Calling
for a Local Historian, anyone?
A teacher in history is
not a guarantee that you are a historian. In fact, most teachers in Social
Studies are only teachers of history and we call them history teachers, but not
historians. You don’t need to be a Social Studies teacher to become one;
however, a Social Studies teacher is an
advantage and you have a home court advantage to become a historian as you have
the knowledge of history.
Yu
don’t need to write history within the national level. We have some of them.
You might not have a space for that matter
already and people might not be interested in what you write about Philippine History.
People might only think that you are just recycling the ideas of famous
Filipino historians by merely using their books as your references. No need to
become a copycat. Be a writer in your own right and earn your space under the
sun. Anyway, the world is spacious. Try to occupy the unexplored area of
history. Walk into a road not taken.
In
what way you can find your place under the sun and earn your mark to become a
historian?
Simply,
engage in writing your local history. This is your best contribution in
history. Try to go to your municipal library and ask for a local history of your
barangay, a particular street in your town, or even your town history? Can you
find one? In most cases, nobody has done the recording of your history in this
manner. You can start writing the different time periods and gather information
from your municipal library and even go to your provincial library.
Start
writing for your festival. Your town might have just started celebrating your
town’s festival and recording the annual event is your greatest contribution.
You can start answering the 4 Ws and an H ( Who initiated it, What is the
festival is all about, When did it start, Where did it start, How did it
start).
Interview
your WWII veterans. Only few of them are still alive today. After a few years,
they might be gone forever. Interview them while they can still recall their
memories during WWII. It is better if
you could ask them to write or narrate their experiences during WWII. Their
handwriting will serve as primary document and you can keep it as your primary
source. Interview as many surviving veterans as you can and compile their
experiences in a memoir. In doing so, this is your contribution to history.
Start
writing your famous personalities in your town. You can start with the past and
end up with personalities who are still active on their chosen career. Young
people might not be aware that your town is the home of famous personalities in
the world of business, sports, politics, education, tourism, etc.
Write
your local products. Start interviewing your local producers of products that
have made a difference in the world market, just like the sword making industry
in Brgy. Palacpalac, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan. Did you know that their swords
have been used in famous Hollywood movies, Lord of the Rings, Brave Heart, to
name a few?
Think
more…