Assignment # 1

1. What is History? Demonstrate and explain the significance.

The word history comes from the Ancient Greek word historia and was borrowed into
Classical Latin meaning inquiry, the act of seeking knowledge, as well as the knowledge that
results from inquiry. History is the study of the entire series of past events that may be either
written or through the word of mouth. Moreover, it is a hypernym that relates all the past events
which includes memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of
information about these events.

 Significance of History:
 History helps us understand people and society.
 History helps us perceive changes.
 History provides identity recognition.
 History contributes to moral comprehension.
 History is essential for good citizenship.
 History helps us apprehend other cultures.
 History gives us insight into present-day problems.
 History is useful in the world of work.
 History develops skills:
 The ability to assess evidences.
 The ability to analyze and evaluate conflicting interpretation.
 Experience in assessing changes in the past event.
“History is a dialogue between the present and the past.” -Edward Hallett Carr

2. State the sources history. Identify Primary and Secondary sources.

 Primary Sources
Records that are firsthand testimony or evidence which can be either created during the
time period being studied or were created at a later date by a participant in the events being
studied (as in the case of memoirs).  It reflects the individual viewpoint of a participant or
observer.  With this being said, it enables the researcher to get as close as possible to what
actually happened during an historical event or time period.

 Secondary Sources
 These are records generated by an event but written by
non-participants in the event for it is based on or derived from
primary sources that have been interpreted or analyzed.

EXAMPLES
PRIMARY SECONDARY
Oral histories Textbooks
Reference
Diaries books
Newspapers Editorials
Journals Encyclopedias
Letters Biographies
Manuscripts Journal articles
Memoirs  
Autobiographies  
Inscriptions  
Eyewitness
accounts  
Any forms of Art  
Maps  

3. Geographic Setting of the Philippines

Official Name: Republic of the Philippines

Capital: Manila

Location:

Philippines is an island country of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean.

It is an archipelago consisting of some 7,100 islands and islets lying about 500 miles (800 km)
off the coast of Vietnam. 

Total Area: 115,831 square miles (300,000 square kilometers).

Coastline: 36,289 km (22,549 mi)

Length:  1,851 km (1,150 mi) SSE-NNW

Width:  1,062 km (660 mi) ENE-WSW

Highest Point: Mount Apo 9,692 feet (2,954 meters)

Lowest Point: Philippine Sea 0 feet (0 meters)

Population: Roughly 108,000,000 (2019)

Official Languages: Filipino and English

Currency: Philippine pesos (PHP)

Form of Government: Presidential republic

Climate: Tropical marine; Northeast monsoon (November to April); Southwest monsoon (May
to October)

4. Early Customs and Traditions

A. Marriage
 Pre-Colonial Period
 Men were in general, monogamous; while their wives are called asawa, and their
concubines are called “friends.” In order to win the hand of his lady, the man has to show his
patience and dedication to both the lady and her parents.

Courtship

 It usually begins with paninilbihan.

 If the man wins the trust of the parents, he does not immediately marry the woman, but
he has to satisfy several conditions:
 Give a dowry or bigay-kaya.
 Pay the panghihimuyat.
 Pay the wet nurse bigay-suso.
 Pay the parents himraw.
 Bribe for the relatives called sambon (Among the Zambals)
 Once he had settled the all of the above requirements, he brings his parents to meet with
bride-to-be’s parents to haggle and make final arrangements; this is called pamamalae or
pamamanhikan or pamumulungan.

Wedding Ceremonies

The wedding ceremonies vary depending on the status of the couple but normally, those
from upper class, a go-between was employed. A typical ancient traditional Filipino wedding
is held for three days and are officiated by the priestess or babaylan.

 On the first day, the couple was brought to the priest's home, where the babaylan blesses
them, while their hands are joined over a container of uncooked rice.
 On the third day, the priest would prick their chests to draw a small amount of blood,
which will be placed on a container to be mixed with water.
 After announcing their love for each other three times, they were fed by the priest with
cooked rice coming from a single container. Thereafter, they were to drink the water that
was mixed with their blood. The priest proclaimed that they are officially wed after their
necks and hands were bound by a cord or sometimes, once their long hairs had been
entwined together.

Post-wedding Ceremony

A series of gift-exchanging rituals was also done to counter the negative responses of the
bride: if asked to enter her new home, if she refuses to go up the stairs of the dwelling, if she
denies to participate in the marriage banquet, or even to go into her new bedroom, a room she
would be sharing with her spouse.

Note:
 Spanish colonialism brought changes to these marriage rituals because of the teachings
and conversion efforts of Spanish missionaries, which occurred as early as the 18th century. As a
result, the majority of current-day Filipino weddings became predominantly Christian or
Catholic in character, which is also because of the mostly Catholic population, although
indigenous traditions still exist today in other regions of the Philippines. Parts of Filipino
wedding ceremonies have become faith-centered and God-centered, which also highlights the
concept that the joining of two individuals is a "lifelong commitment" of loving and caring. In
general, the marriage itself does not only signify the union of two persons, but also the fusion of
two families, and the unification of two clans.

