Going beyond textbooks

WHENEVER I give a lecture on teaching history to elementary school teachers, two of the most often asked questions are-where did you find all this information? And, if I use this in class and go against the textbook, how do I deal with the material and my head teacher?

One of the things I learned after immersing myself in primary sources on 19th century Philippines is that textbooks are far from complete. This simple fact made me realize that all teachers worth their salt should make an effort to go beyond the required text, if only to show and emphasize that there are more stories and different angles in our past that can fit into one thick book.

Most of our textbooks focus on the Philippine Revolution and the making of the nation that is a rather complex and confusing story. It has great potential to generate discussion, but often students are bored witless by the parade of "facts" that have no relevance or resonance in their lives. One way to connect the present with the past is to let them read primary source texts.

One of my favorite compilations is by the Jesuit scholars Pedro de Achutegui and Miguel Bernad, "Aguinaldo and the Revolution of 1896: A documentary History" (Ateneo de Manila University, 1972). A wide array of documents, translated from the original Spanish or Tagalog, supplements any classroom discussion of the early days of the revolution and the formation of the modern Philippines.

A number of documents on cattle rustling in Cavite province in the years 1896-1897 should not be surprising because this must have been a common source of livelihood before and after the revolution. Frankly, it continues to this day though the urban beast of burden is now a car rather than a carabao. We have license plates instead of the branded skin of cattle. People do not seem to have changed much since then. From Silang town is a letter dated Nov. 1, 1896 that reads:

"I would like to inform your honor that Lucio Maguage, who should not have returned here following the request of barrio residents, has surrendered two carabaos with the marks IA:10-IA:10. These carabaos, as the people's council knows, are under the care of Simeon Oliveros."

Polite wording makes us wonder, were the carabaos stolen or were they found roaming aimlessly and returned? On Nov. 20, 1896 Baldomero Aguinaldo a.k.a. "Mabangis" wrote from the town of Kawit:

"This is to inform Your Honors that this day, my council has given Mr. Daniel Lambong Mapakla and Celestino Virata the right to investigate all ill-acquired animals and to collect them, in order to put a stop to this extremely bad practice..." Mabangis in December 1896 wrote:

"I hereby order all of you, in accordance with the rule laid down by this Government today, to confiscate henceforth all cows marked D., a mark identifying those taken from enemy territory or from Batangan, since many such do not bear papers indicating proper ownership and hence may have been stolen from the towns aforementioned. However, those who can present proof of ownership or authentic certificate of transfer through a deed of sale effected before the president of the town where said deed was made, are not affected by this law.

"All cows confiscated in this manner should be assembled at an assigned field near the barracks of each town, under the supervision of one in authority or a member of said municipal government and at the same time under your command responsibility. A list should be prepared thereof and sent here."

Most of the documents were copied from the Dominican Archives in Quezon City, which is a little-used resource on this period in our history. Another letter from a certain Francisco Malab[o]n? dated January 1897 sounds like a police blotter entry:

"According to the testimony of Marcos Eguia, native of this place, one of his cows marked D: A: SA: and chestnut colored, was stolen on Friday night, the 30th of last month. Please investigate those under your jurisdiction and, if the cow is found, please notify the municipal headquarters here so that the owner can act accordingly..."

Same month, from the town of Imus, "Mabangis" writes another crime report:

"At the stroke of midnight, near the waterfall in Mapagibig [Amadeo town], the houses of Andres Mendoza, Juan de Leon and Juan Mendoza were robbed. The robbers stole seven carabaos marked D:o+o: o+o:W Therefore, I beg Your Honors to investigate the whereabouts of said animals, and if found, please send here both the animals and those in whose possession they were found so that appropriate action may be taken."

Mabangis was so irritated by cattle rustling that he asked the town officials under him for a list of names of known cattle rustlers so he could take immediate action:

"So that the full penalty may be exacted without mercy from the treacherous persons stealing animals and other properties, the frequent occurrence of which is undeniable, this Government has authorized me to demand from you a list of all persons who are making a living out of this crime in your respective jurisdictions, two days from receipt hereof, so that proper action may be taken..."

The Philippine Revolution was not just a fight for independence, it was also a struggle for survival where the enemy is not only the Guardia Civil but ordinary Filipinos like you and me.

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Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu