MUNICIPALITY OF TIAONG, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 2

PART II

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About these Historical Data

The transcription of this page was done using AI technology.

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create trouble instead. Commercial progress is also at a slow pace may be because the public market is not yet reconstructed and because it was only since mayor Servial M. Pansalan became the mayor of the town when commercial establishments began to feel stable.

27. Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life:

1. Birth:
   1. It is a strictly followed custom to have the first born child delivered at the home of the parents of the expectant mother.
   2. The umbilical cord that peeled off few days after birth is carefully kept for it serves as a kind of medicine for some kind of ailment.
   3. The wife that has just delivered should take her first bath two weeks after her delivery with warm water where some medical herbs have been boiled.
   4. The wife who delivered her first child is made to drink water wherein a part of the placenta that has been burned black has been dissolved so that she may be safe from after-birth relapse. She is also made to eat meat of strong animals like carabao, horse, cow and bloody fish like "bulin-gan" and "tambakol" and other uncommon food for the same purpose - safety from after-birth relapse.
   5. After delivery, the woman is massaged morning and afternoon for a week to restore her vigor and her lower limbs in place. This is done by a midwife who is paid for this service. Coconut oil is used in massaging.
2. Baptism:
   1. When a new born child is evidently weak and of poor health, the baby is given a pre-baptism except that it is administered by a person who knows to administer it instead of by a priest. The baby is given its Christian name during this ceremony.
   2. Baptism of the child is accompanied by a baptismal party during which plenty of food and sometimes wine are served to the guests.
3. Courtship and Marriage:
   1. A suitor who wishes to marry the woman he loves, will bring a bundle of evenly cut fuel to the home of his loved kneel down before the lady's parents, (not standing until blessed) and ask for some palay to be pounded. The girl's parent's will then ask him about his actuations and require him to tell his parents or anybody who can stand as his parent if he is an orphan

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1. 2. During the wedding party and the night preceding it, the girl's relatives are the first ones to be ushered to the table before others are served.
   3. Before the wedded girl is taken to the home of the groom, the newly wed couple are seated at opposite ends of a table on which cigarettes, buyo, bread dessert, “samen” and “kalamay”, all of which are parts of the party's food, are placed. Someone who will act as the manager will then stand beside the couple and call all relatives of both parties to buy any of the things on the table. The ones called will come and buy any of those things but in exorbitant price. The money paid for the things chosen by the buyer is called “sabog”. In fact the buying is only a guise for giving the “sabog” which according to the olds will be the starting capital of the newly wed couple. When all the relatives of both the bride and bridegroom have given their “sabog” the manager will count the money, wrap it in a handkerchief of the bride with this statement: “My wife here is our first savings”, to which the bride will answer, “Thank you. Rest assured that I keep and spend it wisely”.

4. Death and Burial:
   1. The dead is placed in the house with the head toward the altar-way and whenever moved, the feet are ahead. The bereaved and friends of the deceased all awake, watching the corpse. Indoor games such as game of cards, mahjong, “juego de prenda”, etc. are played during the night to keep everybody awake.
   2. The dead is not buried until after twenty-four hours have passed.
   3. Friends and other sympathizers give alms to the dead. A glass or any receptacle is placed near the coffin for this purpose. In other places this idea is expressed through giving costly wreaths and bouquets.
   4. The bereaved ones show their grief by wearing black clothes for one year. Men don't necessarily wear black clothes but they pin a piece of black cloth on their coat or wears a black lace on the left sleeve of their coats. After one year of mourning the sign of grief, the wearing of black clothes, is ended by a death-anniversary party during which the

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4. 5. The widowed man or woman customarily does not marry again until one year period has not yet been over.
   6. It is a custom to celebrate the fourth and ninth days after death of a deceased one with parties. Poor ones celebrate at least the ninth day followed by thirtieth day, in case a woman died, or fortieth day, in case the one who died was a man. Well prepared food is served to the guests during each case.

5. Visits:
   1. Courtship visits are from six o’clock to eight o’clock in the evening.
   2. Visits are paid to sick friends, to women who have just given birth and to distant relatives.
6. Festivals:

   No festivals other than the celebration of the town fiesta is held in this town.

7. Punishments:

   The ancient way of punishments practiced during the Spanish regime are no longer practiced these days. Punishments meted during these days to culprits are in accordance with established laws and given only after due process of law has been observed.

28. a. Myths: None

b. Legends:

1. Origin of the Name of the Town – Tiaong

Long time ago, the town of Tiaong was a part of San Pablo, now a city. At that time no other town was known as “Cabesera” or head town except Bay, now a town of Laguna Province. In 1691, Tiaong was separated from Bay through the efforts of a comely woman known only by the name of Doña Tating.

