FACT CHECK | Claim that “history is tsismis” started with the tv show ‘History with Lourd’ is false

July 8, 2022 , 09:14 PM

By Mikee Garcia

(July 8, 2022) – A Youtube video claimed that equating history to gossip began with TV5’s documentary show “History with Lourd” back in 2013.

This claim is false.

CLAIM:

On July 7, a video uploaded by Ben Barubal on Youtube defended actress Ella Cruz who drew flak for her comment when she likened history to gossips in an interview for her upcoming movie Maid in Malacañang, a propaganda film where she plays the role of Irene Marcos, the youngest daughter of the late dictator.

“Kanino ba kasi nagmula yung tsismis na yan? Kay Ella? Hindi, sa inyo. Tama nga yung sinabi ni master Joey De Leon, “Eto si Lourd OK lang sabihin na tsismis ang history?”” the narrator demanded while flashing a Facebook post of the comedian with a poster of the History with Lourd show.

“’Tsismis noon, kasaysayan ngayon,’” the narrator read the show’s tagline. “Dapat pinapalitan niyo yun. Ang dapat diyan, “pinag tsismisan nyo noon, tapos ginawa nyong kasaysayan ngayon.””

RATING: FALSE

FACTS:

History with Lourd was a documentary show on TV5 that had six seasons and ran from 2013 to 2016. Lourd De Veyra, the show’s host, would investigate “historical tsismis” to verify whether it was true or not.

Filipino historian Xiao Chua, who was a historical consultant for the show, explained in his column for The Manila Times how the show’s tagline can be misconstrued.

“This is a valid point. Yet, the show actually showed how various historians gather evidence, validate the true story of the historical events and analyze their implications. It also showed how a piece of gossip remains one for lack of evidence,” Chua wrote.

“That is why it is “gossip then,” but because the discipline of history had shed light on it, it has become “history now”: “Chismis noon, na-verify kaya kasaysayan na siya ngayon.” It is not “chismis forever, history never.””

Chua also acknowledged the criticisms of how history is viewed as “filtered, biased, and opinionated” but stressed the value of the historical method and how history should be evidence-based.

He also pointed out a historian’s need to analyze all available sources in their methodology to lessen biases and to choose what should be included for the narrative to be readable.

While Chua said history is opinionated since it requires the interpretation of the historian, he reminded his readers that history is still a social science and not merely creative literature.

“We cannot create history; we only retell and analyze them,” Chua noted.

Ambeth Ocampo, another Filipino public historian and columnist, also responded to the actress’s statement in a post:

“Don’t confuse History and chismis. History may have bias but it is based on fact not opinion. Real History is about Truth, not lies, not fiction.”

WHY THIS MATTERS:

The propaganda comedy-drama film is meant to show a glimpse of the Marcos family’s last 72 hours in the Palace before they were exiled in Hawaii by the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Darryl Yap, the director of the movie, said the production was based on “one reliable source” which sparked debates on how the film will further whitewash the Philippines’ dark history under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Read the Baguio Chronicle’s fact-check report: Rallyists who raided Malacanang during the EDSA Revolution carried torches

The Marcoses have been accused of historical revisionism since 2016 when former President Rodrigo Duterte had the late dictator buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, denying the human rights abuses and plunder during Marcos’ regime.

Read News5 Digital’s fact-check report: Claim that Marcos is a hero because he is buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani is misleading

His eldest daughter Imee Marcos won a Senate seat in 2019 while Bongbong Marcos Jr., the only son and namesake of the late dictator, won the presidency in the recent 2022 national elections after launching a massive disinformation campaign that benefited him the most.

As of writing, the video has received 220,729 views, over 18,000 likes, and 1,610 comments. The Ben Barubal Youtube channel has more than 251,000 subscribers.

News5 is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, e-mail info@factsfirst.ph. Message News 5’s Facebook page if you want to have any claims fact-checked.

Read our fact-checking policy here.

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