MUNICIPALITY OF SARIAYA, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 1

PART I

Part I | Part II | Part III

About these Historical Data

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN OF SARIAYA AND
BARRIOS
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Part I - History

Part II - Folkways

A. Traditions, customs, and practices in domestic and social life.

B. Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions, etc.

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At the event of the coming of the Americans on January 20, 1900, the title "PRESIDENTS" was conferred to the town head.

1901 - Ramon de Luna

On July 14, Spain turned over the Philippines to the government of the U.S. of America.

1902 - Mariano Herrera, his term marked the beginning of politics.

1904-1905 - Maximo Rodriguez

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On March 10 the short cut road from Sariaya to Lucena was paved.

1906–1907 – Catalino Rodriguez

The “Kaputsinos” were driven away coincided with the President (Quezon) American Commandant’s tour.

1908–1909 – Pastor Espinosa

1910–1912 – Maximo Rodriguez

1913 – Julian Gala

1914–1916 – Rufino Rodriguez

On September 15, 1914, the water system having its source at the foot of Mt. Banahaw was finished.

1917–1919 – Ciriaco Diasanta — Construction of the concrete public house of Sariaya was begun. Canals used for toilet purposes were cemented.

1920–1922 – Quirino Enriquez — The Electric light system was installed in the town.

1923–1925 – Hilarion Valderas — The Liberal Reformista Party was founded during his term. It was also during his incumbency that the Rizal Monument was inaugurated.

1926–1928 – Lorenzo de Villa — Construction of the road to Bignay was terminated.

1929–1931 – Hilarion Valderas

1932–1937 – Natalio Enriquez

1938–1940 – Antonio Alcala

1941–1943 – Sinforoso Rodriguez

1944–1945 – Timoteo Mendoza (Japanese Occupation)

1946–1951 – Sisenando Alcantara (Republic of the Philippines)

1952–1955 – Andres Remo (Republic of the Philippines)

Data on historical sites, structures, buildings and old ruins, etc.

(a) In the year 1599 the Franciscan missionaries came to spread the faith in the place which is now called Castañas, where a small town was made. The first settlers then where fishermen. A chapel was erected under the protection of the town patron, St. Francis of Assisi. The first settlers helped in the erection of the small chapel. After some years a church was constructed to replace the chapel. This was during the year 1605.

(b) The inhabitants suffered repeated attacks from the Moros. This resulted to the transfer of the town at a distance of 6 kms. from the former site. In 1703, Sariaya was transferred again to a height of 3 kms. more in the place which at present bears the name Tumbaga, also known as Lumang-Bayan. In this spot, the town and the church were built by a population of about 3,000. Since the founding of this spot, the people suffered disasters and difficulties; among which, was the repeated attacks by the Moros. In all these calamities, the Image of Jesus Christ served as the deliverer of the people.

In one of these attacks of the Moros from Mindanao, the town was set on fire before the pirates left. Before the town people could recover from the misfortune, another calamities came, the earthquake of 1743. This encouraged the natives to transfer to another site. A legend in connection with the transfer says that the Image of Jesus was always found in the place where the present church was erected. The Image was placed in a little chapel, built after the church in Tumbaga was burned; but that Image was always disappearing from that chapel. Because of this incident, it was decided that the church be built on this spot and the town Sariaya is around it. That was how the present location was founded. The old church ruin in Tumbaga can still be seen.

Important facts, incidents or events that took place:-

(a) During the Spanish Occupation:!

1. Eruption and flood;
a. Dec. 1530, Mt. Banahaw erupted. This disaster was repeated on Jan. 18, 1909. Flood of stones and mud followed.
2. Earthquake of 1743 which destroyed Lumangbayan now Tumbaga:
3. Epidemics:
a. In 1756 & 1786 which caused numerous deaths.
b. In 1762 & 1827, smallpox epidemics.
c. In 1866 & 1882, cholera "

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4. Natural phenomena:-

a. In 1806, it rained ashes.
b. In March of the same year a total sun eclipse occurred.

5. Conflagration:

a. In 1831, many houses were burned.
b. In 1847, more " " " "
c. In 1867, fire started from the "Cuartel ng impanteriya" on Christmas Day. Forty three (43) houses were burned.

6. Attacks of bandits:

a. In 1838, "tulisan" attacked the town.
b. In 1853, bandits captured "Casa Real" and burned before leaving. The Commissioners were shot.
c. In 1912, Bandits 1912, bandits from Maong attacked the Municipal Building.

7. Pests:

In 1868, cow and carabao pests caused the death of many of our work animals.

8. War:-

a. In 1846, clash with bandits.
b. In 1899, coming of the Americans. Townspeople took refuge in the barrios. The former burned Muntingbayan.

(b) During the American Occupation to World War II:-

1. On Feb. 1900 the American Colonel ordered that the people may go back to their homes in the town. The latter part of that month was a period of suspense and uncertainty. The American forces gradually increased and as time went on, the town people became friendly to them. They came out from their hiding places for fear of the bandits. They returned to their homes in the town and those whose houses were burned, began to build new ones. The Americans helped the town people materially and financially, and the bandits who dragged on the conflict, finally surrendered to the Americans.
2. The nature of the American rule for the period was military, which ended on the fourth of July, 1901, when Mr. William H. Taft was inaugurated as civil governor of the Philippines.
The best indication of the good will of America toward the Filipinos was the establishment of the public schools. The first English school in the town was established within a month after the military occupation, under the supervision of Mr. & Mrs. Kinley. There were only twelve pupils who began the first Grade English. They learned easily, for the American teachers knew little Spanish and the first group of pupils knew Spanish as they were trained in the Spanish School. When the pupils increased, they employed Filipino teachers, namely, Norberta de la Torre, Gregoria Rodriguez, Emerenciana Romas and Tomas Rama.
When the American teachers went away, the school was left under the management of those Filipinos who by that time have learned English. It is mainly through the public schools that education has become so widely diffused, educating nearly all the people of the town. But the enjoyment and peace in the town had just begun, when it was beset with misery. In addition to the havoc by war and ladronism, there were epidemics of cholera and smallpox.
3. In March of 1902 hundreds of victims were sent to their graves. The mortality was appalling, because of the inadequacy of medical aid and the ignorance of the people regarding sanitation. The town suffered not only from war, robbery and pest, but from famine. Carabaos and other draft animals were killed by the rinderpest. As a result there was a decrease in production of rice, and by the summer of 1902 famine threatened the town.
4. In May 1903 - telephone was first installed here.

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5. September 14, 1905 - It was the town fiesta when there was a commotion in the church for the curtain of the altar was burned. Many people died.

6. 1907 - The political parties of "Pula at Puti" were organized by the two candidates for President, namely Don Pastor Espinosa and Don Florencio Chanco. The parties were given those names for the former's house was painted red and the latter's house being newly built and still unpainted, was white. Other old folks said that Don Pastor Espinosa's party was called "Pula" for he was very rich and he owned much money called "onza" which was solid gold. And Don Florencio Chanco's party was called "Puti" for he was not very rich and his money was silver coins which was white.

7. 1912 - Bandits from Tiaong invaded the Municipal building at 1:30 in the evening with the intention of getting the money from the safe. The policemen defended the town's money and fortunately there was no casualty on their part but on the other hand they killed 2 bandits.

8. August 21, 1930 - The conflagration after an interval of some years occurred again. It resulted to the destruction of a fairly big number of houses.

