Local History and Historical Sites PDF

Republic of the Philippines BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY The National Engineering University Alangilan Campus Golden Country Homes, Alangilan Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200...

Republic of the Philippines BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY The National Engineering University Alangilan Campus Golden Country Homes, Alangilan Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200 Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 425-0139 local 2121 / 2221 E-mail Address: [email protected] | Website Address: http://www.batstate-u.edu.ph College of Engineering - Department of Mechanical Engineering READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY LOCAL HISTORY AND HISTORICAL SITES LOCAL AND ORAL HISTORY LOCAL HISTORY ⬗ Written history focusing on a particular town, district or other limited area. It is a study of history in geographically local context and it often concentrates on the local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history. ⬗ It is often documented by local historical societies or groups that form to preserve a local historic building or other historic sites. ⬗ It tends to be less documented than other types, with fewer books and artifacts than that of a country or continent. ⬗ Some sources of information: Library and general sources Provincial, town, city, barrio, and sitio histories Family histories and biographies Small Maps Accounts of travelers Old residents Private letters Diaries, journals, memoirs Church records and cemetery inscriptions ORAL HISTORY ⬗ Consists of spoken memories, stories and songs and the study of these, as a way of communicating and discovering information in the past. ⬗ Is the collection of study of historical information about individuals, families, important events or everyday life using audiotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. ⬗ Strives to obtain information from different perspective and most of these cannot be found in written sources.  ⬗ Non-Narrative Proverbs and Sayings Riddles Oral Poetry Chants (used in rituals and religious activities) Oral Law (customary law) Dirge (funeral rite) ⬗ Narrative Folk Tales (tales of magic, romantic tales) Myths (stories of creation or origin of the world) Legends (explanatory or etiological stories of supernatural beings) Epics (stories of warriors and heroes) Ballads (poets counterpart of folk-tales) Memorates (stories people tell about their personal experience) WHY STUDY LOCAL HISTORY ⬗ Studying local history provides students with increased interest in larger of history. The students advance from memorizing names, dates and places, to the desire of knowing what was being said to the people, places or events. ⬗ The study of local history gives student a better sense of realism. It’s a body of information that can be relevant to the student’s own surroundings. ⬗ We have to remember that our local communities, familiar buildings, and the land itself are limited and exhaustible resources. Study of local history might encourage preservation and make us aware of our own links to the past. ⬗ Local histories help you understand ancestors in context. ⬗ Local history help you shape who you are. IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL HISTORY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY ⬗ Local history is the realization of the unrepresented and limited nature of Philippine history. ⬗ Interest in the study and understanding of the Philippine history mainly hinges on the appreciation of one’s own town's history. ⬗ Local history is expectedly closest to the peoples’ heart and consciousness because it reflects their own identity, experience and aspiration. ⬗ It is the interpretative recreation of the past of their locality, embracing it political, social, economic and cultural life. ⬗ One may never achieve a fuller understanding of the Filipinos and the Philippines if he failed to study the history of his/her town, city, province or region. ⬗ Local history will make the people understand better and appreciate more their total national experience and heritage as Filipinos MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES MUSEUM ⬗ A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these items available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. ⬗ Types: Art Museum - a building or space for the display of art. Although primarily concerned with visual art, art galleries are often used as a venue for other cultural exchanges and artistic activities. Natural History Museum - a scientific institution with natural history collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, etc. Science Museum - an institution which collects and displays objects having scientific interest. War Museum - a repository of outstanding collections of personal artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms, posters and that which trace the development of the military. Children’s Museum - a museums providing exhibits and programs to stimulate informal learning experiences for children. It features interactive exhibits that are designed to be manipulated by children. ⬗ National Museum Complex: The National Museum of Fine Arts, formerly called the National Art Gallery, is housed in the old Legislative Building which was originally intended as a public library. It houses a collection of paintings and sculptures by classical Filipino artists such as Juan Luna, Félix Resurrección Hidalgo and Guillermo Tolentino The National Museum of Anthropology, formerly known as the Museum of the Filipino People, houses Philippine Ethnological and Archaeological exhibitions. It is located in the Agrifina Circle, Rizal Park, Manila across the National Museum for Fine Arts. The building was the former headquarters of the Department of Finance. The National Museum of Natural History is located along Agrifina Circle in Rizal Park, Manila which was a former Agriculture and Commerce Building and was also occupied by the Department of Tourism. It houses the remains of Lolong, the largest crocodile in captivity. The National Planetarium was planned in 1970's by former National Museum Director Godofredo Alcasid Sr. with the assistance of Mr. Maximo P. Sacro, Jr. of the Philippine Weather bureau. It is located between the Japanese Garden and the Chinese Garden at the Rizal Park. It features diorama representations of the Solar System and major constellations.  ⬗ Other Museums: Bahay Tsinoy is a typical Chinese house in the Philippines located at Kaisa Heritage Center, 32 Anda corner Cabildo St. Intramuros, Manila. Casa Manila is a typical Spanish colonial house in the Philippines located at General Luna St. Intramuros, Manila. San Agustin Museum is a church museum with wide collections of catholic religious items located at San Agustin Monastery, General Luna St. Corner Real, Intramuros, Manila. Malacañang Museum is the museum inside the Presidential Palace Complex, J.P. Laurel St. San Miguel, Manila. UST Museum is the oldest existing museum in the Philippines. It houses permanent display of natural history specimens, coins, medals, memorabilia, ethnographic materials and oriental art objects. HISTORICAL SITES ⬗ Hundreds of sites all over the Philippines became part of our history and culture and are recognized by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. ⬗ As stated in Republic Act No. 10086, the NHCP is “responsible for the conservation and preservation of the country’s historical legacies.” Its major thrusts encompass an ambitious cultural program on historical studies, curatorial works, architectural conservation, restoration and preservation of relics and memorabilia of heroes and other renowned Filipinos. ⬗ Some Historical Sites: The Barasoain Church (Malolos, Bulacan), known as the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, was the "Cradle of Democracy in the East, the most important religious building in the Philippines", and the site of the First Philippine Republic, was said to be built by Augustinian missionaries in 1859 with Fr. Fray F. Arriola as its first parish priest. According to some people who relate Barasoain in revolution, the word Barasoain came from the term “Baras ng Suwail” meaning “dungeon of the defiant. The Pamintuan House (Angeles City, Pamgpanga) was built in 1880’s by Don Florentino Torres Pamintuan and was the biggest and most beautiful house in Angeles City. This house was sold in 1959 to Pedro Tablante but it was not utilized by the owner and in 1964 it was leased to the government which now becomes the city hall. The Holy Rosary Church (Angeles City, Pampanga) was constructed from 1877 to 1896 by the Polo y Servicio labor system. It is an iconic landmark among the natives and patrons. The Holy Rosary Parish Church is called the “Pisambang Maragul,” which is a literal phrase of the Kapampangan for “Big Church”. The church’s backyard became the execution grounds from 1896-1898 in shooting down Filipino rebels by the Spaniards. The Corregidor Island (Cavite City, Cavite) is located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor has historically been fortified with coastal artillery to defend the entrance of Manila Bay and Manila from attacks by enemy warships. Other important places in this island are its Cannons, the Malinta Tunnel, and the Middleside Barracks.  The Aguinaldo Shrine (Kawit, Cavite) is the ancestral home of the first President of the Philippines, the only president of the First Philippine Republic. This house will give knowledge about the Philippine Independence and History. The house was featured twice in Philippine peso bill (appeared on the two-peso and five-peso bills). The Site of Tejeros Convention (General Trias, Cavite) was the place where the Filipino Revolutionaries had their convention on March 22, 1897 and approved the establishment of a Revolutionary Government headed by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. The Tejeros Convention was the meeting between the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions of the Katipunan at San Francisco de Malabon, now General Trias. The Basilica de Santo Niño de Cebu was established in 1565 and was the first church in the Philippines. It is known for it is the Cebu's holiest church housing a revered Flemish statuette of the Christ child that dates to Magellan's time. Every year, the image is the centerpiece of Cebu's largest annual event, the Sinulog Festival. ⬗ Unesco World Heritage Sites: The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has designated six World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. The UNESCO World Heritage sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Conventions: Baroque Churches ⬗ The Baroque Churches of the Philippines consist of 4 churches built during the Spanish colonial era in the late 16th century. Their unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen. ⬗ The San Agustin Church in Manila, also known as The Church of the Immaculate Conception of San Agustín was the first church built on the island of Luzon in 1571, immediately after the Spanish conquest of Manila. ⬗ The Santa Maria Church in commonly known as the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, is located in the municipality of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur. Unlike other town churches in the Philippines, which conform to the Spanish tradition of sitting them on the central plaza, this church with its convent are on a hill surrounded by a defensive wall. ⬗ The Paoay Church, also known as the Church of San Agustín was founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1593, and was a labor of love over time and in the face of earthquakes and other disasters. Its scars made it worth-visiting. The bell tower was intended to be constructed at a distance from the church to minimize damage if it falls. ⬗ The Miagao Church, also known as the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva, stands on the highest point in the town of Miagao, Iloilo. The church's towers served as lookouts against Muslim raids and it is said to be the finest surviving example of ‘Fortress Baroque'. The City of Vigan, established in the 16th century, is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish Colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the union of cultural elements from China and from Europe  resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia. The Banaue Rice Terraces is the high rice fields of the Ifugao which have followed the contours of the mountains. The fruit of knowledge handed down from one generation to the next, and the expression of sacred traditions and a delicate social balance, they have helped to create a landscape of great beauty that expresses the harmony between humankind and the environment. The Mount Hamiguitan Range wildlife Sanctuary has an elevation range of 75 to 1,637m above Sea level and provides critical habitat for a range of plant and animal species including critically endangered trees, plants and the iconic Philippine eagle and Philippine cockatoo. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The Tubbataha Reef Marine Natural Park is a unique example of an atoll Reef with a very high density of marine species. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands. Prepared by: ___________________________ Mr. Gian Nicolo Dexter M. Atienza Lecturer