Sablaon, Ma. Jamil V.

“The Philippines: A Past Revisited”

Written by: Renato Constantino

History, in its simplest explanation, is the study of the past events. It plays a big role in

understanding glimpse of past events and to learn from them. It allows people to gain valuable

insights and perspectives regarding the truth of their identity and to know the root of all struggles

the modern society is facing. According to American Historical Association, “history is the never-

ending process where people seek to understand the past and its many meanings”. It is a time-

enduring analysis of modification that occurred within the time-frame of human existence in all

its various aspects and relations. History subject political, social, economic, scientific, technical,

medical, intellectual, religious, military, and cultural developments.

Moreover, according to Zeus Salazar, a notable historian and retired professor of the

University of the Philippines, “History is an essential narrative with group of people that is

characterized by uniqueness and identity”. This uniqueness largely based on people own

language and identity. The Philippines known for its rich and colorful history is something not to

be proud of – as these so-called rich culture is equivalent to our ancestors’ lives whose blood

shed in battles against Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese colonizers for us to have our

sovereignty. Spaniards came to the Philippines to liberate Filipinos whom they thought to be

enslaved by a devil, then Americans arrived to save us from Spanish oppression, then

Japanese occupied to save us from American imperialism, and Americans came back again to

set us free from Japanese fascists. We have to save four times before we know we’re only

being exploited.
 This is why Renato Constantino’s book “The Philippines – A Past Revisited” is an

important medium of understanding Philippine’s history and identity. Renato Constantino was a

Filipino historian who belonged to the country’s historiography; he’s also a journalist, political

scientist and a scholar. Among his notable works are “The Miseducation of the Filipino”,

“Veneration without Understanding”, and the two volume history of the Philippines namely “A

Past Revisited” and “The Continuing Past”.

With “The Philippines – A Past Revisited” it is Constantino’s attempt in broadening and

deepening the raw knowledge of Filipinos about their history. His works are concentrated in

instilling to Filipinos intellectual development the approximation of general truth about their

history and mainly focuses on colonial historiography of the country’s history in order to have a

wider perspective in examining historical teaching between truth and distortion.

The earliest chapter of the book discussed about the past of the Philippines as a

collective struggle of men for the right to life and sovereignty. He pointed out the only by

focusing and understanding the colonial history of the Philippines in the perspective of Filipino

masses will help the country achieve real independence and interpretation of the present

situations. In accordance to his words, it is crucial for historians to recognize the experiences of

the ethnic minorities and their point of view when writing the Philippine historiography. It is only

by correcting the true role of the masses during colonial era, from general historical

misconceptions, will make an enlightening comprehension and vast differences on how Filipino

perceived history today. It must be remembered that the essence of history depends on whose

history is being narrated and who the intended audience are. As such, it is critical for Filipinos to

know that some historical events written in textbooks were mostly contaminated with prejudices

and biases of the author according to whom they offer their loyalty. The Philippine history that

we know might have the possibility of historical truths from biased sources especially with the

fact that Philippine history was written by colonizers.

developed systematic livelihood. Contrast with Spanish’s belief that they found the islands with

people that needs savior to lead them and to liberate them from devil. Filipinos were primarily

fishermen, hunters, and farmers before the arrival of the Spaniards. The early stage of Filipinos

institution started with Baranganic society. Barangay is a type of early Filipino settlement

originated from the word balangay, which refers to the sailboats used by Malay settlers to the

Philippines from Borneo. Barangays were ruled by Datus and these autonomous barangay

communities have developed agriculture system that provides enough food for people to suffice

their needs in daily living. When the Spaniard came, they modified the concept of Barangay and

developed it to the Spanish standard of community anchored in their concepts of “liberations.”

Spain and Philippines gained a distinct economic relation which prevented the colonized country

to develop naturally as it only reaped its natural resources for the enjoyment and growth of its

colonizer. All these things happened only for Spain’s main goals to acquire a part in what they

thought spice island that they mistakenly considered as the Philippines.

However, this trading of goods is just a strategic method for Spaniards to build stronger

relations with Asian countries and to propagate Christianism and convert Philippines into

Christianity. Religion also play an important role in the enslavement of Filipino people which

gave permission royalties to take part in the slave trade. The exploitation of Spaniards to the

Philippines lasted for 333 years. With all the sufferings and injustices that Spaniards colonialism

brought to the Philippines, people’s consciousness and awareness towards the deceitful system

gradually emerged. Colonial abuses provoked people to resist violently towards the oppressors

as their agony and sufferings reached its highest peak.

