source:
• The closer the date of creation, the more reliable one.
Secondary source:
• The more recent, the more reliable one.
J. Historical Criticism
1. External Criticism
• Verification of authenticity by examining physical characteristics; consistency with the historical
characteristics of the time when it was produced, and materials used.
• We can ask the following questions: -when it was written? -where it was written? -who was the
author? -why did it survive? -what were the materials used? -where the words used were being used
those times?
2. Internal Criticism
• Looks at the truthfulness and factuality of the evidence by looking at the author of the source, its
context, the agenda behind its creation • It looks at the content of the source and examines the
circumstance of its production
• We can ask the following questions: -was it written by eyewitness or not? -why was it written? -is
there consistency? -what are the connotations? -what is the literal meaning? -what is the meaning of
the context?
7 factors in evaluating through Internal Criticism (Howell and Prevenier, 2001):
1. Genealogy of the document
2. Genesis of the document
3. Originality of the document
4. Interpretation of the document
5. Authorial authority of the document 6. Competence of the observer
7. Trustworthiness of the observer
- Rizal did not write “Sa Aking Mga Kabata”
-Roman Roque; “Forger of Philippine History”
- Jose Marco; “Greatest Con Man of Philippine History”
William Henry Scott’s findings:
• The alleged writer Fr. Jose Ma. Pavon was not in the Philippines in 1838 or 1839.
• The alleged writer dedicated the book (that contains the code) to King of Spain in 1838, but Spain did
not have a king between 1833-1974.
• The writer mentioned that there were microbes in the month of November in the country (1838) but
the term “microbes” was first used in 1878.
Suggested readings for Chapter 1:
• Understanding History: A Primer of Historical Method (1969) by Louis Gottschalk (pp. 41- 61, 117-
170)
• From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods (2001) by Martha Howell and Walter
Prevenier (pp. 17-68)
“Our misfortunes are our own fault, let us blame nobody else for them. But as long as the Filipino
people do not have sufficient vigour to proclaim, head held high and chest bared, their right to a life
their own in human society and to guarantee it with their sacrifices, with their very blood if necessary.
Why give them independence? What is the use of independence if the slaves of today, will become the
tyrants of tomorrow? And no doubt they will, because whoever submits to tyranny, loves it!” -Padre
Florentino (El Filibusterismo, 1891)

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Readings in Philippine History

Chapter 1: Meaning and relevance of history

6 Points of inquiries to evaluate Primary sources (Garraghan, 1950):

In terms of historical reliability,

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