MUNICIPALITY OF PAGBILAO, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 3

This transcription was created with the assistance of AI-technology.

ANG UNGGOY

Sa isang pulo sa timog nitong Pilipinas ay may isang haring malupit. Maging ang reyna niya ay masama ang ugali, kaya lihim silang kinamumuhian ng mga taong bayan. Sapagkat sila ang hari at reyna ay sila ay iginagalang din. Ang mag-asawang ito ay mayaman. Ang kanilang palasyo ay puno na ng mga mamahaling kasangkapan. Sa kanilang imbakan ay may sari-saring pagkain at alak na sa malayong bansa pa nanggaling.

Mahilig sa kasayahan ang hari. Malimit silang maghanda. Ang lahat ng kanilang kapanalig ay may dugong mahal. Malupit man at masungit ang mag-asawa’y nakagiliw rin sa kanila. Isang araw ay nagpista sa palasyo ang hari. Tatlong mahahabang hapag ng pagkain na pawang puno ang nakahanda doon, at sila ay pawang masasaya.

Isang matandang babaeng nanglilimahid ang lumapit sa isang hapag ng pagkain at humingi ng limos sa mga naroroon. Ipinagtabuyan siya ng mga panauhin. Lumipat ang matandang babae sa ikalawang hapag at tulad sa una’y ipinagtabuyan din siya at pinagkaitan ng pagkain. Lumipat siya sa hapag ng hari at reyna. “Para na inyong awa”, ang sabi ng matandang babae. “Pahingin ninyo ako ng kaunting pagkain”, “gutom na gutom ako”. Nandilat ang mata ng reyna. Itunlak ang matandang babae. “Lumayas ka rito, ang piging na ito ay para sa matataas na tao at hindi sa mga pulubing katulad mo”, nagtawahan ang mga panauhin, kinuha ang kanilang kutsara at ipinukol sa pulubi. Ang hari naman ay humalakhak, “sige ang sabi ng hari, magpaligsahan kayo.”

sa pagpapatama ng kutsara sa kanyang matigas na ulo. May ganting pala ang unang makatama sa tuktok ng matanda. Walang malamang gawin ang pulubi. Isa man ay walang nagtanggol sa kanya.

Biglang nagliwanag sa kinaroroonan ng matanda. Nawala siya at sa kanyang kinatatayuan ay may lumitaw na isang magandang dalaga na nakasuot ng puti. Ang mukha niya'y nagliwanag at nakasisilaw. Nahintakutan ang lahat. Kaya ang wika ng babaing may tinig na tumatagos sa puso, "Ay malulupit na tao", isa man sa inyo'y walang may magandang loob. Dahil dito'y magiging hayop kayo, hayop na mukhang tao at maaaring kumilos na parang tao rin.

Pagkawika nito ang mga kutsarang inihagis sa kanyang ulo ay nadikit sa puwit ng mga panauhan, ang mga damit nila ay nahalihan ng mahahabang balahibo, humaba ang kanilang kamay at nang tangkain nilang magsalita ay wala silang masabi kundi kurak! Napahiya sila sa kanilang anyo. Nagtakbó sila sa kagubatan at simula noo'y doon na sila nanirahan. Sila ang kauna-unahang unggoy rito sa Pilipinas.

JUAN AND THE ELF

One day a farmer named Juan was walking to town from his home in the barrio. It was market day, and Juan was going to town to buy many things he needed for his farm.

While he was walking, he came upon a crying baby. He had no clothes on whatsoever, and he looked only a few days old.

"I wonder who left this baby here. What a cruel mother she is". The elf was crying hard, and Juan thought he was feeling cold. He unbuttoned his shirt and covered the baby to keep him warm. Immediately the baby stopped crying. "Poor thing!", said Juan. He must be hungry. I shall give him some milk as soon as I reach the town. He went on.

After a while he felt the baby under his shirt scratch his side, just under his ribs. He was tickled but he paid no attention.

"This baby must have very long and very sharp finger nails," he said to himself. "Why does it scratch so painfully?".

What Juan did was to glance for the elf to find out what the latter was doing. He casted a glance once more when he saw that it was not a baby at all but a frightful old dwarf with long sharp teeth. The monster was trying to bite into Juan's side and, in fact, had already opened a deep wound.