Doña Tating lived on the outskirts of Tiaong between this town and San Pablo. She was very religious, kind and helpful to every one that was why she was loved and respected by every inhabitant of the place. No one needing her help ever was disappointed.

Every morning as was her habit, she rode on her favorite bull to church. Because of religious spirit, intelligence, habit of charity and great respect people had on her the parish priest would not begin the mass until she arrived at the church. The priest would not go down his convent until he heard the loud cry “Ooong” of the bull carrying Doña Tating as it neared the river passing by the town. After the mass, and as she emerged from the church, the seemingly intelligent bull would give again a loud cry “Oooong...” announcing to all the people that its mistress was going home. People along her way did not fail to watch her pass by.

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The townsfolks loved Doña Tating so reverently that they affectionately called her “Tia” meaning aunt. Even her favorite bull was admired by the people for its seeming intelligence and its amusing “Oooong...”. “Tia” and “ung” had been the common talk thereafter until passersby caught them and finally joined them making the whole word “Tiaong”. Travelers and merchants caught the word, too, and spread it to places nearby through conversations.

“Where will you go this time?” asked a merchant to a friend.

“I will go to Tiaong for I was informed that the business there is good. People are kind and peaceful in Tiaong and therefore are good customers”, the other would answer.

Thus the name “Tiaong” was coined and given to this place, a name that stuck thereafter.

(2) The Origin of Lake Tikob:

Tikob is a basin-like lake in the barrio of Gabo which lies in the western part of Tiaong, Quezon. It is about two kilometers away from the poblacion. One must cross the Malaaing Ilog River and the Talubunan stream to reach the lake.

Once upon a time, old people of Tiaong said that there lived a childless couple in the said barrio of Gabo. They were living in abundance for, excepting a child, they had all that they needed for a happy and contorted barrio life.

One day the woman said, “We have been married for many years but until now we are childless.”

“What could we do?” answered the man. “That is the will of God.”

“Suppose”, proposed the wife, “we go on a pilgrimage to different towns of famous sanctuaries and pray that we be given a child, just a child. I will be contented with even a child of our own. Let us pray and promise God that if we will be given a child, say a girl, we shall not let her touch the ground during her life time”.

“That is a serious and dangerous promise”, replied the husband, “but I do not object if that is your will. May God grant us our wish.”

So they went on many a pilgrimage to different places of worship repeating and repeating their prayers and promise just to have a child. After a year, the woman gave birth to a baby girl. How happy they were!

“At last our prayers have been heard and now we have a child.” exclaimed the wife happily, “Aren’t you very happy?”

“Of course I am”, said the husband, “but we must not forget that we promised God not to let her touch the ground during her lifetime”.

“Surely we must not”, countered the wife happily.

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The child grew up with her parents keeping their promise. It was said that, when going to church, she was carried on a sled and upon reaching the church she would be placed on a carpet inside the church.

Upon reaching maidenhood, her only work was to mend her parents torn clothes and to cook their meals. She grew to a faithful, kind and obedient daughter. She soon attracted many suitors from far and nearby places.

One day, while her parents were away, one of the suitors came to repeat his wooing. Upon seeing that the girl was reluctant to decide the fate of his love, for she feared the vow her parents had made to God, he planned to vex her. He snatched the needle she was using and dropped it to the ground. The girl cried and pleaded to have the needle returned to her but the young man would not.

“Unless you promise me that you will soon make me happy, I will not get the needle”, said the young man smilingly. “You will have to get it yourself”.

“But you know I can’t do that”, sighed the girl.

“Why not? asked the young man. “Your father and mother only love so dearly that they would not allow you to touch the ground. That is how parents love their only child. They would not allow even the wind to kiss your skin if they can help it”.

The girl, fearing that her parents might come any moment and scold her if the work given her is not yet finished, forgot that she ought not to go downstairs. She went down hurriedly to fetch the needle. No sooner had she gone down than the cracking of the ground under her foot began. At the same time a thundering sound was heard and the earth began to collapse. The girl then remembered the vow. She tried to go back but it was already late for the yawning earth had already caught her. She was only able to shout to the young man “Run as fast as you can” before the ground suddenly collapsed and brought the girl and the house down a down. Even the young man did not go far. He was caught by the rapid sinking of the earth, for collapsing continued until it engulfed about a ten-hectare area. The caving then began to be filled with water forming a circular lake with an outlet or inlet. That was how Lake Tikob came to existence according to the story told by old folks.

