Readings in Philippine History - Lesson 1

GE-RIPH Readings in Philippine History LESSON 1. A Introduction to History: Definition, Sources, Methodology And Significance INITIAL ACTIVITY: What Do You Know About the Philippine History? Instruction:...

GE-RIPH Readings in Philippine History LESSON 1. A Introduction to History: Definition, Sources, Methodology And Significance INITIAL ACTIVITY: What Do You Know About the Philippine History? Instruction: Write at least three (3) words that you think will best describe the Philippine History. Provide one (1) to two (2) sentences of explanation on why you choose the words and then try to establish connections of these three (3) words to the study of history of Philippine history. Are you ready? Let us hear your answer!! What is HISTORY? HISTORY is said to be the “mother” of all disciplines in the field of the social sciences. History is the “chronological record of past significant events” (Webster’s vest pocket dictionary: Springfield; Merriam Webster Inc. – publisher). History means narrating one’s own experience (Oakeshott, 2003). It may also mean an account of one’s own interpretation of his experiences in the past or of “the subjective process of his own re-creation of the past events” (E.H. Carr, 2009). Furthermore, Carr (2009) defines it as “an inquiry conducted by the historian in the series of past events into which he digs into. This is referred to as “history-as-actuality” Gottschalk, 1969). In fact, with the definitions listed, history could be discussed in many ways, and as of this writing, historians and researchers found at least 3 approaches to doing historiography, namely (1) history from above, (2) history from below and the (3) pantayong pananaw. History from Above History from above was solely regarded as a matter of what the powerful, the ruling class, the famous, the colonizers, and the wealthy people thought of and what they did, and what the "ordinary" people felt and tried to accomplish was insignificant and therefore not worth mentioning as part of history. Photo retrieved from: https://br.pinterest.com 2  Chronicles written by explorers in the middle ages after a successful invasion of unexplored territory, could also be considered as “history from above”. A case in point was that of the chronicles written by Fray Juan de Plasencia, an Italian priest who was able to come to the country thru the sponsorship of the Spanish king, enabled him to write down his experiences with the local natives. The book entitled “Customs of the Tagalogs” told of the daily lives of the natives in early colonial society. It also described the existing social classes during this period. History from Below Disregard for the history of ordinary people led to the “history from below” movement which originated from the British Marxist historian E.P. Thompson and the German historian Hans Ulrich Wehler with his book “Historical Social Science” (Ka-May Cheng, 2012). According to Ka-May Cheng (2012), this is a movement that asserts workers, women, immigrants, and minorities have their own respective stories or history. Pantayong Pananaw When one talks of this new manner of writing the national history of Filipinos, it is focused on writing the development of the Filipinos alone. It is written by Filipinos about Filipinos, using the standards of the Filipino, written in Pilipino language, and interpreted ‘exclusively’ by a Filipino. The Bagong Kasaysayan of writing the national history was an offshoot of this historical philosophy (Reyes, 2002). The importance of the pantayong pananaw is that the story of the Filipinos is interpreted by them, based on their knowledge of their culture and national heritage, and written by them. Noticeably the first two approaches are of foreign origins but notwithstanding, the pantayong pananaw was indeed Filipino. Photo retrieved from: https://littlegapanese.blogspot.com For Prof. Zeus Salazar, it would be much more meaningful if the country’s history could be re-written, described and narrated by a Filipino. This is what is called as Filipino historiography (Reyes, 2002). 3  STUDY GUIDE After going over the discussion on the meaning of History, you are to answer the following: 1. What is history? 2. How do you feel about studying history? 3. What are the three (3) approaches to writing history? List down these 3 and describe each. 4. What are your thoughts about the last approach PANTAYONG PANANAW? Do you agree that Filipinos should re-write their own history based on their perspective? Now that you have learned the meaning and different approaches in understanding history, the next discussion will talk about on the writing of history, which is commonly known as Historiography. 4 Historiography HISTORIOGRAPHY refers to the writing of history using any of the approaches briefly defined and discussed above. It involves historical writing culled from many sources in order to avoid biases. Historiography is defined as the writing of history, a study on its methodology, and the sources that were used by the historian; these may categorized as follows: documents, relics (or remains), artifacts or the testimonies of witnesses to the past (Howell and Prevenier, 2001). Documents may include many classifications: ordinances, letters, written laws, statutes, resolutions, personal data, or testimonies of witnesses to that past, etc. The Declaration of Philippine Independence (1898) Photo retrieved from: http://filipinolibrarian.blogspot.com 5  Relics could be buildings, ruins, churches, temples, etc. Artifacts come in the form of such items as eating implements, cooking devices, kitchen utensils, work implements, work animals (in the form of fossils) and others. Manunggul Jar found in Tabon Cave, Quezon, Palawan Photo retrieved from: https://humanistabee.home.blog Magellan’s Cross in Cebu Photo retrieved from: https://www.reddit.com Testimonies