(c) During and after World War II:-

1. Dec. 10, 1941 - Two days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the classes were temporarily closed.
2. April 18, 1944 - It was about 8:00 P.M. when Dr. Sinforoso Rodriguez was called privately by two suspicious persons. The latter asked him the amount of ₱3,000. Upon his refusal, he was threatened and shot. By mistake Mr. Justo R. Luna was also shot at that time but luckily he was not killed.
3. Aug. 1, 1944 - The tyranny of the Japanese regime became intense, thus resulting to the killing of some suspected guerrillas and others who were suspected supporting them. One Friday night, four prominent people of Sariaya were called from their houses by the Japanese soldiers and they were killed outside the town. They were Dr. Wenceslao Rodriguez, Eusebio Cortez, Dominador Vallacer and Damianar Lopez.
4. February 1945 - The Japanese commander of Sariaya ordered the wives of all men who were not in the town, to be concentrated in the St. Joseph's Academy which by that time was converted into garrison.
5. March 14, 1945 - The Japanese Military Force left the town, but before leaving they set some big houses on fire. Nobody could put out the fire and as a result about one third of the houses in town were burned. Luckily, nobody was killed. From that time the guerrillas occupied the town.
6. April 5, 1945 - The American Liberators arrived in this town. No doubt that the people rejoiced. The classes were reopened and several sources of income were created by the American Military Force.
7. Jan. 21, 1952 - Fire started from the Cine house and as there was not a single fire extinguisher in this town, the fire spread. When the firemen from Lucena and Candelaria arrived, 25 houses were already burned.

Destruction of lives, properties, institutions during wars especially in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945.

In 1899 (Jan. 15) the townspeople sought refuge in the barrios from the Americans. On Jan. 20 at 5:00, Saturday, the First Americans entered the town.

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but not one inhabitant could be seen. On Jan. 21, they set the “Munting Bayan” district on fire, as their revenge for the death of their fellow soldier who was killed by a rebel. The soldier killed was buried in the sidewalk of the church at the southern side.

The hiding place of the townspeople was located by the bandits. This served as their next point of attack. The people’s money and valuables were carried by them.

In February the American Colonel ordered that the people go back to their homes in the town.

World War II brought about havoc and misery among us. Here in Sariaya several lives were lost, plenty of buildings and other establishments were destroyed, and the hacoo was paralyzed. Little by little, reconstruction and rehabilitation are going on but there is still much to accomplish to bring about the pre-war prosperity in our town.

The practice of thrift and economy can partly solve our economic problem due to the present high cost of living. Thrift in the use of time, money, clothes and food should always be borne in mind.

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I - Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life:

A - Birth

1. It has been the belief of the people that a woman on the family way should not sleep in the direction against the current of the river. Doing otherwise may mean that a woman will meet hardships in giving birth.
2. She should not stay on the steps nor stop and sit down.
3. She should not wear the hat of the husband.
4. She should not tie any handkerchief around her neck for the cord of the baby will be twisted around the neck.
5. A pregnant woman must eat all the things she seems to like for if she does not eat a thing, the baby will have marks of what she was not able to eat.
6. The woman must be the first one to get up and she must throw her pillow below her feet.
7. A pregnant woman must not take a walk at night for she might be seen by the “Tiyanak.”
8. Anybody who may fetch the midwife or “hilot” must not come up stairs of the house.
9. He must not look back nor go back once he started to go.
10. He must carry “Buntot Pague” in order to keep the “Tiyanak” and “Aswang” away.
11. It is not good to peep at the delivery room.
12. Anybody must not stay on the doorway when someone is giving birth.
13. When cooking rice for the new mother one should see to it that when it boils no water comes out of the pot.
14. A woman who is conceiving always wears a coat and a kerchief over her head so that the child may be protected from cold.
15. At sundown she must stay at home for some bad spirits may take away the baby.
16. She is not allowed to sit on stones or places where she is not accustomed to go.
17. She must not stay near the doorway or when she goes downstairs she must not look or go back for she will have a difficult delivery.
18. She must not laugh or get angry with bad figures, illiterate persons, or to some bad pictures, for the baby will look like them.
19. She must not eat too much sugar for the baby will grow too fat in the stomach.

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20. She is prohibited to drink ice water to prevent the baby from sickness.
21. If the mother walks with the right leg always as the first step, the child is a girl.
22. If the mother’s face is pretty during the months, likely the child to be born is also a girl.
23. At about seven months, the mother goes to the midwife for proper arrangement of the child in the womb.
24. After birth, the baby’s legs are tied together to prevent them from being bow-legged.
25. On her pillow, some pages of the book are placed in order that the child may be intelligent.
26. When the baby cries very loud, that means that her godmother-to-be lives very far, but when she cries softly, her godmother will be just around the neighborhood.
27. If the mother placed the firewood in the oven too crowded, it means that she will have a hard way of delivering a child.

