CHAPTER 5 EXAMINING THE AUTHOR’S MAIN ARGUMENT AND POINT OF VIEW

When studying historical sources you need to be aware of documents’ sources and their authors’ point of view. Point of
view refers to perspective of the author toward a particular person or issue that has been shaped over a period of time due to
his/her experiences, motives, beliefs, origin, age gender, social status and ideology.
You might mistakenly feel that primary sources are historical facts; that there are no biases; and are absolutely accurate. In
order to effectively analyse point of view, you must treat the documents as personal interpretations and not facts.
In analysing the author’s argument and point of view, you should ask yourselves the following questions:
1. Who is the speaker/source? (age, gender, profession/work, social status, etc.,)
2. What is the occasion? (Circumstances, current situation, place, time, etc.)
3. Who is the intended audience? (written privately or written to be read/heard by others)
4. What is the purpose? (Motives, beliefs, ideology, etc.)
5. What is the subject? (topic, content, ideas)
6. What is the tone? (Emotions etc.)
The Filipinos painstakingly struggled for detachment from the colonial masters. While it took the
Revolts a myriad of motives, the 1896 Philippine Revolution led by Andres Bonifacio and his Katipunan, hoped for a better cause-
FREEDOM. Let us take a look at the words and texts that shaped Katipunan’s struggle for independence and helped launch an armed
revolution
a. PAGIBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA by Andres Bonifacio(Please check your copy)

b. Mga Aral ng Katipunan by Emilio Jacinto

1. Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy na walang lilim, kundi man damong
makamandag.
2. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi sa talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di
kabaitan.
3. Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawanggawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapwa, at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa’t
pangungusap sa talagan katuwiran.
4. Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao’y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isang higtan sa dunong, sa
yaman, sa ganda, ngunit di mahihigitan sa pagkatao.
5. Ang mga mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita
sa sarili kaysa puri.
6. Sa taong may hiya, salita’s panunumpa.
7. Huwag mong sasayangin ang panahon: ang yamang mawala’s mangyayaring magbalik; nguni’t panahong nagdaan na’y di na
muli pang magdadaan
8. Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi, at kabakahin ang umaapi
9. Ang taong matalino’y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin; at matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim
10. Sa daaing matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay isang patnugot ng asawa’t mga anak; king ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang
pagtutunguhan ny inaakay ay kasamaan din.
11. Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnan isang bagay na libangan lamang, kungdi isang katuwang at karamay sa mga kahirapan
nitong kabuhayan; gamitan mo nang buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhata’t
nagiwi sa iyong kasangulan
12. Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid ay huwag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.
13. Ang kamahalan ng tao’y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangos ng ilog at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahlili ng Diyos,
wala sa mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa: wagas at tunay na tao kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kungdi sariling
wika, yaong may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri, yaong di nagpaaapi’t di nakikiapi; yaong
marunong magdamdam at marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan.
14. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito, at maningning na sisikat ang araw ng mahal na kalayaan dito sa kaaba-abang Sangkapuluan
at sabungan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkakalahi’t magkakapatid, ng liwanag na walang katapusan,
ang mga ginugol na buhay, pagod, at mga tiniis na kahirapa’y labis nang matutumbasan.
 Though Bonifacio and Jacinto did not see the fruits of their struggles, on June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo, along with the
generals of the revolution, declared the independence of the Philippines in Kawit, Cavite.
“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 these 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 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 colours 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 its 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 mad 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 initiated; and the colors Blue, Red, and White,
commemorating the flag of the United States of North America, as a manifestation of our profound gratitude towards this Great
Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us and continues lending us.
A. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS. Compare the point of view of the authors of the primary sources below.
Point of View Point of View Point of View
Criteria Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa Mga Aral ng Katipunan Declaration of Philippine
Independence
Speaker
Occasion
Audience
Purpose
Subjet
Tone
B. GRAPHIC ORGANIZER. Identify the meaning of and reference for each element in the Philippine flag according to the
“Declaration of Philippine Independence.”
1. Triangle_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

2. Colors ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

3. Eight rays of the Sun ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

4. Three Stars___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________