Module 1 Knowing Philippine History
1. Understanding History
It is by the possession and transmission of culture that man differs from other animals,
and the first culture began with the habitual use of tools and articulate speech (Pulmer, ed. 1965:
16). For some writers like Nick Joaquin, history as culture is not merely a chronological
reconstruction of the past nor an analytical interpretation of past events, but a process of creation
or a formation of culture, specifically a “nation culture.”
In its broadest meaning history is the study of past events. It generally presents the known
past. What is unknown is yet to be retrieved. The recording and analysis of experiences of a
society comprise the totality of a people’s history.
In analyzing history, the use of correlated discipline is necessary to understand the
reasons and consequences of human actions. By referring to philosophies of history, the theories
of some great thinkers should be considered. In the investigation and interpretation of the past,
these theories could explain how and why events happen in societies.
- Arnold Tonybee’s challenge and response theory is based on the idea that man responds
to the situation placed before him. His actions are based on his thoughts. Thus, the society’s way
of facing the challenges depending upon its capabilities uncovers the pattern of the society’s
history. Mankind’s approach in coping with challenges determines history.
A Sudy of History (1934-61) is based on Tonybee’s thesis that history reflects the
progress of civilizations rather than political entities. For him, there were patterns in histories of
various civilizations for which he came to the conclusion that there appears to be laws governing
the lives of human civilizations. The general pattern shows the growth, breakdown, and eventual
dissolution of particular civilization leading to the formation of a new one. Based on his
hypothesis, the failure of a civilization to survive was the result of its inability to respond to
challenges.
To illustrate, the prehistoric mean had shown their ability to respond to the challenge of
surviving amidst the conditions of the environment. The use of crude stone tools, then later,
highly polished ones, and those made from metal and other raw materials like clay soil, shows
the capacity of human beings to devise material equipment for subsistence.
- Associated with the aforementioned premises, the exchange theory of Alvin Scaff may be
carefully thought about. His exchange theory refers to the systematic statement of principles that
govern the exchange of good (tangible goods like property or money and intangible goods like
peace or prestige) between individuals, between groups, between organizations, and even
between nations. This is based on the idea of reciprocity. Alliances of people, communities as
well as nations rooted in the idea of interchange.
There are some motivational forces found in the society affecting the actions of people
involved in the situation. A case in point is the barter system, used in business transactions
because there was no currency during those days. Aside from domestic trading existing among
the barangays and the islands, the early Filipinos also engaged in foreign trade with China,
Japan, Siam (now Thailand), Borneo, Sumatra, Cambodia, and other islands of Old Malaysia.
Another example in relation to this theory, Mrs. Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino, wife of the slain
opposition leader, was chosen as the presidential standard bearer amidst high expectations that
she would free all political prisoners, abolish censorship of the media, and institute legal
proceedings to recover ill-gotten wealth taken by corrupt public servants once elected into office.
- For Georg Wilhelm Hegel (1770-1831), an idea is the moving force of history. However,
man has tasks to do so that events may happen. Hegel’s role of historical man follows a
principle, which he called Weltgiest or world spirit, which embodies ideals like patriotism,
heroism, and unity. Since historical individuals are ideals and man follow his ideal, this thought,
which is guided by a particular ideal becomes what Hegel called as Geisteswissenchaften or the
World of Spirit of thought. This area of thought is the thesis. This combine with a particular
situation or matter called Naturwissenchaften, the antithesis or the complete opposite of the
Geisteswissenchaften. By the combination of thesis and antithesis, man achieves the synthesis,
which is the historical reality.
Applying the theory in history, there were guerrilla fighters in World War II who were
guided by their sense of duty and responsibility to lead the people during the warfare. The
situation was the Japanese invasion. The combination of their thoughts like patriotism and
heroism resulted to their historical acts, manifested through their deeds and exploits in the battles
that were fought against the Japanese forces during the war era.
- In understanding history, another theory to be considered is the materialist concept of
history or economic theory by Karl Marx, another German philosopher. He asserts that the
prevailing economic system determines the form of societal organization and the political and
intellectual history of the epoch, which thus attribute actions and events in history to economic
motives. For him, human interrelations depend on the material conditions of their production.
The struggle to maintain life is the most enduring motivation for any human activity.
An example is the Spanish colonial era. It has been said that the three primary motives
for vast exploration of lands were for God, Gold, and Glory, but the main incentive was for
economic reasons. Colonies are the important sources of raw materials and opportunities for
investment. Apain was at the height of its power in the 16th century since it exercised political
and economic control in its several colonies.
- Another approach to historical studies is the method of historiography developed by
Fernand Braudel (1902-1985), considered the father of historical structuralism. According to
Braudel, human actions are not only based on human decisions but also on ‘structures’ that may
be natural resources) or manmade (like existing laws and technological devices). For example,
men build houses for shelter. Even if they want to construct high-rise condominiums in the area,
the builders have to consider the availability of resources, the budget of the clients, and the
building site, to name a few. Furthermore, the introduction of new technology literally
transforms societies and thereby, history.
In Braudelian approach, to achieve “total history” is to integrate all aspects of man’s past.