Before the great event, especially if it is to be the first born, the husband thoughtfully fattens dozens of chickens and prepares plenty of white polished rice for the wife to feed on after the terrible ordeal of child birth. The mother passes the time by embroidering the baby’s dresses and blankets for “toyot” or linen. At the actual delivery, oftentimes the husband, the mother-in-law, and the local midwife assist her. At most the “hilot” is more experienced than some of the common people.

During our grandmother’s time, the midwife applied the hit or miss method and hitting more than missing made quite adept in her calling.

When neighbors hear the long expected wail of the baby, they hasten to the house supposedly to help the frantic husband kill and cook the fattened chicken, but actually to take part in eating of it. Thus the house and surrounding are soon crowded with curious folks who take turn to look at the new creature, and praises can be heard from everybody.

In the event that the expectant mother succumbed to death at the hands of the “hilot”, the folks attribute to it “talaga ng Diyos”.

To make the delivery easy, the mother is given raw yolks of eggs to provide some lubrication to the foetus. The “hilot” with the husband bears down on mother’s stomach and forces the foetus out. This brute force remains to be the best means of ending mother’s labor and pains. When the mother has what they call “dagtang Kalumpang” she is made to sit on husband’s knees, to ease the hard to endure pain.

As soon as the child comes out, the “hilot” throws it into the air and catches the baby again to take away the “sawan”. The act is

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supposed to enable the child in late life to stand dizzy heights.

The placenta “inunan” is buried by the father in a bottle under the stairs of the house. Pages of important books, pencils, a pen point, a piece of music, needle, thread and other articles of educational values are buried with the “inunan” to make the child a wise man.

The first diapers and clothing of the child should be made out of old clothes in order to be assured that he will be thrifty when he grows old.

The first bath after delivery calls for much preparations. The mother do not take a bath until one month after delivery. Various barks and leaves of medicinal values are collected and boiled in water. The fragrant water is then used for bathing. A chicken to be boiled and roasted for the mother is given immediate attention.

When a woman who has been married for a long time is still without a child, she is advised to go to Obendo, Bulakan to pray to the patron saint, Santa Clara. She is supposed to have the power of endowing fertility. In the church the woman seeking a child must dance and pray in front of the saint.

Firearms are fired as soon as a baby is born. Three shots for a male child and one shot for a female child.

B- Pregnancy

1. A conceiving woman desires any kind of food, even a fruit out of season. It must be given to her no matter how. To deny her what she craves for is bad, it is believed. When she becomes fond of the fruit of a tree, all the fruits of that tree will become sour. They call this tree now “nagalihihan.” Some plants are even supposed to die when a pregnant woman takes a fancy to it.
2. A pregnant woman must not wear beads around her neck or arms or anything that makes a complete circle. They may have a bad effect to the woman wearing them.
3. The husband is warned not to make repairs in the house like nailing or tying during the period of pregnancy of his wife.

C- Baptism

1. When a baby is not to be baptized a cross must be marked on his forehead. It was believed that the evil will go away.
2. The one who carries the baby must not look back nor stop at the middle of the church. They must go direct to the altar before being baptized.
3. The mother and the sponsor must take care of the cap of the baby. When it falls is a bad omen for the baby will not live long.
4. After the ceremony, the godmother with the baby should run outside in order to be the first to go. They said that luck will always come first to the one who came first.

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5. There is no baptism until they have not prepared something for the celebration. All the mother’s savings are spent, others are credited from the landowners. There is always a “Pan-dangguhan”. When entering the church, the one carrying the baby enter first and upon leaving the godmother he usually runs infront of the other baptized child for good luck. If there are more male babies than females the child is said to be lovable.
6. It is common practice among barrio folks to have their babies christened at home in such simple rites which they aptly called “buhusan”. A man, supposed to be the priest, merely pours water on the baby’s head gently shoves a pinch of salt into its mouth, mumbles a few unintelligible words, and presto, the ceremony is over. Usually the barrio heads or big shots or owners of sari-sari stores stand as padrinos in baptism. Often times an imported man from town is solicited to be the compadre.

Formerly, a string band or compasa was invited to the baptismal party. Nowadays, the radio-phonograph is as common a thing in barrios as the six-by-six is. As it is often the case, music invites curious folks far and near but the proud father is quite prepared to meet any expenses. Months before the faithful day, he has fattened dozens of chickens, a goat or two, a few hogs sometimes even a cow, and prepared cavans of white aromatic rice. In case he has not enough cash, he recklessly borrows from a usurer, unmindful of the morrow, just so he can make his christening party the talk of the barrio.

To prelude future elopement of the child when she grew old, the person who would bring the child to the church must bid farewell to the parents before going downstairs.

D—Courtship

1. When a man is courting a lady, he is expected to pay visits to his lady love. During the olden times, a man cannot enter the house of the girl whom he is courting unless he was told to do so by the parents. The man proposes to the parents and when the parent’s consent was given, then he can talk with the girl freely. The man helps in the field work. He even fetch water from the well, pound the rice and get wood in the forest. The parents of the man come and talk about the marriage. During the visit they bring with them food to be served. They invite some of the girl’s relatives.
2. When a gentleman courts a lady he makes visits to the lady’s house usually during Sunday. When settled, the parents talked about their coming wedding ceremony.
3. When a gentleman serenades a lady, that means he is in love with her. Usually the parents meddle their daughter’s love. They choose the right husband for their daughter. When a gentleman visits her, he must first greet and talk with the parents. The lady stays in the bedroom and cannot come out unless she is called to do so. When she is going to attend some parties

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or anywhere else her mother is her chaperon always. She is not allowed to stay alone in the house. When she is engaged already, the gentleman lives with them and serves them. He works in the field with her father, carries water and gets up early in order to be praised. When the father thinks it is time to get them married, he tells him to summon and take his parents and kins called “Balungan.” The other party brings a “Delind,” that is a cock that crows but its cook. The day is settled when they set the preparation for the coming wedding with the groom bearing mostly all the expenses.

4. Barrio swains who are in love go about on moonlight night serenading their lady lovers. They pour their hearts contents into a song beneath the window of the object of their affection and wait until the father of the girl tells them to come up. In the house they take turns singing love songs, now and then requesting a song or two from the adored one. If the suit is favored by the lady’s father, he helps the family in doing odd jobs like fetching water, chopping wood for fuel, plowing the field and harvesting. His reward is a smile from his sweetheart and a promise of impending marriage some two or more years hence.

E—Marriage

1. At the wedding ceremony, both the groom and the bride are dressed with their best. The bride’s is usually given by the parents of the bridegroom. It was said that the shoes to be worn by the lady must be her own and must not be given by the opposite party. Silver coins were given or being put under the stocking to bring prosperity to the couple. When the new couple come, they meet at the stairs and offered water and sweets. Then there were dancing and singing. Before leaving the newly wed, the people give their “gala” or wedding gifts in money. In order to have plenty of offsprings, the relatives of both party break new pots or other glassware. The next day the relatives of the husband return to clean the house of the girl.
2. The gentleman will have to work from one to two years in the lady’s house usually during and after marriage. When the date of agreement comes like any other occasion they dance and eat together.
3. The marriage ceremony is not grand without wine, dancing and plenty of food. The couple when entering the church is not together side by side. During the ceremony the bride steps on the groom’s shoes a design that he must obey and follow her. When the lighted candle of the bride flickers and dies the groom will be a widower. If it is the groom’s candle, the bride will have a life longer than the groom on one side, the one whose veil remains will have a life longer than the other. Upon leaving the church the groom walks faster than the bride in order that she will follow and obey his wishes. Rice is thrown to them so that they may harvest plenty. Upon reaching home, they are offered sweet and drink in one glass in order to have a happy marriage life in the future.
4. The newly wed must be showered with rice to foster perpetual abundance and prosperity.

