MUNICIPALITY OF UYUGAN (BATANES), History and Folkways of Part II - Philippine Historical Data MUNICIPALITY OF UYUGAN (BATANES), History and Folkways of Part II - Philippine Historical Data

MUNICIPALITY OF UYUGAN (BATANES), History and Folkways of Part II

Philippine Historical Data
23 Oct, 2023
Municipality of Uyugan

PART II

PART I | PART II

About these Historical Data

[p. 11]

BATANES TOILERS

We are hard working toilers
We are farmers of the Batanes Isles
From morning till night
The soil tillers who withstand the gales
with all the endless work
Root crops we plant the year throughout
Still we're happy and gay
Contented and peaceful we are.

BATANES FISHERMEN

To the sea, I have gone
In a tataya, I got on
With the bait, I have gone
The many fish, I brought home.

Games and Amusements:

a. Cockfighting is a favorite of the old as well as the young people. Cockfighting is usually done on Sundays from morn until late in the afternoon. Prizes are given to the winners.

b. Bullfighting is usually done on Sundays and other holidays in the plaza. Anyone may bring his bull and have it fight another bull.

c. Attending programs and dances.

It is a common practice among the people to attend dances and programs as a means of recreation. Dances are usually done in honor of somebody, during birthdays, baptismals, and when someone arrives from travel.

30. Puzzles and Riddles:

1. Kabuñi nio u mayliliac su chinan. Vahay.
All of us cannot live without it. What it eats can talk. Guess what it is. House.
2. Kabuñi nio tumañis a pakanen as maureng a dia pakena. Pasok.
Something that cries when given something to eat, but will not cry when not given. Sugarmill.
3. Anu sumibu pa mangay du takey am mapteng as mabsoy an mudi dana. Alat.
Something that feels hungry before going to the field but full in coming back from the field. Basket.
4. Kabuñi nio an kapatudu su totok na am mayñiangahay. Ploma.
Once you let the point touch something, a fluid

[p. 12]

will come out. Fountain pen.
5. Kabuñi nio u mian du hovok nu taao. A.
What is the middle of the sea? E
6. Kabuñi nio u maychaktej a dia mayvoya. Tadeñia.
Guess two brothers who have never seen each other. Ears.
7. Anu dekey pa am apat kukod na as anu mayparakoj am dadwa as an ka malkem narana am tatdo u kukod na. Tao.
It has 4 feet when young, as it grows up it has only 2 feet, and when it is old, it has 3 feet. Person.
8. Kabuñi nio tuvong am marao as stampa anu mahep. Apin.
Guess, it is like a bamboo at daytime, and a sheet at night. Mat.
9. Kabuñi nio dadwa ka banca as asa su manat. Sapatos.
Guess, two bancas that can carry only one. Shoes.
10. Kabuñi nio u makanat su bapor as dis makanat so rayiem. Taao.
Something that can carry a steamer but cannot carry a needle. Sea.
11. Kabuñi nio dia uzmhes a mayhohon a cararaw as cahajhep. Abkas.
Something that doesn't stop rolling day and night. Wave.
12. Kabuñi nio dia makajbot as dia makasdep. Pantao.
Something that cannot go out and cannot get inside. Door.
13. Kabuñi nio mayayo su malisto a dia maydiis. Cavochiran.
Something that runs very fast but will not get away from its place. Cogon grass.
14. Kabuñi nio dadua su padang as aru su mata. Net.
Something that has two feet and with so many eyes. Net.

31. Proverbs and Sayings:

1. An Kavaheng nava am urin.
All that is black is not charcoal.
2. An kadeded nava am bola.
All that is round is not a ball.
3. Aran anghenghen mu a ilaveng u ahohob am chitajen na u catuao na.
No matter how you cover smoke, it will always seek to come out.
4. Nu sili am umsi ava su kamates.

[p. 13]

The pepper plant does not bear tomatoes or judge a tree by its fruit.
5. Mapipia u mapia su ngaran as kanu may cartos.
A good name is better than wealth.
6. Aran itayo mo u sosoh am ivahay nu ahob na.
Even when you hide a fire, the smoke will tell you or where there is smoke, there is fire.
7. Pariñen mo ava du capayengay mo tao u ichaskey mo a parinen dimo.
Do not do unto others what you do not want them to do to you.
8. Tiban mopa u moyen mo du espejo a manma canu kaditib mo du moyen nu capayengay mo a tao.
Look at your face through a mirror before you look at somebody's face, or before you criticize others.
9. Ictuctu mopa a manma canu capay cherin mo.
Think before you speak.
10. Nu mabayo am arava u cayvan na.
One who is selfish has no friends.
11. Nu camutan a chito am paduan mo pava su danum.
Do not pour water on a drowning dog.
12. Arava u makapayraraya su chirin.
Words alone shed no blood.
13. Arava u manuma a capanejseh ta firme a manaodi.
Nobody ever repented first but always after.
14. Mamaroparo u gegem tanu lipan u mulay.
You despise others and others will despise you.
15. Manunong o capanita mo su cayvan mo as masadit u capamidi mo su asa a mayñgud.
It is easy to find many friends but it is hard to keep one.
16. Nu rachi nu vahayang am nauri u romarayao sia.
An iron is destroyed by its own rust.
17. Nu asabtek a viayo am masadit a pototen.
It is hard to break a bundle of reeds.
18. Nu malit so boboj a manomanok amasa u yanan da.
Birds of the same feather flock together.
19. An dino ñgayan no oho am ñgayan nu ipos.
Wherever the head goes, the tail follows.
20. Arava u cayo a abo su inavungan.
There is no gree without a shade.
21. Nu arao sicharao am mirua mu pava a mavoya.
Think that today will never come again.
22. Nu nadumi su caoyug a danun am marahem u panahanan na.
Silent water runs deep.
23. Arava u ries a abu su vinidi.
There is no current that does not return. (There is no anger that does not subside.)

[p. 14]

24. Anu cauvan ava nu tao am malkem.
Gray hair does not always mean old age.
25. Arava u siguro du atavo ta anti u isovo dana am masday pa.
There is nothing sure. Sometimes, the food already near the mouth will drop.
26. Maymohamoha ca tapian mian u yanien mo.
Plant so that you will have something to reap.
27. Nu maparin mo sicharao am nanayahen mo pava andelac a caparin sia.
Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
28. Nu rarahan a mayfirme a panahanan am tovoan ava nu dibobot.
Grass will not grow on a busy street.
29. Sidongen canu Dios anu sidongan mo u carakojan mo.
God helps those who help themselves.
30. Nauri u katutuj su pasek anu mavoya pa.
Strike the iron while it is still hot.
31. Nu ca patakan nu kacayo na am nu asi na sira.
A tree is known for its fruit.
32. Aran maylaylay u chongo am mayunong a chongo.
A dressed up monkey is a monkey still.
33. Masonusonung u kapayhaus nu baca du duduyan nu dayim kanu katayo su marahet a pinarin.
It is easier for a cow to pass through the eye of a needle than to hide a crime committed or any wrong act will always be discovered.
34. Nu masadit a yucayen am nu tuman kakaychej.
The hardest to wake up is the one who pretends to be asleep.
35. Nauri ava u catoroj mu su pinalas du cadin anu nadiman dana.
What is the use of the hay when the goat is already dead?
36. Nu cayang am mauñet pa anu machispang.
The coral crab, when cornered, will fight for life.
37. Aran uyud a mavasa u cayo as mayendes du apoy am umniñas an cuanasao.
A wet piece of wood when placed on the fire will ultimately burn.
38. Nu taywara su kapamidi am makanahjo su nahta.
One who chooses too much may get the rotten one.
39. Sira u codibabang am fermi da a chitajen u masdep a savosavong.
Butterflies alway seek the sweetest flowers.
40. Nu among am masagit du vivi.
A fish is hooked by the moutn.
41. Arava u mabchit a dingen su sili.
He who eats pepper feels the pungent taste.
42. Sira u raracuj a among am canen da sira u

{p. 15]

dedekey.
Big fishes eat the small ones.
43. Uyud a maliak u catadivang su lata abu su minian.
An empty barrel makes a loud noise.
44. Nu manomanoc a abu su panid am makasayap ava.
If a bird has no wings, it cannot fly.
45. Nu asa ka tadimpok am cumapet a racuj a namay.
A spark may cause a great fire.
46. Ackma cavay via du danum a tud ngonunut.
Don't be like a seaweed that just follows the current.
47. Aran mango dino u canaru nu procession am mirua a sumdep du timban.
No matter how long the procession is, it will always return to the church.
48. Nu tao a abu su actuctujen am ackma danay nadiman.
One who has nothing to think of or to do may just as well be dead.
49. Vidangan musava u ciuociuo anu dipa sira a chinatittitan.
Don't count the chicks before they are hatched.
50. Nu mantenej a vohung nu cayo am mayfirme ava a manuma a maulal.
The older leaves of a tree do not always fall first.
51. Nu kaynacman am mayfirme ava u pakayapuan nu cayayacan.
Wealth is not always the source of happiness.

32. Methods of Measuring Time, Special Calendars:

Before: The different phases of the moon. New moon - beginning of the month; full moon - middle of the month; the shadow is smallest at 12 o'clock.

Now: Table of time; clocks and watches; calendars.

33. Other Folktakes:

PINACAYAPUAN NGARAN NU UYUGAN

Kaychoa du nanmapa cano nacawara da nu mandong a Españoles du Batanes aya am sira o tao tao am maychagrugrupo sira amian su maypunguepungued adñedñeyen da abnikan su datu.

Nu cavajayan da am nu macacarang a toco tocon abnecan su Idiang. Nu asa du Idiang a yanan nu uyud a mangdet as macapamarin a datu am niaya o manda sichangoriao abnecan su Idiang du di Itbud, du songit nu

[p. 16]

kavahayan du barrio Itbud.

Du nacawara da nu nanoma a natovoy a Españoles a sumdong su Batanes aya am nanoma da pariñin am no capaonot da sira su atavo a tao tao a mian du matatarec a Idiang as ca pasitnan darana sira a pasencharin du gobierno Español as cano religion catolico romano. Du nacatayuca darana mapaudi sira su tao tao du Itian ayapo du Basco amanda du Ivana as capachenguedguey dania nu Españoles auri am mian pa o asa ca Idiang a uyud a makajnet a monot dira am niaya o Idiang du di Itbud. Nu datu dauri du Idiang aya am no na cachita da su cangay da a mapaonot sira du uyud a maydamnay canu manajeveb a panajanan sia. Du cabu pa no mapia rarajan a macarapit du Idiang auri du di Itbud, am sumnakay sira o tinovoy dauri a Españoles cano dadua ca Ivataan a interpretes da du tatdo a ca bapor a develas. Du nacapacarapit da nu sinmo nauri du Idiang auri do di Itbud am na nieng sira a manguedkued as capagehen da sira so mayhajao a sindialos a pachangayan da nu dadua ca Ivataan a minrapit su semseman.

Sira o tao tao do Idiang du nacavoya da sira o develas an mena avang sira auri as canira o sindialos auri a malialiit su ayuayob cano tavajos am uyud na so caracuj nu capaychacnien da as cano camo da. Du catalatalamad da sira su sindialos aur, a maytavajos su mavaya akmay taorin no manok am ñivata da. "Ango paru caparin da niaya tao a matahos su oho akmay taroin manok" — no pinanyocoyucoran ni Panao a apojen da am nu capipia nu cadi da macharapan as nu capachevayat da a machepanmo nia ano ango o ichajojo da. Naytuvoy so mayhahao a tao nu Idiang auri a machivayat du sindialos a Españoles. Nu vinata da nu Españoles auri am nu cakey daa machepanmo du mismo auri a apojen da du Idiang. Du nauri am nachevayat dira si Panao. Vataan da sia no Españoles auri o cabu nu cabuan a ichajojo da giavoken a mapia cayevan as caonot darana du chirin, am na camadamadanan du caouyud nu chirin dauri dia. As ñiplanoan na o ca invita na dira du sindialso Españoles auri. Du cancocto nasia, an ango mapiiya a sistema nu cahapan na sira am nu cahaya na sira atavo du asa ca bankete. Du uyud a mapia aypavoya na dira a dadakay am naypasonong o na ca invita na dira du asa ca bankete as cacdao na su asa du rakcuy du vidad du avang da a pariñen a sasacong da du cacan. Nanma cano cancan da am niyucuyucod narana sira o maheheyiit do tao du Idiang auri a mangey a maypongopongued a om lakem su pareparey no

