REVIEWER FOR PHILHIS
History - Study of Significant Past Events
Etymology: Historia (Greek) – knowledge acquired through investigation → The Philippine Revolution of 1896 is studied as part of history because it shaped the nation’s independence.
Historians - Recreate verisimilar images as much of the past as evidence makes recoverable.
Historical Method and Historiography:
Historical Method - The process of critically analyzing the records and survival of the past (the process that historians use).
Historiography - The imaginative reconstruction of the past.
→ Writing a book that interprets the motives of Andres Bonifacio in forming the Katipunan.
Difference? (The historical method focuses on the process of researching and analyzing the past, while historiography examines the interpretation and writing of history.)
Classification of Historical Sources:
* Primary Sources: First-hand accounts, eyewitnesses (diaries, pictures, maps, recordings, art). → Antonio Pigafetta’s journal of Magellan’s voyage.
* Secondary Sources: Testimonies of people who are not eyewitnesses, often these are provided in syntheses (textbooks, scholarly journals) → A history textbook about the Philippine Revolution written by a modern author.
Criticizing Sources of History:
– It’s essential to critically evaluate the validity and relevance of historical sources to verify their accuracy, identify bias, avoid one-sidedness, construct credible interpretations, and, most importantly, to grasp the essence and context of the subject.
Two Kinds of Criticisms:
* External Criticism: Scrutinize what is tangible and its authenticity, look at the material, and analyze its physical characteristics, the date, and the authorship. (Is it what it claims to be? Is it not forged?)
* Internal Criticism: Examine the truthfulness and the credibility of the source. Is it reliable and accurate? (Are there biases? Are the claims consistent?)
The Code of Kalantiao (Datu Kalantiao)
The Code of Kalantiao was claimed to be an ancient set of laws created in 1433 by Datu Kalantiao, a ruler in Panay before the Spanish arrived.
Jose Marco: Claimed that he is a discoverer of “ancient” manuscripts and donated to the Philippine Library and Museum (1913) what he claimed were old documents, including the Code of Kalantiao. Later, it was revealed that he invented the said works, making him one of the most infamous historical hoaxers in the Philippines.
William Henry Scott: An American historian who specialized in precolonial Philippine History. In the 1960s, he exposed the Code of Kalantiao as a hoax using historical analysis and evidence.
Misconceptions about the Precolonial Filipinos:
* The Far Eastern Magazine – “Filipinos are Barbarians”: Described precolonial Filipinos as “barbarians”, indigenous societies were uncivilized, and “needed” Western civilizing.
* Kenneth Scott Latourette: An American historian and missionary scholar who wrote extensively on Asian history and Christianity’s spread. Often portrayed colonized people as “primitive” in need of Christianization.
* Boxer Codex: It contains detailed descriptions and colored illustrations of different ethnic groups in the Philippines, highlighting lifestyles and customs. It portrays natives as exotic, pagan, and uncivilized.
LESSON 2: CONTEXT AND CONTENT ANALYSIS, AND MAGELLAN’S VOYAGE TO THE MOLUCCAS
Content and Context Analysis:
Content: Analyzing the ideas and information of a source (what). → Reading Pigafetta’s journal to see what he described about Cebu.
Context: Examining the historical background of a document (who, why, where, when, and how). → Understanding Pigafetta’s background as a European Catholic influenced how he described Filipinos.
The Treaty of Tordesillas:
– The Treaty of Tordesillas was a signed agreement between Spain and Portugal on June 07, 1494. It aims to “divide the world”.
– Spain takes the West, Portugal takes the East.
– The pope involved in this treaty was Pope Alexander VI.
→ Because of this treaty, the Philippines fell under Spanish control while Brazil went to Portugal.
Mercantilism:
– “Payamanan system”: whoever had the most gold was the richest. Countries traded products with each other (product for product) and tried to sell more than they bought. → Spain exploited Philippine resources (like galleon trade goods) to increase wealth.
Antonio Pigafetta:
– Antonio Pigafetta was the chronicler of the voyage led by Magellan.
– Voyage Autour Du Monde: It contains his first-hand account of their expedition to the Moluccas, or rather, the Philippine Islands. → His writings documented the first mass at Limasawa.
Ferdinand Magellan:
– Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who proposed the idea of exploring the world through the Westward Route. The king of Portugal refused this idea, so he went to the king of Spain, who approved his proposal.
– Primarily, the goal was to search for spices in the Island of the Moluccas (then the queen of Spain proposed the idea of christianizing the people they would meet in their voyage).
→ His voyage unintentionally led to the “discovery” of the Philippines for Spain.
The 5 ships of Spain:
– Spain granted Magellan 5 ships for his voyage:
* Victoria
* Santiago
* Trinidad
* Concepcion
* San Antonio.
– The king also gave him 270 men to accompany him on his expedition.
→ Only the Victoria completed the voyage back to Spain.
Armada de Molucca: Magellan’s Expedition to the Moluccas
– September 20, 1519: Magellan and his gang started their voyage, taking the Westward route.
– Fray Pedro de Valderrama: Presided over the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.
– Enrique de Malacca: A translator, one of Magellan’s slaves, who was known to understand the Malay language. Later on, he was not granted freedom after Magellan’s death (per Magellan’s will), so he allied with Rajah Humabon, convincing him to massacre Spaniards through poisoned wine.
– Mar Pacifico: Magellan gave the ocean this name, which means “peaceful sea” or “pacified ocean.” This is where the Pacific Ocean got its name.
– The Dadivas: These are “gifts” and goods that they have brought with them in hopes of trading. Unfortunately, before arriving in the Moluccas, they first landed on Islas delas Velas Latinas (Guam), where they got robbed by the Chamorros (people from Guam).
→ The giving of dadivas (gifts) was a common Spanish tactic for gaining alliances.
Magellan in the Philippines:
– March 17, 1521: Arrival at Homonhon Island, Eastern Samar.
– It was the feast day of Saint Lazarus, so Magellan named the islands “Archipelago de San Lazaro” (Islands of Saint Lazarus).
– Chinese traders previously referred to the Philippines as “Mahi.”
→ This was the first recorded arrival of Europeans in the Philippines.
Humanity in Homonhon: (March 18, 1521)
– Magellan’s fleet experienced the hospitality of the natives.
– Admired the coconut tree, calling it the “tree of life of the Filipinos.”
→ Natives gave them food and water, showing friendliness to strangers.
Visayas – Isla de Pintados
– Spaniards described the Visayans as “painted people” due to their tattoos.
→ The tattoos symbolized bravery and achievements in battle.
Mazaua (Limasawa): March 28–31, 1521
– Met Rajah Colambu (chief of Limasawa) and Rajah Siaiu.
– Performed a Casi Casi (Blood Compact) with Magellan as a sign of friendship.
– First Mass in the Philippines: March 31, 1521, at Limasawa.
– A cross was established for both political and spiritual purposes.
Example: The blood compact symbolized trust and alliance.
Sugbu (Cebu)
– Met Rajah Humabon, chief of Cebu.
– Magellan promised him supreme power if the Cebuanos converted to Christianity.
– Around 800 Cebuanos were baptized, including Humabon and Reyna Juana.
– Reyna Juana received the image of the Sto. Niño → origin of the Sinulog Festival.
→ This baptism marked the beginning of Christianization in the Philippines.
Mactan: April 27, 1521
– Encounter with Raja Cilapulapu (Lapu-Lapu) and Raja Zula.
– Lapu-Lapu resisted conversion and Spanish authority.
– Spaniards burned houses in Mactan → provoked Lapu-Lapu.
– Battle of Mactan:
49 Spaniards vs. 1500 Filipino warriors.
Filipinos used fishing techniques (baklad) in warfare.
Magellan was killed after being shot in the leg with a poisoned arrow.
Lapu-Lapu: regarded as the first Filipino hero for defending sovereignty; inspired later revolutionaries like Emilio Jacinto (“Gising mga Tagalog”).
→ The Battle of Mactan became a symbol of resistance against colonizers.
The Journey Continues
– Survivors sailed to the Moluccas (Spice Islands), arriving on November 15, 1521.
– Out of 270 men, only 18 survived the entire voyage.
– Sebastian Elcano: The first man to circumnavigate the world.
→ Elcano’s survival completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth.
Acta de la Proclamación de Independencia del Pueblo Filipino (1898)
Written by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista (signed June 12, 1898 at Kawit, Cavite)
Important Details:
What: Document that officially declared the independence of the Philippines from Spanish rule.
When: June 12, 1898.
Who:
Emilio Aguinaldo – leader of the revolution, raised the Philippine flag.
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista – lawyer, wrote and read the proclamation.
Filipino revolutionaries, witnessed by Filipino people and some foreigners.
Where: Kawit, Cavite, at Aguinaldo’s house.
Why: To assert sovereignty after more than 300 years of Spanish colonization, inspired by the desire for freedom and influenced by revolutions abroad (e.g., U.S. and Latin America).
How:
Formal declaration read publicly.
Philippine flag unfurled.
National anthem (Marcha Filipina Magdalo, later Lupang Hinirang) played.
Key Concepts:
> Symbolic start of Philippine nationhood.
> Asserted equality of Filipinos with other free nations.
> However, not recognized internationally at first (Treaty of Paris gave PH to the U.S.)
