MUNICIPALITY OF TAYABAS, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 1

PART I

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

About these Historical Data

[Cover page]

[p. 2]

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
BUREAU OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Division of Quezon
Tayabas

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN
Part One: History

19. Present official name of the town: TAYABAS

20. Former name or names and their meanings or derivation: Tayabas was derived from “bayabas,” a native fruit.

21. Date of establishment: 1578.

22. Names and social status of the founders: Fray Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa. They were Franciscan Fathers.

23. Names of persons who held leading official positions in the community with the dates of their tenure, if possible:

(In the Spanish time, the leading officials were: gobernadorcillo, capitan municipal, teniente absoluto, cura parroco, jueces de sementera y de policia, maestro municipal. In the American time: president and vice president, mayor and vice-mayor, justice of the peace, councilors, municipal treasurer, municipal secretary, chief of police.)

[p. 3]

[p. 4]

[p. 5]

[p. 6]

[p. 7]

AMERICAN REGIME

[p. 8]

COUNCILORS

JAPANESE OCCUPATION
January 9, 1942 to January 30, 1943
TAYABAS PEACE COMMISSION

AFTER LIBERATION
September 2, 1945 to March 17, 1946

[p. 9]

March 18 to April 4, 1946

1946-1947

1948-1951

1952-1954

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

[p. 10]

1. May 4, 1681 - Construction of the old convent was begun when Don Carlos Mahhawa was Gobernadorcillo.
2. 1746 - A concrete wall one yard deep was placed in the Roman Catholic Church when Don Juan Palad was the Gobernadorcillo.
3. 1750 - The Roman Catholic Church was constructed to its present height when Don Francisco de San Juan was the Gobernadorcillo.
4. 1776 - Construction of the old Municipal Building was began when Don Francisco Lopez was Gobernadorcillo.
5. 1798 - With Don Juan Lopez as gobernadorcillo, the wooden Alitao bridge was constructed.
6. June 10, 1914 - Erection of Dr. Jose Rizal's monument under the auspices of "Club de los 33" with Don Blas Sumilang and Don Ildefonso Alandy as municipal leaders.
7. 1929 - Tayabas Elementary School Building No. 1 was completed when Don Pedro Orias was Presidente Municipal.
8. 1930 - Construction of the Luis Palad High School was started with Don Pedro Orias as Presidente Municipal.
9. December 26, 1941 - Alitao Bridge was destroyed by USAFFE to safeguard the town from Japanese invaders.
10. 1942 - Destroyed Alitao Bridge was reconstructed under the Japanese Administration.
11. 1945 - Automatic siphon in Barrio Camaysa was constructed and made into a swimming pool when Atty. Hilarion Yanza was the town mayor.
12. March 15, 1945 - Municipal Building, Central School Building No. 2, Ermita Church and part of the public market were destroyed when the town was bombed by Allied Forces.
13. July 1, 1950 - Elementary School Building No. 2 began to be used.
14. 1950 - Puericulture Center was constructed.
15. Important facts, incidents or events that took place:

25. Important facts, incidents, or events that took place:

(a) During the Spanish occupation
(b) During the American Occupation to World War II.
(c) During the and after World War II.

(Mention dates, places, personalities, etc. Political, educational, economic, religious and other events and developments are to be recorded under this head.)

[p. 11]

A. During the Spanish Occupation:

1. Date of establishment: 1578

a. Naming the community “Tayabas” derived from the native fruit bayabas which was found growing in the local community abundantly.

b. The founders were immigrants from Lucban, Majayjay, and other Laguna towns.

2. In 1620 the first constituted municipal government began under a capitan in the person of Don Lucas Plata.
3. May 4, 1681 - The construction of the old convent was begun when Don Carlos Manhawa was the Gobernadorcillo.
4. In 1746 the concrete wall of one yard thick was built in the Roman Catholic Church. Don Juan Palad was the Gobernadorcillo at that time.
5. The Roman Catholic Church was constructed to its present height in 1570 when the gobernadorcillo was Don Francisco de San Juan.
6. Under the rule of gobernadorcillo Don Francisco Lopez in 1776 the construction of the old municipal building was begun.
7. The wooden bridge across the Alitao River was constructed in 1798. Don Juan Lopez as gobernadorcillo supervised it.