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There is a time to grasp other's hand during the marriage ceremony. Whoever grasped the hand tightly would dominate the other in the future. After marriage, beware from laughing or smiling while still inside the church. Any of the two who would smile first would die first.

5. If the suitor does not come up to the lady's father's standard, the later asks for a big dowry for his daughter. It may be in term of money or coconut trees or rice field. He may request the suitor's father to have his own house repaired or that the party should be big enough for all his relatives and friends to be able to attend to. The boy's father will do his best to comply to the request, for his boy threatens to commit suicide. Sometimes if he really could not do anything to meet the demands of his "balas" he convinces his boy to elope with the girl. However, if the boy is quite satisfactory to the girl's father taste, he makes all possible allowances for the opposite party's shortcomings. That is in case he literally wants his daughter to marry the boy he wants for her. In this particular case, he spends as much as his "kumpadre" does. If the other party will kill two hogs, he will kill the same number. If the other will prepare a cavan of rice, he too prepares the same amount. In short he practically helps to make the marriage a success. The ceremony is done in town but sometimes if they can afford, they let the priest come to the barrio to officiate the marriage ceremony in an improvised chapel. There is the usual dancing feasting, and drinking from the eve of the marriage which they term "Pasilungan", till the time when the groom will take his bride to his own home. The relatives won't depart however, until they have given their regalos and gala a sum which the newly wed expect from their parents and relatives. Sometimes the whole sum amounts to thousands and in the case of the poorer folks the sum is as little as fifty pesos or one hundred. Barrio wedding is too taxing in the part of the groom's family because visitors are limitless. Invited or not they come and partake of the food and wine prepared for the occasion. And barrio party could not be without any "swapang" or those who take home as much food as they could get from the party. These particular type of people which are so many in the barrio provide their family with food for the next two days and do not leave the party until only bones and gaping pots remain. There is the bad effect of hospitality, the host play sucker in the end. This proceedings exist in the barrio to this time.

F- Death and Burial customs

One of the most horrible ideas about death is that if the deceased is a mother and has left behind her several small children, she will try to take them with her to the other world or to haunt them until they get sick and die too.

To affect this horrible possibility a custom prevails that before a grave is covered the surviving children are passed over the open hole. One relative on one side of the open grave while another awaits on the other side. Ten children are then passed from one to another. At night, the youngest child is in red and wrapped with a red blanket to scare the spirit of the mother.

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All the women members of the family clan are dressed in black while the men merely put on a black ribbon in the pockets of their shirts.

Every night the members of the family gather together to recite prayers for the soul of the dead. When the ninth day after the burial comes they celebrate a “siyaman.”

It is believed that it is bad to sweep the rooms with brooms until the fourth day has come. They say that many more relatives will be swept to the grave. Before the ninth day the family do not eat vegetables that crawl on the ground. The dishes used are not piled one after another before they are washed so the dishwasher has to get the plates one by one from the table to the sink.

The most prevalent superstition about dogs is that when this animal throws back its head and howls, it is a sign of death. Many think that a dog can see the spirit of Death which is invisible to man.

When anybody in the neighborhood is sick and is very ill, it is the practice of the people to help the family. At night relatives and other friends and neighbors come and stay with them the evening. If they say that there is the “asawang” coming the men stay downstairs and watch for the witch.

When somebody dies, it has been the custom of the people to light a candle and wave it till the light is put out. They say that it is one way to let the far away relatives of the deceased know of his death. When death is too poor the people in the neighborhood help in making the coffin and take charge of the funeral.

It is the tradition to close all the windows of the house, after the dead body has been taken away. Nobody is allowed to look out of the windows. After eating the dishes are carried one by one, they are not piled up for the people believe that it will bring bad luck to the dead again. The members of the family do not sweep the floor for four days. On the fourth day they clean the house and everybody takes a bath.

This is the only time when barrio folks show by word and deed their utmost sympathy to the bereaved. The folks as one bring anything that could be of use to those who lose their loved ones. One may bring live chicken, another coffee, and sugar, still another will come lugging along two planks of wood to make a coffin with. One would remember to bring a couple of nails. He has stored which are growing rusty with age. An old neighbor might lead the prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Young men and women make wreaths and bouquets and exchange pleasantries over cups of coffee and native cakes.

