GRACE MISSION COLLEGE/READING PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Chapter/ Module 1: Learning History

To understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline and to be familiar with the underlying
philosophy and methodology of the discipline.

To examine and assess critically the value of historical evidences and sources.

To appreciate the importance of history in the social and national life of the Philippines.

Lesson 1: Meanings and Relevance of History

To make sense of history, it is necessary to first understand what it is all about. Many people think that
history is merely lists of names, dates,
places, and “important” events. However, History or the study of history is
more than just knowing and memorizing facts.
It is a historian’s duty to draw insights from the
ideas and realities that have shaped the lives of men and women and the society. And in understanding
these ideas, a historian (or, in fact, a student of history) can comprehend how situations happened,
identify their elements, and think of
how these situations can solve today’s predicaments, and help them plan for
the future. The study of history, therefore, is the
study of the beliefs and desires, practices, and institutions of human beings
.
WHY STUDY HISTORY?

An examination of the past can tell us a great deal about how we came to be who we are. It means looking
at the roots of modern institutions, ideas, values, and problems. Looking at the past teaches us to see
the world through different eyes-appreciating the diversity of human perceptions, beliefs, and cultures.
Different and/or new perspectives will enable us to analyze critically the present contexts of our society
and beings.

THE DEFINITION AND SUBJECT MATTER

History was derived from the Greek word historia which means
“knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation”. History as a
disciplined existed for around 2, 400 years and is as old as mathematics and philosophy. This term was
then adapted to classical Latin where it acquired a new definition. Historia became known as the account
of the past of a person or a group of people through written documents and historical evidences. That
meaning stuck until the early parts of the twentieth century.
History became an important discipline. It became the historian’s duty to
write about the lives of important individuals like monarchs, heroes, saints, and nobilities. History was
also focused on writing wars, revolutions, and other important breakthroughs. It is thus important to ask:
What counts as
history? Traditional historians lived with the mantra “no document, no history”. It means that unless a
written document can prove a certain
historical event, then it cannot be considered as a historical fact. But as any other academic disciplines,
history progressed and opened up to the possibility of valid historical sources, which were not limited to
written documents, like government records, chroniclers ’accounts, or personal letters. Giving premium to
written documents essentially in validates the history of other civilizations that do not keep written
records. Some were keener on passing their history by word of mouth. Others got their historical
documents burned or destroyed in the events of war or colonization. Restricting historical evidence as
exclusively written is also discrimination against other social classes who were not recorded in paper.
Nobilities, monarchs, the elite, and even the middle class would have their birth, education, marriage, and
death as matters of government and historical record. But what of peasant families or indigenous groups
who were not given much thought about being registered to government records? Does the absence of
written documents about them mean they were people of no history or past? Did they even exist?
This loophole was recognized by historians who started using other kinds of historical sources, which
may not be in written form but were just as valid. A few examples are oral traditions in forms of epics and
songs, artifacts, architecture, and memory. History thus became more inclusive and started collaborating
with other disciplines as its auxiliary disciplines.
Other Definitions of History:
History is defined as a documented record of man and his society. (Gray, 1956, pp.1-3).
As a field of study, history is a study of man and his achievementsfrom the beginning of written
records to the present.
As a literary form of history is an effective presentation of theunfolding events. But as a type of
literature history falls under non-fiction work.

History comes from social history which defines it as a record of events showing the evolution of man and
his society from the earliest and from the age of barbarism to what he is today.

Understanding History

Why don’t we learn from history?

(An excerpt from Lidell Hart,1971) What is the objective of history? One would simply answer, quite
simply -
“truth”. It is a word and an idea that has gone out of fashion.
The object might be more cautiously expressed thus: to find out what happened while trying to find out
why it happened. It seeks the casual relations between events
History has limitations as a guiding signpost; although it can show us the right direction, it does not give
detailed information about the road conditions. But its negative value as a warning sign is more definite.
History can show us what to avoid, even if it does not teach us what to do – by showing the most common
mistakes that mankind is apt to make and to repeat. A second object lies in the practical value of history.
The knowledge gained from the study of true history is the best of all education for practical life. The
study of history embraces every aspect of life. It lays the foundation of education by showing how
mankind repeats its errors and what those errors are.

