Third, it must meet basic academic standards expected of any written work. These may include criteria such as good grammar whatever the language used, clarity of presentation or narrative, and proper attribution through a bibliography or foot/endnotes. Any historical writing which does not cite its sources is not very credible because it cannot be cross-verified.
Thus, a historical account which manifests the above characteristics would most likely be a research of value.
It should be emphasized that the history of a region or province can best be researched and written by the people of the region themselves, for a number of reasons. First, it would be a source of pride for local historians to have written a history of their own ethnic group or their hometown or home province. Second, the local historian would also be expressing the values and perceptions specific to his group or homeplace, which may be misinterpreted or unperceived otherwise by non-locals. Third, the local historian can also have easy access to local primary sources. Moreover, he has the advantage of knowing the vernacular or the local language, which is especially important when using oral sources. Finally, the local historian as a culture-bearer knows the people’s way of life within which events take place and provide explanation for what would otherwise be baffling occurrences to outsider. Local historians can therefore serve as interpreters to the larger world and, conversely, can interpret the larger world to the local community.
The local historian needs to have some preparation before he/she can write a historical account. A historian must have a good grasp of the national history of the Philippines. This is not to mean memorization of the most obscure or irrelevant trivia (e.g., the complete listing of all Spanish governors general) but there should instead be a familiarity with developments and historical trends of national significance. Some examples are the nature of colonialism (Spanish, American or Japanese) as a historical force, the process of political integration toward nation-building, the varied aspects of Filipino anti-colonial struggles, or the impact of global trade on local economies. This understanding of national history will enable the local economies. This understanding of national history will enable the local historian to place in a larger context the local and, thus, more limited development. While it is true that events at the local level have their own dynamics, local history always unfolds within the larger stage of the nation. A good textbook on Philippine history is teodoro a. agoncillo’s book, history of the Filipino people, the eighth edition of which has been revised by a group of eminent Filipino historians. Other books which may be recommended are Renato constantino,s the Philippines a past Revisited, which has a strong nationalist perspective, and Samuel tan’s history, namely, the common roots of the three major communities comprising contemporary Filipino society. High school textbooks (such as that of gregorio zaide and others) the other hand, are not colonial in perspective. These high school textbooks are designed for high school textbooks are designed for high school minds, and as teacher, it is imperative that we know more than the students we teach.
The historian must also e familiar with the literature of his region’s history, for reasons which are mainly are pragmatic:
- These materials provide leads on sources for historical research;
- It helps him/her avoid duplicating research which has been done before; and
- These materials are useful for learning activities and make lectures and class presentations more relevant