Introduction to Local History PDF

Definition Rationale Methodology LOCAL HISTORY Development Challenges Prospects DEFINITION  DEFINITION Finberg (1952) the study of a particular size of relatively self-contained socio-geographical unit, smaller than that studied by...

Definition Rationale Methodology LOCAL HISTORY Development Challenges Prospects DEFINITION  DEFINITION Finberg (1952) the study of a particular size of relatively self-contained socio-geographical unit, smaller than that studied by national historians Reed (1957) study of the growth and development, and perhaps also the decline and fall, of a community at less than national level, from the remotest period of prehistory down to the present day Cullinane (1976) in-depth study of smaller units of society (town, a group of towns having a common geographic or agricultural experience, a province, as linguistic group, a family, an individual, a business, a hacienda, etc.) DEFINITION Stephens (1977) the study of the past of smaller communities such as a town, rural, or suburban area, or a city neighborhood Rogers (1977) the study of the past of some significant local unit, developing as a community, in its context and compared with such other units  DEFINITION Foronda (1974) refers to the history of a town, province or region, as distinguished from the history of a country or a nation Tan (1978) refers to that category of historical writing which emphasizes a specific or limited aspect of national life, geographic or otherwise distinct from regional history type of historical work which is more of less structured on the basis of geo-political areas regional history is subsumed under local history  DEFINITION Bauzon (1978) scope is necessarily a local area or a position in space that is geographically limited (may be a barrio, a town, a district, or a province) which may be studied from the ethnohistorical, social, political, religious, and economic standpoints or from other points of view lens of research is directed so as to bring a detail into the foreground Veneracion (1992) refers not only to the study of small administrative o political units but also includes ethnic groups (Igorot, Moro) which define a people’s collective consciousness  DEFINITION De Viana (2015) history of a locality Reguindin (2015) serves as the thread that sews together the story of the nation which until now is not complete  DEFINITION 7th LHCN General Assembly (2020) study, accounting, and recording of the history of a particular geographic locality, focusing on its communities, and its historically significant events, materials, artifacts, individual, and places may be geographical or cultural space may include history of indigenous people * Local Historical Committees Network - monitor, coordinate, support, and affiliate various local historical bodies engaged in the collection, documentation, popularization, conservation, restoration and preservation of extant historical materials found in different parts of the Philippines  DEFINITION barrio town geographical unit city (political / administrative district Local History boundaries)) province - unit less than the nation - may be studied from diverse points of view (political, social, religious, e.g. Cebuano economic, etc) Ilocano regional unit (cultural / Kapampangan ethnohistorical) Muslim RATIONALE  RATIONALE Bauzon (1978) Traditionally, Filipino historians have concentrated on the writing of the general history of the Filipino nation. Reputable practitioners of the craft of history in the Philippines have focused their collective effort on Manila- it being the colonial, and educational center of the colony and the nation. Related to this bias for the metropolis has been the undue emphasis on the holders and wielders of power and the writing of their respective biographies. Virtually no attention has been given to the day-to-day affairs of ordinary men in history as they eked out a living in the province in their struggle for survival. The explanation for the stress laid on national history, on national figures, and on national cultural, social, political, and economic developments, may be attributed to our deplorable ignorance of historical conditions in the Philippine countryside. This is due to the virtual absence of research on events, on what happened in the rural areas, despite the fact that the Philippine is historically an agricultural country A more fundamental reason for this bias for national history is the regard for local or rural history as fitting only for beginners or amateurs.  RATIONALE Cruz (1982) Appears so easy a subject to develop that probably the serious students of history thought of it as something beneath their dignity and not worthy of their full attention Finberg (1962) Eminent historians perceive the role of local history as a subsidiary to the teaching (or research) of national history. Misconception about local history as a mere training ground for amateurs or beginners of in the historical profession. Jordan (1958) Local history should not be viewed strictly as local history, because the story of any locality, large or small, cannot be divorced or dissected away from its neighbors or from outside factors that have influenced it and are still molding it. The local always is a part of something larger; the part cannot be understood without a knowledge of the whole.  RATIONALE A local historian is in fact a person with considerable training in the field of history who possesses adequate expertise on national and even international history. Local history cannot be understood apart from external influences. It involves the methodological process of verifying particular facts about national history by the detailed investigation of those areas lesser than the nation, but which make up the nation when put together.  Larkin (1967, 1972) Scholars have not treated Philippine society as it has always RATIONALE been, a collection of integrated societies developing at different rates and subject to diverse stimuli. Until each unit is studied as a unique entity and then compared with other regions, Philippine history will remain incomplete. The effect of the singular concern with Manila and its immediate environs on the part of the Filipino national historians has been to distort the history of the archipelago as a whole especially when events in Manila are projected as occurring throughout the nation. Focusing on the Manila area, the seat of Spanish and American authority, reveals only the Western face of Philippine society. As a result, the Philippines has at times seemed a pale imitation of Occidental society, not capable of sustained development. The bonds which historically link the Philippines to the rest of Southeast Asia are found mainly in the rural areas – in the traditional agricultural life of the peasant, in the more superficial acceptance of outside influence, including religion, and in the strong emphasis on family and village loyalty  Gilbert (1966) RATIONALE Local history should be studied as a subject worthy of study in its own right, although the findings in local history may be used in arriving at a national synthesis. Bauzon (1978) Local history provides a more accurate and faithful portrayal of reality than national history; corrective rather than illustrative of national history. It should make it possible to bring about a drastic rewriting of Philippine history. There are simply too many incongruencies between what national histories say, and what actually happened in the provinces.  