Importance and Uses of History

Given are the uses of history as summarized by Foray and Salevouris (1988). Some of these are
interestingly explained by B.H. Lidedell Hart (1971).
A.-History provides a source of personal and social identity.
B.-History helps us understand the problems of the present.
C.- good history corrects misleading analogies and “lessons”
of the past.
D. -History can help one develop tolerance and open-mindedness.
E.-History helps us better understand all human behaviors and all aspects of the human condition.
F.-History provides the basic background for many disciplines.
G.-History can be a source of entertainment.
H.-History, when studied, can teach many critical skills.

I.
HISTORY- a Greek word which means’’ knowledge’’ acquired through inquiry or interview’’.
- Account of the past of a person or a group of people through written documents and historical
events.
- No documents, no history-traditional historian mantra. unless a written document can prove
certain historical event, then it cannot be considered as historical event

DEFINITION;
-study the past
- could be define as happening or a series of happenings; it is a record of the past made available for
the present. It is also a field of study which traces man’s development.
-everything that has been recorded or occurred from the beginning of time to the last instant.
-documented record of man and his society.
-a study of a man and his achievement from the beginning of written records to the present. It can be
defined as everything that has happened occurred from the beginning of the time to the last instant.

In social history, it is a record of events showing the evolution of man and his society from the
earliest and from the age of barbarism to what he is today
-records the past showing mans development and improvement throughout the age.it also showshow
man met his various challenges through time.

HISTORY vs. HISTORIOGRAPHY

Historiography
-it is the history of the history
-the objective is history itself
For example,how was a certain historical text written?
Who wrote it? What was the context of publication?
What particular historical method was employed?
What were the sources used?this question can be answered by historiography.
Lets the students have a better understanding of history.
They do not only get to learn historical facts,but they are also provided with the understanding of the
facts and the historians context.
The importance for someone who studies history,it teaches the student to be critical in the lessons of
history presented to him.

HISTORY’S objective is the past, the events that happened in the past,and the causes of such events.

ROLE OF HISTORY
- states use history to unite a nation
-lessons from the past can be used to make sense of the present
-learning of past mistakes can help people to not repeat them.
II. ISSUE OF HISTORY;
Accusation that the history is always written by victors,(winners)
This connotes that the narrative of the past is always written from the bias of the powerful and the
more dominant player.
For instance,the history of the second world war in the Philippines always depicts the United States
as the hero and the imperial Japanese army as the oppressors.Filipinos who collaborated with the
Japanese were lumped in the category of traitors or collaborators,However, a mere through historical
investigation will reveal a more nuanced (delicate) account of the history of that period instead of a
simplified narrative as a story of hero versus villain.

III. HISTORY and HISTORIAN

‘’FACTS CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES’’

Historians job is not just to seek historical evidences and facts.it is the job of the historian to give
meaning to these facts and organize them into timeline.establish causes,and write history. In that
sense,his interpretation of the historical facts is affected by his context and circumstances. His
subjectivity will inevitably influence the process of his historical research;methodology that he will
use,the facts that he shall select and deem relevant,his interpretation,and even the form of his
writings.Thus in one way or another,history is always subjective.

HISTORICAL RESEARCH REQUIRES RIGOR.despite the facts that historians cannot ascertain
absolute objectivity,the study of history remains scientific because the rigor of research and
methodology that historian employ.

HISTORICAL methodology comprises a certain technique and rules that historian follows in order to
properly utilize sources and historical evidences in writing history.

HISTORICAL METHODOLOGY;

Certain rules apply in case of conflicting accounts in different sources and how to properly treat
eyewitness accounts and oral sources as a valid historical evidence.In doing so, historical claims done
by historians and the arguments that they forward in their historical writings while they may be
influence by historian,inclinations,can still be validated by using reliable evidence and employing
correct and meticulous historical methodology.

For example; if a historian chooses to use oral account as his data in studying ethnic history of the
Ifugao in the Cordillera during the American occupation,he needs to validate the claims of his
inpormant through comparing and corroborating it with written sources.While bias is inevitable,the
historian can balance this out by relying to evidence that back up his claim. In this sense,the historian
need not to let his bias blind his judgement and such bias are only acceptable if he maintains his rigor
as a researcher.
NAME;____________________ YEAR AND MAJOR________________

CLUSTER___________________ SCORE;_____________

ACTIVITY 1;

DERICTION; ANSWERED THE QUESTION CORRECTLY IN 200 WORDS.

1. WHAT IS THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY ALL ABOUT?