[p. 17]

sasacong dauri. Du hovohovoc no cacan si Panao am nachijanjeng dira, am nayradiradin a mangay a minum. As capacajbot na am paypacpacan na su tanuro na. Sira o mondan du maypongopongued auri a parey am nasaao calba da sia. As nu vidad auri as sasacong da am nauri o rumanis dana a ñipongos dira du mian du irajem nauri, as capajpaj da sira amanda du cadiman da. Sira pa mian du avang a navidin a omonong dira as du nacavoya da su nauri a naparin am nanieng sira a mayvidi du Basco a madevajey nia. Du nacapanmo da sia no manyucoyucod da du Basco am nieng sira a mirua mapaytovoy su sindialos amian dana su manaob a vojo a mañgay a marap sira. Du na capa manua da du sinmo nu Idiang du di Itbud nieng na sira a manduan ni Panao o atavo a majajacay du Idiang auri a mangay du ajad dauri a nitached a cayo ay maypongopongued nu vojo da a chibot akmay vohong nu aytap a pasek a pinatep du apat adpa su cananaro a cawayan. Si Panao am nangay a maydatoc du racuj a cawa du totoc mo Idiang a umyucud nira nu tao na. As sira o sindialos nauri am parewarewayan da o vojo dauri a señal nu capacharap da. Sira o Españoles auri am ñegorogod da or rak cuj du cañon da a itayara du machitovang a tocon a mayñgaran su di Chanayran. No token du sungit nu kavahajan dana aya du di Itbud. Du catalamad da sia nu tao auri du Idiang o caramajnet cano cachebchaj nu ca garogood da su cañon auri nu aro a sindialos Españoles a itayara du tocon auri du di chanayram am nayac sira as cavata da sia. "Niaya o yangañgay nio aya ihomes diamen o pachamotemotes nio aya a itayara dao, as dauri paro anchi o maparin nio o capagshid nio sia diamen." Macarapit sira du totoc auri nu tocon du ni Chanayran am woswosen da o cañon auri a palongohen du Idiang. Si Panao a mian du totoc nu Idiang, am nu capaychavocavolay na a mapatongdo su chibot na ay umyucuyucod nu tao na. Sira o sindialos nu Españoles auri am nu papontan da sia am si Panao. Pamaltogan da sia an nachinajo di Panao as todnophos a mayvahanso du totoc auri ni Idiang a paytenecan na. Sira o sindialos nauri am nu na cammieng da nia o capamaltog auri no cañon ca as du cabuya da su capachiraryay auri nu capayvahangso ni Panao am nieng da Vatajen du caduan dira - "Vatajen nio aba o casi Panao nu nanajo ta cadin pa auri." As ca nieng darana a maychapayapayayo akmay volao a tapepe a demacapanmo su panguanan da a tudakey machagogtos du macarang auri a Idiang as chinadiman nu caroan dira. As sira o nacalebre am naychaopit sira du catactacyan a tomayo. Du matarec da na a tiempo am sira o tao tao du caduan a Idiang acma sira su tao du Idiang gi Chatdongan amna nadñguey da o capipia da na nu catuao a manganuged dira du Españoles auri du cangay dana nu matda du Vanaad a pachechasan dira umonot du mapia. As sira o tao auri du caduan pa Idiang cano nacalebre pasaauri du tao nimna Panao am

[p. 18]

naypakapakyat dana sa umodi du vanaad.

Arapava u nachisubna can navidin du takey. Akma danasay moyog a ranem a masa su anod as du chinayrayrasan da am du tayto logar nu kavahayan do di San Antonino, as niñgaranan da su ñinuyugan; as ichapatak nio am mian u ajsong du hovok nu kavahayan aya am arava u mayñiop a ranom. An machimoy su maoyas am moyog u racuj a ayo as kakalo nu kayachi na — kuenta akmay tog ñoyog , as daua niñgaranan da su Uyugan, niaya su tayto na manda sichangoriao a ñgarana nu asa du municipios du di Ivataan aya.