"You are a devil," cried Juan and he immediately dropped the elf. The elf laughed at Juan.

"Ha, ha, ha, I have tasted your blood!", he said.

JUAN'S RICE PORRIDGE

Juan was a gentleman. He had no means of livelihood. His kind mother thought of teaching him to keep a store so that he may earn a little.

She gave Juan five pesos and told him to buy meat at the market. Juan carried the meat on a pole on his shoulder to sell. He had wandered around the town but nobody bought it. When he was tired he stayed under a tree to rest. While he was resting, a dog passed by and smelled the meat.

"Will you buy some?", asked Juan. "I'll give it to you on credit and you may pay for it next week". Juan went home.

"How", as his mother tried to meet him.

"I give it on credit and will be paid on Sunday", Juan answered. "Good that you sold them all", you may take a rest", said his mother. Sunday came. Juan went to town to collect the payment. When he met the dogs, he tried to collect the payment.

"Pay your credit now!" "It is already Sunday," he called. But the dogs continued walking. He aimed to beat the dogs but the dogs growled and showed their teeth.

"You are angry!", said Juan. "If you do not like to pay you can have them."

So he went home disappointed. He told his mother what had happened. His mother said that, that is the way of business. Sometimes you lose and sometimes you gain. He was given again some money for his capital and was advised to think of some other things that might not sold on credit. Juan was very happy.

He went again to town and looked for something that he might realize some again.

He saw some syrup so he bought them. He thought of selling it in the barrio. So he began to walk. Because of the strong heat he was forced to stop under the shade of a tree. He put the syrup near the tree. Ants came and eat it. “They wanted my syrup”, he said to himself. “My friends”, he called the ants. “If you like my syrup I’ll leave them to you but you have to pay on Sunday”. He went away.

As soon as he reached home, he told his mother what happened. “Mother, my creditors are good”, Juan said. “I am hoping that they will pay on Monday.”

His mother Didi not say anything and prepared his meal. When Sunday came, Juan waked up early, bade his mother good-bye, and went away to collect the money. When he reached the tree, he saw the ants but seemed not to mind him.

“Pay your debts”, said Juan. But the ants continued going back and forth. Juan became angry. He got a piece of stick and tried to wipe out the trunk of the tree with the stick at the same time saying, “Pay your debt or else I will tell the king”. It happened that three robbers passed by, carrying three sacks of money which they stole from the king. One of them heard what Juan said.

“He will tell the king about what we did”, one of them said to his companions. “We are carrying them here. Our lives are in danger.” One of them approached Juan and placed one sack of money, “but don't tell the king about us.” The robbers went away, but Juan did not mind it. He continued wiping the ants and said, “Pay your debt or else I will tell the king”.

The robbers heard him again. "Give him the other sack we have."

One of them returned and gave the other sack to Juan. "Here is the other sack but don't tell us to the king," said one of them.

Juan was very happy and carried the two sacks of money home.

Because of joy he shouted, "Mother, mother see what I have," to his mother who was cooking the porridge. When she went out of the door, Juan was carrying the sacks up the ladder. Because he was in a hurry some of the boiling porridge spilled on Juan. Juan shouted because of the boiling porridge. His face was burned. Several years passed and Juan became rich.

One day Juan was brought before the king by the soldiers. "When did you acquire these richness, Juan?" the king asked. "Honorable King, a long time already. It was during that time when it rained in porridge." "If you want to believe, this scar in my face was made when some of the porridge fell on my face," said Juan. "Were I the king already that time?" the king asked again.

"No, you were not the king yet, and if you were already king you will have some burns like mine."

The king nodded. "You can go home now, Juan." Juan went home happily. He thought of how the porridge saved him.

JUAN, THE JOKER

Juan is a man by nature a joker. He jokes not to embarrass anybody. He is a character of jokes, which God has given him.

One time, he went to a fiesta in a nearby town. He brought with him three pigs to be sold in that town. Upon reaching the town, he saw many people gathering around the plaza near the church, listening to a meeting presided by the town mayor. He tried to reach the bandstand where the town mayor was speaking, but the three pigs he was carrying grunted. Trying to stop the noise, he covered the mouths of the pigs, but to no avail.

The town mayor, hearing the pigs' noise, looked toward where the noise came.

Upon seeing Juan, the town mayor said, "Juan, what are you going to say that your pigs make a noise? Step out of this town right now and never again try to step on the ground of Bustos."