Foronda (1972, 1977) Local history in the Philippines will help contribute to the RATIONALE definition of the Alma Filipina (Diwang Pilipino), each history of our towns, provinces, or regions providing minute, but nevertheless significant pieces to the much larger mosaic that is the Philippine social, economic, cultural, political, and historical experience. It will bring better understanding of our country and our countrymen. Lack of understanding is often the result of a lack of ourselves; knowing what the Diwang Pilipino is – however abstract that might be beginning – will necessarily mean knowing ourselves better. The primary role of local history would be to arouse among ourselves pride in our locality – our town, province or region but such pride should not be constrained neither by narrow provincialism nor by short-sighted regionalism. Such pride should help pave the way for love of country. Local history will thus have made us better Ilocanos, Negrenses, Tagalogs, Cebuanos, Ilonggos, Warays or Boholanos not only affectionately attached to a town province and region, but also intensely committed to that larger albeit more mythical body politic known as the Philippine nation and everything for which it stands.  Churchill (1998) RATIONALE The study of local history provides the foundations and substance of the true national history. More than just studying the history of towns, provinces or regions in the Philippines, and the people who live there, local history provides the documentations and analysis of the broad processes which are important in shaping the quality of life of the people. Thus, local history enriches our understanding of our national history. History, which is simply defined as an organized record of the meaningful past, becomes the essential resources of local data and memories of events, realities and things that constitute the essence of local life.  Tan (1998) RATIONALE Local and oral history are basic to autonomy or an exercise of genuine local and community freedom…Local history cannot be ignored without disastrous consequences to national unity and destiny because it is one of the means to a meaningful exercise of freedom as a creative force of local development and progress, and because it is the only substantial and just bases for the national history of the Filipino people who come from various ethnologies and sectoral groups. Local and oral history are fundamental to national interest. The Filipino national community is an example of diversity in unity and unity in diversity.  De la Costa (1965) It is basic that we recognize the significant horizontal and vertical variations in our culture RATIONALE Calairo (2021) Quintessential Filipino identity is a myth since it is more complicated No single Filipino history timeline Christian Muslim Non-Christian, Non-Muslim Cruz (1982) The emergence of local history as an area of investigation is significant May probably lead to revision of interpretations in major areas of Philippine history Can be basis for a broader thesis about national history May revolutionize methodologies and stimulate conceptual innovations that will revitalize history as a discipline Focus attention on the history of the people or history from bottom up  Mojares (1978) RATIONALE Local history can revitalize what is commonly seen as the flagging interest among students in the study of history. By focusing the student’s attention on her/his immediate environment and by creating opportunities for the student to see her/himself in more personal terms as a participant in history as well as for her/his actual, individual involvement in the appraisal of historical evidence. Douch (1967) History lessons ought to be interesting, but too often are dull. One of the reasons for this dullness is remoteness, the content of the lessons having no contact, emotional or material, with the students’ lives and experiences. Local history studies encourages students to research, analyze and report their observation. As a result, they acquire more real, as opposed to merely verbal knowledge, that leads to more logical thought. It will also lead to the realization that they are involved in history where they themselves are actors. The experience of studying local history helps in the student’s development both as an individual and as a member of the community by providing some roots and a sense of belonging as well as a feeling of responsibility.  Jamieson (1971) RATIONALE Local history allows students to move away from generalizations of broad topics and concentrate on the study of real people and situations in more detail. David and Huggins (1992) It is easier to make history come alive when one’s own locality is being studied in some detail. Change through time, and the large elements of continuity between the present and the past them become clear to students Anderson and Moore (1994) Students are encouraged to develop an attitude of responsibility towards their cultural heritage which will make them aware of the elements of their past in their own environment that have been destroyed RATIONALE de Viana (2015) Local history allows people in the localities to write about the history of their own places. It gives them the chance to give their own point of view of history from the local level. The important aspect of local history is that it tells the history of communities not mentioned or glossed over by mainstream national history. It discusses in greater detail the local heroes and great aspects of culture that is swept aside by national historians. Overall, it helps preserve the history and culture of a place and allows people in the locality to learn about their past, their local culture and appreciate these as legacies of their own communities. RATIONALE low regard for local only for amateurs only a subsidiary of national history history cannot be divorced from external influences (neighboring local units and national level) focus on national assumption that local events mirror what is happening in the national level Manila = western face of Philippine society history rural areas = Southeast Asian link thread that sews together story of the nation which now is not complete corrective rather than illustrative (leading to drastic rewriting of history) significant horizontal and vertical variations national synthesis towards the realization of Diwang Pilipino (pride in locality →love for country) revitalize flagging students will see themselves as actual participants, thereby developing feeling of responsibility towards cultural heritage provides roots and belonging interest in history history comes alive METHODOLOGY METHODOLOGY Choosing a topic Gathering of sources Examination of sources or Historical Criticism (External and Internal Criticism) Extraction of data from authentic and credible sources Writing of history – must be well-organized, coherent and elegantly written  METHODOLOGY Foronda (1972) the writing of local history involves the same methodology, tools and discipline necessary in the writing of general history the local historian, because field is more limited than that of the general historian, is in a better position to examine in greater detail the histories of our towns, province, or regions it is expedient to engage in oral history which involves interviews with the eyewitnesses of or participants in historical events in the local communities the writing of good local history does