The following section of the book discussed about the great efforts made by our heroes

of the past to fight for our freedom. There are numerous attempts by revolutionary Filipinos to

expel the colonizer from the country. Unfortunately, most of these attempt became unsuccessful
as selfishness, betrayal, and personal interests uttered greatly rather than their nationalistic

expression. After century of exploitation, group of people known as “ilustrados” or “Enlighted

Ones” emerged in the peak of revolution. One of the most prominent Ilustrado is Dr. Jose Rizal

who soon became the National Hero of the country. He founded La Liga Filipina, a reformist

organization aiming at uniting Filipinos without violence. However, Dr. Rizal was arrested and

jailed in Dapitan. The same day Rizal was arrested was the same day Katipunan established.

Days later Rizal was executed by a firing squad in Manila.

Rizal’s death triggered the Katipunan to resist violently and they revolted against the

Spaniards in 1896. Soon after, the Americans came to the Philippines pretending to be savior

and fooled Filipinos by thinking that Spaniards are evil and they are the heroes However, the

truth is, Philippines was brought by Americans from Spain for only $20 million during the Treaty

of Paris which ended the Spanish-American War. This new colonizer successfully conquered

not just the Philippines as territory but also the minds of the people. The education is the most

effective way of capturing one’s country and American knew that from the beginning.

The education system of the Philippines is just a mere reflection of those of America.

The propagation of English language as the medium of instruction silently killed the essence of

native language. It became the most powerful weapon of America in making sure they

transformed the Philippines into another colony in all its aspects. America’s strategy of capturing

our minds is still evident even up to this day, the colonial mentality is dominant in our society.

Filipinos were fooled to think that being white is a blessing and being kayumanggi is a sin.

Filipinos were fooled that knowing how to speak English language will make them any better

than those who did not. The US modified almost everything with Philippine’s culture and identity.

With the colonized educational system, Philippines will always be under Americans as language

is the soul of a nation. English separated Filipinos from their past and hostage them in a colonial
mentality – it is indeed evident that Filipinos’ thinking was strongly influenced by American

colonization.

This is the reason why even up to this day, our identity as Filipino is questionable. Are

we really Filipino if our mindset is like a puppet? Filipino continuously practiced the tradition of

colonizers. Unfortunately, according to Constantino’s words, even the term “Filipino” was not

originally ours and it connotate racial and elitist definition. It was first used to classify Spaniards

born in the Philippines and to be not called as “indio” which is an insult to Filipino natives.

However, this soon enough became a national identification of Philippine’s inhabitants.

Renato Constantino’s very comprehensible manner on approaching and explaining the

Philippine’s history during colonial era in this book was very successful in enlightening the

Filipinos. The book is formed in a systematic manner, containing detailed and concrete-long

summary of clarification regarding the misconception about Philippines history. The book served

as an eye-opener and considered to be honest piece of literature in every stretch, its clarity and

straight to the point approach makes it possible to normal Filipino to comprehend its content

easily.

His approach of focusing on the concrete experience, sufferings and struggles of Filipino

masses during that time is the best way to explain the Filipino history in a Filipino perspective. It

contradicts the prejudices and racism of colonizer authors whose works dominated the

educational system of the Philippines. It dismantled the colonial ideas and offered Filipinos

greater opportunity to know the most possible truth of their identity as a country – if not the

absolute truth.

The fact that Constantino had been able to give concrete cultural distortion and colonial

mentality behavior of Filipino such as obsession with white skin, being proud of mastery in

English language barely knowing native language, supporting foreign industry products and
services than fellow Filipinos livelihood, the influence in music, art, and various fields of study

became a great way of exemplifying how big the piece of our identity that’s still missing – at

least, unknown.

It is indeed applicable to say the idiom “tip of the iceberg” represents perfectly the

Philippines history. There are more than sufferings, colonization, struggles, and manipulation

that Philippines encountered to gain the sovereignty and independence that we have today – at

least. Exploring Philippine’s history is like diving deeper into deepest oceans. The deeper it

gets, the more discoveries and revelations will be known along the way.

Knowing that our past had gone through such dark times, it is rightful to give

appreciation and credits to people who truly helped and shed their sweat, tears, and blood in

liberation of our country rather than those who disguised themselves as heroes but actually the

one who exploited and betrayed their own people. The focus of the book was Constantino’s

perspective regarding the major turning point from the beginning of colonization until 1941 and it

is indeed crucial for us to know the truth of our identity and accept it considering the history in

the viewpoint of the masses and not of the colonizers.

McNeil, W. (1985). Why Study History? American Historical Association.

https://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-and-archives/historical-

archives/why-study-history-(1985)

Wikipedia. “Ilustrado”, Accessed 16 May 2021 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilustrado

Bantayog (2017).

”CONSTANTINO, Renato R.” — http://www.bantayog.org/constantino-renato-r/

Constantino, R., Constantino L. (1974) The Philippines: A Past Revisited (From the Spanish

Colonization to the Second World War) Quezon City: Tala Pub. Services