Teodoro Agoncillo
Teodoro Andal Agoncillo (November 9, 1912 – January 14, 1985) was a
Teodoro Andal Agoncillo
prominent 20th-century Filipino historian. He and his contemporary Renato
Constantino were among the first Filipino historians renowned for promoting a Born Teodoro Andal
distinctly nationalist point of view of Filipino history (nationalist Agoncillo
historiography). He was also an essayist and a poet. November 9, 1912
Lemery, Batangas,
Agoncillo is related to Don Felipe Agoncillo, the Filipino diplomat who Philippine Islands
represented the Philippines in the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Paris
Died January 14, 1985
(1898), and Dona Marcela Agoncillo, one of the principal seamstress of the
(aged 72)
Philippine flag.
Nationality Filipino
Alma mater University of the
Philippines Manila
Contents Occupation Historian
Early life
Awards National Scientist of
Accolades the Philippines
Controversy
Works
References
Early life
Born in Lemery, Batangas to Pedro Agoncillo and Feliza Andal, both from landed families in Batangas, Agoncillo obtained a
bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of the Philippines in Manila, in 1934, and a master's degree in the arts from
the same university the following year. He earned his living as a linguistic assistant at the Institute of National Language and as
an instructor at the Far Eastern University and the Manuel L. Quezon University. In 1956, he published his seminal work, Revolt
of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio and the Katipunan, a history of the 1896 Katipunan-led revolt against Spanish rule and its
leader, Andres Bonifacio. He garnered acclaim for this book, as well as criticisms from more conservative historians discomfited
by the work's nationalist bent.
In 1958, Agoncillo was invited to join the faculty of the Department of History of his alma mater, the University of the
Philippines. He remained with the university until his retirement in 1977, chairing the Department of History from 1963 to 1969.
After retiring from UP, Agoncillo taught Filipino history as a visiting professor at the International Christian University in
Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan, for one year from 1977 to 1978. Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal named Agoncillo as a member
of the National Historical Institute in 1963. He served in this capacity until his death in 1985. Agoncillo was chair of the History
Department in the University of the Philippines at the same time period that his cousin, General Abelardo Andal, served as
Commander (Chair) of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the same university.
Accolades
He was named National Scientist of the Philippines in 1985 for his distinguished contributions in the field of history. Agoncillo
was also among the few academics who held the rank of University Professor, an academic rank given to outstanding faculty
members with specialization in more than one of the traditional academic domains (Science & Technology; Social Sciences; and
Arts & Humanities), at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Controversy
Despite Agoncillo's controversial tone and for his perceived leftist bent, his book, History of the Filipino People, first published
in 1960, remains a popular standard textbook in many Filipino universities, as are many of Agoncillo's other works. Gregorio
Zaide, Teodoro Agoncillo, Reynaldo Ileto and Renato Constantino stand as the most prominent 20th-century Filipino historians to
emerge during the post-war period. However, opponents of Agoncillo contend that Agoncillo's works suffer from uneven
scholarship throughout, especially with his use (or especially, non-use) of reliable historical sources, even when his opponents
could not offer solid rebuttals.
Works
Ang Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas (with Gregorio F. Zaide, 1941)
Ang Maikling Kuwentong Tagalog: 1886-1948 (1949, 1965, 1970)
The Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio and the Katipunan (mainly a biography of Andres Bonifacio,
1956)
Malolos: The Crisis of the Republic (sequel to Revolt of the Masses which discusses the events from Biak-na-
Bato to the end of the Philippine–American War, 1960)
History of the Filipino People (eight editions: 1960, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1990)
The Writings and Trial of Andres Bonifacio (1963)
The Fateful Years: Japan's Adventure in the Philippines (Philippine history during World War II, two volumes,
1965)
A Short History of the Philippines (1969)
Filipino Nationalism: 1872-1970 (1974)
Introduction to Filipino History (1974)
Sa Isang Madilim: Si Balagtas at ang Kanyang Panahon (1974)
Ang Pilipinas at ang mga Pilipino: Noon at Ngayon (1980)
The Burden of Proof: The Vargas-Laurel Collaboration Case (1984)
References
Filipinos in History: Volume maximum\
, National Historical Institute (Manila, 1996), pp. 6–7.
Talking History: Conversations with T Agoncillo, Ambeth R. Ocampo, De La Salle University Press, 1995
Teodoro A. Agoncillo at Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines ([Link]
Retrieved from "[Link]
This page was last edited on 25 July 2019, at 14:44 (UTC).
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