MUNICIPALITY OF SOLANA (CAGAYAN), History and Cultural Life of Part I - Philippine Historical Data MUNICIPALITY OF SOLANA (CAGAYAN), History and Cultural Life of Part I - Philippine Historical Data

MUNICIPALITY OF SOLANA (CAGAYAN), History and Cultural Life of Part I

Municipality of Solana, Cagayan

PART I

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV

About these Historical Data

[Cover page]

HISTORY
and
CULTURAL LIFE
of
• SOLANA •

By: Solana School Teachers
Solana, Cagayan

[Cover page 2]

H I S T O R Y     A N D     C U L T U R A L     L I F E
O F
S O L A N A

---------

A Collection and Compilation of Historical Data
Regarding the Town of Solana
Including Its
Barrios and Sitios

-oOo-

[Preface]

P R E F A C E

This history of Solana has been prepared with the hope that the present and future generations may find it interesting to know about the origin of Solana and its barrios, and the people's part in the development of this community.

It is also hoped that this history may help readers realize and appreciate the role, little though it may be, that Solana has played during the different historical eras of our country from the Spanish regime to the present.

Lastly, in an effort to preserve customs, traditions, and folklore which are part of the inestimable heritage of our people, this history has been written. Inasmuch as beliefs, customs, traditions, practices, etcetera in the Centro and in the barrios are more or less identical, the editing committee deemed it practical and appropriate to slightly deviate from the outline as suggested in Memorandum No. 34, s. 1952. Thus, repetition was avoided by compiling the folkways under one general heading.

The Committee:
[SGD.] (Mrs.) Paula F. Borja
Elementary Principal
[SGD.] (Mr.) Rafael Lasam
Soc. Science Teacher
[SGD.] (Miss) Encarnacion Salo
Intermediate Cl. Teacher
[SGD.] (Mrs.) Teodora L. Marallag
Home Economics Teacher
[SGD.] (Miss) Iderlina Cumagun
Primary Cl. Teacher

[Table of Contents]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - HISTORY PAGES
History and Cultural Life of the Town
History and Cultural Life of the Barrios
1
Andarayan
Bangag
Bantay
Basi
Bauan
Cabaruan and Maguirig
Calamagui
Carilucud
Cattaran
Dassun and Its Sitios
Gadu
Iraga
Lanna
Lannig and Its Sitios
Nangalisan and Lingu
Padul
Parog-parog
Pataya
4
7
9
10
12
14
17
18
19
20
23
25
29
31
34
37
38
39
PART TWO - FOLKWAYS
Traditions, Customs, and Practices:
Conception
Birth
Baptism
Courtship
Marriage
Studies
Making Trips
Visits
Punishments
Building a House
Festivals
Planting
Harvesting
Storing Crops
Care of the Sick
Death
Burial
40
41
44
46
48
50
51
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
57
59
61
Myths, Legends, Beliefs, and Interpretations:
Origin of the World
Sun
Moon
Stars
Eclipses
Earthquakes
Lightning and Thunder
Clouds
Rain
Storms
Rainbows
Comets
62
62
62
62
63
63
63
64
64
64
65
65

[Part One Cover]

PART ONE:
- 0 -
H I S T O R Y

[p. 1]

The present official name of the town is Solana.

Formerly, the municipality of Solana was a part of Tuguegarao. It was called "Marague" because of a lonely house built by Florencio Marague at the bank of the Cagayan River opposite the barrio of Annafunan, Tuguegarao.

The town was established on August 19, 1852. It was named "Solana" in honor of the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines, Don Antonio Urbiztondo, Marquez de Solana of Spain.

The founders of the town were Alonzo Ligot, Juan Bayona, Jose Bulauitan, Mariano Lasam, Vicente Maddela, Cayetano Miguel, Felipe Lorenzo, Antonio de Asis, and Tomas Pagulayan.

Cayetano Miguel and Felipe Lorenzo were both Ilocano traders. They helped in the establishment of the town and were the ones who masterminded the bringing of Ilocano immigrants from Ilocos Norte to Solana. These groups of migrants were each headed by Ligot, Teodoro Felix, Felipe Lorenzo, Cayetano Miguel, Castro, Perez, Castillo, Romaro, Sto. Tomas, Alcantara, Marzan, Rola, and Singson. Other groups of immigrants came from Pangasinan led by Pio Guaring, from Capiz led by Lacerna, and from Tuguegarao led by Vicente Carag and Gabriel Lasam, respectively.

Names of persons who held official positions in the community:

A. During the Spanish Time: I (Gobernadorcillo)

1. Mariano Lasam
2. Domingo Lasam
3. Agustin Lasam
4. Vicente Carag
5. Pedro Lasam
6. Antonio de Asis
7. Juan Taguba
8. Alonzo Ligot
9. Vicente Maddela
10. Juan Bayona
11. Jose Canilan
12. Octavio Bayona
13. Jacobo Caronan
14. Juan Bulauitan
15. Gabriel Lasam
16. Domingo Tangan
17. Jose de Asis

II. Tenientes Absoluto

1. Jose Gauilan
2. Teodoro Aparri
3. Francisco Tomas

III. Cura Parroco

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Rev. Fr. Agustin Calvo
Rev. Fr. Juan Flores
Rev. Fr. Remigio Tamayac
Rev. Fr. Nicomedes Delgado
Rev. Fr. Casimiro Gonzales
Rev. Fr. Exiquiel Pimelia
Rev. Fr. Francisco Bueno
Rev. Fr. Nicomedes Delgado
Rev. Fr. Domingo Champus
Rev. Fr. Cipriano Diaz
Rev. Fr. Victorio Nijera
Rev. Fr. Alvario Jaramillo
Rev. Fr. Gregorio Ballesteros
Rev. Fr. Potenciano Cuntapay
Rev. Fr. Simeon Villalobos
1852-1864
1865-1871
1872-1878
1879
1879-1880
1881-1882
1882-1883
1883-1890
1890-1893
1894-1898
1898-1899
1899-1916
1916-1919
1919-1921
1921-1925

[p. 2]

III. Cura Parroco

16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Rev. Fr. Proceso T. Cortez
Rev. Fr. Juan Malamug
Rev. Fr. Timoteo Rigos
Rev. Fr. Pablo Callueng
Rev. Fr. Paulino Angngangan
Rev. Fr. Felicisimo Herrera
1925-1929
1929
1929-1930
1930-1935
1935-1943
1943 to the present

IV. Jueces de Sementera y Policia (Directorcillo)

1. Vicente Cumagun 2. Hermogenes Arrizabal

V. Maestro Municipal

1. Antonio Mangabang 2. Gabriel Lasam

B. During the American Regime:

Years President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Chief of Police
1900-1903
1903-1905
1905-1907
1907-1909
1909-1916

1916-1919
1919-1923
1923-1926
1926-1929
1929-1938
1938-1939
1939-1941
1941-1942
Vicente Carag
Gabriel Lasam
Guillermo Lugot
Miguel Carag
Tomas Lasam

Juan Lasam
Manuel Perez
Abelardo Caronan
Jacinto Danga
Francisco Caronan
Pedro Battung
Vicente Calimag
Francisco Caronan
F. Tomas
A. Maddela
G. Avena
J. Lasam
N. Cepeda
A. Romero
P. Taguba
S. Balisi
R. Gumila
L. Reyes
V. Tomas
A. Lasam
A. Lasam
B. Carag
G. Ligot
G. Ligot
G. Ligot
G. Ligot
G. Ligot
G. Ligot
M. de Asis
M. de Asis
M. de Asis
M. de Asis
R. Durian
R. Durian
F. Cumagun
R. Durian
D. Tangan
J. Carag
V. Calimag
N. PeƱafiel
P. Ifurung
J. Cortez
F. Battung
G. Jaramillo
G. Jaramillo
G. Jaramillo
G. Jaramillo
G. Jaramillo
G. Jaramillo
G. Jaramillo
A. Maddela
V. Carag 2nd
J. Balisi
J. Balisi
J. Balisi
C. Tallud
G. Baliuag
G. Baliuag
J. Binarac
A. Cabalza
S. Macarubbo
S. Macarubbo
S. Macarubbo
S. Macarubbo

C. During the Japanese Occupation:

1942-
1943-1944
Colonel Pedro Bulan
Atty. Justo Caronan
S. Utlag
S. Utlag
E. Battung
N. Marallag

D. During the Military Government (Liberation):

1945-
1945-
Rufino Cepeda
Atty. Angel Hernando

E. Re-establishment of the Philippine Commonweatlh Government:

1946-
1947-
Roberto Avena
Justo Caronan
E. Lasam P. Lingan
P. Lingan
V. Carag 5th
V. Carag 5th

F. During the Philippine Republic:

1948-1951
1952-
1952-
Abelardo Lasam
Aaurellano Carag
Ceferino Bulauitan
A. de Asis
C. Bulauitan
P. Guaring
E. Lasam
J. Caronan
J. Caronan
P. Lingan
P. Lingan
P. Lingan
V. Carag 5th
V. Carag 5th
V. Carag 5th

G. Justices of the Peace

1. Hermogenes Arrizabal
2. Vicente Tallud
3. Juan Lasam
4. Eugenio Gagutan
5. Dalmacio Guillermo
6. Silvino Cannu
7. Honorio Reyes
8. Nicasio Cabalza

[p. 3]

The first site of the town was located near the mountains southwest of its present site. It is known as "Nangalisan" in Ilocano or "Nagalitan" in Ibanag. The brick floorings of the first chapel in that spot can hardly be located now because it is covered by soil and bushes. The town was transferred to its present site on account of a terrible epidemic and also for the purpose of having the town near the river, which was then the chief means of transportation.

During the Spanish occupation, the people were very peaceful and lived in contentment. Unlike in other places, there was not much corporal punishment inflicted on the people by the Spaniards. The peace and order enjoyed by the people was due to the influence and discipline imposed by the then "Jefe de Sementera y Policia," Mr. Vicente Cumagun.

During the Filipino-American War, the people did not offer any resistance to the Americans when they entered the town.

In World War II, Solana was an evacuation center. Aside from the local government of Solana, it being the temporary seats of two local governments of the neighboring towns of Tuguegarao, the capital, and Iguig, respectively. The Municipal Governments of Solana and Tuguegarao, respectively, operated in the barrio of Natappian, Solana; while that of Iguig, in the barrio of Dassun, another barrio of Solana.

During the Japanese Occupation, in the year 1941-1945, the town proper and some barrios were devastated by both the Japanese Army and the American Air Force. Many public and private buildings were either burned or destroyed. Many lives were lost. The Japanese soldiers burned houses in the town and in the barrio of Iraga. They killed many civilians.

On June 13, 1944, eleven American planes bombed and machine-gunned by mistake the American Signal Corps in Andarayan. About 150 lives were lost; plenty of animals were killed; and many houses were destroyed and burned. Most of the people who were killed were evacuees.

In 1946 and 1947, public buildings were rehabilitated with the help of the American government. Many civilians, too, received payments for their war damage claims and were able to rebuild their homes.

In 1948, Bolomen (Civilian Laborers), an organization during the liberation period, received pay from the American Army through the help of Dr. Pedro Lasam. From the financial help contributed by these laborers, the Rizal Monument in front of the Municipal Building was put up.

[Part Two Cover]

PART TWO:
- 0 -
F O L K W A Y S

[Note to the reader: Pagination skips to page 40.]

[p. 40]

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES
CONCEPTION

1. It is believed that if a woman conceiving longs for guava, lemon, eggplants, and things that are round and long, the child will be a boy; if she longs for flowers or things that are pink, and if she looks beautiful during conception, the child will be a girl.

2. The one conceiving should have ginger, garlic, or salt with her and she must loosen her hair when she takes a walk, especially at night, so that she will not be disturbed by the devil on her way.

3. She must not wait for her husband for their meals so that she will not have hardship in delivering.

4. She must not look at the chickens, not pigs that are slaughtered so that the child will not develop "Fit."

5. She must not be selfish nor must she cover food to hide it from other persons so that she will deliver easily.

6. The pregnant woman must not sit at the door or stairs so that delivery will not be delayed.

7. If a woman is conceiving, no other persons must get anything from inside the husband's pocket because this will mean a surgical operation in delivery.

8. When sleeping, the woman must put ginger, salt, and garlic at the windows so that the devil will not disturb her.

9. When a pregnant woman's neckline is black, she is supposed to have a baby boy.

10. If a pregnant woman is fond of vinegar and shrimps, her child will have deformities in his toes, fingers, and ears.

11. A pregnant woman laughing at the defects of other people will find the same defects in her child.

12. If she steps with her right foot first, her child will be a boy. If she steps with her left foot first, then her child will be a girl.

13. When visiting a woman on the family way, never hesitate to go up the stairs so that she will not have a hard time during her delivery.

14. Do not let the pregnant woman look at the eclipse, otherwise the woman or the child may die. To counteract this, a widow must shampoo her hair with rice straw ashes.

15. In the barrio of Dassun, a woman who is pregnant has several precautions to observe:

(1) She must step over the bundle of wood or bamboo to avoid the misplacement of the fetus.

(2) When there is an eclipse of the moon, a pregnant woman must take a bath and her hair must be washed by a widower.

(3) She is prohibited to see dying persons and animals.

(4) When her labor pains begin, she must at once kick the cornerstone of the house or a dog unnoticed, to relieve her pain in giving birth.

[p. 41]

BIRTH

1. When a woman is laboring, she must kick the corner post of the house so that she will deliver easily.

2. When a woman is about to deliver, she must refrain from telling it to anyone so that her delivery will not be delayed.

3. When a child is born, nobody must see the placenta, otherwise that person can become blind.

4. When a cord is about to be cut, it must be kept in a certain place in a house; it must not be thrown away so that when the child grows up, he will not marry someone from a far away place.

5. When a child is born, burn pieces of cloth near the baby so that the evil spirits that go hear him will go away, and so that the navel will get dry easily.

6. The woman must lie on an inclined bed, and near her bed must be a stove with fuel from guava trees that will be burned the whole day. This will help make the woman resume her body constituence.

7. She must drink warm water with some medicinal leaves and roots or herbs to make her strong.

8. A nursing mother, on the first meal after delivery, must not turn her eyes on the baby so that the baby will not form the habit of crying when the mother eats.

9. There must be a whip or a pair of scissors or anything sharp when the mother leaves her child. This will keep the baby safe from devils.

10. The first pillow of the newly-born baby must be a book so that he will be bright in his studies.

11. When a child is born with the cord around his sholders, he will be a future soldier or general.

12. If the child is born with a bag, he will be a lucky child for the family.

13. If a child is born in April or when there is no moon he will be a nervous child.

14. If a child is born on moonlit nights, he will be a very lucky child.

15. When the first child of a couple is a boy, the couple will be very lucky.

16. When the line from the navel to the genital organ is not straight, the couple with the baby must shampoo through a coconut shell that has money in it and then they must be wiped with a white chicken swayed to and fro so that nothing serious will happen to the family.

17. The child must be put on a winnower and swayed to and fro so that he will not be easily scared.

18. The first time a child is laid on its bed after delivery, the midwife pinches him so that he will be a humble child.

19. Do not let a newly-born baby wear new clothes because he will always demand for new clothes when he grows up.

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV

Transcribed from:
History and Cultural Life of Solana, Cagayan, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
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