MUNICIPALITY OF POLILLO, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 2

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cont'd....

"Tingnan natin kung maipagmamalaki mo iyan magpakailan man."

Kumuha ng isang dakot na buhangin ang araw at inihagis paitaas upang tamaan ang buwan. Binulag ng araw ang buwan. Tumulo ang luha ng buwan at nabasa ang buhangin sa kanyang mukha.

Magbuhat noon at magpahanggang ngayon ay makikita pa ng tao ang buhangin sa buwan. Ngayon ang araw at buwan ay magkasundo ngunit ang araw ay laging nakasimangot, samantalang ang buwan ay may bahid ng buhangin ang mukha.

- OO -

PUNONG-KAHOY

Ang Mahiwagang Puno ng Lagunde

Noong unang panahon ay may isang matandang lalaki, Sendoy ang pangalan. Namumuhay siyang mag-isa sa isang kubo at ang pagtatanim ng kamote at saging ang kanyang ikinabubuhay. Siya ay maawain sa mahihirap at pala-dasal pa.

Isang gabi pagkatapos niyang magdasal ay nakarinig siya ng isang katok sa pintuan. Nang buksan niya ang pinto ay natambad sa kanyang paningin ang isang mataas na lalaki. Sinabi nitong gagantimpalaan niya si Sendoy sa kanyang matapat na pamumuhay. Binigyan si Sendoy ng kanyang di kilalang panauhin ng isang mahiwagang bato at mga tagubilin na dapat sundin.

Kinabukasan si Sendoy ay napasa-bundok. Nang makita niya ang punong-kahoy na Lagunde ay inihagis niya ang...

mahiwagang bato sa nasabing puno. Nawala ang punong-kahoy at sa halip nito ay nakita niya ang isang landas. Sinundan niya ito hanggang sa makita ang isang halamang may magagandang bulaklak. Namitas siya at kanyang iniuwi.

Nag-init ang mabait na matanda ng tubig sa isang palayok at inilagay ang bulaklak. Ang tubig na kanyang ipaliligo ay bahagya pa lamang sumasayad sa kanyang katawan nang bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kakaibang pagbabago sa matanda niyang katawan. Ang ukbot at mahinaang si Sendoy ay bumata at lumakas nang muli. Ang kulubot niyang balat ay naging makinis. Napalundag siya sa malaking tuwa.

Si Sendoy ay nabuhay pa ng mahabang panahon. Ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagtulong sa kapwa dahil sa mahiwagang puno ng lagunde.

-O-

HALAMAN

1. Mabuti ang magtanim ng busog. 2. Itaon na marami ang bituin upang mag-ani ng marami.

PUNONG-KAHOY

1. Hindi mabuti ang mamulak o pumutol ng kahoy kung tag-ulan sapagkat madaling mabubulok at aanayin.

HAYOP

1. Ang asong ulol ay masamang maka-kagat sapagkat maaaring masiraan ng bait ang nakagat.

ARAW

1. Kapag ang panahon ay masyadong mainit o maalinsangan ay uulan.

BITUIN

1. Kapag kumikislap ang mga bituin ay nangangahulugang magpapalit ng panahon.

EKLIPSE

1. Ang babaing nagdadalang tao ay hinde kailangang tumingin sa eklipse. Kung may eklipse siya ay dapat tumigil sa bahay at kung sakaling abutin siya sa labas ay kinakailangang magtago siya sa ilalim ng punong-kahoy.

LINDOL

1. Kapag nagbabalat-buaya ang langit ay lilindol. 2. Makabubuti ang dumapa ng lapat sa lupa para matapos agad ang lindol.

KIDLAT AT KULOG

1. Mapanganib ang mamalantsa, manulsi ng damit, humawak ng matutulis na bagay o magsindi ng ilaw kapag kumikidlat at kumukulog.

ULAP

1. Kung sa paglubog ng araw ang langit ay wari’y nagbabaga ay babala na may darating na bagyo o bagyong walang ulan.

ULAN

1. Kapag ang dilim ay mababa ay uulan, at kung angat ay hindi tutuloy ang ulan. 2. Ang ambon ay karaniwang nagtatagal kaysa ulang malakas.

HANGIN

1. Kapag humuhuni ang (paluko ng bubungan) palo ay nangangahulugang malakas ang hangin. 2. Kapag nagdilim ang paligid ay babalang lalakas ang hangin.

BAGYO

1. Ayon sa mga alamat kapag ang mga bathala ay nagagalit ay bumabagyo upang ipadama sa mga tao ang parusa sa kanilang sala. 2. Kapag bumabagyo at biglang tumigil ay may bagyo pang darating na mas malakas kaysa dati.

