Readings in Philippine History JRC

I. Reading Topic # 1: “First Voyage Around the World” by Antonio Pigafetta

The comprehensive journal of Pigafetta made all the stories about Lapu Lapu, as the earliest Filipino hero,
ancient Filipino’s culture, economic activities among others are possible to narrate and study in our current
generation.
According to Filipino Historian Jose Victor Torres the account of Pigafetta enriched the Philippine
Historiography with the following
1. Geographical knowledge about Visayan islands in the 16th century.
2. The birth of Christianity in the Philippines, when Filipinos started to know about the deity of Jesus.
3. The very first mass officiated by the priest name Fr. Pedro de Valderrama.
4. Conversion of the hundreds of Filipinos including the Rajah Humabon and his wife.
5. The famous Santo Niño was taken from his account.
6. The first resistance by the Filipinos against the Spaniards was narrated through the story of Filipino
hero Lapu Lapu.
7. The two distinct reactions of Filipinos when Spaniards came. First, the acceptance and friendships
of the Filipinos with the foreigners (Humabon to Magellan), while on the other is the opposite wherein
there was a conflict between the natives and the Spaniards (Lapu Lapu to Magellan).
Moreover, the Pigafetta’s journal include some of the important discovery about the world to wit;
1. Earth is not flat but an oblate sphere; that one can go to east by sailing west.
2. There is no boiling water at the Equator.
3. Portuguese route is not the only route going to the Spice island.
4. Discovery of Mar Pacifico or Pacific Ocean.
The journal of Pigaffeta proved that Filipinos civilization existed even before the Spaniards officially ruled
the Philippines. Most of the natives they encountered were reasonable, organized and mannered.
Activity
1. Based on the statement on number seven (7) above, search and state the Political condition of the
Filipinos before analyzing the actuations of Magellan, Humabon and Lapu lapu.
2. Select a certain comparison of current political condition of the Philippines in relation with another nation-
state/people/institutions and a like.
Readings in Philippine History JRC

II. Reading Topic # 2: Customs of the Tagalogs by Juan de Plasencia

Fr. Juan de Plasencia converted many pagan Filipinos to Christianity this one of the great work of friars
when they arrived and finally subjugated the Philippine islands. The Doctrina Christiana en Lengua
Espanola y Tagala is one of the good evidences of Plasencia’s perseverance to influence the natives in
assimilating the Western beliefs and rules. As a Friar, their primary task was to indoctrinate the people about
Christianity however during the Spanish regime it was self-evident that they play other major functions in
the society, to wit;
1. Supervised local election from pueblos (town) to barrios (barangay).
2. Helping in the collection of taxes to the natives as part of Encomienda system.
3. Educating the youth and perform other civic duties.
4.Provide a comprehensive reports to their immediate superiors about people they converted, socio-
cultural and economic situation including issues they encountered.
5. Supervised the gobernadorcillos and other lower executives to make sure the loyalty of the natives
to the King of Spain.
It was the objective of Fr. Plasencia to describe vividly the political, social, economic and cultural practices
of Filipinos before they were Christianized. This was made possible through his work Relacion de las
Costumbres de Los Tagalos (Customs of the Tagalogs).
A. Political
The government of the natives was called Barangay which composed of around 30-100
families/households. Etymologically, the Barangay came from Malay word Balangay which means “sail
boat”. The following are the observation of Plasencia about barangay;
1. Barangays (inter-government) had some diplomacy.
2. All of barangays were equal in terms of status.
3. There is a chieftain or commonly called Datu who governed the barangay.
B. Social
There are three main Social classes/hierarchy/stratification according to Plasencia;
1. Maharlica (nobles)- People who are born free Must accompany the datus in war
2. Aliping Namamahay (commoners)- They have their own properties and children have to serve
their masters but cannot be sold.
3. Aliping sa Guiguilir (slaves)- They serve their master in their houses and lands and can be sold.
C. Economic
1. The land area was divided among the whole barangay, especially the irrigated portions.
2. No one from a different barangay could cultivate land unless they inherit or buy the land
3. The lands on the tingues, or mountain ridges, are not divided but owned by the barangay as a
whole.
Readings in Philippine History JRC

4. At the time of rice harvest, any individual (regardless of their barangay) that starts to clear any
land area may sow in it.
5. Fisheries of chiefs had established limits, and sections of the rivers for markets. Unless you were
a member of the chief’s barangay, you had to pay for the privilege of fishing or selling in the chiefs’
fisheries.
Activity:
Answer the following question by pair or group;
1. What would happen to the commoners once their masters would have to leave their village/barangay?
2. What was the primary job of the commoners?
3. How a maharlica can be a slave or aliping saguiguilir?
4. What will happen to the child/children of mahralica man if he marries slave woman and vice versa?
Readings in Philippine History JRC