Dasalan at Tocsohan (1888) – Marcelo H. del Pilar
Satirical work mocking friars and Spanish religious abuses
Important Details:
What: A parody of Catholic prayers and catechism, rewritten to expose the corruption, hypocrisy, and abuses of Spanish friars.
When: Written in 1888 during the Propaganda Movement.
Who: Marcelo H. del Pilar (pen name Plaridel), Filipino writer, lawyer, and propagandist.
Why:
To awaken Filipino consciousness against friar dominance.
To fight religious and political oppression.
How:
Used humor and satire in the form of prayers (e.g., parody of Our Father, Hail Mary).
Criticized friars’ greed, immorality, and exploitation of Filipinos.
Key Concepts:
> Example of reformist literature under the Propaganda Movement.
> Used in secret to encourage resistance against clerical abuses.
> Del Pilar showed that even sacred language could be weaponized to inspire nationalism.
Customs of the Tagalogs (1589) by Fray Juan de Plasencia
1. Social Structure of Tagalog Society
Barangay - The basic political unit, led by a datu (chief).
- Each barangay had around 30–100 households, often family groups who arrived via boat (barangay = “boat”).
Classes:
Maharlika – Nobility or freeborn.
- Did not pay tribute.
- Served the datu in war, rowing, farming, or building.
Aliping Namamahay – Commoner-class slave
- Lived in their own homes and farmed their own land.
- Gave part of produce/labor to masters.
- Could not be sold.
Aliping Sa Guiguilid – Household slaves.
- No property rights; could be sold.
- Often war captives or debt slaves.
2. Inheritance and Land Ownership:
Land
Irrigated land: Divided among barangay members.
Uplands (tingues): Communally owned.
Inheritance:
Legitimate children: Inherited equally.
Children of slaves/concubines: Limited or no inheritance.
Children of slaves: Could be freed or receive partial inheritance.
Adopted children: Inherited double the adoption price but descendants did not inherit.
3. Marriage and Dowry Practices
Dowry (bigay-kaya)
Given by groom’s family to bride’s parents.
If bride had no parents → bride kept dowry.
Divorce:
If wife initiated divorce (for remarriage) → husband kept dowry + received fine.
If husband initiated → lost half of dowry.
If with children → dowry given to children.
Marriage Contracts
Broken engagements: Financial consequences.
Early arranged marriages: Partial dowry sometimes already paid.
4. Legal and Judicial System
Judgments: Made by the datu in presence of barangay.
Appeals: Taken to respected elders or arbiters.
Punishments:
Capital punishment: Insulting a chief’s wife/daughter; witchcraft.
Fines: Paid in gold for most offenses.
Failure to pay fine → temporary or permanent slavery.
Debt Slavery:
Common: Debtors gave labor or land yield to creditors.
Often became permanent, even inherited by children.
Led to abuses; reforms were needed.
5. Religious Beliefs and Practices:
Worship
No temples. Worship (pandot) done in chiefs’ houses converted into simbahan.
Communal rituals (nagaanitos): Feasts, offerings, music.
Major Deities:
Bathala – Supreme creator.
Dian Masalanta – God of love/procreation.
Lakapati & Idianale – Agriculture/husbandry gods.
Celestial Worship: Sun, moon, stars like Tala (morning star), Mapolon (Pleiades?), Balatic (Big Dipper).
Animism: Respected nature (e.g., crocodiles), omens from birds, sneezing, snakes, etc.
6. Religious Specialists
Catolonan – Priests/priestesses, ritual leaders.
Mangagauay – Witches who caused/cured illness.
Manyisalat – Sorcerers interfering in love.
Mancocolam – Fire-causing sorcerers.
Hocloban – Powerful witches who could kill instantly.
Silagan – Ate liver of those wearing white.
Magtatangal – Appeared headless at night.
Osuang – Flesh-eating sorcerers.
Mangagayoma – Love potion users.
Sonat – Preachers/shamans guiding souls in death.
Pangatahojan – Soothsayers of the future.
Bayoguin – Effeminate men with spiritual roles.
7. Burial and Afterlife Beliefs
Chiefs buried beside homes, sometimes in boats with slaves/animals.
Ritual mourning: Dirges, feasts, lasted several days.
Aetas (Negritos): Buried dead vertically.
Practiced revenge killings after deaths.
Beliefs in Afterlife:
Maca – Paradise for the good. (afterlife)
Casanaan – Place of punishment. (hell)
Sitan – Demon ruler of the underworld. (devil)
Spirits: Vibit (ghosts), Tigbalaang (phantoms), Pati-anac (spirits of women who died in childbirth).
Plasencia wrote “Customs of the Tagalogs” to guide Spanish colonizers and missionaries in ruling and converting the natives, but it also unintentionally preserved rich details of pre-colonial Filipino culture.