MUNICIPALITY OF PITOGO, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 2

HISTORY OF PITOGO
1947–1953
By Trinidad G. Francia

1947 was the beginning of the reconstruction period. Under the leadership of the late Emilio N. Glinoga:

• Important streets were repaired
• Pescadores street was asphalted
• Gambling and drinking were minimized
• Pitogo participated in the Provincial Carnival held at Lucena, Quezon
• The price of copra was sky-high
• Founding of the New Tayabas High School
• Typhoon Jean came and wrought havoc to the town.

In 1948,

• Radios were installed in many homes
• Reconstruction and remodelling of houses
• Fishing industry was boosted with the introduction of new methods of fishing

In 1949,

• Construction of new municipal building
• Mayor Glinoga died leaving his work unfinished

In 1950,

• Vice-Mayor Anca became the mayor
• There was a change of Parish priest from Rev. Abdon Hosana to Rev. Fr. Pastor Ma. Sn. Juan
• Reconstruction of the church convent, choir and communion rails took place
• Organization of the church society, the Legion of Mary
• Huks attempted to enter the town

In the 1951 General Elections, Claudio Anca came out victorious:

• An additional class was given to Poctol Barrio School
• The 16th BCT under Lt. Nieva was stationed in town
• Pastoral visit of Bishop Obviar
• Organization of puroks was successfully effected by school officials
• As a result: Poultry projects and home gardens increased.

In 1952,

• A year of typhoons. Typhoons Amy, Trix, Wilma, etc, visited the place and destroyed crops
• Leon XIII street was asphalted
• A semi-permanent school building was erected in Sumag
• There were two additional classes -- one in Rizalino and another in Cabulihan
• The Grand Old Dad, a civic and social organization donated a flag pole to the Municipal Building.

MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, PITOGO, QUEZON

EXECUTIVES (Tenientes, Capitanes, Presidentes
and Mayors) OF PITOGO (Formerly Mabuyoc),
Pitogo, Quezon, from 1680, the year
it was founded.

FOLKWAYS
Pitogo, Quezon

Barrio folks have a lot of mistaken ideas and silly superstitions. Many believe in witchcraft. A witch is believed capable of doing all sorts of harmful things. The heavenly bodies are thought to exert great influence upon human affairs. The right time to plant, the right time to construct houses, and to do many other things is determined by the position of the moon. Any unusual appearance in the sky is thought to be a sure sign of coming disaster such as war, pestilence, etc. The glens, brooks, rivers, caves, earth mounds, big trees, are peopled with ghosts, spirits, “tianaks,” elves, “encantos,” “taong lupa,” and many other supernatural beings. These supernatural beings possess marvelous powers. They are the best of friends and the most terrible of enemies. Charms, “anting-antings” make one immune to bullets, bolos, disease. They enable the possessor to do impossible feats. Many live in fear of ghosts. There is a haunted house here and there which must be avoided.

When delivering a baby, at baptisms, during marriage ceremonies, in courtship, during funereal processions, certain things must be done and others must be avoided. To do otherwise is to court misfortune.

With all the hardships and poverty, the people are not without amusement. They are easy-going and love fiestas. Weddings, “tapusans”, birthdays, wakes, and baptisms are always times of feasting and much boisterous merriment. Excessive drinking is indulged in and it is a rare fiesta that is not featured by a free for all resulting in serious injuries to participants and non-participants alike and sometimes are attended with fatal consequences.

Majority of the people are spendthrifts. They carelessly spend all they earn. Many love to gamble. Not a few are indolent. As a result most of them are poverty-stricken.

Most homes are not partitioned. This lack of privacy is conducive to immorality and disease.

(Folkways, p. 2)
BIRTH

When a mother gives birth to a baby the placenta should be cleaned immediately so that when he grows up he will acquire the habit of cleanliness. The placenta should be wrapped in a newspaper so that the child will become talented.

The birth of a baby boy is always awaited with joyful anticipation because it is believed that when a first born is a boy it augurs good fortune.

Expectant mothers never allow visitors to stand or stay at the doorway. This will lead to a difficult delivery.

If a woman is having hardship in delivering a child she should chew some rice to lessen the ordeal.

A conceiving woman should not pass near streams and springs believed to be the abode of bad spirits.

BAPTISM

When someone is chosen to sponsor a child's baptism he should refrain from giving money as a gift because it is believed that the child would be dull in class when he grows up.

When a child has been baptized, the sponsor should rush out of the church with the child. The child will then be more talented than those who were left behind in the church.

COURTSHIP

If a man sees the moon and stars together when he goes out to visit the woman he loves, he should continue his suit for it means good luck.

In some barrios, some families still practice voluntary servitude. The family of the young man offers services in any form to the family of the young woman. They give gifts, work animals, houses or land. Usually, the ceremony is followed by feasting on local delicacies such as "suman", "kalamay", and sweets.

A young man should not court a woman who is older than he because in their wedded life he will always be dominated by the latter.