The bier is carried to town by four sturdy bearers who are relieved by other men ready to take turn anytime. Only the members of the family of the deceased and near relatives follow the cortege because they just walk from the barrio to the church for the priest final blessings. No owner of any vehicle except the car for the dead itself will consent to transport the bier because they believe that it invariably results in having their engine fail. The mourners, meanwhile take the bus and wait for the cortege in the church. They then proceed to the cemetery and bury the dead amidst a deep hole so dug for the purpose by some of the men folks in the earlier part of the day.

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Do not take a bath when somebody is dead in your house especially if he is your relative or what. According to old folks you will inherit his or her sickness.

Never allow tears to fall upon the deceased to avoid the endless sufferings of his soul in the life hereafter.

Any grudge harbored against the deceased by anybody can only be repelled by hurling a stone to the casket at the time of the burial.

Women on the family way must not go with the funeral because of her baby might arise.

C- Medical Customs:

Herbolario or quack doctors treat everything from wounds to tuberculosis. They believe in “manghkuluklam” or voodoo specialists who is supposed to have powers of inflicting all kinds of ailments upon people who displease them or the enemies of those who pay them for the purpose of retaliation. People only go to a liscence physician when the sickness is far advance and is imminent and the latter gets the demise of the deceased.

The first rain of May when collected or bottled may be drunk to cure stomach trouble.

Children will be observed to be wearing around their necks, like a pendant a one centavo coin which had been struck and through which a string is passed. They are supposed to guard the young against evil. At times, they use a tiny bag wherein placed are tiny stones or special kinds of barks of trees. They say it has some “galing.”

They believed that if a person suddenly develops fever without any apparent reason, that person had been frightened by something invisible which they call “tunum.” Or a stranger had taken a fancy to the person and they call this stranger “manghkuluklob.” To cure such a situation is known as tawas. A certain magtatawas is called to conduct the pagtatawas. She prepares three coconut shells which she burns and into it throws bits of tawas and bits of coconut palm leaves which had been blessed during Palm Sunday. The smoke is fanned to the sick person and the melted tawas is used as a cure.

The rural folks overheard that the doctor is not necessary rather necessarily one who graduated with an M.D. from a medical college. He is not necessarily a person. As long as there are certain plants or animals in the vicinity, they can be made to cure any kind of disease.

It is believed that one can get cured of tuberculosis by drinking dog’s blood. A black dog is preferred for this purpose. To save a dog bite victim from lunacy or death, the dog has to be killed and the brain is to be eaten raw by the victim. Magic stones like “senang” are believed to save also the dog bite victim from death.

H- Festivals:

On festivals held in the barrio, people are very enthusiastic to do their part for the success of all. Several committees are assigned to manage the affair. Usually the managers meet and talk about what are re

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN
Part Two : Folkways

to be done. On every first week of May the people celebrate the Santa Cruz de Mayo. There are musicians, fireworks, and a big fiesta is held by the people. The barrio fiesta is held on every last week of May. There is a mass said in the barrio Chapel called the "Mulikong." There is also a procession in the afternoon. Everybody is prepared for the fiesta. Visitors from Sariaya, Lucena, and nearby barrios come to the place to witness the affair. Games are played in the school ground.

The "Suwesan" or election of the Teniente del Barrio is an important event for the people. The Teniente, Auxiliary Teniente and four other assistants contribute and manage the affair. They spend several days of preparation. All the people were invited. The town officials serve as their guests. There are also string band playing and beautiful girls are invited to dance. During the olden times and up to the present the "Pandango" or "Awitan" is very popular.

Christmas season is celebrated from December 25 to Three Kings Day. The media noche is the meal after the midnight mass. The elders gather their brood together to feast on this special meal. Everyone feel happy and firecrackers are heard everywhere. The giving of gifts begin from December 25 to January 6, which is the Three Kings Day. The children go to their "Ninang" and "Ninong" to kiss their hands and to greet them with a "Magandang Pasko Po, Ninang." In every house no matter how poor the family is, there is the delicious "kalamay."

