GHIST – Philippine Historiography: Sources and
Discourses
What is History?
History- GK. Historia (Learning by investigation or
inquiry)
- History is the study of the past; All of the
recorded events that have taken place in all
regions & all periods.
- These events are not, in themselves, history &
the mere knowledge of “facts” from the past is
not HISTORY.
History  Interpretation of the Past Events:
 Analyze the facts
 Relevance to a certain group of people
 Re-evaluate the mistakes of the past
 Relationship/ Similarities to other culture
Historiography- is the practice of historical writing.
Traditional method in doing the historical research
focuses on gathering of documents from different
libraries and archives to form a pool of evidence needed
in making a descriptive or analytical narrative.
- History is the record of the past.
- History is a record of the human past from the
time written records began to appear.
Modern historical writing does not only include
examination of documents but also the use of research
methods from related areas of study such as
archaeology and geography.
- History is the reconstruction of the past based
on available written records, oral history,
cultural artifacts, and folk traditions.
- It is the study of events and developments
concerning people in the past.
- It basically involves collection, analysis, and
synthesis of limited available materials.
- The mere presentation of facts does not
constitute history but a chronicle.
- Thus, a historian should do two other important
tasks:
- Interpret and recreate facts in an orderly and
intelligible manner; and
- Discover patterns and trends, which govern the
behavior of people and of nations, and to make
generalizations out of these.
- Therefore, history is the interpretative and
imaginative study of surviving records of the
past, either written or unwritten, in order to
determine the meaning and scope of human
existence.
What are Historical sources?
- A historical source is something that tells us about
history. It may be a document, a picture, a sound
recording, a book, a cinema film, a television program
or an object.
Two main types of historical source:
 Primary source is something that originates
from the past.
- Come from the time the event occurred
- Documents, physical objects, and oral/ video
accounts
- Art works, letters, coins
- Archeological Records: artifacts
- Diaries/memoirs, interview of eyewitnesses,
speeches made by participants themselves
- Audio-visual documentation of events, places
and peoples
- Journals, maps, architectural perspectives,
paintings, advertisements and photographs
Locating Primary Sources:
- National Library
- National Archives
- Academic institutions (UP Diliman, Ateneo de
Manila, UST, Siliman University, University of
San Carlos)
- Private Museum and Archives (Ayala Museum
in Makati, Lopez museum in Pasig)
- Religious congregations ( Augustinians,
Dominicans, Jesuits, recollects)
- Outside Phil. (Spain and US)
- Online libraries and archives
- Cordillera Studies
 Secondary source is something that has been
made recently about the past.
- Provide interpretations of Historical
Events
- Records that were made after the
event happened
 - Written by people who were not
present during the event and who
merely compiled stories
Examples: Books, magazines,
Internet, News reports
Challenges:
- Ability to read and understand text in foreign
language (Spanish language).
- Discern the cultural context and historical value
of primary sources.
- Entails discerning mind (authenticity and
reliability)
- Issues in writing Philippine History (biased,
discriminatory, and self-serving ends)
Noble Historians:
 Teodoro Agoncillo - Pioneered nationalist
historiography in the country by highlighting
the role of the Filipino reformists and
revolutionaries from 1872.
 Renato Constantino- The writings of
Constantino were a major influence in the
intellectual formation of countless young
Filipinos who staked their lives and future in
opposing the Marcos dictatorship.
 Zeus Atayza Salazar- A Filipino historian best
known as a leading proponent of the historical
movement known as “Pantayong Pananaw.”
 Reynaldo Ileto- His major works include
Maguindanao, The Career of the Datu Uto of
Buayan, Pasyon and Revolution, Popular
Movement of the Philippines, Filipinos and
their Revolution, Events, Discourses and
Historiography.
 Samuel K. Tan- He is best remembered for his
mainstreaming the role and relevance of
Filipino Muslims in the country’s national
history.
Challenges: Issues in writing Philippine History (biased,
discriminatory, and self-serving ends)
- Political Narratives
- Colonial Histories in Historical Narratives
- Elite-centric perspectives
- Patriarchal orientations in Historical Narratives
- Emphasis on Lowland Christianized Filipinos
What to do?
- Narrow-minded view has to be reevaluated in
order to correct misrepresentations (Muslims,
Indigenous Peoples)
- Encourage the writing of local histories to
correct national histories)
- Attend conferences and trainings for updates in
Philippine History
------
Relation of Filipinas Islands and the character and
conditions of their inhabitants
Context Analysis:
Original language: Spanish
Language (Translation): English
Translator: Alfonso de Salvio
Author’s name: Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
Birth (Date and place): Spain, 1502
Death: August 15, 1512 (Manila)
Relevant info about the author:
- First Governor in Manila
- Commissioned by the vice royalty of Spain to
the study of the spice island.
Date or writing/publication of the Og document: July 7,
1569
Place written: Philippines
Author’s Purpose: Inform the Spaniards (inhabitants,
archipelago. natives, etc)
Audience: King/vice royalty of Spain
Content Analysis:
Topic of the document: The inhabitants of the island of
Philippines
Groups/ people: Inhabitants, Spaniards, Moros, and
Chinese
Place mentioned: Borneo, Mindanao, China etc.
Topics discussed:
- Characteristics and lifestyle of natives
- Blood compact
- Structural Government
- Existing trail relation
- Strategy in settling in the Philippines
(connection of the people to catholics)
Personal biases, suspected errors or misleading - All the Spaniards died except the interpreter
statements of the author: (Henrick)

- The Filipinos are the laziest people in the world Personal biases, suspected errors or misleading
(General) statements of the author:
- Slothful
- Praise of Magellan
What can be learned: The plan of the Spaniards to get - Western Domination
profit to the island of the Philippines.
What can be learned: Early resistance of natives
----- towards Spaniards (Tactics and warfare/weapons)

Pigaffeta’s Primo Viaggio Inforno al Mondo (Report on -----

the first voyage around the world)
Laguna Copper Plate Inscription (LCI)
Context Analysis:
- Written document
Original language: Italian - Diplomatic
Language (Translation): English - Acquittal of dept
Translator: James Alexander Robertson - Social Stratification
- Social hierarchy/classes
Author’s name: Antonio Pigaffeta
- Crude system of calendar (Detailed)
Birth (Date and place): 1440, City of Vicenza, Northeast
- Presence of gold (Metallurgy)
Italy
- System of measurement (Detailed)
Relevant info about the author: He served in Magellan’s
Context:
expedition in 1520
- Scripts- Kawi
Date of writing/ publication of the Og document: 1519-
- Language: OM (Old Malay)
1522
Place written /or first publication: Spain Content:

Author’s purpose: - Acquittal of depts.

Events that happened in history when the document - Names of the places (Place names)
was written: - Names of people

- Portuguese and Spanish rivalry for sea

exploration
- Navigation and expedition
- Race to find the Spice island

Audience: European monarch/ Spanish

Content Analysis:

Main Topic:

- Battle of Mactan
- Escape from Cebu

Groups/People: Christian King, Duarte Barboza, Donya

Beatrice etc…
Place mentioned: Island of Mactan
Topics discussed:

- Lapu-Lapu’s disobedience
- Massacre of Spaniards etc…