E. Activities and Assessment
❖
Exercises on Examining Primary Documents
Task at Hand: Complete the following concept map about the Manunggul Jar.
A. MANUNGGUL JAR
The Manunggul Jar dated back to around 710-890 BCE. It was discovered in 1964 in Manunggul Cave
in Palawan. The jar’s cover has two human figures riding on a boat. The human figure at the back is holding
a paddle with both hands while the one in front has its two arms crossed against the chest. The boat also
has eyes and mouth. The upper portion of the jar has curved scrolls. Archaeological findings show that this
jar was used for secondary burial, a prehistoric burial practice wherein only the bones were put in a jar
within a year after the death of a person. The bones were washed and painted with a red hematite as part
of the preparatory practices for secondary burial. The jar was then placed in the most lighted and attractive
part inside the cave.
Source: http://philmuseaum.tripod.com/archaeo.html (last accessed on 16 January 2013)
Discovery of the
Jar Make a
timeline of
what happened
on 27 April 1521
from the point
of view of the
Spaniards.
Description of the
Jar Make a
timeline of what
happened on 27
April 1521 from
the point of view
of the Spaniards.
Prehistoric Belief
represented by the
Jar Make a
timeline of what
happened on 27
April 1521 from
the point of view
of the Spaniards.
Purpose what
happened on 27
April 1521 from
the point of view
of the Spaniards.
B. BATTLE OF MACTAN
Read the narrative of Antonio Pigafetta about the events that occurred on that fateful day of April 27, 1521.
Carlos V. Francisco Watercolor Stock
On Friday, April 26, Zula, a chief of the island of Matan, sent one of his sons to present two goats to
the captain-general, and to say that he would send him all that he had promised, but that he had not
been able to send it to him because of the other chief Cilapulapu, who refused to obey the king of
Spagnia. He requested the captain to send him only one boatload of men on the next night, so that they
might help him and fight against the other chief. The captain-general decided to go thither with three
boatloads. We begged him repeatedly not to go, but he, like a good shepherd, refused to abandon his
flock. At midnight, 60 men of us set out armed with corselets and helmets, together with . . .some of
the chief men. . .We reached Matan three hours before dawn. The captain did not wish to fight then,
but sent a message to the natives. . .to the effect that if they would obey the king of Spagnia, recognize
the Christian king as their sovereign, and pay us our tribute, he would be their friend; but if they wish
otherwise, they should wait to see our lances wounded. They replied that if we had our lances, they
had lances of bamboo and stakes hardened with fire. [They asked us] not to proceed to attack them at
once; but to wait until morning, so that they might have more men. They said that in order to induce
us to go in search of them; for they had dug certain pitholes between the houses in order that we might
fall into them. When morning came, 49 of us leaped into the water up to our thighs and walked through
water for more than two crossbow flights before we could reach the shore. The boats could not
approach thereafter because of certain rocks in the water. The other eleven men remained behind to
guard the boats. When we reached land, those men had formed in three divisions to the number of
more than 1500 persons. When they saw us, they charged down upon us with exceeding loud cries,
two divisions on our flanks and the other on our front. When the captain saw that, he formed us into
two divisions, and thus did we begin to fight. The musketeers and crossbowmen shot from a distance
for about half-hour, but uselessly, for the shots only passed through the shields which were made of
thin wood and the arms (of the bearers.) The captain cried to them,”Cease firing! Cease firing! But his
order was not at all heeded. When the natives saw that we were shooting our muskets to no purpose,
crying out they determined to stand firm, but they redoubled their shouts. When our muskets were
discharged, the natives would never stand still, but leaped hither and thither, covering themselves with
their shields. They shot so many arrows at us and hurled so many bamboo spears (some of them tipped
with iron) at the captain-general, besides pointed stakes hardened with fire, stones and mud, that we
could scarcely defend ourselves. Seeing that, the captain-general sent some men to burn their houses
in order to terrify them. When they saw their houses burning, they were roused to greater fury. Two of
our men were killed near the houses, while we burned 20 or 30 houses. So many of them charged down
upon us that they shot the captain through the right leg with a poisoned arrow. On that account, he
ordered us to retire slowly, but the men took to flight, except 6 or 8 of us who remained with the
captain. The natives shot only at our legs, for the latter were bare; and so many were the spears and
stones that they hurled at us, that we could offer no resistance. The mortars in the boats could not aid
us as they were too far away. The natives continued to pursue us, and picking up the same spear four
or six times, hurled it at us again and again. Recognizing the captain, so many turned upon him that
they knocked his helmet off his head twice, but he always stood firmly like a good knight, together
with some others. An Indian hurled a bamboo spear into the captain’s face, but the latter immediately
killed him with his lance, which he left in the Indian’s body. Then, trying to lay hand on sword, he
could draw it out but halfway, because he had been wounded in the arm with a bamboo spear. When
the natives saw that, they all hurled themselves upon him. One of them wounded him on the leg with
a large cutlass. . .That caused the captain to fall face downward, when immediately they rushed upon
him with iron and bamboo spears and with their cutlasses, until they killed our mirror, our light, our
comfort, and our true guide. When they wounded him, he turned back many times to see whether we
were all in the boats. Thereupon, beholding him dead, we, wounded, retreated, as best we could, to the
boats, which were already pulling off.