of witnesses to the past could come in the form of oral history wherein a historian interviews face-to-face a person who may either be a participant to a past event, or he had witnessed first-hand a particular activity that had bearing to meaningful one. Testimonies may also be “the oral and written reports that describe an event” (Howell and Prevenier, 2001). Other forms of testimonies may be a speech, a commentary, or a remark by a certain nobility about a historical event. If ever the researcher finds the sources insufficient to significantly form his own conclusion about the past, he could supplement this by using other material or non-material sources. It must be remembered that testimonies could be recorded and as such, it becomes a document. Notably mentioning at this juncture is that relics or remains could be immovable objects, while artifacts are portable items. (you may refer to the slides presentation on this) These objects provide a “clue about the past simply by virtue of their existence in a place”. Example of 6 this is when a historian uncovers tools and implements that went with the construction of the pyramids in Lima, Peru. This gives him a better understanding of the inhabitants’ skills and artistry of that past era as well as on the purpose of constructing such structure. Now that you have learned that Historiography is defined as the writing of history, a study on its methodology, as well as the re-telling of one’s own significant/meaningful experiences in his life. Understanding history becomes more exciting, this will even be more fun as we go through identifying the different sources of history. STUDY GUIDE Now that you have read about historiography, prepare for an oral quiz guided by the following questions: 1. What is historiography? 2. How should one write about the past? 3. What are the sources that could be used in writing one’s own history? 4. What is the difference between relics and artifacts? 5. Can one detach himself from writing his own history? Justify your answer. Give examples, if any. Different Sources in History Historians do not usually involved in the events that they are investigating hence they rely mainly on the evidence (such as records) that survived through times to reconstruct the past. In doing this, historians have to verify sources, date them, locate their place of origin and identify their intended functions. This process is called HISTORICAL METHOD (Candelaria and Alporha (2018). Historical Source are objects from the past or testimonies concerning the past on which historians depend in order to create their own depiction of that past (Howell and Prevenier, 2001). They are classified into two: (a) Primary Sources and (b)Secondary Sources. Another type of classifications are: (a) written and non-written, (b) published or unpublished and, (c) textual, oral, or visual sources. 7  “Only a part of what was observed in the past was remembered by those who observed it; only a part of what was remembered was recorded; only a part of what was recorded has survived; only a part of what has survived has come to the historian’s attention; only a part of what has come to their attention is credible; only a part of what is credible has been grasped, and only a part of what has been grasped can be expounded or narrated by the historian.” - Louis Gottschalk (1969), Understanding History What are Primary Sources? PRIMARY SOURCE by definition is a source of historical data or information described as first-hand. That is to say, a source free from anyone’s interpretation. It is raw and unprocessed in other words. Another defining characteristic of any primary source is the element of having a close and direct connection to the subject under study. This brings you the participant’s point of view and his or her contemporary. To exemplify this, take a look at the table below. 8  Angono(Rizal) Petroglyph Photo retrieved from: http://www.baldtrekker.com Rizal’s Notebook Photo retrieved from: https://www.newberry.org What is a Secondary source? SECONDARY SOURCE, on the other hand, is also a source of historical data or information. This source is different from the primary because the information it provides has already underwent a process of filtration. This means the information it carries has been screened, interpreted, organized, rephrased, judged and simplified by a certain individual or group of individuals through the historical methods to produce a particularly easy-to-read materials in making sense of the past. Examples of secondary sources: 1. History textbook 2. Printed materials (serials, periodicals which interprets previous research) OTHER SOURCES (OR MIXED SOURCES), these are documents that contain both eyewitness accounts of the participant but may also include statements from family members of the eyewitness who told of the details of the story. It is called mixed since it combines documents or printed materials, like diaries and newspapers, or a written testimony like a court record. Examples are diaries and newspapers, community newspapers, or tabloids. Newspapers are 9 published printed materials that contain narration of events and situations locally or maybe globally. It could come in the form of community newspapers or local tabloids. In the discussion above, you have learned what historical sources are and their examples. This is very important in studying past events that we are not able to witness. However, there is a serious reminder that you have to keep in mind in order for a source to be used as evidence in history. The said evidence must qualify the two aspects of historical criticism: External and Internal Criticism. Every historian regardless of their age and field of specialization practices the so called historical criticism on any historical evidence in order to have it verified, dated, locate its place of origin and identify its intended function as why it is created. In order to better understand this, the next lesson will focus on historical criticisms. Yet, before we jump into the next lesson, we will end this lesson, an introductory lesson, by tackling the importance of studying history. You will realize that, as you go through each lesson of this course, one’s greater knowledge about hist past spawns much appreciation of his heritage and inculcates a sense of belongingness and oneness with the community. Thus, history is not just knowing what happened in the past, but it also means embracing one’s identity. Why Should We Study Our History? What then is the relevance and meaning to us Filipinos of learning and studying about history and historiography, particularly of what importance is our own history? As discussed earlier, history is a record of the past significant events written and interpreted by the historian. Why then should we learn and look back to our past? It is through history that we learn and understand who we are, our roots, our ancestry, aspirations and everything about our cultural heritage and the legacies that go with it. It is the basis for what we are today, and similarly give us a perspective of where we are to go. As the saying goes “ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay di makararating sa paroroonan”. Government policies, laws and statutes emanate from the knowledge about the past hence development plans are crafted along these bases. Additionally, history is past lessons, and as one learns from these lessons, avoids such mistakes as to enjoy at least a modicum of good life not only for the current times but for a brighter future ahead. According to Bantay Kasaysayan, an organization of history professors who pursue history writing and re-tells these as it is: “Ang kasaysayan ay mahalaga kung ito’y magagamit sa kasalukuyan upang magsilbing paalala, at babala, kung ito’y pahahalagahan upang mapatigil o mapahinto ang katanghan (katangahan) ng kahapon na maulit pa sa ngayon at sa hinaharap”. 10  TAKE-AWAYS! History is a record of past events, a study of the past events that were considered significant in a peoples’ life. It can be written thru eyewitness accounts and declarations, or it may be retold by others who were not participants to the event. Historiography is the science of writing history, and a study of its methods. It has three approaches namely 1) history from above; 2) history from below; and 3) pantayong pananaw. Sources for writing the past events have 5 kinds: primary source, primary testimony, secondary source, secondary testimony, and others (mixed sources). There are several types of these sources that include documents, records, statutes, photographs, birth certificates, death certificates, artifacts, relics, and others. The importance or relevance of knowing and studying about one’s past stems from the fact that governance policies and laws were crafted based on the knowledge of the past. It is also being studies about in order to avoid mistakes of the past, or at least prevent a repetition of it. Let’s find out how well you understand this lesson by taking a brain exercise!! EXERCISE: PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SOURCE Instruction: Identify whether the statement is a (P) for Primary or (S) for Secondary. Write your answer on the space before the number. ____ 1. A love letter of your parents ____ 2. A World War 2 veteran talking about World War 1. ____ 3. A biography of former Chief Justice Renato Corona ____ 4. The description of a Malay race written in a Britannica encyclopedia ____ 5. Your classmate reporting about the Japanese occupation and World War 2 ____ 6. The History Channel’ explaining the traces of Austronesians in Asia and beyond. ____ 7. A prisoner telling you about the kind of government we had for the past few years. ____ 8. A video footage of the military encounters against a group of rebels in the Palawan. ____ 9. A memorandum of agreement signed between Palawan State University and LGU. ____ 10. A YouTube video describing the Battle of Bud Bagsak between the groups of Muslims and Americans. ____ 11. A blog about the blogger’s taste of life in her travel to Paris. ____ 12. A speech of Douglas MacArthur’s intention to return in the Philippines. ____ 13. A newspaper article from 2015 describing the global economic crisis in 2008. ____ 14. An essay about the importance of a hero and hailed as the first prize in an essay ____ 15. The college professor discussing the Agrarian reform of the Philippines. 11  Well done!! You mastered already the difference between primary and secondary sources! Now, to apply what you have learned in this lesson, do the activity below! Have fun!! DO THIS! Instruction: Using the examples of primary source in this lesson, select a primary source that can be used in the writing of your life history. Present this to our class and discuss how it qualifies as a primary source. YOU MADE IT!! To finally end this lesson, please fill up the exit slip below! https://theartofeducation.edu 12 REFERENCES: Candelaria and Alporha (2018). Readings In Philippine History. Rex Bookstore, Manila, Philippines Evangelista, Oscar L. (2002). Building the National Community: Problems and Prospects and Other Historical Essays. New Day Publishers, Inc. Quezon City Gottshcalk, Louis (1969). Understanding History: A Primer on Historical Method. A.A. Knopf Publishing. New York. Howell, Martha and Walter Prevenier. (2001). From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, New York Ka-May Cheng, Eileen. (2012). Historiography: An Introductory Guide. Continuum International Publishing Group. London, England Reyes, Portia L. (2002). Pantayong Pananaw and Bagong Kasaysayan in the New Filipino Historiography: A History of Filipino Historiography as an History of Ideas. Unpublished doctorate dissertation. UP Diliman, Quezon City. Philippines 13