English Translation
HOW UYUGAN GOT ITS NAME

At the time of the first arrival of the Spaniards in Batanes, people were divided into groups, each headed by a datu. They lived in high hills called Idiang. One of those Idangs was headed by a very powerful datu. This place was located on the nearby hill of what is now called Itbud, a barrio of Uyugan.

When the Spaniards came, they told the people living in these Idiangs to come and live in the lowland plains along the coasts. It was not hard for the Spaniards to bring the people of Basco, Mahatao, and Ivana to the lowlands and live in unity, but those in the Idiangs of Itbud were not attracted by the government and the religion which the Spaniards offered them. This Idiang was under a strong and powerful man named Panao. The Spaniards decided to go and arrange peaceful and friendly relations with these people. They wantedn to win Panao to their side, not by force, but through gentle persuasion.

Due to the lack of good roads at that time, they rode on three boats. These were called "develas." Two natives were brought as interpreters by the Spaniards, with a few soldiers.

When the people of Idiang so them come ashore, they were very much astonished and frightened, too. They thought of them to be very strange people, especially with their uniforms and red headdresses. They exclaimed, "What kind of people are these with long heads like the crown of a rooster?" Panao gave the order that they wouldn't fight, but meet them and find out what they wanted. He sent a

[p. 19]

few of his men, but the Spaniards wanted to talk with Panao personally, so he came down the hill and met the Spaniards with much civility. When he found out later that the Spaniards wanted him and his men to follow them, he didn't like the idea of being a subordinate to these foreigners, though he didn't openly object. He doubted very much the sincerity of their offer of friendship. He gathered his people and told them of his plan to seize the Spaniards. They all agreed to have a banquet and invite the Spaniards as their special guests. Preparations were immediately started. The sails of the Spanish boats were used as tents tied to posts, each held by a man of Panao. This served as their dining hall. The Spaniards were very much amused with the hospitality extended to them. They drunk and ate with (gusto) much appetite. Later, Panao made an excuse to leave the table and went outside. At his signal, the men holding the posts held the sails tightly and the Spaniards were wrapped inside. Men came with woods and beat the Spaniards inside until they were dead. When the few soldiers left in their boats saw what happened, they pulled off immediately and returned to Basco. The Spaniards, much enraged with what happened, sent their soldiers heavily armed for a deadly attack. When Panao saw the boats approaching, he ordered all his men to get prepared for a real fight. Each man was armed with a spear almost 4 meters long. Panao posted himself on top of the highest rock so he could easily give orders to his men. They waved their spears as a sign that they were ready to fight. The Spanish soldiers went ashore and headed for the tall hill opposite Idiang. This hill was called Chanayran. When the men of Panao saw that they could hardly bring their cannons up the hill, they laughed. They thought that the soldiers were wasting their strength carrying a strange worthless thing up the hill. The men of Panao didn't know what a cannon was, a weapon more powerful than their spears. At the sound of the explosion, the men of Panao laughed, but when they saw Panao fall from the rock, they were covered with fear. One of them said, "It was not Panao who was hit, that was only a goat." Cannot shots came in succession, and so the people began to run and flee. Others who did not see where they were headed for, fell into the precipices, and others were hit by the enemy bullets. Those who escaped scattered on the hills and forest to hide.

[p. 20]

Later on, the people on the hills learned that the people in the lowlands were living peacefully. The first group to come down was the people from Chatdongan. Those few who were left of Panao's people finally decided to unite with those in the lowlands. The people flocked to the lowlands like flowing water following a single course. From the hills, they found themselves all in one of the lowland plains. They called it "Inuyugan," meaning a place where something flows into. The Spaniards called it San Antonino, but presently it is called Uyugan, derived from Inuyugan; besides this, there was a big brook at the center of this town that did not hold water long. When it rained, big water flowed into it, but after a few days, it would be very dry. So, this town was called Uyugan, a place where water flows.

DISIAYAY

Before the town of Uyugan was founded, the people were divided into barangays headed by datus. Each barangay had a certain area of land where no other person from another barangay could set foot on.