III. Reading Topic # 3: Kartilya ng Katipunan by Emilio Jacinto

The Katipunan is a secret-revolutionary organization founded in 1892 by Filipinos who are against the
rulership of the Spaniard in the Philippines and sought for complete independence of their country.
The following were the people who led the Katipunan as Supremo/president in chronological order;
1. Deodato Arellano 1892-1893
2. Roman Basa 1893-1895
3. Andres Bonifacio 1895-1897
The 3 primary objectives of Katipunan were Civic, Political and Moral;
1. Civic objective was based on the principle of self-help and the defense of the weak and the poor.
2. Political objective was the separation of the Philippines from Spain.
3. Moral objective focus on the teaching of good manners, hygiene and good moral character.
The organization had its own newspaper called “Kalayaan” (Freedom) where the second editor, after Dr.
Pio Valenzuela, was a law student from UST named Emilio Jacinto (pen names: Pingkian & Dimasilaw).
With the growing number of the members of Katipunan, Bonifacio decided to formulate a guidebook of
Katipunan for its new members however Emilio Jacinto made his version of the same and Bonifacio was
impressed, making Jacinto’s version as the official primer/guidebook of the Katipunan.
According to some historians Kartilya had some similarities to Moses’ “The Ten Commandments” as the
first commandment talked about God or something that is sacred pursuits. This was the reason Artemio
Ricarte once called Jacinto as Moses of the Filipino people. Emilio Jacinto’s currently known as the Brains
of the Katipunan (Utak ng Katipunan) because of its valuable contributions to the organization as manifested
not merely with his membership and loyalty more so on his Kartilya’s version.
Kartilya is a source of moral beacon for self-transformation for the contemporary times. It can be used as a
guide for the following;
1. To institutionalize good governance among our government officials.
2. To teach honor and dignity and curtail corruption among politicians
3. To inculcate generosity and compassion among us
4. To practice respect for women and love for our family

Activity:
1. Search a short video clip/s of current events or newscast in the Philippines violating any of the 14 primers
of Kartilya ng Katipunan. Share and send your selected video (link) to your Canvas with your brief
explanation.
Readings in Philippine History JRC

IV. Reading Topic # 4: Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan (Memoirs of the Revolution) by Emilio Aguinaldo
Heneral Emilio “Miong” Aguinaldo was the first and the youngest president of the Philippines. His leadership
was attacked by numerous controversies from the death of Procopio and Andres Bonifacio to the different
governments he established. This made his memoir/book more intriguing to read with the expectation that
he would present his side or story on the different issues he was involved with.
He won most of the battles he and his comrades fought with compared to the forces of Bonifacio. He was
able to strategically entered into an encounter with the Spanish troops in Cavite despite the lack of weapons
and ammunitions.
Prior to his election as president to the new republic in Tejeros convention he was able to held the following
positions;
1. Cabeza de Barangay
2. Gobernadorcillo capitan municipal (Municipal Governor-Captain)
3. War General (Magdalo, a Katipunan faction headed by his cousin Baldomero Aguinaldo)
On March 22, 1897, while Aguinaldo was in Pasong Santol, Dasmariñas, Cavite, Tejeros convention was
held and resulted to election of Emilio Aguinaldo as president where Andres Bonifacio did not recognize
instead declaring the results as null and void.
In the Chapter 44 of Aguinaldo’s memoirs, Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio were arrested with
criminal charges of Treason, Sedition and a conspiracy to murder Emilio Aguinaldo. The Military court found
the two Bonifacios’ guilty and hence subjected to death penalty.
According to Aguinaldo, he tried to commute the sentence (change the penalty to less severe) of the
Bonifacios’ but Heneral Pio Del Pilar and Mariano Noriel persuaded him to impose the original penalty.
Aguinaldo, as president, established different types of government;
1. Biak na Bato a republican government where its Constitution was patterned from Cuban constitution.
It was a short live republic because Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivero and Aguinaldo entered
into a pact which is now known as Pact of Biak na Bato.
2. Dictatorial government was established upon Aguinaldo’s returned to the Philippines. This type of
government was advised by Aguinaldo’s war counselor Ambrosio Riazares Bautista to control all the
governmental powers temporarily.
3. Revolutionary government as an insurgent government that was established by Aguinaldo while they
are preparing for declaration of independence with new constitution. The known adviser of this government
was Apolinario Mabini as Brains of the Revolution or Utak ng Himagsikan.
4. First Philippine Republic. This republic was established when the declaration of independence was
done in Kawit, Cavite and the ratification of 1899 Philippine Constitution/Malolos constitution by Malolos
congress. The inauguration of the Republic was on Janury 23, 1899 at the Barasoain church in Bulacan.
Activity:
1. Watch the “Bayani o Gangster?” by History with Lourd (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnlR7NQvI3E)
Readings in Philippine History JRC

2. Make a position paper whether you agree or disagree with the administration of Aguinaldo as president.
Limit your arguments into 5 and support it with evidences by citing your references. The paper should not
be more than 300 words.
Readings in Philippine History JRC

V. Reading Topic # 5: Declaration of Philippine Independence

The Philippine independence is being celebrated on every 12th of June and it is Regular Holiday in the
country. Contrary to popular belief the said date of celebration of our independence was not used during
the former Presidents and administrations of Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos
Garcia and the first year in office of Diosdado Macapagal. From 1946 to 1962 Filipinos were celebrating the
independence on every 4th of July after the Americans inaugurated on the same day our independence
through US president Harry Truman in 1946. It was the former president Diosdado Macapagal who returned
and used the June 12th of every as our Independence Day through Republic Act 4166.
But how the June 12th more significant than the July 4th?
When Aguinaldo went back to the Philippines from Hong Kong on May19, 1898 he faced the battle against
Spain in Alapan, Imus, Cavite and hurdled the same. After the said battle, Aguinaldo established the
dictatorial government with the advice of his first adviser in 1898 Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista. The
dictatorial government was provisionary in form because when peace and unrestrained liberty was attained,
they change the government to revolutionary one through the advice of Apolinario Mabini.
On June 12, 1898, Declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain was promulgated by Aguinaldo in
Cavite where 98 persons who signed the said declaration which was authored by a lawyer, Ambrosio
Bautista.

Quick Facts!
Ambrosio Bautista was the one who waved the Philippine Flag in Cavite during the proclamation of our
independence by president Aguinaldo, former member of La Liga and propaganda movements in the
country, he had some encounter with Jose Rizal. Bautista was Lawyer who graduated in UST but died in
fatal accident when he fell from a horse drawn carriage 1903.

The following year in 1899, the Malolos Constitution and First Philippine Republic was formally established
in Malolos, Bulacan. The said Philippine Republic survived until March 23, 1901 when the president
Aguinaldo was captured by the American forces in Quezon province.
The centuries of atrocities of Spanish rules in the Philippines was officially ended when Filipinos and
American forces in 1898 won the different battles against them.
The 1898 documents will signify the following importance;
1. Most significant achievement of Aguinaldo’s Dictatorial Government
2. The Philippine was proclaimed independent after decades of being a colony.
3. The Philippine earned its own identity.
4. Affirmation of the following:
a. Atrocities of the Spaniards towards Filipinos.
Readings in Philippine History JRC

b. Struggles of the Filipinos for independence

c. Dictatorial government under Aguinaldo.
Activity:
Provide two 2 examples of how you are going to show respect and appreciation of our Philippine
independence through 1-2 photos of you.

VI. Reading Topic # 6: Speech of Corazon Aquino in 1986 before the U.S. Congress
The assassination of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. on August 21, 1983 and several injustices
happening during the post martial era the Filipinos longing for democratic and more transparent type of
governance. Three (3) years after the assassination of Ninoy, Ferdinand Marcos, as pressured by the US
government, called for Snap election in 1986. Corazon Aquino run against the incumbent and powerful
Marcos. The election was covered live by the various news networks especially during the canvassing of
votes, and for the first time since the declaration of Martial law in 1972, people witnessed through their
television the bunch of Election officers and NGO’s walked out from their posts because of the rampant
cheating and manipulation of votes of the current administration.
The manipulated results of the election made the people- volunteers, church workers, politicians and
students walked on the streets and called for the resignation of President Marcos.
February 22 to 25, EDSA (Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue) was crowded by various groups and individuals
which is now known as the People power revolution or EDSA 1. This forced the Marcoses to flee the country
in the evening of February 24, 1986. The following day Corazon Aquino took an oath as 11th president of
the Philippines.
Corazon C. Aquino accepted the great responsibility to restore the democracy in the country the following
were the major programs and achievements of her administration;
• Freedom Constitution and the 1987 Constitution – giving people a democracy and liberty
• First Philippine Fund Incorporated – where Cory urged American business to increase investments
in the Philippines.
• Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law- aims to promote social justice and industrialization.
• R.A. 7160 – Local Government code of 1991
On September 18,1986, the United States Congress invited Corazon Aquino to speak before them nine (7)
months after her assumption in office. Teodoro “Teddy boy” Locsin Jr., a journalist and a lawyer who
admittedly drafted the speech of Corazon Aquino but wasn’t able to finish the same.
The speech ran for half an hour and interrupted by applauses and standing ovation by the member of the
US Congress.
Activity;
Read and/or watch the speech of former President Corazon Aquino before the U.S. Congress on
Sept. 18, 1986 and answer the following guide questions as a group;
1. What was the main message of her speech?
Readings in Philippine History JRC

2. According to Cory Aquino’s speech, what was more important thing or idea than “Poverty” for
most Filipinos? Why?
3. Provide three (3) significant ideas or classical example on how the democracy was abolished
during Marcos regime in accordance to the Pres. Cory Aquino’s speech.