The pioneers of Philippine nationalist historiography generally wrote in Spanish, and
occasionally, in Tagalog. The group in Spain included the Filipino propagandists Jose P. Rizal,
Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, as well as Pedro Paterno, T. H. Pardo de Tavera,
Gregorio Sancianco y Gozon, and among others.
- For Rizal, offers the key to national identity and the basis for future development.
- Teodoro Agoncillo (1912-1985) is considered as the father of Filipino nationalist
historiography. He wrote the conditions of the Philippine past by
analyzing the conditions of the masses.
- Philippine history is a people’s history. As defined by Renato Constantino, history is “the
recorded struggle of people for ever increasing freedom and for newer and higher realization of
the human person.”
- Wilhelm Dilthey (1833-1911), absolute objectivity is inconceivable. Since people grow
up in cultural environments, they have imbedded the prevailing worldview in addition to their
own nature.
In conclusion, history can serve as a guide to present and succeeding generations in
facing the challenges of the times. By projecting the people’s aspirations, a people’s history will
enable us to grasp the direction of the country’s development and identify the factors that impede
the real progress. Truly, the need for real people’s history becomes more urgent as we Filipinos
search for truly Filipino solutions to the problems besetting our country.
2. Sources of History
As written by Candelaria et al. (2018), Historical research are based on three sources of
information:
1. Primary Sources - sources are material produced by people or groups directly involved in
the event or topic being studied. These are the sources produced at the same time as the event,
period, or subject being studied. For example, if a historian wishes to study the Commonwealth
Constitution Convention of 1935, his primary sources can include the minutes of the convention,
newspaper clippings, Philippine Commission reports of the U.S. Official, records of the
convention, the draft of the constitution, and even photographs of the event. Eyewitness accounts
of the convention delegates and their memories can also be used as primary sources. The
following are the eight (8) examples of primary sources:
a. Photographs that may reflect social conditions of historical realities and everyday life.
b. Old sketches and drawings that may indicate the conditions of life of societies in the
past.
c. Old maps that may reveal how space and geography were used to emphasize trade
routes, structural bull ups, etc.
d. Cartoons for political expression or propaganda.
e. Material evidence of the prehistoric past like cave, drawings, old syllabi, and ancient
writings.
f. Statistical tables, graphs, and charts.
g. Oral history and recordings by electronic means of accounts of eyewitnesses or
participants; the recordings are then transcribed and used for research.
h. Published and unpublished primary documents, eyewitness accounts, and other written
sources.
Other specific examples:
Artwork - As defined by Cambridge University Press (2020), these are the pieces of art, such as
drawings and photographs that are used in books, newspapers, and magazines. An artwork of art
is an artistic and beautiful physical element or artistic creation. Additionally, as mentioned by
artpieces.net n.d. theses are creative production of objects or displays that have aesthetic or
emotional significance, usually visually-oriented, but not always.
Artwork can be classified as the following:
- Paintings: visual art work where paint or ink is used on a canvas or, more often in the past,
wooden panels or plaster walls, to depict an artist rendering of a scene whereas can be an
abstract, nonrepresentation image.
- Photography: visual art where an artist uses a keen eye to establishing aesthetically-pleasing
composition in his photos.
- Found objects: a common aspect of pop art, where the artist finds an object that already exists
in the world, or displays it as seen, giving it a meaning that it may not have had before.
- Plays: a combination of storytelling and visual art, where actors play out a script infant of an
audience.
- Architecture: a medium that combines both functionality and artistry, it is the art of designing
buildings that people will use. This kind of primary source is strongly associated to sculpture and
art forms are often found in the same spaces.
- Diary: This is a personal notebook, datebook, or a journal wherein all daily logs or written
records, experiences and observations.
- Interview: As define by iEduNote (2017), it is a two-way process designed to collect
information from a person through verbal responses to verbal inquiries. Another definition is that
it is a way of face to face conversation between the interviewee for choosing a potential human
resource.
- Letters: these are written messages used to convey emotions, experiences, observations and
intention among others. Moreover, a letter is a written-messages conveyed from one person
to another person through a medium. Letters can be formal and informal. Besides, it is a
means of communication and a way to store of information.
- Poem: is a written piece whereas the words used are organized and arrange in separate lines,
often ending in rhyme, and are chosen for their sound and for the images and ideas they
suggest. In Microsoft Encarta (2009) it is associated with imaginative, rhythmic, to metaphorical
qualities and intensity.
- Treaty: As written by Encyclopedia Britannica (2020), it is an obligatory formal agreement,
contract, or other written instrument that establishes commitment and responsibility
between two or more subjects of international law (primarily states and international
organizations) which is formally and officially approved and signed by their leaders.
2. Secondary Sources - It is the interpretations made on primary sources. These are sources
which were produced by an author who used primary sources to produce material (Candelaria,
2018). These are sources which were created by someone who did not experience first-hand or
participate in the events. A concrete example, a book written by a historian who didn’t fight in
the war but draws on other sources. Samples of these sources of information’s are books, articles
and scholarly journals that had interpreted primary sources or had used them to discuss certain
subject of history (University of Massachusetts Boston, 2020).
Here are specific examples of secondary sources:
a. Article - critiquing the piece of art.
b. Book of a specific subject.
c. Biography - based on Literary Device (2020), a biography is simply an account or
detailed description about the life of a person. It involves basic details of information,
such as childhood, education, career, relationships, family and death.
d. Dissertation - On Cambridge University Press (2020), dissertation is defined as a long
piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive
a degree at college or university.
e. Review of a Play - Based on Theatrefolk (2019), a play review is a subjective and
educated response to a piece to theatre. The critic and commentator should have a strong
background in theatre so their opinion is informed and credible.
f. Essay on treaty - these are informative, descriptive, and argumentative essays on treaty
that had took place on history.
3. Unhistorical Data
There are some narratives that have been previously accepted in Philippine History as
facts but later were found out to be historical errors. It is to the credit of many historians who
investigated and took position on what they have discovered in their careful research. These
unhistorical accounts include the Maragtas (Story), the Code of Kalantiaw, and the Legend of
Princess Urduja.
The Maragtas is a work by Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro titled (in English translation) History of
Panay from the first inhabitants and the Bornean immigrants, from which they descended, to the
arrival of the Spaniards. The work is in mixed Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a languages in Iloilo in
1907. It is an original work based on written and oral sources available to the author.
The Maragtas is an original work which purports to be based on written and oral sources of
which no copy has survived. The author makes no claim that the work contains a transcription of
particular pre-Hispanic documents. The work consists of a publisher's introduction by Salvador
Laguda, a foreword by the author, six chapters, and an epilogue.
The first chapter describes the former customs, clothes, dialect, heredity, organization, etc. of the
Aetas of Panay, with special mention of Marikudo, son of old Chief Polpulan; the second chapter
begins a narrative of the ten Datus flight from Borneo and the tyranny of Rajah Makatunaw
there, to the island of Panay. The datus bartered with a local Ati chieftain Marikudo for the
plains and valleys of the island, offering gold in return.
One datu, Paiburong, was given the territory of Irong-Irong, which is now the province of Iloilo
in the Philippines; the third chapter tells of the romance of Sumakwel, Kapinangan and her lover
Gurung-garung; the fourth chapter concludes the tale of the ten datus, telling about their political
arrangements and their circumnavigation of the island; the fifth chapter describes language,
commerce, clothing, customs, marriages, funerals, mourning habits, cockfighting, timekeeping
techniques, calendars, and personal characteristics; the sixth and final chapter gives a list of
Spanish officials between 1637 and 1808; the epilog contains a few eighteenth-century dates.
source: (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
In the famous epic story of Maragtas, there was this mythical legal code called "The Code of
Kalantiaw". It was named after its supposed author, Datu Kalantiaw, who allegedly wrote it in
1433. Datu Kalantiaw was a chief on the island of Negros. It was written about by Jose E. Marco
in 1913 in his historical fiction "Las Antiguas Leyendes de la Isla de Negros" (The Ancient
Legends of the Island of Negros). He ascribed its source to a priest named Jose Maria Pavon.
The story on this Code has been recognized through the ages by known authors. In 1968,
however, historian William Henry Scott called this a "hoax" in his book "Prehispanic Source
Materials for the Study of Philippine History". Consequently, Filipino historians agreed to
expunge the Code of Kalantiaw in future materials on Philippine history.
The authenticity of the code had been questioned previously by other scholars, However, despite
this and despite Scott's findings, changes in textbooks and in academic curriculum were not
forthcoming until almost thirty years following the release of Scott’s publication in 1969. In the
interim, the Code of Kalantiaw continued to be taught as a part of ancient Philippine history.
source: (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
For further readings about The Code of Kalantiaw visit this link:
https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/6/the-kalantiaw-code
Princess Urduja (ca. 1350–1400 AD) is believed to be a legendary warrior princess who is
recognized as a heroine in Pangasinan, Philippines. The Indianized name Urduja appears to be
Sanskrit in origin, and a variation of the name “Udaya”, meaning “arise” or “rising sun”, or the
name “Urja”, meaning “energy”, “life force” or “breath”. A historical reference to Urduja is
reported to be found in the travel account of Ibn Battuta (1304 – possibly 1368 or 1377 AD), a
Muslim traveler from Morocco. Urduja is often described as tall and beautiful, having golden
bronze skin and dark hair, clad in gold and is adept in sword fighting and horseback riding.
Leader of the Kinalakihan (warrior women). She is also believed to be multi-dialect which was a
common characteristic of the nobles in pre-colonial Southeast Asia.
For further readings about the Legend of Princess Urduja go to this link:
https://www.aswangproject.com/princess-urduja/
Efforts to correct historical errors are still ongoing. Man historians even investigate for
themselves the validity of sources and data. The concern of historians has been to collect and
records facts about the past and to discover new facts with utmost care and truthfulness. The
damage caused by deception is surely immeasurable but the blunder itself is a challenge that
every individual should face. The determination to uncover the past necessarily involves the use
of auxiliary disciplines and literary forms.
