Reading in Philippine History

Herodotus

was considered to be the first writer to do systematic investigation of historical events. He was referred to as “Father of HIstory”

Greek

knowledge acquired through inquiry and investigation

Latin

means the account of the past of a person or of a group of people through written documents and historical evidence “NO DOCUMENT, NO HISTORY”

Traditional Meaning

History is the record of the human past from the time written records began to appear

Contemporary Meaning

History is a reconstitution of the past based on available written records, oral history, cultural artifacts, and folk traditions.

It involves collection, analysis, and synthesis of available limited materials.

• To learn about the past

• To understand the present

• To appreciate your heritage

• To broaden your perspectives

• To acquire background for critical thinking and analysis

Why do we need to study history

• History is interpretive

• History is revisionist in scope

• History is a constant process of questioning

• History is integrative

• History is inclusive

• History incorporates historiography

• History is relevant

Nature of History

• History helps us understand people and societies

• History contributes to moral understanding

• History provides identity

• Studying history is essential for good citizenship

• History is useful in the world of work

Relevance of history

• To ourselves= identity and critical skills

• To our community= Vital places to live and work

• To our future= engaged citizens, leadership, legacy

Why do we need to study history

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary

Sources of History

Primary Sources

refer to documents, physical objects, and oral/video accounts made by an individual or a group present at the time and place being described. These materials provide facts from people who actually witnessed the event

Secondary Sources

are materials made by people long after the events being described had taken place.

• Some examples are archival documents, artifacts, memorabilia, letters, government records, census, etc.

Primary Sources examples

greek

Knowledge acquired through inquiry and investigation

Latin

means the account of the past of a person or a group of people through written documents and historical evidences

history

a simple acceptance of what is written about a historical topi, event or person

a story of past events, traces of past conditions arranged in chronological order

a guide for action in the present and for plans in the future

a continuous and unending process of interaction between the historian and his facts and between the past and present

History defined by E.H CARR

it is the inquiry conducted by the historian and series of past events into which he inquires.

it is the continuous process of interaction between the historian and his facts and an unending dialogue between the past and present

It is what the historian makes

Collingwood

It is the re-enactment in the historian’s mind of the thought whose history he is studying

Parsons

History is a selective system not only of cognitive, but of causal, orientations to reality

Questions and Issues in history

History has played various roles in the past

Lessons from the past can be used to make sense of the present

As a narrative, any history that has been written was always intended for a specific group of people

History has always been critiqued as an account written by victors

This connotes that accounts of history can be biased and written from the perspective of the powerful and more dominant player

History is interpretive

It invites students to debate multiple perspectives, offer their opinions and educated interpretations and challenge existing beliefs

History is revisionist in scope

It is an on-going and constant process of re examining the past based on new discoveries, evidence, and perspectives

History is a constant process of questioning

it requires questioning the text, examining them critically, and asking new questions

History is integrative

it is related to other disciplines like geography, sociology, literature, economics, etc.

History is inclusive

it includes experiences of all classes, regions, racial groups as well as both genders

History incorporates historiography

it includes all interpretations of historical events

History is relevant

it uses past experience to help solve present problems

Challenges of primary sources

Most historical narratives today are so reliant on documentary sources due to the plethora of written records and the lack of archaeological records and oral/video memoirs.

Although having several documents about an event allows for easier counterchecking of facts, history researchers are confronted with one basic challenge with regard primary sources- their ability to read and understand texts in foreign language.

Challenges of primary sources

Aside from reading the Spanish originals documents or translated words, another daunting task for Filipino historians is to discern the cultural context and historical value of primary sources because most of these primary documents were written by colonialists and reflected Western cultural frames.

For examples, derogatory terms used to Label Filipinos such as pagan,

"uncivilized,

"wild,"

and "savage"

abound in these colonial documents.

Uncovering myths and misconceptions about Filipino cultural identity propagated by the Spanish and American colonizers is extra challenging for contemporary Filipino scholars.

Primary Sources

The documents or physical objects should be written or created during the time under study.

• The person should be present during that experience or time period

• It should offer an inside view of a particular event

• They are characterized by their content, regardless of whether they are available in the original format, in microfilm/microche, in digital, or in published format

excerpts or translations,

diaries,

speeches,

manuscripts,

letters,

interviews,

news,

film footage,

autobiographies,

official records

Original Documents (Primary)

poetry

drama

novels

music

art

Creative works

pottery

furniture

clothing

buildings

Relics or artifacts

Secondary Sources

They interpret and analyze primary

sources

They may also have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them

PUBLICATIONS

textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias

T

Tertiary

These are publications that summarize and digest the information in primary and secondary sources to provide background on a topic, idea or event

PUBLICATIONS

dictionaries, almanacs, factbooks, directories, guidebooks, manuals

Authenticity (External Criticism)

Checking the source’s form

To spot the fabricated, forged, faked documents and to distinguish a hoax or misinterpretation

Anachronism (External Criticism)

Could be a person or a thing or idea placed on the wrong time

Credibility (Internal Criticism)

Looking into the source’s content

Examines the closeness of the document/source as what really happened

Identification of the author

His reliability, mental processes and attitudes

Corroboration

Particulars which rest upon the independent testimony of two or more reliable witnesses of a similar event

Historiography

deals with the study of history itself. history of history

Positivism

Is the school of thought that emerged between the 18th and the 19th century.

This requires empirical and observable evidence before one can claim that a particular knowledge is true.

Postcolonialism

Is the school of thought that emerged in the early 20th century when formerly colonized nations grappled with the idea of creating their identities and understanding their societies against the shadows of their colonial past

Teodoro M Kalaw

Father of Philippine Libraries

Historian

are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative, and research of past events as relating to the human race.

However, is a person who is influenced by his environment, education, and other circumstances that may affect the interpretation or the methodology being used

Dean Worcester

for example, acting as Secretary of Interior in the Philippine Islands during the American period, widely documented various culture and practices of indigenous communities, but his interpretations were always through the lens of justifying the American empire.