Important Incidents:

8. 1718 - The gobernadorcillo of this time was Don Pedro Francisco. Under his rule famine broke out resulting in several deaths.
9. There was a big conflagration in Tayabas in 1732.
10. Smallpox epidemics broke out in 1739. Many people died.
11. Another smallpox epidemics broke out in 1761 resulting in many deaths.
12. In 1808 the third smallpox epidemic broke out.
13. Dysentery epidemic occurred in 1822. Many people died of it.
14. In 1841, the uprising of the religious society called "Confradia de San Jose" under Apolinario de la Cruz (“Hermano Puli”) took place. Its decisive battle was waged in Barrio Alitao, now known as “Pinaglabanan.” Governor Juaquin Ortega, a Spaniard, was killed.
15. On Oct. 24 and 25, 1874, a very great flood overflowed the Alitao Bridge and the whole Munting Bayan was in grave danger. It caused the death of Don Cristobal Juala. The event became known as “NAG TUBAL.”
16. In 1888, the whole town was burned by the Spaniards. It was so destructive that the four corners of the town proper could be seen at any angle.
17. When Don Alexo Enriquez was the gobernadorcillo in 1831 the Casa Municipal or Presidencia was constructed. It was the biggest building in this town. During the American occupation it was made a Central School Building. This building stood on the present site of School Building No. 3.

[p. 12]

18. On September 3, 1897, a group of poorly armed natives led by General Inakika entered the town with the intention of subduing the Spaniards. The revolt was easily suppressed and many of the natives were killed. These rebels had their camp in the barrio of Ilasan.

B. AMERICAN OCCUPATION

19. In 1903 an epidemic of cholera spread throughout the whole municipality. It was so terrible that it claimed hundreds and hundreds of lives.
20. The first municipal mayor, Presidente Municipal, was Don Ireneo Cabañeros. His government was organized in 1901.
21. A very destructive typhoon visited the town of Tayabas in 1905.
22. In June 1907, a big fire burned the south eastern section of the town. More than 100 families lost their homes. It occurred on “Corpus Christi” day.
23. Don Domingo Lopez, an attorney, became the governor of the province in 1908. He is a native of this town.
24. On June 10, 1914, the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal was unveiled. The construction was initiated and financed by civic society of this town known at the time as “Club de los 33”.
25. In 1929 our coconut trees suffered very much from the destruction caused by insects called leaf miners. Our copra production remained poor for some years. The present School Building No. 1 was constructed and used in the same year.
26. The Luis Palad High School was opened in June 1931. It was first housed in the two rooms of Central School Building No. 2.
27. On December 26–28, 1935 the National Eucharistic Congress had its seat in the town of Tayabas. Our parish priest at that time was Rev. Vicente Ella (RIP).

C. DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR II:

1. After December 8, 1941 the people of this town could not have peaceful sleep. Japanese–American War broke out. The people were in blackouts every night. Civilians were assigned either as “Civilian Guards” or “First Aiders”.
2. In the afternoon of December 26, 1941, the Japanese forces began to occupy the town. The USAFFE did not offer any resistance. They, however, destroyed the important river bridges to delay the advances. One of these bridges is the Alitao connecting the proper town and Munting Bayan.
3. On December 27, 1941, the north eastern section of the town was burned accidentally. About 40 houses were razed to the ground.
4. By order of Japanese Captain Foza Wataya “The Tayabas Peace Committee” was organized to form the governing body of the town. That was from January 9, 1942 to Jan. 30, 1943.

[p. 13]

The following persons were chosen to compose the Commission.

5. From July 1, 1942, was enforced in the community the combination of Civil and Military Administration by order of the Japanese Military High Command.
6. The destroyed Alitao Bridge was reconstructed in 1942 by the Commission.
7. In 1943 Anderson’s Guerilla was organized. Many citizens became members of it. Several of these members were garrisoned and executed by the Japanese. There were days in that year when every citizen was required to carry bamboo spears when walking on the streets.
8. The American Air Force bombed the town on March 15, 1945. Most of the houses were burned and demolished including the Municipal Building and School Houses.
9. On March 22, 1945, exactly a week later, another group of American bomber planes completely destroyed the whole town by bombing the Munting Bayan section.
10. The people of Tayabas with rejoicing of the American liberation forces on April 5, 1945. Construction of improvised homes began and gradually the community returned to be an inhabited place once more.
11. Regular classes resumed on April 24, 1945 in our public schools.
12. Mayor Hilarion Yanza began to rule again the town on April 19, 1945, by order of Lieutenant Schneider, with the same counsellors he had at the outbreak of the war.
13. A very destructive typhoon known as “JEAN” visited on December 26, 1947. Most of the barong‑barongs built after the liberation were totally destroyed.
14. In April and May 1948, there appeared intermittent lights on the cross on top of the Roman Catholic Church. It was presumed to be a great miracle so that many people from nearby and far away provinces came to witness the appearance of the lights from dusk to midnight.
15. On the night of November 4, 1948, at about 8:00 o’clock, a big group of dissidents entered the town from the east‑side. Several homes and stores were trespassed and looted. The former municipal mayor Mr. Santiago Reyes was captured and intentionally killed not far from his own house. Thousands of shots were fired until past midnight. All the town people remained hidden in their respective homes. No army resistance was offered.
16. In 1950, the Central School Building No. 2 and the Puericulture Center Building began to be used. The former was a rehabilitation done by the Philippine War Damage Commission to replace the one destroyed on March 15, 1945.

