Content and

Contextual Analysis
of Selected Primary
Sources
(Readings in Philippine History)

BSN 1-I

Submitted by:
Andrea Booc
Wynona Dionne Dolendo
Jamille Pablo
Jan Marie Vienney M. Sabile
Darelle Torres
Hailalyn Vasquez

Submitted to:
Sir John Nathaniel Berbon

Title of the Document and the name of “Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan” ni Emilio Aguinaldo
the Author

I. Background of the Author

A. What is the occupation or position of He was a Filipino revolutionary, politician and military
the author? Provide a brief description of leader who played an important role in the Philippine
it. Revolution. After the revolution, he served as the new
country's first president. In addition to that, he was also a
noted general who played a key role in the country’s revolt
against its Spanish rulers as well as fighting against the
occupation by the United States. His military abilities saw
him featured heavily in the Philippine-American War that
eventually led to the country’s independence.
B. What are some of the facts about the Aguinaldo scribed a lot in his old age. Between 1928 and
author that makes him dependable in 1946, he produced in ordinary writing the first volume of his
writing the document? memoirs, “Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan “(1964). In his
preface, Aguinaldo says the memoirs were based on a
diary he kept, documents he preserved, and family lore
gathered from his elders. The second volume would cover
the resumption of the Philippine Revolution against Spain
and Philippine-American War.
C. What were the author’s motivation in Emilio Aguinaldo’s point of view gives a different, yet not
writing the document? well-known view of how American imperialism was
established in the Philippines through the eyes of the
Philippines' first president, Emilio Aguinaldo. He is credited
for leading the revolution against Spanish rule, which the
Filipinos had endured for over 300 years. In good faith,
Aguinaldo joined forces with the US to defeat Spain and
drive the Spanish from the islands, only to be betrayed by
the Americans. Notably, Aguinaldo also worked vigorously
to remove the US from the islands and give the Philippines
true independence.
II. Historical Background of the Document
A. What period in Philippine History did Emilio Aguinaldo’s “Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan” tackled the
the document tackled? Period of Philippine Independence from Spain and the
Philippine-American War.
B. What are some facts that the During the Spanish-American War, the people and life in
document tells about Filipinos and life in the Philippines were struggling in poverty due to the
the Philippines at the time it was written? domination of the Spaniards. The Filipinos were being
 tortured, thus, resented Spanish domination that made
them rebel against the Spaniards. They fought for
independence with their own blood and lives, but later on
proclaimed the independence of the Philippines after 300
years of Spanish rule. The hopes for independence were
dashed when the United States formally annexed the
Philippines as part of its peace with Spain. These turn of
events also made the Filipinos and revolutionary heroes
fight for the freedom our land.
C. What world/regional/ domestic events - The independence movement that served as the
affected the Philippines in general during forerunner of the 1895 Insurrection and the Spanish
this period? American War.
- Publication in Berlin, Germany, of Noli Me Tangere
(Touch Me Not) by José Rizal, the Philippines' most
illustrious son, awakened Filipino national consciousness.
- La Liga Filipina, was launched formally at a Tondo
meeting by José Rizal upon his return to the Philippines
- Andrés Bonifacio formed the Katipunan.
- War was formally declared between Spain and the United
States.
- Philippines proclaimed independence. German squadron
under Admiral Diederichs arrives at Manila.
III. Content Presentation and Analysis of the Important Historical Information
A. How were the Filipinos and the During the first meeting following loses in war against the
Philippines portrayed in the document Spaniards, Emilio Aguinaldo talked of plans on attacking
and why do you think so? the enemies in Pasong Santol. Before Aguinaldo could
even state the purpose of the meeting, General Artemio
Ricarte excused himself out and left the premises.
Aguinaldo viewed this as disrespectful, but continued the
meeting, nonetheless. This is still followed when it comes to
our greeting customs in the Philippines. Aguinaldo, being a
higher-ranking general, expected at least for Ricarte to say
his greetings before leaving. While in battle, the soldiers
fought mercilessly, even when the odds of defeat are
greater. No one was left behind, and everyone in the
battlefield knew that death is probable. One by one, Filipino
soldiers died until only a few ones were left. During these
futile moments, those soldiers turned to faith and asked
God for help. Filipinos are known for their Catholic faith,
and this is a characteristic that is still common today.
In addition to that, Filipinos were always known to be
collaborative, and in one passage, when the troupes were
struggling to evacuate the area, they were given a boat to
reach a hostile environment. They helped each other out by
tulak langoy and succeeded in reaching land. Such
examples of goodness were acknowledged by Aguinaldo.
 He hoped that while independence is being fought for, the
Filipino people continue such selfless acts until
independence is met. They showed unity, especially when
they needed to be united the most, which is something that
foreigners admired about Filipinos.
B. Provide important terms or concepts Estrategia Militar - it is a strategy or a study on how to
and their meanings in relation to the attack opponents
content of the document.
Expediente - a collection of papers containing detailed
information about a particular person or subject (usually a
person's record) (“Expediente”, 2019)
Consejo de Guerro - drumhead court martial (“Consejo de
Guerro”, 2019)
Supremo - the person in charge of an organization or who
is considered to have most skill and authority in a particular
type of activity (“Supremo”, 2019)
C. What previous misconception in Spain planned on conquering the Philippines, and only
Philippine History was debunked? What through the readings did we know that Filipinos had
new information have you learned representations inside the court. Court trials were set when
through the document? Andres and Procorpio Bonifacio were set for execution.
While this is true, such due trials were highly biased. Aside
from this, brilliant Filipino men were addressed. This means
that there were opportunities for the Filipino people during
the Spanish rule. Filipino Generals towered among Spanish
men, spoke their language, but still took pride in being a
Filipino.
IV. Contribution and Relevance of the Document
A. How relevant the document in The “Memoirs of the Revolution” gave us essential
reconstructing the past of the Philippines information that we need to know during the foreign
and its people? colonization. This give its readers a preview on the
important events that happened in the Philippine history. It
also specified some details that are helpful in
understanding the situations of the Filipino people under
the Spanish and American regime.
Events in our minds continues to build up and as we find
out that they were all connected. Since we read first the
different accounts in the Tejeros Assembly, we do not have
any idea about what happen before that. We did not know
who those people were elected and we cannot thoroughly
comprehend the way they act, like the actions of Daniel
Tirona and Andres Bonifacio. This document tells the things
that those people have done before the Tejeros Assembly.
We also realized that Aguinaldo is credible to be the
president because before the assembly, he won the battle
in Pasong Santol and the contra ataque in Silang and
 Escribano that drove out the Spanish which resulted to the
resignation of Captain General Polavieja.
B. Provide the significance of the •Scholars/Historians/Analysts
document with the following (Choose all
It is important for the scholars, historians and analysts
that applies);
because they are accustomed in viewing Aguinaldo's
1.Scholars/Historians/Analysts missing memoir as a source and a comparative analysis to
the other sources which gives us essential information that
2. Economy
we need to know about what happened in the Philippine
3. Socio-cultural History.

4. Political •Political

5. Religious In a political perspective, most of us know that Aguinaldo is

the first youngest president in the Philippines and a general
6. Geography who played a key role in country's revolt against its Spanish
7. Filipino Youth ruler as well as fighting against the occupation by the
United states. It gives us an idea on how the politics works
during that time and why Aguinaldo is fit in his position as a
president of the Philippines.

•Filipino
It is important for the Filipinos to know Aguinaldo's missing
memoirs because it gives important details in the events
during foreign colonization in which will be helpful for the
Filipinos to understand the situations of Filipino people
under Spanish regime.

Sources:
Emilio Aguinaldo, Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan. (pp. 78-82; 95-100; 177-188; 212-227) [Memoirs]

https://www.thoughtco.com/emilio-aguinaldo-biography-195653
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Aguinaldo
https://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/download/178
5/4836&ved=2ahUKEwjiuYyRve7jAhVaZt4KHVHXDS0QFjAaegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw0Sc0Rts_R
CluI7-WFlf9FN
https://www.biography.com/political-figure/emilio-aguinaldo
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philippine-independence-declared
https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/chronology.html