TALA: An Online Journal of History

Editor's Note Volume 8, Number 1

2025-07-03T13:26:29+00:00

This issue offers compelling articles on ecological discourses, plant pathology, natural disaster, local resistance during the Japanese occupation, and imperialism. Specifically, it features studies on the framing of ecological concerns with the Methodist discourse, the “institutionalization of plant pathology in the Manila hemp industry,” the 1880 Pangasinan earthquake, the resistance movements in the southern part of Zamboanga province during World War II, and the historical context of the American takeover of the Philippines. We encourage thoughtful reflection on these topics and welcome further discussion among our readers.

Environmental Action in Philippine United Methodist Church Songs: Ecological Discourse in Selected Hymnody of the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal

2025-02-22T13:29:08+00:00

The Methodist tradition utilizes hymns as a pathway to reinforce theology and doctrine. Within the context of the Philippine United Methodist Church, its hymnody is a product of Methodist Episcopal missions during the 20^th century American settlement. Such vestige of colonial imprint is evident on the use of the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal which is central in Philippine Methodist worship. The study gears on identifying the ecological discourse in selected “social action” hymns of the 1989 Hymnal. The study is limited on evaluating hymns which are of Methodist authorship. Using document and literary analysis of selected Methodist hymns, it was observed how Methodist spirituality departs on the binary traditional Evangelical Protestant view where the Christian is welcomed to heaven and the sinner to eternal punishment; instead, there is an emphasis to build heaven on earth and challenge systems of abuse. Pursuing the ecological gospel, United Methodists affirm the interconnectedness on issues concerning race, gender, and class with the environment. A salient theme in selected Methodist hymns is the task given to the United Methodist Christian to strive for peace, justice, and turning darkness into light. The virtue of perseverance is celebrated. Since its beginnings in 18^th century England, Methodism has been deemed as a radical movement--- from challenging the social apathy of the Anglican establishment to its criticisms on how the market economy operates. United Methodism has contested the traditional Christian view on subjugating the earth for the exploitation of humanity rather the Christian is construed as an individual having a covenant relationship with the Divine to act as stewards.

Plant Pathogens, Abaka, at Ang Mga Pilipinong Siyentista: Ang Institusyonal na Kasaysayan ng Patolohiya ng Halaman Sa Industriya ng Pag-Aabaka sa Pilipinas, 1911-1940s

2025-07-03T12:39:29+00:00

Itinuring ng Estados Unidos ang industriya ng pag-aabaka sa Pilipinas bilang isa sa mga pinakamahahalagang industriyang dapat lapatan ng mga repormang pang-agraryo noong ika-20 dantaon. Ang mga pagbabagong agrikultural na ito ay may layuning mapakinabangan nang lubos ang kakayahan ng mga hibla ng abaka dahil sa malaking kita at walang katulad nitong kalidad sa pandaigdigang merkado. Ang paglapat ng mga disiplina mula sa agham katulad ng patolohiya ng halaman ay itinuring bilang mahalagang hakbang ng mga kolonisador upang maproteksyunan ang mga puno ng abaka mula sa pananalasa ng mga patoheno ng halaman. Mula sa kontekstong ito, hangarin ng pananaliksik na maisanaratibo ang mga mahahalagang yugto sa institusyonalisasyon ng patolohiya ng halaman sa industriya ng pag-aabaka mula noong 1911 hanggang 1940s. Susuriin ang naging gampanin ng Bureau of Agriculture, Division of Plant Pathology, at UP College of Agriculture sa pagpapakilala at paglapat ng mga pagbabagong patolohikal sa sistema ng pagtatanim at pangangalaga sa puno ng abaka sa Pilipinas. Susuriin din ang naging ambag ng mga Pilipinong siyentista sa proyektong ito upang maunawaan ang kanilang naging gampanin sa lokalisasyon ng mga kaalamang patolohikal batay sa pangangailangan ng industriyang abaka noong mga panahong iyon.

Ang mabubuong naratibo hinggil sa yugtong ito sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ay makatutulong upang maunawaan ang naging ugnayan ng kolonyalismo, agham, at mga Pilipinong siyentista sa pagpapatupad ng mga pagbabago hinggil sa pagtingin at pamamahala sa epekto ng mga patoheno ng halaman sa industriya ng abaka. Ang ganitong uri ng mga paksa sa kasaysayang pang-agham, agrikultural, at pangkalikasan ay hindi pa nabibigyang-pansin sa kasaysayang Pilipino noong unang mga dekada ng ika-20 dantaon na makatutulong na mas mapaglalim pa ang pag-unawa sa epekto ng kolonyalismong Amerikano sa sektor ng agrikultura ng Pilipinas.