PAPALIT NG PANAHON

1. Pag nagpapalit ng panahon ay maraming taong nagkakasakit ng sipon at trangkaso.

IBA PANG KATALAGAHAN

1. Kapag lumitaw ang kometa ay nangangahulugang magtatagutom, magkakadigma, o dili kaya ay lalasap ng kasaganaan. Pinaniniwalaang ang kometang lumabas noong 1941 ay nagkaroon ng digma. 2. Pinaniniwalaan na ang bahaghari ay umi-inom ng tubig sa mga sapa at uulan paglipas ng ilang araw.

UNANG BABAI AT LALAKI

1. (WALANG ULAT NA MAKITA TUNGKOL SA PAKSA)

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PANGANGANAK NG KAMBAL O HIGIT PA

1. Ang kasabihan kapag ang babaing nagdadalang-tao ay nakakain ng kambel na bungang-kahoy ay manganganak ng kambal o higit pa.

PAGKAKASAKIT

1. Hindi mabuti ang maligo kung araw ng Martes at Viernes sapagkat kung magkataong magkasakit ay kalimitan na ang malubha at mahirap na pagalingin. 2. May paniwalang kapag ang sakit ay laganap, halimbawa'y kolera, ang may kagagawan nito ay isang aswang na nagmamay-ari ng isang itim na tandang.

ASWANG O KULAM

1. Kapag ibig ng mangkukulam na magkasakit ang isang taong kinagagalitan ay gumagawang isang manika at tinuturukan na aspili ang parti ng katawan na ibig niyang saktan.

SALAWANGKA O MAHIKA

1. (WALANG ULAT NA MAKITA TUNGKOL SA PAKSA)

PANANAMPALATAYA

1. Karamihan sa mamamaril sa bayang ito ay naniniwalang ang gubat ay tirahan ng mga bathala, spirito o mga enkanto at itong mga ito ay may magagawang masama sa sinumang sumira sa kanilang tahanan. Kaya kinakailangang humingi muna ng pahintulot sa kanila bago pumutol ng kahoy o mamaril.

SUPERSTITIONS, BELIEFS, INTERPRETATIONS AND MYTHS
- MYTHS -

The Sun and the Moon

In the beginning only the sun and the moon could be seen above the earth. Every day they look at each other across the sky. There was nothing for the moon to look at except the face of the sun, and the sun had nothing to see but the face of the moon. They grew tired looking at each other's face.

The moon said the sun was helpless and if the former will not give him light it will be black as night itself.

The sun was displeased with what the moon said and replied that there was nothing to be proud of in being hot.

"You are so hot that people close their eyes when they look at you. As for me they are glad to see my beautiful face and they come out to take a walk under my cool light," said the moon.

This made the sun frown more. He shone so hot that the people on earth hid themselves from him. People stayed in their houses and under the trees.

The moon saw all this and she laughed and long. The sun could not control his anger anymore.

"You are boasting about your clean and beautiful face;" he said, "Let us see if you can boast of it forever."

The sun got a handful of sand and threw it across the sky against the face of the moon. The sun blinded the eyes of the moon. Her tears flowed and wet the sand on her cheeks.

The people still see the sand on the face of the moon.

The sun and the moon are at peace now, but the sun is always frowning, while the moon's face is now spotted with sand.

TREES

The Magic "Lagunde" Tree

Once there lived a very good old man named Sendoy. He lived alone in a hut and cultivated camote and banana plants for a living. He was very kind to the poor and religious too.

One night after saying his prayers, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it and there stood before him a very tall man. He said that he came there to reward Sendoy for the good life he lived. He gave Sendoy a magic pebble and gave him some directions to be followed.

The following morning Sendoy started for the mountains. When he reached the place where the "Lagunde" tree grows he threw the stone at the tree. The tree disappeared and he saw a road in its place. He followed this road until he saw a plant with beautiful flowers. He picked some of the flowers and took them home. He heated some water and put the flowers in it.

The water had hardly touched him and lo! he felt himself become young again. Sendoy became strong. His old skin changed to the skin of a young man. He jumped with great joy.

Sendoy lived for a long time. He continued to live a good life for years and years because of the magic "Lagunde" tree.

---O---

It is not advisable to cut trees during rainy days because they will rot easily and they are susceptible to termites.

---O---

PLANTS

1. It is good to plant when one's stomach is filled.
2. To harvest plenty, one must observe the presence of numerous stars.

ANIMALS

1. A mad dog's bite is dangerous because the victim is likely to become mad.

STARS

1. Twinkling stars are a sign of changes in climate.

ECLIPSE

1. A pregnant woman is not supposed to witness an eclipse. She should stay at home, or if the eclipse occurs while she is outdoors, she must go under a tree.