[p. 14]

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

Wars cause great damage in properties, lives, and institutions. World War II, which took place from 1941 to 1945, caused the following destruction in our town:

1. December 25, 1941 - Alitao bridge was destroyed by the USAFFE to hinder the Japanese advancement.
2. December 26, 1941 - Dumakaa Bridge was destroyed.
3. March 15, 1945 - The town was bombed by the American forces for they thought that the Japanese soldiers were still in the town. Many houses were burned. This bombing caused great damages in the town. Among the public properties damaged were:

Many people died during the war. Some were killed by the Japanese. Some died of sickness due to lack of food and proper medical attention, while others were killed during the bombing of the town. Still others died in the hands of the bandits.

The following persons were killed during the bombing of the town:

1. Mrs. Claudia Atienza – killed in the foxhole
2. Mrs. Gaela, an invalid – was killed while on bed.
3. Mrs. Sancho Abellanosa & 4 children – killed in the foxhole
4. Family of Chinese “Kuba” – killed in the foxhole.
5. Yamson family – near the road to Lucena. Their house was directly hit by the bomb.

[p. 15]

6. Tereso Yap - killed near the high school.

The following were killed by the bandits:

1. Jan. 2, 1942 - Blas Jayag of Pook and another Chinese were killed by bandits who wished to get some money from them.
2. Jan. 10, 1942 - Aquilino Endencia was killed when the bandits entered the house of Mr. Benjamin C. Reyes in the barrio of West Palale.
3. Jan. 29, 1942 - The bandits went to the house of Nazario Quintero in Alitao. One bandit was killed.
4. A person named Juan Banal in Munting Bayan lost his right arm when Japanese soldiers fired at him.

Approximately 1,500 houses were burned and destroyed during the World War II.

b. Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II.

Immediately after the War the town seemed to be a very lonely place to live in with almost all the lots being vacant. People of our town lived in different neighboring towns as in Lucena, Sariaya, Lucban, and others. But as time went by the people returned and built their new homes. By this time many new houses and public buildings were already built. New and beautiful houses, some big and some small, had replaced the old ones damaged by the war.

With the help of the War Damage Commission and the RFC people were able to build their new homes.

Some public buildings were already reconstructed such as the Tayabas Elementary School, Home Economics Bldg., Catholic Church, Seminary and the Puericulture Center.

The Office of the Municipal Government is now in a rented house. There is a plan to construct a new Municipal Government Building but up to this time the plan is not yet realized.

The following are some of the accomplishments after the war:
1942 - Alitao Bridge reconstructed
1946 - Catholic Church improved through the help of the town people.
1948 - Home Economics Bldg. built
1950 - Puericulture Center established
1950 - Seminary reconstructed through the patronage of the people
1950 - Tayabas Elementary School Bldg. No. 2 was built
1948 - Tayabas Elementary School building No. 4 was reconstructed
1952 - Catholic Social Hall reconstructed
1953 - Shop Building of the Elementary School through the help of the P.T.A. and the Benefit Proceeds

[p. 16]

The following public buildings were granted their War Damage claims:

Part Two: Folkways

27. Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life: birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial, visits, festivals, punishments, etc.

(a) BIRTH

1. A woman on the family way must not stay on doorways to avoid hard delivery.
2. Visitors should not stay at doorways where there is a pregnant woman to avoid delay of delivery.
3. When a woman is about to give birth, a midwife (hilot) is called; neighbors and family gather to help, and animals are slaughtered for food.
4. A mother takes a bath a week after delivery with boiled leaves (tamarind, orange, sambong); this bath is called “hamuhan.”
5. A mother who has just delivered is not allowed to speak or move and is given abundant food like broiled chicken and rice; she eats at midnight for two weeks.
6. When a child is born, the mother is kept in a closed room to prevent air from entering.
7. After delivery, relatives wash the placenta with a lighted torch called “puyuhan,” wrap it neatly, and bury it under the house or in a chosen spot, believing it influences the child’s future talents.
8. After cutting the umbilical cord, it is wrapped in white cloth and hung on a ceiling or post, believed to make the baby a good climber.