Ang Karanasan ng Pangasinan sa Lindol sa Luzon Noong 1880: Mga Epekto, Tugon at Interpretasyon

2024-07-30T05:38:35+00:00

Ang papel na ito ay tumatalakay sa mga naging epekto ng lindol sa Pangasinan noong 1880 at kaakibat na tugon ng pamahalaang Kastila at interpretasyon ng mamamayan. Tinangka nito na suriin ang kaganapan ng iba’t ibang pueblo ng lalawigan sa panahon na naganap ang lindol. Upang maunawaan ang estado ng Pangasinan na malapit sa panganib, kinakailangang tuklasin ang kasaysayan ng kalamidad na tumama rito. Katulad ng ibang mga lugar sa bansa, madalas ding hinaharap ng mga Pangasinan ang banta ng iba’t ibang sakuna tulad ng bagyo at lindol. Isandaang taon bago ang lindol sa Luzon noong 1990, hindi ito nakaligtas sa malakas na lindol sa taong 1880. Gumamit ang papel ng mga primaryang batis sa pagsasalaysay sa sakuna. Maraming gusali at imprastraktura ang nasira, partikular na ang mga simbahan at tribunal. Tumagal ang lindol nang halos dalawang linggo noong Hulyo 1880. Pinakamalakas dito ang naitala noong ika-14 ng Hulyo na umabot sa Intensity IX (devastating tremor). Nagdulot ito ng ground subsidence, fissures at lateral displacements sa mga lupain malapit sa Ilog Agno. Inilarawan din ang matinding kamalasan, pati na rin ang pagdulot ng pagkabalisa at pagkatakot, at ang pagkaparalisa ng trabaho ng mga mamamayan. Ito ang sumubok sa kakayahan ng pamahalaang Kastila sa lalawigan bago sumapit ang ika-20 dantaon. Sa naging pagsisiyasat, makikita ang pagkakaroon ng burukrasya ng pamahalaan sa pamamahala rito. Matapos ang lindol, mapapansin din ang paghahalo ng agham at relihiyon.

Undocumented Resistance Movements in Zamboanga Province During World War II

2025-01-04T06:05:46+00:00

After the surrender of General William Sharp in 1942, the Filipino-American forces in the Visayas and Mindanao fell into the hands of the Japanese Imperial forces. However, not all forces submitted to the Japanese aggressors. Some fighters in Mindanao, particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula, continued their resistance with the support of the masses. The resistance movements in Zamboanga Province during World War II played a crucial role in the region—not only because of their bravery, but also due to their perseverance and patriotism, which contributed to the eventual expulsion of the Japanese from the province. This paper employed the descriptive-narrative qualitative research design and utilized interviews to acquire the necessary data. The primary objectives of this paper were to identify the undocumented resistance movements against Japanese forces in Zamboanga Province, specifically the experiences and challenges encountered throughout the duration of the war. Moreover, the study was limited to the to the southern section of the Zamboanga Peninsula—presently comprising Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay. The research participants were the living witnesses and those who participated in the resistance movements in areas such as Pagadian, Dumalinao, San Pablo, Ipil, Kabasalan, Siay, and Malangas. The findings of this research revealed that there were indeed undocumented resistance movements in Zamboanga Province identified as Scouts, Masa, and Dalangpanan. These names have never been appeared in books, published articles and other academic literature. This study aims to contribute additional knowledge to the historical discourse on guerrilla forces in the Philippines. This is the gap that helps complete the story of the people of Zamboanga Province during the Japanese Occupation from 1942-1945.

Why America Took the Philippines

2024-12-19T11:22:46+00:00

This paper will give history teachers a helpful overview of American events leading to the Philippine-American War. The United States had rapidly become the leading industrial power, and with the end of the Western expansion, many Republicans yearned for overseas territories to control. This represented an abrupt shift as it had previously led one of the first anti-colonial revolutions, yet now emerged as a colonial power itself. As is often the case today, America was deeply divided—the pro-imperialists versus the anti-imperialists, the conservatives versus the liberals. Resistance to the United States' invasion of the Philippines was motivated by both moral and economic considerations. The Democrats, along with a few Republicans, were against any colonization by their government, and the farmers stood to lose against the importation of cheap tropical sugar. These disputes were at times explicitly racist, reflecting a nation that had abolished slavery thirty years earlier, yet still denied the principle of racial equality to American Blacks and Filipinos.

The Nucleus of the Modern Philippine Army

2025-04-30T05:50:28+00:00

This book review aims to examine and analyze the work of Ricardo Trota Jose, Philippine Army, 1935-1942. A highly regarded Filipino military historian, Dr. Jose examines the history of the Philippine Army during the Commonwealth era, leading to the outbreak of the Second World War in the Pacific. His work on this topic is one of the first books of its kind, since unlike other historical works written by Filipino and American historians and scholars, the author focused primarily on the development and buildup of the Philippine Army from its inception in 1935 to the outbreak of the War. This nascent army, with the full backing of the Commonwealth government with the assistance and leadership of its commander, Field Marshal Douglas MacArthur, was meant to be the first line of defense by the time the Philippines gained its independence in 1945. Beyond the military organization and planning, Ricardo Jose also included the factors that affected the growth of the army, and he provided both praise and criticism, whether they were Filipino or American officials. From interservice rivalry among the ranks of the Philippine Army and Constabulary, the insufficient budget, and the mistrust between Filipino and American officials, Jose’s work on the Philippine Army during the pre-World War II era, which utilized primary sources from both Filipino and American accounts cemented his reputation as the author of the first comprehensive study of the topic upon its publication.