Local History

Local and
Oral History
Week 17-18
Oral and Local History
Essential Questions:
1. What is the importance of local and oral histories in the
development of Philippine history and society?
2. What are some of the local or oral history in our

community that I (the student) need to explore, analyze and
promote?
Residence of Dr. Pio
Valenzuela
Dr. Pio Valenzuela, the
revered member of the
Katipunan’s triumvirate and
our city’s namesake, was
born in this house on July
11, 1869. Found along
Velilla Street in Barangay
Pariancillo Villa, this house
has become a tourist
attraction, and more
importantly, a valuable part
of the city’s heritage.
Source:
https://www.valenzuela.gov.p
h/the_city/places
Bell Tower of San Diego
De Alcala Church
The belfry, or bell tower, of San
Diego de Alcala Church is over
four hundred years old, and is a
cultural and religious relic of the
bygone Spanish era. The tower,
along with the entrance arch, is
the only remaining structure of
the original church built in 1632.
The main structure of San Diego
de Alcala was destroyed during
Japanese rule and has since
been rebuilt and renovated,
serving as an aesthetic
counterpoint to the largely
unchanged tower.
Source:
https://www.valenzuela.gov.p
h/the_city/places
Arkong Bato
This stone arc, found along M.H.
Del Pilar Street, was built by the
Americans in 1910, and served
as the boundary between Rizal
and Bulacan province. Before
the existence of MacArthur
Highway and NLEX, Valenzuela
was already the gateway to the
north, albeit with M.H. Del Pilar
being the main road to Northern
Luzon. Today, the Arkong Bato
marks the boundary between
Barangay Santulan in Malabon
and the arch’s namesake,
Barangay Arkong Bato in
Valenzuela.
Source:
https://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/
the_city/places
National Shrine of Our
Lady of Fatima
Located near the Our Lady of
Fatima University, this shrine is
the center of the Philippine
Fatima apostolate. It was
declared a tourist site in 1982 by
the Department of Tourism, and
most recently, it was declared a
pilgrimage site by the Diocese of
Malolos.
Source:
the_
city/places
Polo Mini Park
This park signifies the historical
identity of Valenzuela City. It is
also adorned with hundred-year
old luscious trees, fountains,
memorial markers
commemorating war veterans
and statues of Pío Valenzuela
and José Rizal.
Source:
the_
city/places
Local history deals with the history of
villages, barrios, towns, cities,
provinces, regions as well as the
personalities and contributors to their
political, economic, social and cultural
development (Tan, 1997)
Oral history is a kind of history which
exists not in written literature but in oral
traditions, narratives, and personal
experiences, which are passed from
generation to generation (kwentong
bayan, epic poems, beliefs, customs and
traditions (Tan, 1997)
Event Interviewee Interviewer
Historical Record
Local history is history in
the local context
Local history provides the
vital task of putting the
meaningful essence of
community in space and time
Local history and oral history
are fundamental to national
interests
We can only understand better our
national history
If we know the history of our locality

We can appreciate more struggles of our
great heroes
If we know their roots and the places

where they originated from
Local and Oral History as an area of
investigation
(1) Lead to revision of interpretations in major areas in Philippine
History
(2) Basis for broader thesis about national history;
(3) Stimulate conceptual innovations that will revitalize history as a
discipline
(4) Discovering and propagating local traditions and culture;
appreciation of one’s origin, and becoming proud of his roots;
Source: Cruz, Romeo “Sources of Local history”
Local history must have these
qualities:
(1) It must be an original work not a recycling or rehashed work that has
been written countless of times. It should present new information or
at least a new perspective, insight and interpretation
(2) It must deal with a subject of historical value. History is a academic
discipline, Worth researching? Stimulate conceptual innovations that
will revitalize history as a discipline
(3) Any historical work that does not cite its sources is not credible because
it cannot be cross-verified
Source: Cruz, Romeo “Sources of Local history”
How to Start Writing Local
and Oral History
Step 1: Identify what would you like to research on and write about
(A particular event, person, institution, ritual, customs, traditions of the people or
particular place, etc)
-Research Outline / preliminary knowledge or information about the local and oral history
of your topic/ Initial reading and inquiry on the topic/ Background Reading - Build the
topic, look at several different history books or articles about the period in which the
topic may have taken place. Browsing the net and asking people in the community may
help in selecting for a topic
and Oral History
Step 2 : Methodology to be used
(Library and Archival work or research based on documents which
include not only written ones but photographs, taped interviews, video
documentation, artwork)
(Church, government offices, Private collection, Library etc)
Narrowing your Topic - Selecting a specific topic of your interest is a
process of gradually looking for the right focus for your topic.
and Oral History
Step 3 : Gathering of Sources of Data
(What and who will be the sources of the data which provide the
answer to what you are researching on and will be writing about)
To begin with, it is important for the student to collect critical

information from each source including the author’s name, title,
publisher, date of publication, and page number for references.
and Oral History
Step 4 : Analyzing and Interpreting Result
(Analyze and interpret information gathered from the sources to draw conclusions about the topic’s significance
in history)
Step 5 : Developing a Thesis
(The thesis statement is usually one sentence that presents an argument about the topic. Important parts of the
document, website, the script of the performance or documentary, the headings and captions of an exhibit may
be used to support the thesis using evidence from the research. Date of publication, and page number for direct
quotes are also important. Make sure to always consult your teacher or research adviser about your plans and
progress.
Activity:
Read “Pagkubkob sa Malinta”, a local
history written by Jerry Gracio and answer
the following questions
1. Based on the local history that you

have read; how can you describe the
locality of Malinta?
2. Do you know any historical events in
your place that was not included in
the mainstream history? What is it?

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Local and

2. What are some of the local or oral history in our

If we know the history of our locality

If we know their roots and the places

To begin with, it is important for the student to collect critical

Step 5 : Developing a Thesis

1. Based on the local history that you

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