EARTHQUAKE

1. When the appearance of the clouds becomes scale-like, there will be an earthquake.
2. It is good to lie flat during an earthquake so that it will end immediately.
3. Earthquake is a punishment sent by Bathala to the people who neglect their duties to God.
4. Some people link the earthquake to a powerful human called Bernaldo Carpio. He shook the earth with his supernatural strength by bracing himself between two huge precipices that came closing in on him through the magic spell of the gods.

LIGHTNING AND THUNDER

1. Putting on a light, ironing clothes, mending, or handling pointed objects during lightning and thunder is dangerous.
2. Great Bathala is responsible for lightning and thunder, and it is a result of the disobedience of his people to his orders.

CLOUDS

1. When they become dark crimson at twilight, it is a sign of a coming gale or typhoon.

RAIN

1. When heavy dim clouds are near the surface of the earth, rain will fall; when they are high, even if heavy, it will not rain.
2. Drizzle or shower usually lasts longer than heavy rain.

WIND

1. A peculiar sound of the mast is a sign of strong wind.
2. When darkness prevails, the wind will become stronger.

STORMS

1. According to legend, when the gods are angry they bring a curse — the storm — to the people they want to destroy.
2. A sudden stop and calmness of a storm or typhoon is a sign of a stronger storm.

CHANGES IN CLIMATE

1. Changes in climate affect the health of the people. Many become sick during the early part of the rainy season, most of them having colds and influenza.

OTHER NATURAL PHENOMENON

1. The appearance of a comet would mean famine, war, or prosperity. It was said that the comet that appeared in 1941 brought war.
2. Rainbows appear to get water from the brooks, and it will rain after a few days.

FIRST MAN AND WOMAN

(NO AVAILABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUBJECT)

BIRTH OF TWINS OR MORE

1. A woman who delivers twins or more has eaten twin fruits or more while conceiving.

SICKNESS

1. It is not advisable to take a bath on Tuesdays and Fridays because when one gets sick it will be serious.
2. It is believed that when a disease — say cholera — is rampant, a hideous tall witch with a dark rooster is responsible for the phenomenon.

WITCHCRAFT

1. Witches can make one sick by making a miniature of one's body. The witch pins any part of the body she wants to hurt.

MAGIC

(NO INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE)

DIVINATION

1. Most hunters in the locality believe that the forest is the home of gods, spirits, and fairies who can do much harm to those who dare go and destroy their dwelling places. Permission is secured from the unseen powers before cutting rattan and lumber or before hunting birds and wild animals.

HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT POLILLO
Purok IV

I. Puzzles & Riddles:

Where the big waves of the Pacific Ocean dash along the eastern coast of the Philippines lies an island inhabited by peaceful people who depend upon fishing, farming, and commerce for their living. This is Polillo, which had been a famous place especially to the soldiers of the sea. Here hospitality had been planted by our forefathers like a golden seed in good soil which in return reaps good harvest. However, society plays an important role in the lives of the people here in spite of its being a segregated island. Merry-makings are very common. According to the old folks, during their time they made the nights short by having puzzles and riddles that helped in one way or another in developing their thinking vocabulary.

Puzzles of the like were as follows:

(1) There are 10 horses to enter 9 doors of the stable. How would it happen that the 10 horses will be accommodated since 1 horse only is enough for each door?
(2) There is a little river where only 1 boat could be accommodated. How would 2 passengers of 2 boats meeting each other — one going to the north and the other going south — reach their own destination?
(3) A big orange tree bears many fruits. It is inside the palace ground. Anybody who would be able to get them will marry the princess. How could the admirer of the princess get them?
(4) Why should a carabao go to the pond instead of the pond going near the carabao?
(5) A guava tree is planted across the bank of the river. On the river are big crocodiles. If the guava tree will serve as a cure to the sick, how could one interested in it attempt to cross the river?
(6) A delicious cake is guarded by a big and fierce dog. Anybody who will get near it would be bitten by the dog and would surely die. One man attempted to get it. How did he make the approach?

At times riddles that in one way or another helped in developing their vocabulary were being played by our forefathers. Riddles then became famous.

They are as follows:

1. 1 + 2 + ha + 2 is what? (Fortunato)
2. I cut the moon (Catmon)
3. You could feel but you can’t see it (wind)
4. A grain of rice that could fill a house (light)
5. Nice to eat but hard to get (Pelinut)
6. You could carry it but it could carry you (shoes)
7. At daytime they are wide but at nighttime are long (mats)

8. They are long, very long and have many rooms (bamboo)
9. Red charcoal when hanging but good for eating (bola-la)
10. It eats you but you can't eat it (crow)
11. The boat is sailing when the captain is sleeping (dead)

PROVERBS & SAYINGS:

People here during the former days were very sensitive and closely devoted to what they did and said. They were strong believers in proverbs and sayings pertaining to the following:

(a) Planting crops -

1. They never sow the grains or seeds of palay when the moon is diminishing.
2. Their best day is Friday.
3. They plant root crops and vegetables when it is low tide, especially at noon time, believing that they would reap plenty of harvests.
4. They plant these without talking so that the plants will not be eaten by monkeys or other plant enemies.
5. They plant these plants when there is a full moon.
6. They still believe in anitos in planting, such as planting with some kinds of twigs that serve as their bolos, sometimes after eating with full satisfaction, sometimes wearing thin clothes, or even to the extent of being bare.

(b) In harvesting these crops -

1. They don't put the first harvest directly on the charcoal, believing that the rest of the crops will be destroyed.
2. They don't gather or harvest with sharp bolos.
3. They cook the first harvest and consume it all.
4. They don't cut their hair or beards until the harvest season is over.

(c) Building homes -

1. Nobody builds his own home when there is no moon.
2. Nobody would dare use materials that have holes (in case of wood), believing that the inhabitants of the house would be sickly.
3. In erecting posts, they see to it that the posts bend outward instead of bending inward.
4. They verify that the ground where they erect the house is well cleaned and that no remaining old housing materials can be found there.
5. They construct their houses during the months that have no letter “r.”

GOING TO WAR (ANITOS)

1. By the use of their anitos, they are free from the attack of their enemies.
2. Bullets lose their effect on them.
3. Rifles or other firearms lose their power.
4. They could hardly be seen by their enemies, although they could see them.

MARRIAGES

1. People never marry during feast days.
2. They never marry during the months and days that have no letter “r.”
3. In forming the celebration, the newlyweds are asked to shake their hands tightly and never make slight noise so that the couple will not be quarrelsome.
4. The first half who will reach or step on the first stair is believed to be more powerful.
5. When the veil falls down, it means a bad omen.

BAPTISM

1. Same as in weddings — when the candle light is put out, the life of the child is believed to be short.
2. When the cap that the priest puts over the head/heart of the child happens to fall, it is a bad omen for the father.
3. In the celebration, when a kitchen utensil happens to be broken into pieces, it means poor health for the newly baptized child.

DEATH

1. When a man dies on Saturday, it is considered a good death.
2. When a man dies and he has many obligations, it is believed that his spirit becomes a wandering dew and asks for forgiveness.
3. When a sinful man dies, he is believed to disturb his housemates and haunt the house where he died.
4. After the third day of his burial, the soul comes back and visits the bereaved family.

METHODS OF MEASURING TIME

1. Applying one's calculation to the place of the sun. A man could tell the time by calculating the position of the sun. When it is daybreak, he could say it is almost 5 o’clock in the morning. When the sun goes up about a meter from such place, it is 6 o’clock, and so on, until he could detect that it is 12 o’clock when the sun shines directly and straight on the creatures on earth.
2. One’s shadow — People could tell time by their own shadow. They stand up when the sun shines bright enough.

With his shadow he could tell that it's 12 o'clock because he steps on his shadow. When said shadow becomes longer or shorter, he could determine the time too.

3. The tide and the moon. With the help of the moon and the tide, people could also tell the time. The position of the moon coincides with the tide. People could say it's 12 o'clock in the evening, etc.
4. The crowing of the cock. When the cock crows at night, it's 10 o'clock. When it's daybreak and the cock crows, it's about 4 o'clock. When it crows successively, it's already 6 o'clock when everybody should wake up. Then came the discovery of the watch when everybody was well informed about the time.

Regarding the calendar, there was known to be had but was brought by the Spaniards to the islands until 1929 when our wise Honorio Lopez made one in the name of the Philippines.

IV. OTHER FOLKTALES

Polillo was strongly fortified with a stonewall and four castles built under the auspices of the Spanish government. It was erected to serve as defense from the cruel Moros that were taking advantage over the Christians. An old story was stated this way:

One time the Moro boats were seen in the distant horizon. The natives knew of course about their mission in coming there, so they agreed together to put some amount of sand, chaff, and pebbles in their sacks of rice. They put some grains of rice to fill up those sacks before they went to their hiding places. When the Moros came, they were very happy and without hesitation they got those sacks and loaded their boats. In that way the natives were able to fool the warlike Moros.

V. Information on books and documents creating the Philippines and names of their owners.

(No record nor exact information about the above could be found)

VI. Names of Filipino authors born or residing in the community, the titles and subjects of their work whether printed or in manuscript, the names of the persons possessing them.

(Polillo had been very unfortunate to have no son or daughter whose golden name could be written in the pages of the islands’ memorandum)

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