not mean just the enumeration of the establishment of barrios, towns, or provinces, or the sequences of terms of mayors, parish priests, bishops, or provincial governors  METHODOLOGY de Viana (2015) If one wishes to undertake a project in local history the work must be: 1. The work should be original – it should not be a rehash or recycling of historical facts that have been written countless of times. The work should show new information utilizing primary sources, if not the work should present new insights and perspectives 2. The subject must deal with something of historical value – If one just wishes to write something about the past, this is not history but another attempt at antiquarianism. Not everything is worth researching. It must have some historicity or some use for the present or the future. To be a work of historical value, the work should show how things have changed from the past, what path was taken, for what reasons and it should explain the present situation of the place 3. The work must meet basic academic standards – The research work must be grammatically correct. It must have clarity of presentation and narrative. More importantly, it must have proper attributions by having a bibliography. The information mentioned in the work must have their footnotes or endnotes.  METHODOLOGY de Viana (2015) The best person to write the history of a place is no other than a person of the locality itself. It would be a matter of pride to have a local historian who would write the history of the province, city or town. S/he will be the voice of the community and will express the values and perceptions of her/his people or ethnic group which may be misinterpreted or unperceived by non-locals. Writing the local history of her/his place will be an advantage for her/him because s/he knows the culture of the people. S/he speaks the language of the region and may know local documentary sources such as local newspapers which are often in the vernacular, local publications such as books, pamphlets, and journals. Since s/he knows the local dialect, this will help her/him in conducting oral history research. S/he is in the best position to explain the people’s way of life and will serve as an interpreter of the locality to the outside world and interpret the outside world to the locality. METHODOLOGY Ian Alfonso (2021) If anyone in the locality can write and study the rigors of the discipline of history, he or she is the best historian because he or she possesses spatial imagination. In his or her mind, the action of men in history within the native geographic space is already plotted. It is a gift from our ancestors. interdependence of neighboring localities irrespective of geo-political boundaries (set during the colonial period) is tantamount to pre-Hispanic boundaries in the subconscious of a generation geopolitical boundaries define administrative jurisdiction but not historical and cultural ties. Those ties are older – even ancient – which a student of history must realize. It is an intangible heritage, folk wisdom to be exact, waiting to be discerned. METHODOLOGY de Viana (2015) In order to write a good local history, the local historian must have a good grasp of the history of the country. This would allow her/him to understand how national history affected her/his locality and how the locality may have affected or contributed to the history of the nation. The local historian must write the history of her/his place in the context of national history in order to provide better meaning in the interpretation of local events. Once the local historian is acquainted with the national history, s/he should consult works done about her/his area of study. This helps to find sources that may be used in the study and at the same time helps avoid duplicating the previous research. METHODOLOGY de Viana (2015) Examples of previous works: Ilocos region during the Philippine American War – William Henry Scott Batanes – Dr. Florentino Hornedo Bicol region – Dr. Luis Dery Bulacan – Dr. Jaime Veneracion Pampanga – Rosario Cortes Negros Oriental – Caridad Aldecoa Cebu – Dr. Resil Mojares Butuan – Gregorio Hontiveros Sulu and Tawi-Tawi – Dr. Samuel Tan  de Viana (2015) Possible topics METHODOLOGY History of one’s barangay, town or province (with specific time frame) which could focus on : 1. Highlight of the place or a remarkable event in its history (history of Cagayan during the administration of President Marcos) 2. Biographical history discussing local heroes (descendants may offer previously unknown information) 3. History of an institution, structure, fort, historical site 4. Some unique professions in the region such as healers, teachers or artists 5. Economic history (history of mining in Benguet, hat making in Tayabas) 6. Cultural communities (Mamanwas of Mindanao, Subanons of Zamboanga) 7. Local women and their role in the place 8. Local heritage research a. history of a particular structure such as a house, church, fort b. Fashion of people of a place during a certain period c. Certain industry or livelihood especially one that is in danger of disappearing, (boat-making, buntal hat making, Capiz window making) d. Intangible heritage such as poems, songs, riddles, legends, epics that are known to that place  METHODOLOGY Ian Alfonso (2021) What to write? marginalized – IPs, women, etc. rectifying documenting – cultural mapping, oral history archeological toponymical – place names Periodization local history should not always mimic national history (Maria Nela Florendo) National Museum of the Philippines definition of the past historical period began with “the first mention of a polity in the Philippines in a written text” prehistoric period (before 972) vs. historical pre-colonial period (972-1565) vs. historical colonial period (1565-1946)  METHODOLOGY de Viana (2015) Outline of study: 1. Introduction – topic, scope, time frame, explanation why researcher chose the topic 2. Text – main body of the research 3. Analysis – employment of theoretical framework in the interpretation of the data 4. Conclusion – summation of the findings 5. Recommendations – further work that may be done on topics that are related to the research 6. Endnotes/footnotes – may also be used to explain data that has been presented 7. Bibliography or List of References – may be classified into primary or secondary, unpublished or written sources  Ian Alfonso (2021) METHODOLOGY Historical material Anything that can be used in interpreting and understanding the past but not limited to historical documents and tangible items, be it movable or immovable (e.g., artifacts, relics, artworks, material culture, photographs, heritage structures). Oral testimonies, folklores, literature, songs, and place names are historical materials, too. Sources National Historical Commission of the Philippines data files LGU-run libraries (BLP Bulacañana Collection) private collections (Mario Feir Filipiniana Collection) museums (University of Nueva CaceresMuseum, Xavier University Museo de Oro)  A – aklatan at artsibo (library and N – numero (demography, archives) statistics) METHODOLOGY B – batis (primary and secondary NG – ngalan (surnames) sources) K – kuwentong bayan (folklore) O – ordinance (barangay, Wensley Reyes, 2020 municipality, province) ABAKADA ng Kasaysayang Pampook D – daan (street names) P – periodization (pamayanan-bayan- bansa) E – ekonomiya (products, industries) R – retrato (photographs) G – genealogy (Family History Library S – sector (social status, ethnicity, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- religious belief, gender, age) Day Saints) H – heraldry (logo, seal) T – toponym at toponymy (study of place names) I – institusyon (LGUs schools, churches) U – uban (memoir, diary, oral history) L – laro at libangan (games, W – wika (old dictionaries) amusement, entertainment) M – mapa (Perry-Castaneda Library Y – yaman (physical – natural Map Collection, NAMRIA) resources; cultural – festivals, food, architecture, music, theater, literature, etc)  Sources of Data (de Viana, 2015) 1. Published histories of localities 2. Family histories and biographies 3. Military records 4. Directories 5. Maps Atlases and gazettes 6. Accounts of travelers 7. Anniversary speeches and sermons 8. Photographs 9. Stories and reminiscences of old timers in a locality METHODOLOGY 10. Private letters, diaries, account books 11. Local newspapers and periodicals, editorials, editorial cartoons 12. Census reports, Statistical reports 13. Abstracts and title deeds 14. Surveyor’s notes 15. School records 16. Public records of all kinds 17. Business records 18. Keepsakes, heirlooms, relics 19. Church registers, denominational minutes and reports 20. Cemetery inscriptions 21. Transcripts of interviews METHODOLOGY National Archives – contains largest collection of manuscript sources dealing with the entire Spanish colonial period from 1565 to 1898. Contains an estimated 11 million documents packed into 422 legajos (bundles) Erecciones de los Pueblos – foundation of towns, barangays, visitas and sitios , usually by religious orders Terrenos, Varias Provincias – with tax collections, accounts, accounts with public income, cedulas, emigration, appointment of officials Ayuntamientos, Alcaldes Mayores – establishment of new towns and applications for minor provincial and town government posts Elecciones de Gobernadorcillos, Cabezas de Barangay– records of electoral proceedings of town officials including the local police and officers in-charge of rice fields Estadistica – statistics by provinces, towns, number of inhabitants, marriages, births, deaths, and even ganaderias or stocks of cattle and fincas or any kind or property yielding income Expedientes – dispatches, complaints and other subjects like the suppression of the malhechores (tulisanes) Reales Ordenes – appointments and resignations of officials  METHODOLOGY National Archives Padrones de Polistas – lists of those who rendered forced labor by provinces, towns Padron General de Chinos – Chinese population by provinces including the names, age, religion, place of origin in China, place of residence in the Philippines Quintas – compulsory military service of Filipinos and mestizos in the military establishments Cedulario – compilation of royal decrees issued by the King, as early as 1632 Memorias – geographical features of a province, ports and rivers, outstanding ecological characteristics, state of public buildings, social practices like fiestas, administrative organization of the province Obras Publicas – public work projects in each town of the province Patronatos – circulars form church officials for the temporary appointment of priests, reports of cabezas de barangay Guia de Forasteros - establishment of new missions Guia Oficial de las Islas Filipinas – official publication of the colonial government Sediciones y Rebeliones – record of uprisings Calamidades Publicas – natural calamities (typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, plagues) Gaceta de Manila  METHODOLOGY Archive of Missionaries Archives of the Archdiocese of Manila Padron Generales Padron de Alma Planes de Almas Archives of the University of Santo Tomas Archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Parishes Libros de Bautismos Libros de Casamientos Libros de Entierros Libros de Planes Almas Augustinians – Visayas, Ilocos, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Mania Franciscans – Tagalog provinces, Camarines Jesuits – Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Bohol, Manila, Mindanao Dominicans – Cagayan Valley, Pangasinan, Manila  Filipiniana division of the National Library Historical Data Papers - composed of 105 volumes METHODOLOGY History, customs, books written on almost all provinces of the country Philippine Revolutionary Papers/Records Otherwise known as Philippine Insurgent Records or Aguinaldo Papers Letters, documents from various municipalities, telegrams, pamphlets, songs, poems during the Revolution (1896-1903) Presidential Papers/ Presidential Collections Photographs, manuscripts, theses written by of about the Philippine presidents and their respective families Periodicals El Renacimiento, Tribune, Taliba, La Vanguardia, Lipag- Kalabaw, Philippine Free Press, Revista Historica de Filipinas, Liwayway  Rare Book Collection Section of the National Library METHODOLOGY Published before 1945 and are already out-of-print Some are in microfilm form or with scanned digital copies ▪ Memorias, descripcion written by foreigners such as the works of Ildefonso de Aragon (1819), Rafael Diaz Arenas (1850), Manuel Buzeta (1851), Agustin Cavada y Mendez de Vigo (1876) ▪ Trave journals such as those of Robert Macmicking (1851), Paul de a Gironierre (1854), Henry Ellis (1856), Feodor Jagor (1875), Tomas de Comyn (1887), Juan Alvarez Guerra (1887), Alfred Marche (1887), Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga (1893) ▪ Diccionarios such as those written by Juan Jose Noceda and Pedro de Sanlucar (Tagalog, 1860), Diego Bergano (Pampanga, 1860), Lorenzo Fernandez Cosgaya (Pangasinan, 1865), Marcos de Lisboa (Bicol, 1865), Juan Felix de la Encarnacion (Bisaya – 1866), Andres Carro Ilocano, 1888), Jacinto Juanmarti (Maguindanao, 1892) Population census from 1903 to 1918 – demography, flora fauna, economic status, education, traditions of natives  Institution website National Library of the Philippines http://web.nlp.gov.ph/nlp METHODOLOGY National Archives of the Philippines http://nationalarchives.gov.ph The University Library, UP Diliman https://www.mainlib.upd.edu.ph Rizal Library, Ateneo de Manila http://rizal.library.ateneo.edu The United States and its Territories https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/phila 1870-1925: The Age of Imperialism mer/ (University of Michigan) The Library of Congress (USA) https://www.loc.gov Biblioteca Nacional de España http://www.bne.es/en/Inicio/ Internet Archive https://archive.org UST Miguel de Benavides Library http://library.ust.edu.ph  Local not just initiators of studies in local history but also as institutions which display documentary or Studies artifactual evidences intimately related to these Centers local histories (Foronda, 1972) METHODOLOGY Cebuano Studies Center in the University of San Carlos, Cebu City considered as the “mother of all local studies centers” – conceived in 1972 and established in 1975  METHODOLOGY Local Foronda (1991) Called for establishment of more local historical Studies associations/centers Centers 1. gather data from parish, municipal/provincial archives; collect memoirs and other writings about local heroes and outstanding citizens; record local folklore, customs and traditions 2. perpetuate the memory of local heroes and local historical events by initiating annual celebrations; move to name streets after them; erect monuments in their honor 3. publish checklists and bibliographies of their holdings to bring the to attention