Source: Pigafetta, Antonio. “First Voyage Around the World.” In the Philippine Islands, Vol. 33, edited by E. Blair and J.
Robertson, 175, 177, 179, 181. Cleveland: A.H. Clark, 1909. Reprinted by Cacho Hermanos, 1973.
Task at Hand
•
Make a timeline of what happened on 27 April 1521 from the point of view of
the Spaniards and another timeline for the natives.
C. ACT OF DECLARATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
Read the Act of Declaration of Philippine Independence written and read by Ambrocio RianzaresBautista on June 12, 1898 at Cavite el Viejo (Kawit).
Proclamation of Philippine Independence in Kawit,
Cavite on June 12, 1898
Ambrocio RianzaresBautista
In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, this 12th day of June 1898: BEFORE ME,
Ambrocio Rianzares-Bautista, War Counsellor and Special Delegate designated to proclaim and
solemnize this Declaration of Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines, pursuant
to, and by virtue of, a Decree issued by the Egregious Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy
And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the Universe,
and under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the United States of America, we
do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly, in the name and by authority of the people of those
Philippine Islands. That they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they have ceased
to have any allegiance to the Crown of Spain; that all political ties between them are and should be
completely severed and annulled; and that, like other free and independent States, they enjoy the full
power to make War and Peace, conclude commercial treaties, enter into alliances, regulate commerce,
and do all other acts and things which an independent State has a right to do. . .And imbued with firm
confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to support this Declaration with
our lives, our fortunes, and with our most sacred possession, our Honor.
We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders emanating from the same, the
Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we revere as the Supreme Head of this
Nation, which today begins to have a life of its own, in the conviction that he has been the instrument
chosen by God inspite of his humble origin, to effectuate the redemption of this unfortunate country
as foretold by Dr. Don Jose Rizal in his magnificent verses which he composed in his prison cell prior
to his execution, liberating it from the Yoke of Spanish domination. .
Moreover, we confer upon our famous Dictator Don Emilio Aguinaldo all the powers necessary
to enable him to discharge the duties of Government, including the prerogatives of granting pardon
and amnesty.
And lastly, it was resolved unanimously that this Nation, already free and independent as of
this day, must use the same flag which up to now is being used, whose design and colors are found
described in the attached drawing, the white triangle signifying the distinctive emblem of the famous
Society of the Katipunan which by means of blood compact inspired the masses to rise in revolution;
the three stars, signifying the three principal islands of this Archipelago – Luzon, Mindanao and Panay
where this revolutionary movement started; the sun representing the gigantic steps made by the sons
of the country along the path of Progress and Civilization; the eight rays, signifying the eight provinces
– Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas – which declared
themselves in a state of war as soon as the first revolt was initiated; and the colors of Blue, Red, and
White, commemorating the flag of the United States of America, as a manifestation of our profound
gratitude towards this Great Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us and continues
lending us. . .
In witness thereof, I certify that this Act of Declaration of Independence was signed by me and
by all people here as assembled including the only stranger who attended those proceedings, a citizen
of the U.S.A., Mr. L. M. Johnson, a Colonel of Artillery.
Source: “Declaration of Philippine Independence.” In The Laws of the First Philippine Republic (The Laws of Malolos),
edited by Sulpicio Guevara, 203-206. Manila: National Historical Commission, 1972
Task at Hand
1. What does the document want to convey?
2. How did the revolutionaries regard Aguinaldo based on this document?
3. According to the document, what do the symbols in the Philippine flag represent?
4. How did the Filipinos regard the United States of America based on the document?
5. What is the importance of this document in the history of our country?
F. Reflection
❖ Answer this question comprehensively.
How can analysing primary sources contextually and in terms of content
enable you to understand and appreciate our history?