(Folkways, p. 3)
DEATH

When a member of a family dies the relatives refrain from eating gabi roots and leaves or picking fruits in bunches to avoid another death in the family.

When a person dies there is always a "bankayan" or wake when all relatives of the deceased gather in the house to pray for the dead. This is done for nine consecutive days. At the end of this period the "tapusan" is inevitable. All relatives and friends who in one way or another condoled with the bereaved family are invited to this feast.

When a person dies all mirrors are covered.

When the dead is being taken down the house, all the windows in the house are closed so that nobody can look out of the windows in that house to see the funeral cortege. One who peeps out runs the risk of immediate death.

Pressing the soil over the coffin is avoided to prevent the death of another kin.

MARRIAGE

During the marriage ceremony the groom sees to it that he does not create noise in transferring the coins to the bride's hands. People say that they will then have a harmonious companionship.

In selecting his mate a man is guided by certain established "rules". The total number of the letters in the name of the young man and woman should never be 13.

Expenses incident to marriage ceremonies and parties are always borne by the parents of the young man. There are, however, rare cases when the expenses are shared by both the bride's and the bridegroom's families.

In the wedding party the parents and relatives of the bride are served first. To do otherwise is to offend them.

At the start of the wedding ceremony the groom should step on the foot of the bride so that he will be henpecked.

(Folkways, p. 3a)

The groom and bride both hold a candle during the ceremony. If the light of the groom's candle is extinguished first he is believed doomed to an earlier death.

When the newlyweds are about to go up the stairs after the church wedding the bride should go a little ahead of the groom. In this way she will dominate her husband throughout their wedded life.

After the wedding ceremony there is a party where the guests and relatives are entertained. This party is called the "siquinan" or "galahan". The bride is led by one who knows how to dance and sing the "harrison" to the strains of a violin or guitar. The bride carries with her a bottle of wine and a cup to offer to the sponsors at the ceremony and to the relatives of the groom. Those offered then give their wedding gifts which may consist of kitchen utensils, table ware, or money. The groom does likewise but offers the wine to the bride's kin only.

RELIGION

Every Saturday afternoon at six o'clock the town people pray the rosary. People who are still at the outskirts of the town when the rosary begins have to wait for the prayers to be finished before they can resume their way to the town.

At dawn the "semana" or "sumatin" from the "tribunal" would go around the town beating the drum. This was a signal for the people to rise and say their morning prayers. Soon the pounding of play followed.

The Capitan, Teniente Mayor, the cabezas and the Teniente of the Sumatins, before going to church assemble in the tribunal. A band escorts them to church where they are assigned conspicuous places. The band escorts them back to the tribunal after the mass. This was done on Sundays and legal holidays of obligation.

In the past, during the feast of Corpus Cristi, all people had to make the "engramada" in the churchyard for the procession. This engramada was a long roof made of nipa where the priest carrying the Host passed throughout the procession.

VISITS

Visits of a family to another family lasts for days. There is always much food and wine for the guests. When the visitors leave they are given the "pabaon". A return visit is anticipated.

MYTHS AND SUPERSTITIONS

The people usually kept in their homes palms blessed on Palm Sunday. They believed that they could be protected from the elements by these palms.

A moonless night was good time to begin the kaingin. During the planting season they refrained from sharpening their bolos for they believed that the animals would have sharp teeth for their plants. During the harvest they were careful not to do any sweeping so that fortune would be theirs.

When someone in the house is cooking and the fire gives out a hissing sound, a visitor was to be expected.

One should refrain from lending money after six o'clock in the afternoon because it was believed that it would bring ill luck.

One should not plant crops when the night is dark and no stars are visible. It means that the crops will not yield much and the crops will be susceptible to pests and diseases.

Thunder and lightning are dreaded by the people. Burning leaves, especially palm leaves blessed on Palm Sunday will appease the elements.

Eclipses are said to be quarrels between the sun and moon.

Eating twin bananas will bring twin babies to an expectant mother who eats it.

Starry nights is a sure sign of good harvest, good catch in fishing and hunting.

Changes in weather hastens the ripening of palay.

One who dreams of losing a tooth will lose a kin.

Sweeping at night brings ill luck.

For good harvest, one must start a kaingin on New Year's Day. Then it should be visited on the Epiphany.

When a snake is found resting on a branch of a tree over a river, it is a sure sign that a flood is coming.

(Myths, p. 5)

A shooting star does not reach the ground because it is believed that an invisible giant catches it and tosses it back.

When an owl makes noise it means that rain will come.

Planting betelnut palms around the house is said to be a protection against thunder and lightning.

Most plants should be planted during low tides so that they would be very fruitful.

When the clouds appear red after sunset it means that there will be no rain. When the sunset is replaced by dark clouds it will rain soon.

If a branch of a tree breaks without strong wind a typhoon is coming.

When a group of swallows flies very low it is a sign that it will rain.

POPULAR AMUSEMENTS

Feasting on the ninth day of the novena.

"Harrisonan", a party where wine is served and the guests sing and dance to the accompaniment of a guitar.

Serenading.

POPULAR GAMES

Part I | Part II