of interested scholars 4. sponsor contests on the writing of local history and publish the winning entries  METHODOLOGY Local Calairo (2007) Studies 1.have distinct capacity to collect local materials Centers 2. play major role towards the documentation of our national history 3. partner agencies of the national government in reaching the grassroots levels 4. serve as links to the academic sector business sector, government sector, and the community in order to fully realize the national goal, which is to document the comprehensive history of the Philippines 5. shape young minds in terms of knowledge in the local and national history as well as studies  METHODOLOGY Local Perez, Templanza (2012) Studies Centers 1. serve are clearing house in-charge of collecting, organizing, disseminating and preserving local studies materials of their particular locality 2. responsible for conducting, publishing and promoting local historical research 3. encouraged to establish and sustain linkage and networking with other centers, historical bodies, and government bodies both here and abroad  1. Cavite Studies Center (De La Salle University Dasmarinas) Local 2. Bahay-saliksikan ng Bulacan (Bulacan State University) Studies 3. Center for Tarlaqueno Studies (Tarlac State University) Centers 4. Cordillera Studies Center (University of the Philippines Baguio) METHODOLOGY 5. Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies (Holy Angels University) 6. Tayabas Studies and Creative Writing Center (Tayabas, Quezon) 7. Sta. Rosa Studies Center (Sta. Rosa, Laguna) KABANSA (Kapisanan ng mga Bahay-Saliksikan sa Bansa, Inc.) – established in 2008, serves as local studies centers umbrella network METHODOLOGY Professional 1. ADHIKA – Asosasyon ng mga Dalubhasa, may Hilig, at Organizations, Interes sa Kasaysayan Historical Societies 2. BAKAS – Bahay Saliksikan sa Kasaysayan 3. PHA – Philippine Historical Association 4. PNHS – Philippine National Historical Society 5. UP LIKAS – University of the Philippines Lipunang Pangkasaysayan METHODOLOGY inclusion of local history in the grade school curriculum  METHODOLOGY Bage (2000) 1. Local history is resource-led Find out the possible available resources in a particular topic and then decide how to focus on it 2. Local history should be student-centered Teachers’ main role should be supporting students’ inquiries. 3. Local history should be inquiry-led Researching familiar local areas can give students good opportunities to act as historians. 4. Use the widest range of historical sources possible These include museum and site visits, oral history, artifacts, maps, photographs, publications, and printed and hand-written documents  METHODOLOGY Bage (2000) 5. Evaluate evidence Some localities can have legendary stories. They can be collected but they should be tested. 6. Involve local experts Local authors, amateur archaeologists, archivists, antique dealers, builders or architects, radio or newspaper journalists might have interesting stories and expertise. 7. Involve local community Sources from local community such as record offices, libraries, websites, buildings, parish magazines or newsletters, contacts with former teachers or students, local history groups, local newspapers and supplements, the church, old people’s homes, etc. can be interesting information sources 8. Aim for the end product The result of any local history project can be shared in many ways: an exhibition, publication, museum, etc. that can give back something to the local community DEVELOPMENT  Spanish Period American Period Post-War DEVELOPMENT 1960’s 1970’s 1990’s DEVELOPMENT 2 Stages 1. Before 1960s Traditional Closely associated with national history in terms of periodization, with emphasis on political development and the role of the elite Local aspect of national events/developments 2. After 1960s More autonomous from national history Utilization of inter-, cross-, and multi-disciplinary approach DEVELOPMENT Spanish Period The writing of local history dates back to the Spanish colonial period, with Spanish chroniclers writing accounts of the foundation of towns. These writings glorified religious exploits, provided insights into the establishment of their towns and settlements within their respective dominions Franciscan Juan de Plasencia (Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalogs, 1589) ▪ Jesuit Pedro Chirino (Relacion de las Islas Filipinas y de lo queban trabajado los Padres de la Compania de Jesus, 1604) ▪ Dominican Diego de Aduarte (Historia de la Provincia del Sancto Rosario de la Orden de Predicadores en Filipinas, Japon y China, 1640) ▪ Jesuit Francisco Combes (Historia de Mindanao y Jolo, y sus adyacentes, progressos de la religion, y armas catolicas, 1667) Jesuit Francisco Ignacio Alcina (Historia natural del sitio, fertilidad y calidad de las Islas e Indios de Bisayas, 1668) ▪ Agustinian Gaspar de San Agustin (Conquista de las Islas Filipinas 1565-1615, 1725) ▪ Franciscan Juan de la Concepcion (Historia General de Filipinas, 1788-1792) Being undertaken by non-Filipinos who had different cultural orientation and contexts, were not lacking in biases and prejudices (Foronda, 1972) DEVELOPMENT Spanish Period Last decade of Spanish colonial regime when the first local history book authored by a Filipino appeared in print, written by Isabelo de los Reyes entitled Historia de Ilocos (1890) Relied heavily on data from sources such as Francisco Colin’s Labor Evangelica (1663), Gaspar de San Agustin’s Conquista de las Islas Filipinas (1725), Concepcion’s Historia General de Filipinas (1788), and Aduarte’s Historia de la Provincia del Sancto Rosario (1693) Work paved the way for Filipino scholarship in local history, but historians warn that it must be used with caution as the writer was not always exacting in his scholarship (Foronda, 1991) DEVELOPMENT American Period Luther Parker was among the earliest American teachers to arrive in the Philippines at the start of the American colonial period. It was during his stay in Masantol and Bacolor that he developed a keen interest in Kapampangan history and culture. His first research was on the foundation dates of all towns and churches in Pampanga and list of priests from 1572 to 1905. Parker also proposed to James Robertson (of the Blair and Robertson fame) to convince Gov. William Cameron Forbes to order every municipality in the Philippines to compile its own local history. Parker compiled his own for Pampanga, mostly written in Spanish by prominent Kapampangans like Dr. Felino Simpao of Guagua, Manuel Gatbonton of Candaba and Don Mariano Vicente Henson of Angeles. He deposited these at the National Library (headed at the time by Robertson). Eventually, after World War II, the Luther Parker Collections were transferred to the UP Library. DEVELOPMENT Post-War Period Decades following the granting of independence in 1946 saw the resurgence of nationalism which paved the way for local history to become more appealing to Filipinos who, in their keen desire to define our identity as a nation ventured to trace our historical and cultural roots by focusing on a town or province However, virtually all these historical studies were written by individual who call themselves aficionados of history, which might possibly be why these works never had an impact on Philippines historical scholarship Meanwhile, professional historians focused their attention on general Philippine history, mainly focusing on