Subjects

World/Global History

•

Dec 26, 2025

•

5 pages

Philippine History Study Guide

Ibarreta Ahzer T.

@ibarretaahzert.

Welcome to Philippine History! This guide explores the foundations of... Show more

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MIDTERM COURSE REVIEWER
Readings in Philippine History

What is History?
Origin: Historia (Greek)... "knowledge through inquiry."

3 Dimensi

Understanding History

History isn't just a collection of facts—it's a living inquiry into human activities! The word comes from the Greek "historia," meaning "knowledge through inquiry." When studying history, we're examining three key dimensions: human activities (focusing on people, not abstract forces), a field of inquiry (questioning and researching), and past events with their effects on society.

History stretches across multiple dimensions that shape our understanding. Cultural history explores values and traditions like Filipino fiestas, while economic history examines systems like the Manila galleon trade. Other dimensions include environmental history (how people interact with nature), social history (class relationships), political history (governments and laws), and ethical dimensions (examining values and morality).

The past itself cannot be changed, but our interpretations of it certainly can! Historians approach evidence with different perspectives, biases, and available sources—making history an ongoing conversation rather than a fixed narrative. This is why there is "no finality" in historical understanding.

💡 History serves multiple purposes: it helps shape our identity (knowing who we are), enables us to understand present patterns, corrects misleading narratives, reveals human tendencies, promotes tolerance, and provides essential context for other disciplines.

Historical Sources and Philippine Beginnings

How do we know what happened in the past? We rely on two types of sources. Primary sources are original, firsthand evidence—like letters, government records, photos, and artifacts created during the time being studied. Secondary sources come later as interpretations—books, articles, and essays analyzing those primary materials. Both require critical evaluation!

When examining historical documents, historians use two forms of criticism. Internal criticism checks content credibility (examining bias, context, and logic), while external criticism verifies authenticity (analyzing physical properties like paper, ink, and signatures). Both approaches help determine how believable historical evidence might be.

The origins of the Filipino people have competing explanations. Henry Otley Beyer's Wave Migration Theory (1947) proposed waves of distinct groups: Negritos, Indones, and Malays. Meanwhile, Felipe Landa Jocano's Core Population Theory suggests a continuous process of evolution and cultural development from a similar main population.

💡 Prehistoric Philippines is typically divided into three periods: Paleolithic $with basic stone tools and nomadic hunter-gatherers$ , Mesolithic (when simple farming began), and Neolithic (marked by permanent villages, agriculture, and craft industries).

Precolonial Philippines and Spanish Contact

Imagine living in precolonial Philippines! The barangay was the basic social unit, typically 30-100 households, named after the balangay (boat). Land was communally shared and managed by families in a subsistence economy where people consumed what they produced.

Society was structured hierarchically with the datu (leader) at the top, followed by maharlika $warriors/freemen$ , timawa (commoners), and alipin (with varying degrees of rights). Laws weren't written but passed down through oral tradition and announced by town criers. Justice often involved "trials by ordeal" like water immersion or candle tests—spiritual justice systems without written codes.

The Spanish arrival began with Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, motivated by the "Three Gs": God (spreading Christianity), Gold (seeking wealth), and Glory (power and prestige). His fleet of five ships (Santiago, San Antonio, Concepcion, Trinidad, and Victoria) made first contact in 1521, with only Victoria eventually returning to Spain. Key figures included Enrique of Mallaca (multilingual interpreter) and Antonio Pigafetta (who documented the voyage).

💡 The famous Blood Compact (Sanduguan/Kasi-kasi) between Spaniards and locals established a symbolic kinship alliance, while the first Catholic Mass in March 1521 represented the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines—both events signaling profound cultural changes to come.

Spanish Colonial Administration

The Spanish created an elaborate system to control the Philippines. Reduccion policies relocated Filipinos into concentrated settlements, leading to cultural decline but increased urbanization and tighter social control. The Plaza Mayor design centralized markets and institutions to monitor activities effectively.

At the top of the colonial power structure was the Spanish King, who held absolute power. Below him were various administrative bodies: the Royal Audiencia (supreme court), Council of Indies (managing overseas territories), and House of Trades (handling commerce). The Governor-General represented the King directly in the Philippines, serving as religious patron, military commander, and judicial authority.

Provincial governance fell to the Alcalde-Mayor (appointed by the king), while towns were managed by the Gobernadorcillo (elected by local leaders), and barangays by the Cabeza de Barangay (responsible for tax collection and maintaining order). This hierarchical system ensured Spanish control reached every community.

💡 The Spanish imposed burdensome obligations on Filipinos, including the Polo y Servicio $forced labor for 40 days yearly for men aged 16-60$ and various taxes. Those who could afford it paid the Falla to be exempted from labor requirements—creating further inequality between wealthy and poor Filipinos.

Colonial Economic Systems and Cultural Impact

Spanish colonizers implemented exploitative economic systems throughout the Philippines. The Encomienda system parceled land between landlords (supposedly "protectors") and tenant workers, while Haciendas were large estates owned by friars and colonial leaders that generated immense wealth at the expense of Filipino laborers.

The colonial government controlled commerce through restrictive policies. The Bandala forced Filipinos to sell farm goods to the government at fixed prices, while the Tobacco Monopoly gave the government exclusive rights to grow and sell tobacco. The Galleon Trade between Manila and Acapulco created a global exchange of goods, with Chinese migrants (called Sangley) playing important roles as traders.

Spanish rule also imposed cultural and administrative controls. The Cedula $identification card/tax certificate$ symbolized long-term oppression and tracking of citizens. The Claveria Decree forced Filipinos to adopt Spanish surnames, making taxation and monitoring easier. The Governor-General's veto power allowed him to reject proposals at his discretion, though ultimately still serving the Spanish crown.

💡 When studying colonial systems, don't just memorize facts—think critically about how these policies affected Filipino people and culture. Consider how the imposition of Spanish names, religious conversion, and economic exploitation reshaped Filipino identity and created the conditions for future resistance movements.

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Subjects

World/Global History

•

Dec 26, 2025

•

5 pages

Philippine History Study Guide

Ibarreta Ahzer T.

@ibarretaahzert.

💡 When studying colonial systems, don't just memorize facts—think critically about how these policies affected Filipino people and culture. Consider how the imposition of Spanish names, religious conversion, and economic exploitation reshaped Filipino identity and created the conditions for future resistance movements.