The lake is inhabited by small grayfish, bacule, small crabs and big crocodiles. One interesting and surprising fact about those crocodiles is that they do not harm human being unless they are harmed. It is because, according also to those old folks, those crocodiles are the descendants of the cursed girl and the tempting young man. One may ride on those crocodiles if

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they happened to be surfacing the water without fear of being hurt by them. Another wonderful thing about the lake is that only rafts made of bamboos can be used on its water. Bancas or boats would not float. They sink as fast as they are launched.

It is said that in early days, on the anniversary of the sinking of the place, the four posts of the house and two big crocodiles playing around them could be seen thru the clear water at the very middle of the lake at the bottom.

c. Beliefs, Interpretations and Superstitions:

1. Earthquakes:

   Many still believe, especially illiterate ones, that earthquakes are caused by an imprisoned giant under the earth – that every move he makes is enough to make the earthquake.

2. Eclipses:

   Old conservative people still believe that eclipses are the results of the grabbing of the moon by a certain monster they call “Laho”. As long as the monster does not release the moon, the eclipse lasts. They even say that the expulsion is of two ways – by mouth or by ventral way. They allege that if the resulting expulsion is by the mouth of the monster, labor of any pregnant woman during the ensuing period will be difficult.

3. Rain:

   Old folks believe that rainbows cause the rain. They say that the rainbow drinks water from the body of water wherever it dips one of its ends and later on releases what it drinks as rain. When a rainbow is seen, old folks will hope for the coming rain which they say will surely fall.

Miscellaneous:

4. The severity of coolness at night is attributed to the uneasy labor (giving birth) of disgraced maiden.
5. The crowing of cocks at midnight is interpreted as a maiden has been either violated or has been eloped with the man she loves.
6. The umbilical cord, after having peeled off several days after birth, is carefully wrapped and hung at a part of the roof where harmful animals such as mice or rats cannot get it. Old folks say that if that umbilical cord is stolen or eaten by the mice the baby will become a stealer or greedy when he grows up.
7. The placenta is placed in a receptacle where it is exactly enough for then the receptacle is bigger for the contents, the baby will be always hungry. Things that are alleged

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8. If the first cry of the newly born baby is loud, the will-be-godparent is one who lives far away but if that first cry is not loud, the will-be-godparent is just someone near the same place.
9. After the baptismal ceremony in the church, those carrying the babies vie in going out of the church. They allege that whoever succeeds in going out first will always be ahead in every undertaking he does during the baby’s lifetime. This belief, however, often results to accidents for the carriers or the babies for in their scramble for the church door they collide against each other thus hurting either themselves (the carriers) or the babies.
10. If at the time of baptism, the baby is a lone boy, he will attract the admiration of the ladies around him when he grows to be a young man and vice-versa.
11. Blowing the face of the baby during the baptismal ceremony, causes the acquisition by the baby of the traits of the godparent (who blows). This is prohibited by the priest, a fact that strengthens the belief.
12. In order to foretell whether or not the woman suffering from hard labor will survive, any of the woman’s kins may cut a banana of regular size. Any sign of sudden growth after cutting means survival but failure of such growth means the reverse.
13. Deep burial of the placenta will delay the growth of the teeth of the baby. The reverse will be the outcome if the placenta is not buried deep.
14. A conceiving woman should not stay at doorways or sit at stairs for such habit will cause difficult labor. She should not burn fuel in the reversed way for the same reason.
15. A husband whose wife is nearing labor period must not engage in work involving soil digging or repair or construction of a house if he does not wish his wife to experience hard labor. If such work is indispensable, the wife should help.
16. The couple to be married are advised each to put a coin under their feet in their shoes in order that, old folks say, they may always live in abundance.
17. During the ring and coin ceremony in marriage, care should be taken to make this silence for if it becomes noisy, the couple will always quarrel during their marital life.
18. The veil and loop when being put over the being-married couple should be free from falling else if it happens, the couple will separate and will not live peacefully.