 Post-Colonial Period

The groom’s family pays for the wedding and the grandparents act as the primary
witnesses or sponsors. The bride’s gown is often custom made and both the bride and groom
wear white. It is bad luck for the bride to try on her dress before the wedding day and to wear
pearl jewelry, which is considered a bad omen. The groom wears a sheer, long-sleeve button-up
shirt (barong tagalog) that is worn un-tucked over black pants with a white t-shirt underneath.

As in Spanish weddings, the groom presents his bride with 13 gold pieces as a pledge of
his dedication to his wife and the welfare of his children. These are carried in by a coin bearer
who walks with the ring bearer. A white cord is draped around the couple’s shoulders as a bond
of infinite marriage and veils of white tulle are draped on the bride’s head and groom’s shoulders
to symbolize two people clothed as one.

Another tradition that symbolizes the unity of the couple is the lighting of a unity candle
by two separate candles held by the bride and groom to represent the joining of the two families
and invoke the light of Christ. The bouquet is not tossed and rather offered to a favorite saint, the
virgin, or on the grave of a loved one.

Knives and other sharp objects are not considered good gifts because they will lead to a
broken marriage. Raindrops are lucky because they bring prosperity and happiness, and when the
rice is tossed at the newlyweds it represents the rain. The groom should always arrive before the
bride; otherwise it will be bad luck.

B. Inheritance and Succession of the Early Filipino people

 Mixed Marriage (Allowed during Pre-Colonial Period)
 The status of the children was dependent upon the status of the parents. It is often divided
evenly between the parents. Single children of mixed marriage were half-free and half-
dependent. The legitimate children will inherit their parents’ property even without any written
will and was divided equally among the children. Other children will only in have a third of the
inheritance of the legitimate children. On the other hand, the children of dependent mothers are
given freedom and a few things. As for the couple who doesn’t have an offspring, the nearest
relatives will inherit their properties. In succession, the first son of the barangay chieftain inherits
his father’s position; if the first son dies, the second son succeeds their father; the absence of
male heirs, it is the eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain.

C. Religious Filipino People

 Early Animism

In its simplest definition, Animism is the belief in innumerable spiritual beings concerned

with human affairs and capable of helping or harming human interests.  Objects, places and
creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—
animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork and perhaps even words—as
animated and alive. The few personally venerated spirits (or gods) were identified with thunder,
sun, moon, hunting, childbirth, and the winds. Evil spirits might be incarnate in animal or
monstrous forms and could cause disease or other misfortune.  This was not unique to the
Philippines, but is a common trait among most animism belief structures throughout the world.

 Creator gods in Filipino religions

Many indigenous Filipino cultures assert the existence of a high god, creator god, or sky
god. Among the Tagalogs, the supreme god was known as Bathala, who was additionally
described as Maykapal (the all-powerful) or Lumikha (the creator). Among the Visayan peoples
the creator God is referred to as Laon, meaning "the ancient one." Among the Manuvu, the
highest god was called Manama. Among most of the Cordilleran peoples (with the Apayao
region as an exception), the creator and supreme teacher is known as Kabuniyan.

In most cases, however, these gods were considered such great beings that they were too distant
for ordinary people to approach. People thus tended to pay more attention to "lesser gods" or
"assistant deities" that could more easily approach, and whose wills could more easily be
influenced.

 "Lower gods" in Filipino religions

 Lesser deities in Filipino religions generally fit into three broad categories: nature spirits
residing in the environment, such as a mountain or a tree; guardian spirits in charge of specific
aspects of daily life such as hunting or fishing; and deified ancestors or tribal heroes. These
categories frequently overlap, with individual deities falling into two or more categories, and in
some instances, deities evolve from one role to another, as when a tribal hero known for fishing
becomes a guardian spirit associated with hunting.

 Early Filipinos believed in the immortality of the soul and in life after death.
 They also believed in the existence of a number of gods whom they worship and made
offerings according to rank.
 Filipinos venerated the dead by keeping alive their memory by carving idols of stone,
gold, or ivory called likha or larawan; food, wine, and other things were also shared with
the dead.
 They adored idols called anitos or diwatas to whom they made offerings. However, there
are some anitos that are bad but they still gave something to appease them or placate their
anger.
 Priestesses such as the babaylan/baylan or katalona acted as mediums to communicate
with these spirits.

D. Divination and Magic Charms

 Divination

It is categorized as magic that enables someone to see future events. Filipino ancestors

had many methods for them to have a glimpse of things to come, especially during sowing
season or during special events like raids and hunting.

It is also perceived as interpreted signs in nature like the flight of birds, the barking of
dogs, the singing of lizards, and anything that is as good or bad omens depending on the
circumstances. They so consulted with the pangatauhan, or soothsayers, to tell their fortunes.

 Rites and Charms of Power

There was a belief in the existence of the aswang, mangkukulam, mangagaway, tiyanak,
and the tikbalang. This gave birth to talismans and other charms that are said to provide people
with powers and were also used by the ancients like the anting-anting, gayuma, odom or
tagabulag, wiga, or sagabe, and tagahupa. Most of these magical items are constructed using
various materials (from common to exotic) or simply purchased.