There were to powerful datus who were king rivals, one occupied the hill Egjiang, and one occupied the hill of Marapoy. The datu of Egjiang had a beautiful daughter and that datu of Marapoy had a handsome son. When both datus grew older, their subjects met to discuss the one who would take over. While these discussions went on, the son of the datu overheard that the datu of Egjiang had a beautiful daughter and learned that she, too, would take the place of the father.

One afternoon, the handsome young man went down the hill to inspect the boundaries of his father's land. While on his tour of the land, he heard footsteps nearby. When he looked around, he caught sight of a beautiful woman. He approached her and reprimanded her for his trespassing on his father's land. The young woman was not scared a bit, but reprimanded back the young man. A short argument took place, but soon enmity was overpowered by love that shone and gleamed in their eyes. They decided that they would have to stop their terrible conflicts when they would be the heads of their fathers' subjects. They chose a secret meeting place which overlooked the sea. They met there every afternoon and discussed how they would unite their barangays.

[p. 21]

One afternoon, they both decided that they had to run away. They could not endure to be apart from one another and living with their fathers who were deadly enemies. As they were about to leave, they heard hurried footsteps. Looking at both directions, they saw that men of their fathers were meeting with guns and arrows. Both separated to meet their own men to stop them, but too late. The men, not recognizing them, fired and both fell dead. In that very place, they parted with the last attempt to unite their barangays. The men got the bodies of the lovers and brought them to their fathers. There was no shooting when they separated but mourning. From that time on, they named the place "Disiayay," which means the place of separation.

SI BATBATAN NU UTANG KANI KAÑID

Mian sa kauchuwa u nanma tao am dadwa sa ka mahahakay. Nu asa aya am si Batbatan nu Utang as nu asa am si Kañid. Si Kañid aya am dekey a tao. Du ka paypermi na makey a kumuntra sia ni Batbatan nu Utang am nachituneng si Kañid du kahes na nia u kapaylakat da du asa ka mahep. Du nakapaylakat da am nayhoso si Kañid su asa bedbed a viayo. Nu vinata ni Kañid am panmahen mo yaken a lakatan. Paylakat da a musbos du ajsong. Du kasñgen na makadas si Kañid am naypakwan du marahem a pepnetan as ka panipol na as kapagsid na su asa auri a bebbed a viayo du kagchin nu pepnetan. Am todna nuphosan a unotan ni Batbatan Nu Utang u apoy auri. As to dana machamohon du apoy auri as nadiman. As nachisay si Kañid a uyud a mayayac.

Once, there lived two men. One of them was Batbatan Nu Utang and the other was Kañid. Kañid was a small man. Since Batbatan Nu Utang always wanted to fight Kañid, Kañid agreed to have a race with Batbatan Nu Utang one night. Kañid had a bundle of reeds during the course of their race. Kañid said that Batbatan Nu Utang would run after him. So, they ran towards the brook. When he was about to catch Kañid, he want to a deep place and hid himself. He threw the bundle of reeds in the deepest part of the cliff with flames on it. Batbatan Nu Utang fell in from the cliff while following the bundle of reeds with flames, and he died. So, Kañid was very happy.

[p. 22]

Part Three: Other information:

34. Information on books and documents treating of the Philippines and the names of their owners:

N o n e .

35. The names of Filipino authors born or residing in the community, the titles and subjects of their works, whether printed or in manuscript form, and the names of the persons possessing them.

N o n e .

[Signatures]

Signatures of the persons who furnished the information in Number 27 to 33.

(SGD.) VALENTIN A. ADAMI
(SGD.) PEDRO MATA I
(SGD.) CANDELARIO DOPLITO
(SGD.) PEDRO MATA II
(SGD.) MANUEL BARTILAD

Members of the Local Committee:

(SGD.) (MRS.) LOLITA B. GALITA
Chairman

(SGD.) (MISS) FE BARSANA
Member

(SGD.) (MRS.) BIBIANA B. SANTOS
Member

(SGD.) (MISS) ESPERANZA CABALLERO
Member

(SGD.) (MR.) JOSE FADRI
Member

(SGD.) (MR.) ANTONIO ACEBES
Member

(SGD.) (MISS) LORETO D. MATA
Member

PART I | PART II

Transcribed from:
History and Folkways of the Municipality of Uyugan and Its Barrios, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.
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