Admit it. You have, for some time in your life as a student, encountered in your history class the name Teodoro A. Agoncillo (not Felipe Agoncillo, the diplomat of Aguinaldo) and probably many of you read his books as well. To some, he is the Father of Philippine Historiography (due to his nationalist approach in writing his books using the Filipino point of view) and for many, they don’t even have a single idea about who he really is.
Teddy, as known, to his colleagues, gave a very great contribution in a milieu wherein Philippine historiography was very unpopular since the history books before him are from American (or even European) point of view. It is very weird to say that we don’t have the guts to write a history book made purely and written through a nationalist’s perspective before. I admire his books. As a historian myself, I will always consider his books as the best choice when it comes on reading Philippine history. Nobody, not even Gregorio Zaide or Renato Constantino, can equal the National Scientist in History to date in terms of writing history.
History will always be my first love although I am more affiliated with Political Science as of now. It will always play a very important role as we go and take a look back to the past and anticipate what lies ahead.
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As a tribute to his 27th death anniversary (Jan. 4, 1985), I would like to end this from a memorable work of his, excerpt from "Republikang Basahan".
Kalayaan! Republika! Ang bayani'y dinudusta.
Kalayaan pala itong mamatay nang abang-aba!
Kasarinlan pala itong ni hindi mo masarili
Ang dangal ng tahanan mong ibo't pugad ng pagkasi.
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