diplomatic, political, military, administrative, and ecclesiastical history. DEVELOPMENT Post-War Period Cheapening of local history due to mishandling by town-fiesta, athletic-meet and flash-in- the-pan overnight historians (Cruz, 1982) (Foronda, 1991) The previous neglect of local history by professional historians led to the monopoly of known and faceless amateurs busy writing on the subject of athletic meets or conferences and town fiestas’ souvenir programs. Occasionally, when politicians in the local levels want to engage in ego trips, teachers and students were obligated to write local histories, they turned out to be nothing but for the enhancement of their political fortunes. Local histories merely repeat the same refrain of recounting chronological narrative of political and governmental highlights, the local people’s contribution to episodic events, ending up with an ego massage of individuals considered prominent and distinguished. DEVELOPMENT Post-War Period At the local level, a mass of village, municipal, and provincial histories were produced on the occasion such projects as the nationwide effort of the Department of Education in the 1950s to collect, through the public schools, local history, folklore and traditions, a project that produced a large compilation of reports called Historical Data Papers, now deposited at the National Library At various times, the National Historical Institute undertook training and dissemination activities, usually in partnership with local government units, aimed at promoting an interest in regional and provincial histories. DEVELOPMENT 1960s Saw the rise in the respectability toward local and regional history, occasioned by reorientations in the methods, approaches and aims of historical scholarship Trend in the social sciences that favors micro-studies (in the field of historiography, local history) as the kind of inter- and multi-disciplinary study The interest in oral traditions as valid sources of historical data has freed the student from the exclusive reliance on written or printed sources, a reliance that has kept her/him away from local history in the mistaken belief that there are inadequate sources of data for this filed of study The urge to “humanize” history also led to local history as it shifts the focus to common citizens and specific communities instead of the broad, abstract procession of large events Increasing awareness that the excessive emphasis on the works of “great men” and the doings of “court and capital” has resulted in certain distortions of history. In 1967, American researcher John A. Larkin came forth with a call for writing more local history with his article “The Place of Local History in Philippine Historiography” DEVELOPMENT 1970s Larkin (1972) One of the major problems in the writing of Philippine history stems from inadequate knowledge of historical conditions in the rural Philippines. In general, historians have concentrated their attention on the highest levels of national government and politics, on foreign relations and commerce, on the biographies of prominent figures, on the colonial administrations, and on the broadest aspects of the Philippine Revolution. This singular concern with Manila and its immediate environs tends to distort the history of the archipelago as a whole. Local history has, for the most part, been neglected, even though Philippine society has remained overwhelmingly rural throughout its entire existence. DEVELOPMENT 1970s Major wave of interest borne of an awareness of the need for cultural preservation, scholarship, and advocacy focused on subnational communities University-based research on local history gained momentum, as part of a felicitous convergence of themes within Southeast Asia and Philippine historiography, arising out of critiques of Eurocentric, colonialist, elite-centered, and monolithic national histories Awareness fed by the spirit of nationalist self-examination and “rediscovery” that pervaded the years before and after the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 Led to establishment of local research centers, museum and special libraries such as the Coordinated Investigation of Sulu Culture in Jolo, Dansalan Research Center in Marawi, Leyte-Samar Research Library in Tacloban, Folklife Museum and Archives in Cagayan de Oro, Cordillera Studies Center in Baguio, and Cebuano Studies Center in Cebu DEVELOPMENT Parallel but complementary reaction to the Manila-centric, elitist, and “generalizing” approach of Philippine historiography Interest in groups of the cultural and political fringe as well as the broad “inarticulate” masses (history “from below” or “from within”) Ethnoliguistic studies in the Igorots by William Henry Scott Muslim histories of Peter G. Gowing, Reynaldo C. Ileto, Samuel K. Tan, Cesar Majul Studies of revitalization movements and popular uprisings by Reynaldo C. Ileto and David R. Sturtevant “people’s history” by Marxist scholar Renato Constantino DEVELOPMENT Parallel but complementary reaction to the Manila-centric, elitist, and “generalizing” approach of Philippine historiography Interest in the physical units lesser than the nation, the outlying geographical areas, the societies beyond Manila (local history proper) Diokno Manlavi on Palawan John A. Larkin on Pampanga Rosario Cortes on Pangasinan Ma. Fe Romero on Negros Norman G. Owen on Bicol Robert B. Cruikshank on Samar Bruce Fenner on early colonial Cebu Marcelino A. Foronda Jr. on the Ilocos Leslie E. Bauzon on the hacienda-complex in Negros Alfred W.McCoy on Iloilo Michael Cullinane on early 20th century Cebu Maldonio Lao on Cagayan de Oro Wilfredo Tamayo on Panay Nilo Ocampo on Palawan DEVELOPMENT 1978 First National Conference on Local and Regional History Held at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro on September 22-24 Organized by the National Historical Institute, Philippine National Historical Society, Philippine Social Science Council, University of the Philippines (Diliman), and Mindanao State University Samuel K. Tan drew distinctions between regional (based on ethnicity, religion), local and oral history Stressed need for multidisciplinary approach as well as integration of art and science in historical writing towards the end of “humanizing” the discipline Called for inclusion of local history in curricular offerings Revival of PNHS publication, The Journal of History, with strong focus on local and regional studies DEVELOPMENT 1990s Perceived threat of globalization to the local culture and identity led to further flourishing of local history studies In the Philippines, local history gained more importance after the EDSA incident as events signified a breaking away from the monolithic view of doing things. The era of the Marcos dictatorship signified a state-oriented and state-writing of an official history which is national in nature. (de Viana, 2015) Influence of the political transformation brought by the administrative decentralization and the widening of the democratic space that happened after EDSA (Elumbre, 2012)  PHILIPPINE HISTORIOGRAPHY  DEVELOPMENT Providential (Christian) View challenged cyclical view of history defined history as having a distinct beginning and end, through which God worked to provide salvation to humanity events dictated by God’s providence St. Augustine of Hippo: systematized the Christian view of history history is struggle between: city of God (God-loving people) -vs- city of man(city of the sinful) end: City of God will reign human being as just instruments moved by God  DEVELOPMENT Positivist and Empiricist School Leopold Von Ranke : Father of Scientific History no document, no history maintained that history (along with sociology, politics and economics) was a science and similar methods of research and investigation might be applied in both areas history moved in a more or less linear sequence in which events followed the earlier ones in linear chronological time DEVELOPMENT Nationalist View foreign interpretation is biased and prejudiced Filipinos have greater familiarity with and understanding of their own culture and history help promote nationalism and patriotism  Marxist View What drives history is productive forces with its corresponding relations of production. DEVELOPMENT History is history of Class Struggle Conflict = engine of historical change  DEVELOPMENT Annales School established by Lucien Febvre (1878–1956), Marc Bloch (1886–1944); later by Fernand Braudel (1902-1985) movement in search for “a larger and a more human history,” by its rejection of the predominant conceptions of writing history focus on political-military history concentrated on the analysis of short periods a narrative style of events integrated insights and methodologies from anthropology, geography, sociology, economics and psychology interested in longer timespans, the social history of everyday life, and “mentalities” (modes of consciousness) inter/multi-disciplinary history DEVELOPMENT Cultural Studies also known as “poststructuralism”, “postmodernism”, “postcolonialism”, “linguistic turn”, and “cultural turn” one of the most emblematic postmodern intellectuals was Michel Foucault (1926- 1984) attempt to do away with “triumphalist story”, a “grand narrative” or “master narrative”, which privileges the west and the elite alternative offered is a decentered history with a place for other kinds of people, the oppressed, the subordinate, resulting to multiple-viewpoint narratives DEVELOPMENT Postmodernism (Hudson, 1999) involves a concern for otherness and difference and a rejection of overarching theories of society or of economic change. It stimulates an interest in the totality of people’s lives rather than a privileging of the public over the private sphere or the material over the cultural. It focuses upon multiple identities grounded in everyday habits and understandings that are normally rooted in local vernaculars. Only at local, regional and subregional levels can these subjects be adequately addressed. DEVELOPMENT Postmodernism (Jimenez) Renunciation of universal theories in favor of more particular approaches, denoting refutation of the grand metanarratives of universal science and political emancipation that characterize modern thought, in favor of more limited, local narratives (Dickens) Critical of the idea that there is only one story, one grand narrative, and one great scientific body of knowledge that can tell us what to do with our world (Contreras, 2009) Dawning of postmodernism has implications for the writing of history, when the so-called sorbonist outlook gave way to the annales approach, as the postmodern mode of thought has played down the writing of national history which was wrongly equated with what happened to the center of power such as Malacanang, and historical studies have dealt with peripheral issues such as local history writing and other non-mainstream topics (Hila, 2004) DEVELOPMENT Pantayong Pananaw point of view of Filipinos written in Filipino language includes the history of the marginalized utilizes new periodization Pamayanan Bayan Bansa  Period View/ Tradition Spanish Period Providential View metaphysical rhetoric 3Gs, patronato real accounts of missionaries on establishment of towns American Period Positivist View scientific and universal knowledge need to understand localities in order to succeed in DEVELOPMENT integration (institutionalization of American-style democracy) work of Dean Worcester on the Cordilleras, other studies on Mindanao Post-War Period Nationalist View historiography based on Filipino point of view (Teodoro Agoncillo’s History of the Filipino People) Marxist View militant (Amado Guerrero’s Philippine Society and Revolution, Renato Constantino’s The Philippines: A Past Revisited and The Philippines: A Continuing Past) Annales School  Period View/ Tradition Post-War Period Postmodernism / Poststructuralism (Elumbre, 2012) absence of monolithic meaning to a text unweaving of neatly told narratives to expose a more complicated story of the people Reynaldo Ileto’s Pasyon and Revolution: Popular Movements in the Philippines Caroline Hau’s Necessary Fictions: Philippine Literature and the Nation DEVELOPMENT Patricio Abinales’ Making Mindanao: Cotabato and Davao in the Formation of the Philippine Nation-State thematic historiography Gregg Bankoff’s Crime, Society and the State in the 19th Century Philippines Ma. Luisa Camagay’s Kasaysayang Panlipunan ng Maynila O.D. Corpuz’s An Economic History of the Philippines Dorothy Jose and Atoy Navarro’s Kababaihan sa Kalinangan at Kasaysayang Pilipino Bagong Kasaysayan / Pantayong Pananaw Nilo Ocampo’s Katutubo, Muslim, Kristiyano: Palawan 1621- 1901 Zeus Salazar’s Liktao at Epiko: And Takip ng Tapayang Libingan ng Libmanan Camarines Sur LEGAL BASES  LEGAL BASES 1951 1991 2010 1. Executive Order 486 (Historical 3. Republic Act 7160 (Local 5. Republic Act 10066 Data Papers) - issued by Pres. Government Code of the (strengthening the National Quirino in 1951 Philippines) -signed by Pres. Commission for Culture and the Aquino in 1991 Arts) - signed by Pres. Arroyo in 2010 6. Republic Act 10086 4. Republic Act 7356 (establishing (strengthening the National 2. Executive Order 39 (Historical the National Commission for Historical Commission of the Data Papers) -issued by Pres. Culture and the Arts) - signed by Philippines) - signed by Pres. Macapagal in 1963 Pres. in 1992 Arroyo in 2010 1963 1992 2010  LEGAL BASES both ordered the collection of important data in relation Executive Order 2 (January Executive Order 138 to the culture and history of 26, 1911) – Governor (January 3, 1938) – different barrios, towns, William Cameron Forbes President Manuel Quezon cities, and provinces of the Philippine  LEGAL BASES Executive Order 486 Providing for the Collection and Compilation of Historical Data Regarding Barrios, Towns, Cities, and Provinces issued by President Quirino on December 7, 1951 among the documents destroyed during the battle for the liberation of the City of Manila were the manuscripts containing the data relating to the history and culture of the barrios, towns, cities, and provinces, as previously ordered by EO 2 and EO 136 data to be regathered and brought up to date from time to time , to serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for our future generations, as well as source materials for historians, investigators and researchers Division Superintendent of Schools to direct the collection of these data and the preparation of the manuscripts using the given outline, to be completed not later than July 4, 1953 all agencies of the government as well as private citizens in possession of pertinent historical data enjoined to extend full cooperation  LEGAL BASES Executive Order 39 Providing for the Collection of Material Historical and Cultural Relics and Compilation of Historical and Cultural Data Regarding Barrios, Municipalities, Cities and Provinces of the Philippines issued by