[p. 17]

9. It is a belief that if the baby's teeth come out late, the placenta had been buried very very deep.
10. When a woman is pregnant, she should be very careful with her steps. If she falls or stumbles, her baby might have physical defects when it comes out.
11. It is bad for a pregnant woman to attend a funeral.
12. A pregnant woman should not have her picture taken.
13. If a woman takes a hard time in delivering her baby, the husband should run fast without looking back, to the nearest banana plant — cut it immediately and chew a piece of the innermost layer of the trunk.
14. Immediately after the placenta has come out, the father or the midwife forces the child preceding the newly born to step on the placenta. This is done so that the two will not quarrel very much.

(b) BAPTISM:

1. A new born is baptized after forty days. In case a child becomes sick before the fortieth day, he is baptized at home by any person. This is called "buhos tubig." When the baby gets well, he is again baptized in church.
2. In selecting the would-be godfathers and godmothers the child's parents take into consideration the character traits and I.Q.'s of the persons concerned. They believe that the child's intelligence and behavior is patterned after the godparents. After the baptism in church, a party follows in the home. There are all sorts of eats including roasted pig, stuffed chicken, native eats, ice cream and sweets. The godfathers and godmothers bring with them some "regalos" usually wine or delicacies. Aside from these regalos they also give some money to the baby. This is called "pakimkim."
3. When the baby is being baptized in church, the godfathers and godmothers should hold the baby's cap carefully. If the cap falls the baby will die early.
4. Immediately after the baptismal ceremony, the "Ninang" or "Ninong" takes the baby before the saints in the church. They believe that by so doing, the baby will not be shy when he grows up. In most cases the baby is taken hurriedly out of the church, so that he will be good in school when he studies.

(c) COURTSHIP:

1. It is a common practice of our young men to serenade the ladies they love. In some barrios the young men serenade early so they could go inside the house of the lady they are serenading. In most cases, young men serenade at midnight.
2. A young man visits a lady usually every Thursday and Sunday. The lady usually does not come out at once until called by the mother or father.
3. A long period of courtship is appreciated very much by old folks. If a young man wants a young woman, he does not approach her directly at once. He first helps in the household chores like fetching water, splitting wood, helping in the farm.

[p. 18]

4. If a young man wants to invite his lady love to a party or picnic, he usually asks somebody, preferably a girl, to ask permission from the girl’s parents. The young lady then goes with them with a chaperon who may either be her mother or any member of the family.
5. In most cases young men propose love through letters. Usually the young ladies do not answer the first letters. They wait for the seventh or tenth letter before they answer.
6. If a young man does not have enough courage to propose his love, he seeks the help of another person to convey his love to the young lady. Sometimes he talks to the lady’s parents or a relative of the lady.

(d) MARRIAGE:

1. A young man who intends to marry first tells his parents. When the parents agree, they go to the girl’s parents and ask for her hand. At the first call called “pamamhikan”, they bring food and wine with them. At this meeting the boy’s parents tell the girl’s parents of their son’s plan to marry their daughter. The girl’s parents do not decide the date of marriage at once. They ask the boy’s parents to come again on a certain date set aside by them. At the second meeting, the boy’s parents again bring food and wine. The date is decided upon and arrangements for the wedding are made. During this meeting the boy’s party takes charge of the serving of food. Usually they bring the plates and silverware. When they go home, they take any kitchen utensil from the girl’s kitchen without the knowledge of the other party. They believe that there will be no difficulty in getting the girl if they do that.
2. The night before the wedding the neighbors and relatives help prepare for the celebration. Usually there is a dance. This gathering is called “pasilungan.”
3. On the wedding day, the groom’s party wait for the bride at the church. The ceremony is simple. Usually there are no maids. Two sponsors are enough. After the ceremony breakfast is served in either the bride’s or groom’s home. The feast does not end after breakfast because there is a “galahan” or giving of gifts to the couple. This is done under the leadership of two old folks who know how to dance and sing the “awitan.” With a cup of wine, the elderly leader sings his advises to the bride and groom to the accompaniment of a guitar. Then each leader leads the bride and groom to their relatives. The bride approaches the groom’s relatives and the groom the bride’s relatives. After the offering of the wine, the relatives give their gifts in the form of money. The amount collected becomes the couple’s capital.
4. The day following the wedding is called “impisan.” This is the day for cleaning the house and returning all the borrowed articles. Drinking wine is of course not excluded.
5. The bride stays with her in laws for nine days after marriage. The groom stays with the girl’s parents during the period. They live together after the ninth day. The bride is not supposed to attend any marriage feast for at least a year or else she will not be a good wife.
6. Usually after the wedding feast, the boy’s party breaks

