Readings in Philippine History: Introduction to Philippine Historiography - Sir Krippe

Summary

In this educational session, Sir Trip delves into the fundamentals of Philippine historiography, exploring the definitions of history and historiography, and distinguishing between traditional and modern historical writing methods. He outlines the primary sources of history, including documents, archaeological records, and oral/video accounts, and explains the importance of primary and secondary sources in historical research. The lecture also touches on historical criticism and the repositories of primary sources in the Philippines, concluding with a discussion on colonial and post-colonial historiography, highlighting the shift towards a more people-centric historical narrative.

Takeaways

• 📚 History is defined as the study of past events and the historians are those who record and write about these events.
• 📖 Historiography refers to the practice of historical writing, which includes both traditional and modern methods.
• 📚 Traditional historical method involves gathering documents from libraries and archives, then translating them into narrative.
• 🔍 The modern method of historical writing incorporates methods from related fields such as archaeology and geography.
• 📜 Three common sources of history are documents, archaeological records, and oral and video accounts.
• 📝 Documents encompass a wide range of materials including handwritten, printed, drawn, designed, and even photographs and advertisements.
• 🦴 Archaeological records include preserved remains of humans, their activities, and the environment, such as fossils and artifacts.
• 🎥 Oral and video accounts provide audio-visual documentation of people, events, and places, often recorded by media professionals.
• 🔑 Primary sources are firsthand accounts made by individuals present at the time of the events, while secondary sources offer interpretations of these events.
• 🏛️ The National Library of the Philippines and the National Archives of the Philippines are key repositories for primary sources, with the former holding published materials and the latter unpublished.
• 🏫 Academic institutions also serve as repositories for historical materials and contribute to the narratives of Philippine history.
• 🌏 Colonial historiography often portrayed Filipinos in a negative light, justifying colonization, while post-colonial historiography seeks to give voice to the people and challenge these narratives.
• 🏛️ Political narratives in history tend to focus on the legacies of political leaders and their impact on the country's development.
• 🌐 Historical narratives can also reflect biases such as elitism, patriarchy, and colonial perspectives, which may not fully represent the diverse experiences of the population.

Q & A

What is the definition of 'history' according to the script?

History is the study of past events and the persons who are recording and writing about these events, known as historians.

What is meant by 'historiography'?

Historiography refers to the practice of historical writing, which involves creating a narrative about past events.

What are the two methods of historical writing mentioned in the script?

The two methods of historical writing are the traditional method, which involves gathering documents from libraries and archives, and the modern method, which incorporates methods from related areas of study such as archaeology and geography.

What are the three most common sources of history discussed in the script?

The three most common sources of history are documents, archaeological records, and oral and video accounts.

What are some examples of documents that can be considered as historical sources?

Examples of documents include handwritten, printed, drawn, designed materials, books, newspapers, magazines, journals, maps, architectural perspectives, paintings, photographs, and advertisements.

Can you explain what is meant by 'archaeological records'?

Archaeological records are preserved remains of human beings, their activities, and the environment where they lived. This can include fossils and artifacts.

What is the difference between primary and secondary sources in historical research?

Primary sources are documents, physical objects, and oral or video accounts made by individuals or groups who were present at the time and place being described, having firsthand experience of the event. Secondary sources are materials made by people long after the events took place and do not have firsthand experience; they provide interpretations of historical events.

What are the two levels of historical criticism mentioned in the script?

The two levels of historical criticism are external criticism, which deals with the authenticity of a historical source by identifying its author, origin, and production details, and internal criticism, which assesses the credibility and reliability of the content within the source.

Where can one find primary sources in the Philippines?

Primary sources can be found in repositories such as the National Library of the Philippines, the National Archives of the Philippines, and various academic institutions like the University of the Philippines, University of San Diego, Suleiman University, University of San Carlos, and Ateneo de Manila University.

What is the significance of the term 'colonial historiography' in the context of the script?

Colonial historiography refers to the historical narratives written during the colonial period, which often portrayed Filipinos in a negative light, justifying colonization as a means to 'liberate' them from 'barbaric' ways.

What is the concept of 'people's history' as mentioned in the script?

People's history is a study of the past that seeks to analyze society by searching for the voices of the people from colonial historical materials, which typically rendered Filipinos as decadent, inept, and vile, and aims to give a more balanced and inclusive narrative.