All saint's day is being celebrated once a year on every November first. Families who have relatives in the cemetery prepare wreaths of flowers. They bring them to the grave of their dead relative and light some candles beside it.

At night, many groups of people wander around the barrio to serenade. They sing hymns about Jesus Christ. They are then given alms in the form of money or rice and chicken. This season is known in the locality as "Undras."

The period of Lent is also observed in this place. Many families celebrate their "Pangako". This is a sort of a sacrifice during the period of Lent and this is done with a "Pabasa ng Pasyon". Many known singers of the pasyon are invited sing the verses of the pasyon from the beginning to the end. Many people come to hear the singing. Many foods are served to all.

I- Punishment :

In comparing the form of punishment from the Spanish time to the present which some of them are not practiced now, there is a very great difference. Before, there were so many kinds of punishments which were brutal and cruel. These punishments were generally promulgated by the Spaniards and were very different from the democratic way of punishing wrong doers. The most common forms of punishment were fine, slavery, flogging, exile, imprisonment, mutilation, and death.

During the Spanish time criminals were taken to Tayabas for investigation. The criminals were hanged to death whenever proven guilty. Those who committed slight offenses were thrown to Mindanao and Sulu. Some of them were whipped only. The American form of punishment was imprisonment or by pardon. Suspected criminals were tried and investigated.

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN
Part Two : Folkways

The Japanese tied those who violated their rules under the sun. Others were shot to death or even beaten to die. Other forms of punishment were by "Gas Mask" and drowning them in the water. Others were put in the garrison.

Today, the only forms of punishment are fine, imprisonment, and death. A criminal is being tried in the court. If he is guilty, he may be sentenced to either a fine, imprisonment or death. But if found not guilty, he is acquitted.

II- Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretation and superstitions:

Barrio folks are good believers. All believed that God created the world, they being simple-minded, not having any inkling of what science meant. Even if they would hear of the formation of the earth from a scientist, there is very little chance of his being believed, so great is the barrio folks' fear of God. The old folks are of the opinion that our land was once a part of Jerusalem where Jesus once lived and died, for the fact that the "colorums" or believers of the spirit, had gone to the mountain caves and seen, so they said, the footprints of Christ on His way to Calvary, and the stone against which He was whipped and lashed. The "colorums" farther stated that the trace of blood that spurted from Christ's wounds could still be seen among the stones and walls of the cave. Some even said that once our land was under water and that there was a great earthquake that land came to the surface. They opined that one of these days will be another earthquake and our land will be deluged and covered with water.

There was a myth about the river that was formed from a spring at the northern part of the railway. Up to his death, the man who experienced this surprising incident could swear that it is not just a nightmare. On the contrary, he sincerely believed that the thing that happened to him seemed as natural to him then as an everyday occurrence. At daybreak in one of those days, he went to the spring to have himself prepared for a hard day's work. As he neared the said spring, he noticed a very tiny man in a boat big enough to carry him. When this man saw Mang Pedro, he beckoned to him and said that if he cared to go with him, there was enough space in the boat for another passenger. Mang Pedro could not resist the urge for adventure and readily agreed. He was not even surprised that the tiny boat could easily accommodate him. The spring from which the river came was just as wide as a basin, but it took them minutes before they reached the side. Suddenly, he realized that directly beneath their house was a wide expanse of the ocean. By the time the sun was at its zenith, the ocean was so vast that he could not discern the shore. He could easily surmise that underneath the land that composed the barrios of Canda, Calubibit, Limbon, Malapad, Tumbaga and Bucal was a vast expanse of the ocean.

For two long days they started, they sailed until the tiny man delivered him safely on shore which to his great astonishment he recognized that it was Talaan. The tiny man waved his hand to him and disappeared from sight, leaving him speechless with wonderment. He returned home by the normal land route and found his family mourning for him for the past two weeks. Since then the belief about our land being just on the surface of the ocean has strengthened.

Part I | Part II | Part III