President Macapagal on May 13, 1963 EO 138 not fully implemented, with great wealth of historical and cultural material believed to be still in possession of the people, some preserved in the memory of our elders and the rest in manuscripts or other records which are not fully safeguard from destruction information and materials to be secured by the provincial governor and city mayor of every province and city, to be transmitted to the Director of the National Library and/or Director of the National Museum not later than December 31, 1963, for compilation and preservation present official name; former name with meaning, date of establishment; original families; list of officials from earliest time to date (barrio lieutenants, capitanes municipals, alcaldes mayors, cura parrocos, juezes, governors, other principal officials); traditions, legends, folk tales, beliefs, proverbs, sayings, superstitions, puzzles, songs, nursery rhymes, etc. preferably written in the vernacular and translated in English; data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.; important historical events; names of most outstanding citizens and their achievements; material evidences (artifacts, antiques, old costumes, utensils, instruments, mementos) that if possible to be donated and kept in the National Museum  LEGAL BASES Republic Act 10086 An Act Strengthening Peoples' Nationalism Through Philippine History By Changing The Nomenclature Of The National Historical Institute Into The National Historical Commission Of The Philippines, Strengthening Its Powers And Functions, And For Other Purposes strengthen people's nationalism, love of country, respect for its heroes and pride for the people's accomplishments by reinforcing the importance of Philippine national and local history in daily life with the end in view of raising social consciousness; reinvigorating government support for historical research; and sustaining and enhancing programs for the protection, preservation and conservation of historical relics and memorabilia, monuments, sites and other historical resources conduct and support all kinds of research relating to Philippine national and local history Local Historical Committees Network - The existing work of the agency on historical society affiliations shall constitute the Local Historical Committees Network (LHCN). The LHCN shall monitor, coordinate, support and, upon approval of the Board, affiliate various local historical bodies engaged in the collection, documentation, popularization, conservation, restoration and preservation of extant historical materials found in different parts of the Philippines. It shall also record the oral histories of towns, cities, provinces, regions and peoples. LEGAL BASES Republic Act 4368 (National Historical Executive Order 118 (Presidential Commission) – signed by Pres. Macapagal Presidential Decree 1 (National Historical Commission on Culture and the Arts) – in 1965 Institute) – signed by Pres. Marcos in 1972 signed by Pres. Aquino in 1987 1965 1966 1972 1973 1987 Republic Act 4846 (Cultural Properties) – Presidential Decrees 260 and 1505 signed by Pres. Marcos in 1966 (Historical Shrines) – signed by Pres. Marcos in 1973, 1978 CHALLENGES  CHALLENGES Jordan (1958) Danger of confinement within the definite limit of time, locality, and subject which may lead to parochial thinking and conceptual rigidity. Instead of aiding in the development of a broad intellectual outlook, the delimitations of local may compel one to lose sight of the organic and integral wholeness of history. Jamieson (1971), Douch (1972), Stephens (1977), Geise (2000), Lowe (1977) Warns of the narrow inward-looking parochialism Local history can be parochial when it is done for its own sake, or it is so narrowly focused that one loses sight of the larger context of which it was a part Need of keeping the national background always in mind so as to prevent from the exaggerations of the importance of a locality Constant cross-refence from national to local and from local to national Importance of focusing and contextualizing the local history within wider analysis Local history must be considered as the study of broad problems from local evidence or of the local community in its national context and in both cases should involve an exploration of the relationship between local and more general trends  CHALLENGES Mojares (1978) Danger inherent in local or regional studies is that it can easily foster parochialism because of a failure to establish meaningful linkages between local and national histories, and among histories of various regions or localities, as well as the failure of the local historian to go beyond antiquarianism and nativism. Mojares (1997) Warned against tendency of local history to take on mitotic character, a succession of studies that seem like more of the same, where standard national narratives are simply retold at the local level and what changes are mainly the locale and the details. As a consequence, local histories may read like running footnotes to a national narrative that has remained basically unchanged. Claire (1996), Stephens (1977), Lowe (1977) Warns of antiquarianism as the indiscriminate collection of facts for their own sake, without any sense of questions to be answered, or relationships to wider issues The worst kind of local history is a part of a local study where the scraps of random history involved do not fit into any structure of knowledge the student already possesses, or are not a reasoned part of any new body of knowledge  CHALLENGES de Viana (2015) Local history may be vulnerable to rigid conformity to national history. There will be presentation of facts that when weighed against relevance to national history will be relegated to trivia. Local personalities that were portrayed in local histories may be seen as very significant would pale of placed in the light of national history. Local history may be used or distorted to please powerful families. A local historian may be tempted to gain patronage of local political kingpins by altering their historical accounts especially if they are writing about their achievements and their ancestors. A good historian must always adhere to presenting facts accurately. S/he must avoid these obstacles, otherwise, her/his work will just be one of propaganda. CHALLENGES Danger of parochialism can be minimized when the practitioner of local history avoids employing an approach based on narrow conceptions to the extent that s/he obscures the interconnections among the local communities, and between the local communities and the nation as a whole. There must be a happy balance between the local and the national or between one locality and another. To avoid antiquarianism, local themes should be chosen very carefully according to their importance, taking into account that not all knowledge is worthwhile knowledge The task of the local historian is to go further than just chronicling of events, s/he has to explain just what is the significance of these events in the context in which they took place PROSPECTS PROSPECTS Bauzon (1978) Future of local history directly tied to the rationale for local history Its significance in terms of leading us toward a more accurate portrayal and even drastic rewriting of our national history as a people Local history will remove the distortions that now characterize Philippine history and shall contribute toward a positive definition of the Diwang Pilipino PROSPECTS