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19. On their way from the church after the marriage ceremony, it is opined that whoever succeeds in going ahead even at going up-stairs will have the upper hand during the lifetime of the couple.
20. Before going up-stairs, the newly married couple, are sprinkled with rice (bigas) over their heads and made to eat sweets and drink water so that they live in abundance and in order that they may sweetly live together.
21. While the bride is being transferred to the groom’s house, the bride is prohibited from looking back else she will be one-sided – that is she will cherish only her relatives but will disregard her in-laws.
22. If during the marriage ceremony, either of the couple or any of their relatives cries, it means that the life of the married ones will not be happy.
23. During the first night of the newly married bride, she should not use a sheet of her in-laws but should bring her own sheet, for if she uses the sheet that is not hers, she will always be under the disposition of her in-laws.
24. The relatives of a deceased person should not peep through their windows else one of them will immediately follow to die. Windows of the house where the dead is taken from for burial should be closed. It is also bad to do sweeping until after the fourth day of death.
25. The dishes used in the house of the deceased should not be piled one over the other else many will follow the deceased. This is to be observed until the ninth day is over.
26. One who is affected with pediculosis may whisper to the ears of a corpse to bring her lice if she wants to get rid of them. It is said that several days the lice will disappear.
27. So that the dead may not visit her or his children the children should be made to go over, by lifting them, the deceased three times or they should wear red clothes during nights.
28. A blank butterfly that alights near you or on you is an omen that a relative has died. The same is the meaning of smelling a lighted candle when there is not any lighted candle around.
29. A house that has been visited by a lizard (bayawak) is considered no longer good to live in for it will mean bad luck for the occupants.
30. If the sunset is characterized by good climate and bright day, the next morning will be free from gloom and rain.
31. If a pig that is not pregnant is collecting materials for pig bedding it means that a storm is coming.
32. If the rice for someone going away becomes partly cooked, the journey should be postponed for it will result to misfortune. If the one to go is a fugitive, he surely will be caught.

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33. In order that a commodity for sale may sell fast, three flint leaves (as-is) should be put under the commodity between it and the container. It is believed that customers feel like being rubbed with flint leaves until they buy the commodity.
34. If at night, the cockroaches are out and playing, it is a sign that fishermen will catch plenty.
35. If on your way to fish you see a lizard (bayawak), don’t continue to fish for you will not catch plenty, or you may not catch any.
36. If a small new wound bleeds profusely, the sea water is at high tide; little amount of blood means low tide.
37. If the cat faces the door while washing its face, be sure that there will be visitors coming.
38. One who is eating should not transfer from one place to another. One who does this does not have a firm decision. In love affair, she or he will be changeable.
39. A person or persons should not go away from a house or place where there are somebody eating else they may meet accident on their way. Because they turn their backs away from the grace and blessings of God. They should wait for the termination of the eating or they should turn the dishes around.
40. A baby who is not yet one year old, should not be bathed on the day the name of which is the same as the name of the day the baby was born, for the baby will be sickly and when sick will be hard to cure.
41. At the first ringing of the church bells on Saturday preceding Easter Sunday (Sabado de Gloria) the children should be held at their heads and lifted up with the words “Gloria, Gloria”. Old folks say this hastens the growth of the children.
42. A horseshoe found on the way a traveler means good luck coming to the finder.
43. Eating twin bananas may result to giving birth to twin babies.
44. Shining of a star with visible bright rays like a stick broom is a sign that terrible war is coming.
45. Tears should be avoided to drop to the dead else the soul of the deceased will be unhappy.

29. Popular Songs, Games and Amusements:

a. Songs:

Mamang Mapilit

This is a song usually sung while the performers, a boy and a girl, dance. This is usually performed as an entertainment during a social gathering such as baptismal, birthday or wedding party.

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(2) Harana

(3) Partalina

(4) Bundok Banahaw

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(5) Leron-leron Sinta

(6) Lulay

30. Puzzles and Riddles:

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31. Proverbs and Sayings:

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32. Methods of Measuring time, Special Calendars:

1. Methods of measuring time:
   1. By the positions of the sun, moon and stars.
   2. By the crowing of the roosters at night
      1. First crow - ten o'clock
      2. Second crow - one o'clock
      3. Third crow - three o'clock
      4. Fourth - four o'clock
2. Special calendar-

   The weather of the first half of every month is foretold by means of observing the weather during each day of January from 1 to 12 and the second half weather of the same months in the year is foretold by observing the weather during each day from January 13 to 24.

33. Other Folktales: None.

Part Three: Other Information

34. Information on books and Documents Treating of the Philippines and the Names of their Owners: None can be found.

35. The names of Filipino authors born or residing in the community, the titles and subjects of their works, whether printed or in manuscript form, and the names of the persons possessing them.

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Ex-Justice Claro M. Recto wrote the following:

1. Three Years of Enemy Occupation
2. Under the Coconut Trees
3. La Ruta de Damaso
4. Solo Entra las Sombras

Nobody could be known in possession of the last three works but many have these days of the first one “Three Years of Enemy Occupation.”

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