Hearing the words of the town mayor, Juan went to his hometown, San Ildefonso.

A year passed. It was again the town fiesta of Bustos. Juan wanted to attend the town fiesta, but he remembered the mayor's words that if he went there, he would be brought to prison. Nevertheless, he tried to think of some way to attend the town fiesta. A mass was heard by thousands of people, and Juan was one of them. Inside the church, there was a scandal because of Juan's different looks.

Not long after, somebody told the mayor about him — that Juan was in the church riding on a cart driven by a carabao and never stepping out of it.

The mayor, upon hearing the news, at once went to the church.

riding on a cart driven by a carabao and never stepping out of it.

The mayor, upon hearing the news, at once went to the church and asked Juan, “Juan, come with me and I’ll put you in prison. Haven’t you remembered that I said you can never step on the ground of Bustos again?”

“Mayor, what you said was true. I never got out of my cart. Do you see the soil in this cart?” Juan answered, continuing, “Here I step, but the soil is not of this town Bustos, but the soil of my hometown, San Ildefonso.”

The mayor, upon hearing Juan’s answer, just laughed, for he knew that Juan was right and he couldn’t make a complaint about it.

[Note: This page was transcribed from a handwritten document. The preceding page was missing.]

riding on a cart driven by a carabao and never stepping out of it.

The mayor, upon hearing the news, at once went to the church and asked, “Juan, come with me and I’ll put you in prison. Haven’t you remembered that I said you can never step on the ground of Bustos again?”

“Mayor, what you said was true. I never got out of my cart. I sleep here, but the soil is not of this town Bustos, but the soil of my hometown, San Ildefonso.”

The mayor, upon hearing Juan’s answer, just laughed, for he knew that Juan was right and he couldn’t make a complaint about it.

THE NOISY POT

What did Juan do to the pot? The thieves had a mission.

“Hey Juan, you are in charge of cooking rice now,” commanded the thieves. “We are going out for a walk.”

“Yes, sir,” answered Juan.

“Don’t ever make noise,” said the thieves.

“Yes sir, no sir,” answered Juan.

“You ought to remember the time when you beat the drum and one of our partners was caught. Remember this, Juan — never make a noise,” the thieves said.

“No sir, yes sir,” Juan replied.

“If somebody tries to make a noise, strike him on the head,” the thieves advised.

“Yes sir, yes sir,” said Juan.

“Who must you strike on the head?”

“Yes sir, anybody sir.” The thieves left and Juan remained.

Then Juan cooked the rice. When the rice reached the boiling point, he heard the noise in the pot. “Ss‑sh‑sh. Don’t make a noise,” Juan said. But the noise still continued because of the boiling of the rice.

Juan got a piece of wood and again angrily said, “I told you not to make a noise. Don’t you see what I am holding in my hand?” It was a piece of wood. “I am liable to break you down, so don’t make a noise.” Still the boiling rice kept making a noise. In the heat, Juan struck the pot very hard. The pot was broken to pieces. He said, “I told you, ha.”

When the thieves came, they saw the broken pot. “Why is

“Why is the pot broken?” they asked Juan. “Don’t you know that the pot is so dear? Who broke the pot?”

Juan replied, “I did, sir. I struck the pot.”

Juan is a man now, but he does not know how to earn a living. So his mother thought that Juan should be taught to earn even a single penny.

His mother gave him five pesos, but he did not know how to earn a living.

His mother gave him five pesos to buy meat to be sold. He walked and walked around the town bringing the meat, but still no one tried to buy it. Upon resting under a tree to ease his tiredness, a dog passed by and smelled the meat.

“Are you going to buy?” asked Juan. “Here, get this and be sure that you will pay me on Sunday.” Then Juan went home.

“Well, how is your earning?” asked his mother.

“I gave them on debt, but will be paid on Sunday,” replied Juan.

“Good, my son, that you have sold the meat. Now take a rest,” his mother said.

Then Sunday came. Juan went to town to collect his debt. He saw the dog and said, “Hey, pay me now, for it is already Sunday!” But the dog just continued walking. Juan motioned to beat the dog, but the dog wanted to fight back.

“You are still the one angered. If you don’t like to pay me, the meat is yours!” Juan said, and he went home in despair. Upon reaching his home, he told everything to his mother.

“Never mind, Juan.”

JUAN AND THE PHILOSOPHER

In the town of Duhat there lived a young man named Juan. Being the son of poor parents, he was not able to study in school. But even then he was popular in the community for he was a good mixer.

One day an old philosopher came to the town. He went from place to place in search of a person who would succeed him as a philosopher.

With the help of the head of the town, he initiated a contest in which anybody was given the privilege to participate. To the winner he would offer a big reward, and he would teach him or her philosophy.

The contest was to be held in the town plaza in which everybody would be invited to witness.

When Juan heard this, he decided to enter the contest. Many laughed at his idea, for everybody knew that he was illiterate and could do nothing in the contest.

On the specified time set for the contest, Juan was the first to arrive in the town plaza. Many people came, for they wished to see the philosopher in the contest.

At the outset, the old philosopher announced the nature and the details of the contest to be followed.

He told the people that the questions and answers would be done by the motions of fingers. Verbal or oral conversations would not be allowed. Then he asked the public who among them would participate. Nobody responded except Juan, who raised his hand and told the philosopher that he was determined to be one of them. The people were astonished at the courage of Juan. Again the people laughed at him. When the

When the philosopher asked him if he was really Juan, he stood up immediately, faced the audience, and requested the philosopher to begin the contest.

Now the first question was asked. The old philosopher raised one of his right-hand fingers and wiggled it near Juan’s face. Juan answered by raising his three fingers.

“Correct,” the philosopher told him.

The people applauded Juan with a shout.

Now the second question was given. The philosopher raised again one of his fingers, pointing it upward and then downward. Juan seemed enraged with that question. His face became red, and he answered it this way — he raised his two hands and waved them back and forth near the face of the philosopher. The answer surprised him very much. He embraced Juan to show his appreciation. All the people were also astonished.

Now the contest was terminated. The philosopher proclaimed to the people that Juan was the winner and that he would receive the grand prize he had to offer. He added also that Juan was a young, talented man.

The people prepared a great feast for Juan. They considered Juan as a conquering hero. During the feast, some of Juan’s admirers picked him up on their shoulders and carried him around the town.

The old philosopher explained to the people why he chose Juan as the winner.

“When I raised one of my right-hand fingers, I was telling Juan that there is only one God,” explained the philosopher. “Juan raised his three fingers, which he meant to say that

“There are three personified gods,” continued the philosopher.

“In my second question, I pointed my finger to heaven and to the earth. Juan waved his two hands, which he meant to say that God is everywhere He created. Juan is really a wise man. He has a bright future,” added the philosopher.

Then Juan was asked to explain, but his meaning and interpretation were different from that of the philosopher.

Juan said, “The philosopher was afraid of me, that’s why he made me the winner. When he first raised one of his fingers, he meant to say he was going to pull one of my teeth. I raised at once three of my fingers, which I meant to say I shall pull out three of his teeth. So he was afraid of me.”

After all, the old philosopher handed Juan the grand prize which he had promised.

“There are three personified gods,” continued the philosopher.

“In my second question, I pointed my finger to heaven and to the earth. Juan waved his two hands, which he meant to say that God is everywhere He created. Juan is really a wise man. He has a bright future,” added the philosopher.

Then Juan was asked to explain, but his meaning and interpretation were different from that of the philosopher.

Juan said, “The philosopher was afraid of me, that’s why he made me the winner. When he first raised one of his fingers, he meant to say he was going to pull one of my teeth. I raised at once three of my fingers, which I meant to say I shall pull out three of his teeth. So he was afraid of me.”

After all, the old philosopher handed Juan the grand prize which he had promised.

Instantly there grew wings. She stepped on the window and flew up in the dark. Then the daughter followed what the mother did.

Juan’s discovery proved his suspicions. He made up his mind to find out if the secret he saw would work with him. He took off his clothes, stepped on the window, and reached the bottle from its hiding place. Then he applied its contents on both sides of his body. Instantly wings grew on his sides. In a few minutes he was flying in the dark too. He knew not where he was going, but after an hour or more, he felt that his wings were leading him toward a fixed place. In a few minutes he alighted on the top of a big tree. Juan discovered that under the said tree was the meeting place of the witches. He was extremely astonished at the sight of so many witches gathered under the tree. He could not help shouting these words — “Ha, there you are!”

All the witches were frightened. Hurriedly they flew away from the tree, making a horrible sound — “kek, kek, kek.” Juan then was left alone in the tree. Fearing he might lose his way, he decided not to leave the place. He did not know where he was. The whole day he just ate wild fruits.

The following night, he climbed up the tree again. At midnight he heard from above the noise of wings and the sound “kek, kek, kek.” In a few minutes there appeared before him his beloved sweetheart, who was no other than his companion in the house who was looking for him.

The girl told Juan that he was not a witch, that he was now one among the group of witches because he applied the

His body had the content of the small bottle. Not long after, the girl held him to go home. She applied something on Juan’s sides and at once they flew together up in the dark.

As they were flying, the girl revealed to Juan that in a barrio where they would pass there was a dead baby. She told him that they were going to get him because his flesh was tender and the liver was delicious. Juan did not show any sign of unwillingness although it was against his conscience.

When they came to a small house where the dead baby was lying, they both alighted in the backyard. The girl came nearer the house and peeped through a small hole in the wall. She saw that some persons were still awake. Suddenly the girl changed herself into a black cat and went up the house. She approached the dead baby and sniffed at him. The watcher saw her and drove her down the stairs. After a few minutes she took another form again — a big white dog — and approached once more the dead baby, but she was driven and beaten by the watcher. The girl told Juan that it was very difficult to get the dead baby.

Knowing that nobody was awake in the house, the girl flew to the roof. Juan saw from his hiding place that she descended slowly from the roof to the floor. She picked up the dead baby and went to the open window as fast as she could. She called Juan and handed to him the dead. Juan was really very much frightened, but he was able to keep it from being noticed by his sweetheart. Immediately they flew away toward home, taking with them the dead body.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

BAPTISM:

A godmother or a godfather is selected for a child to be baptized. For a boy, the godfather takes charge of all the expenses in church or provides clothing for him. For a girl, the godmother does the same. In some cases there is a baptismal party, a luncheon, or a get‑together with the godmother and the godfather.

The parents of the child baptized call the godfather “Kumpadre” and the godmother “Kumadre”.

On December 25, the child goes to his godfather or godmother and kisses their hands. In return they give him money or some food.

MARRIAGE:

A gentleman who is courting a girl usually invites friends or gangs to join him in the “Harana”. This term implies the singing of any member of the group accompanied by a guitar or a violin, the song especially dedicated to the girl courted. The first song is an introducing or waking‑up song, and the last is about farewell.

If the boy and the girl already have an understanding, he reveals everything to his father. When the father agrees, he with them or some relatives go to the girl’s house and bring with them some food and drinks. The fathers of both parties talk about the matter. We call this the “pamanikan”.

When they have agreed, the parents of the girl ask something from the other party, such as clearing the land owned by the girl, or building a new house for the newly wed, or in some cases money is given to them.

When all of these are done, the parents set aside a definite date for the marriage. They also prepare something which is to be used in the marriage.

The boy usually provides for these.

In case of elopement, the above customs are disregarded. A girl who elopes is brought to the house of a councilor, mayor, vice‑mayor, or judge. The parents of the boy ask the consent of the other party to marry them at the earliest possible date.

After the marriage ceremony, there is rejoicing of all the relatives from both parties, such as drinking, “awitan,” etc.

When a widow or a widower is to be married, there is no preparation whatsoever.

DEATH:

If a family member dies, the best clothing, stockings, and the most precious jewelry are worn. Immediately after dressing, one on each corner with sojourn lighted candles of the coffin.

The relatives of the deceased, their neighbors, and friends go to the house concerned and play as many games, like the “prindahan,” etc.

The next day, the dead is passed to the church if he is a Catholic, and then directly to the cemetery. But in case of non‑Catholics, another place is set aside for them.

Prayers are said for nine consecutive days, and during the ninth day there is a little preparation. This is called “siyaman.”

After a year, the relatives of the deceased are no longer in mourning. Prayers are again said for the dead.

During All Saints’ Day, the graves of the dead are cleaned. Flowers or wreaths are laid as a sign of honor or remembrance.

GOING TO CHURCH:

People go to church on Sundays and other holidays. The most

Transcribed from: Historical Data of the Municipality of Pagbilao, Province of Quezon, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.