[p. 19]

7. Grains of rice are thrown over the couple after the ceremony, because it is believed that by doing so, there will be abundance throughout their married life.
8. The bride and groom race up the stairs after the ceremony. The one who reaches the top first will be the "boss".
9. A spoonful of "sweets" is offered to the bride and groom so that they will always love each other throughout their life.
10. If the "Abras" produce sound during the ceremony, the couple will be quarrelsome. To prevent this, the couple handle the "Abras" carefully.
11. A bride to be should not try her wedding dress on her, lest it may cause the postponement of the marriage.
12. The young man or young lady about to be married should not travel or leave the house often, because they might meet accidents on the way.

(e) DEATH AND BURIAL:

1. After a person's death all mirrors in the house are covered so the shadow of the dead will not be reflected on them.
2. Nobody should sweep the floor or surroundings after a person dies in that house.
3. Close relatives can not take a bath until the fourth day beginning from the day the person died.
4. There are prayers offered for the dead person for nine days. On the fourth and ninth days relatives and neighbors pray together. Afterwards dinner is served.
5. No "is-is" leaves (for cleaning) are used until the fourth day. If these leaves are used another member will die.
6. All windows are closed and no one is allowed to peep when the corpse is brought down the house.
7. Close relatives should not let their tears fall on the corpse. If any part of the corpse gets wet, his soul will suffer very much.
8. Close relatives and neighbors take turns in watching the corpse the whole night. It will be taken by an "asuwang" if left unguarded.
9. When a corpse is soft, close relatives should take caution for any member is sure to follow.
10. If a person utters foolish expressions near a dead person, he will be uttering foolish expressions unconsciously throughout his life.
11. Relatives of a dead person should search for any hidden money or jewelry. If these are left uncovered, the dead person's soul will always come for those valuables.
12. If a person is fond of eating soup and other liquid foods, when he dies it will be rainy.
13. A black butterfly usually foretells the death of a relative.
14. When an owl alights on the roof of a house, the occupants should leave at once. If they don't everybody will die.
15. If a mother dies, her children should wear red clothes for nine nights so that the soul of the dead will not come near.

[p. 20]

16. The coffin should not be too big or too small for the corpse. If it is too big or too small a close relative will follow.
17. Close relatives should not eat gabi leaves until the fourth day of a person's death.
18. Children are not allowed to comb their hair or cut their finger nails at night. If they do so their parents will die early.
19. Dishes and other Chinaware should not be placed one after the other in the house where there is a dead person.
20. When the coffin is about to be buried or laid in a tomb, close relatives and friends throw lumps of soil on the coffin. They do this so that the soul of the dead will not haunt them.

(f) VISITS:

1. Persons especially the young folks are expected to greet the old folks in the most polite way if they are calling on somebody in the house. Courteous expressions as "Tao po!" "Magandang araw po!" or "Mano po!" are commonly used.
2. When somebody visits a sick person he usually brings with him fruits or other eats. If these can not be eaten by the patient the other members of the house will. The visitor, however, is served something.
3. Visits among relatives often last for several days. The host and hostess are supposed to entertain their visiting relatives the best way they can. Presents in the form of food or plants are prepared for them to take when they leave.
4. Guests or even ordinary callers are supposed to be treated hospitably. To callers, soft drinks or sweets are often served.

(g) FESTIVALS:

Religious festivals like Christmas, Patron's Day, and Flowers of May are celebrated every year.

1. During the nine days before Christmas Day "puto-bombong" (made from glutinous rice) is sold by rice cake makers. Early masses are held everyday for nine days. The day before Christmas, pigs and chickens are slaughtered and native delicacies like "kalamay," candies and "tamalis" are prepared. After the midnight mass, follows the midnight dinner. Delicious food is served. On Christmas Day, groups of children visit homes of relatives, friends and neighbors. They are given money as gifts. Late in the afternoon, close relatives visit one another.
2. During the town fiesta, that is the Patron's Day, every home becomes an inn. Visitors are welcomed and served royally. A few days before the fiesta, each district of the town erect arches of welcome at the town entrances. They also hire bands of musicians from other places to play during the fiesta.
3. The young people are especially happy during the month of May. The Flowers of May festival is celebrated the whole month of May. Young men and women and children deck the church altar with flowers and sing songs of adoration.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV