MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA, Historical Data of Part 4
PART IV
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The transcription of this page was done using AI technology.
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eat, most probably fruits. If a visitor arrives before meal time, he is invited to stay and eat with the family even if the family is poor and the food is not enough for all. They try to make the food enough for everybody.
LECHERIA HILL
Just south of the town proper of Calamba stands a small hill. This hill, nowadays, is being used as a public cemetery of the town. This hill got its name in this way.
During the closing years of the Spanish rule, the natives of the town used this hill as a pasture region of the town. Goats and sheep were raised on this green–covered hill.
When Jose Rizal was a student in Manila he used to go home to his native town, Calamba, to spend his long vacation. Rizal would invite some of his friends to take a morning stroll to breathe some fresh air on this hill. When Rizal and his small party, mostly composed of young ladies of the town, arrived at this hill, they would see the men milking the goats. Rizal and his friends would stop and watch the men at work with the goats. The goat tenders, being hospitable and kind, would offer them some milk, which means “leche” in the Spanish language. Rizal and his companions would accept the milk because they knew, especially Rizal, the value of milk in building up the body. Others, especially the ladies, would reject the offer, probably due to their modesty. After drinking the milk, Rizal and his friends would give them
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naramdaman ng mga mamamayan sa paligid–ligid ng bundok ang pagsasalat sa pagkain at sa mga ani. Wala na ang mga hiyas at ang mga pasangkapang pilak na ipinagmamagandang–loob sa kanila ni Marya.
At bilang kapalit ng lahat ng iyan, isang buwan ng Disyembre na lubhang malamig, at samantalang ang mga tao ay nagsisipag–ani ng palay, ay bigla na lamang umunos nang buong tindi, sumalipadpad ang malakas na hangin, sumaboy ang matatalim na kidlat at umugong ang malakas na kulog. Nabuwal ang mga bahay, nalipol ang mga halaman at nagkamatay ang mga hayop. At nang humupa ang bagyo, ay saka nila narinig ang malakas na tinig ni Marya Makiling na may kasamang halakhak ng paghihiganti!
At naging kasabihan ngayon na ang mga mamamaril at namumundok sa Bundok ng Makiling ay inaabot ng ulan at bagyo kapag sila ay nag–uuwi ng mga bunga sa kaparangan.
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One of the beautiful and majestic mountains between the borders of Laguna and Tayabas is Mt. Makiling. Long, long ago, according to the story handed down, there lived a beautiful girl in that mountain who was known not only for her beauty but also for her charity. She distributed gifts of gold and fruits to the country around. In time the people became so greedy that Mariang Makiling decided to punish them. There came heavy storms that destroyed the countrysides and in the wake of this the people heard the laughter of Mariang Makiling. When people take down things
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from the mountains they are always caught by rains and storms, according to traditions of the old folks.
ANG ALAMAT NG DALAWANG ILOG SA MASILI
Doon sa maalamat at matulaing nayon ng Masili, sa lalawigang Laguna, ay may dalawang ilog na magkayapos mula sa mga bulubundukin hanggang sa humantong sa magandang look ng Laguna. Ang nasabing nayon ay tinawag na Masili, sapagka’t sa lupang yaon ay halos maggubat ang mga puno ng sili. Ngunit ang matandang kasaysayan ng Mag–asawang Ilog ang ating susuyin.
Sa mga bulubunduking hindi kalayuan sa nabanggit na nayon ng Masili, ay may isang mayamang angkan na wala namang naging anak kundi isang dalagang ubod ng ganda. Dahil sa kariktaan ng dalagang yaon ay napakaraming binata ang nagsasadya sa kanila upang makipagsapalaran sa kanyang alindog. Nguni’t totoong masungit ang mga magulang ng dalaga, at ayaw man lamang ipasilip ang kanilang anak. Sa ganyang pag–uugali ng mga magulang, ang dalaga ay inabot ng kalungkutan, sapagka’t ang kanyang naging ayos noon ay isang harding mabulaklak na walang paruparo.
Ang mga binata, mahirap, mayaman, marunong at mangmang, ay nagkaisa na ring huwag nang pakitunguhan ang mag–anak na masungit, lalo na ang magandang dalaga, upang iparamdam ang kanilang masamang pag–uugali.
Subali’t isang umaga, ang dalaga ay nahikayat na maglibang sa mga bulubundukin na may isang malinaw na batis.
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Habang siya’y nalilibang sa panonood ng kagandahan ng kalikasan ay nakarinig siya ng isang tinig na tumatawag sa kanya.
“Berta! Berta!”
Nang siya’y lumingon ay isang binatang napakakisig ang kanyang nakita na sa kanya ay nakangiti at dahan–dahang lumalapit. Yaon ay si Rolando na naging kalaro niya noong sila’y maliliit pa at ngayon ay isang makisig na magsasaka.
“Berta, nakikilala mo pa ba ako?” ang tanong sa kanya nang sila’y magkaharap.
“Aba! Ikaw pala, Rolando!” at namilaylay sa kanyang mga labi ang isang matamis na ngiti.
“Ako nga,” tugon ng binata. “Napakaganda mo, Berta! Ikaw pala ang magandang diwata na madalas kong mapanaginip!”
Mula noon ay palagi na silang nagtatagpo sa bulubunduking yaon. Nagkaisa ng tibukin ang kanilang mga puso. Nagmahalan sila at nagsumpaang walang sino mang magtataksil. Sinaksi nila ang langit, ang mga halaman, ang mga ibon at ang lupa na kanilang tinutuntungan.
“Nalalaman kong magagalit ang iyong mga magulang kung malamang ikaw ay nakikipagaintahan na”, ang sabi ni Rolando. “Ano naman ang gagawin mo kung sakaling tayo’y hadlangan?”
“Kahit ano ang aking kasapitan ay hindi ako maaaring lumimot!” ang taimtim na sagot ng dalaga.
“Kahit ka na sumpain?” ang pagtatanong ng binata. “Matitiis mong talikuran ang iyong mga magulang nang dahil sa ating pag–iibigan?”
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In the town of Masili in Laguna, there is a twin river that intertwines against each other all along the way. According to the legend, there were two lovers who secretly met and pledged their vows against the wishes of the girl’s parents. One day the mother followed the girl and found out the illicit tryst. She vowed therefore that the lovers should not be able to stand up from their trysting place. The lovers wept continuously each day so that there came out a small pool in the place where they were condemned. This pool spread along until it became a twin river.
ANG ALAMAT NG ARAW, BUWAN AT BITUIN
Noon ay iilan lamang ang naninirahan sa malapad na lupa, at dito’y kabilang ang isang mag–asawang nabubuhay sa pagsasaka at sa pag–aalaga ng mga hayop. Ang mga hayop noon ay maamo, lalo na ang mga ibon na pantay–tao lamang kung lumipad sa mga maliliit ding punungkahoy at mga halamang ang mga sariwa at luntiang dahon ay halos nakikipaghalikan na rin sa marikit na pisngi ng mababang langit.
Ang mag–asawang ito ay kilala sa kasipagan. Kapag nakikita na nila ang kaunting liwanag na hindi nila malaman kung saan nagbubuhat, pagka’t wala silang nakikitang araw, ay magtutungo na sila sa bukid at gagawain walang puknat hanggang sa kumulo na ang kanilang sikmura at makaramdam sila ng gutom. Araw–araw halos ay ganyan ang kanilang napagkauga–lian, at sila’y kapuwa masaya at maligayang nabubuhay.
Nguni’t sa kabila ng kanilang kasipagang yaon, ang
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isang maipintas lamang sa kanila, ay ang kakulangan sa paghahanda nila ng bigas, alalaong baga, kung dumarating ang oras ng pagluluto ay karakarakang mayroon silang makukuha sa bumbong upang maisaing agad. Ang kanilang katuwiran marahil ay sagana naman sila sa palay at mga ulam, at ano mang oras na ibig nilang magluto ay makapagbabayo agad ang lalaki, at makapaghahanda naman ng ulam ang babae.
Subali’t isang hapong umuwi sila mula sa kabukiran ay pantang–pata ang kanilang katawan at gutom na gutom sila kapuwa. Pagdating nila sa maliit na kubo, ay nagmamadali nang kumuha nang kumuha ng palay ang lalaki, isinilid sa isang pandak ng lusong at hinaplit nang bayo. Ang babae naman ay gumawa na ng kanilang maiuulam, nagpatay ng matabang manok, at pagkatapos ay isinalang sa kalan at ginatungan.
Samantalang nagliliyab ang kalan at lumilikha ng magandang usok, ay naisipan ng babae na isabit ang kanyang suklay at ang mahabang kuwintas sa mukha ng marikit na langit. Ang lalaki naman ay nagkakagkakahog nang pagbabayo, sapagka’t ibig niyang makapagsaing agad.
Datapuwa’t sa kanyang pagmamadali at pag–uubos ng lakas sa pagbabayo, ay malimit na sumuko ang dulo ng kanyang halo sa langit, at dahil doon ay nabibigyan siya ng kaabalahan. Dahil sa kanyang kayamutan, ay padabog siyang nagsalita:
“Napakababa naman ng langit na ito! Manong tumaas ka na nang tumaas at nang hindi ako naaabala sa aking pagbabayo!”
Bukod sa kanyang sinabing yaon upang magulumihanan silang mag–asawa, sapagka’t noon din ay nakita nilang matuling
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tumataas ang langit na tangay ang suklay, ang kuwintas at pati na ang kalan na noon ay nagniningas. Mula noon, bawa’t gabi, ay nakikita ng mag–asawa ang gasuklay na buwang kung nangangalahati, ang mga bituin na nagsabog sa langit, at kung araw naman ay ang nagbabagang tanglaw ng daigdig. Inisip nila na ang apoy ang naging araw, ang suklay ang naging buwan, at ang mga butil ng kuwintas ang naging mga bituin.
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This is the legend that tells how the sky came to be so high, and where the sun, moon and stars came from. According to the old story of long ago, the sky was so close to the earth that it was not easy for the people to do their work. So they wished that the sky should move up. This wish was granted, and as the sky moved upward it carried along with it the comb, the necklace and the burning stove. According to the story, these things became the half moon and the stars and the sun.
HOW TAMBOBONG GOT ITS NAME
In the heart of the town of Calamba there is a place which is called Tambobong. During the Spanish time, the eastern part of the town near the church was covered with wide ricefields that belonged to the friars. These lands were tilled by the natives who lived in the place. As the lands were wide, the harvests were plenty. In order to have a safe place for the shares and tributes paid by the people, the friars constructed a very big bodega of stone blocks and
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lime. After the harvests, the shares and tributes were kept in the tambobong. It could hold thousands of cavans of palay because it was very big. Since then the place had been called Tambobong.
When the Americans came, the friars sold the lands to the new government which were sold to the natives in small parcels. The people who bought the parcels built their homes there. As time went by, the people increased in number and more homes were built and so there were no more rice fields to cultivate and there was no more need for the tambobong. It still stands there although it is partly demolished and the people who reside near it are still referred to as “taga Tambobong.” Today it is owned by Mr. Jorge San Mateo.
ANG POOK NG TAMBOBONG
Sa kalagitnaan ng bayan ng Kalamba ay may isang, pook na kung tawagin ay Tambobong. Noong panahon ng Kastila, sa gawing silangan ng simbahan ay malawak ang bukirin, na pinagaanihan ng palay at mais. Ang mga lupang ito ay pag–aari ng mga pareng prayle at ang kanilang manggagawa ay ang mga taong naninirahan sa pook na iyon. Sapagka’t malawak ang taniman ng palay at mais, ay marami ang na–a–ani. Tangi sa kabahagi ng mga pare ang mga taong bayan ay pinag–babayad ng buwis na mais o palay. Dahil dito sila ay nagpatayo ng isang imbakan ng palay o isang tambobong na yari sa bato at apog. Ito ay napakalaki at lumalaman ng libo–libong kaban at mais at palay. Mula noon ang pook na iyon ay tinaguri–
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ang Tambobong.
Nang dumating ang mga Amerikano ang mga lupain ng mga prayle ay pinagbili sa pamahalaan at ipinagbili naman sa mga taong bayan. Ang lupa ay hinati sa mali–liit na bahagi at ang mga nakabili ay nagtayo ng bahay nila roon. Sa nilakad–lakad ng panahon dumami ng dumami ang tao at dumami rin ang bahay sa pook ng Tambobong hanggang tuluyan ng nawala ang bukirin. Hindi na pinag imbakan ng palay ang tambobong subali’t hindi naman sinira ng mga tao roon. Ang lahat ng nanirahan at tumitira roon ay tinaguriang mga taga–Tambobong.
Ang imbakang iyon ay naroon pa subali’t sira–sira na at ang nag–mamayari ay si G. Jorge San Mateo.
FORMS OF PUNISHMENT DURING THE SPANISH REGIME
During the Spanish rule in 1576 up to 1896 the people of Calamba suffered a great deal. Life was very miserable. Every male citizen was at the mercy of the civil guard known as the Guardia Civil. Men, young and old were not allowed to walk at night. Whenever the people disregarded the regulations of the Friars they were punished severely. Many kinds of punishment were practiced by the Spaniards during their rule. Such punishments were the following:
- The Enforced Labor – With Spanish sovereignty came the enforced labor. The Filipinos were forcibly employed in cutting timber and digging mines. They were made to work in the construction of churches, convents and erection of houses for the Spaniards without any remuneration. Others were forced to build ships or engaged in foreign conquests to the South like Jolo, Borneo and Ternate. This enforced labor ranging for fifteen days to one month without pay was so unjust to our people.
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- Facing toward the sun. By this, means the supposed criminal was made to face the rising sun with open eyes and when he disobeys the order he is butted with the end of the guns or kicked. As a result most people became blind.
- Kneeling on mongoes or “balatong”. By this method mongoes were spread on the floor or ground and culprits were forced to kneel on them for hours.
- Slapping.
- By the gallows or garrotte system. A device made of two pieces of wood which meet together in order to squeeze the neck of the condemned person.
As a consequence of the cruelties and abuses inflicted to our people, the Filipinos never became reconciled to the Spanish rule. Thus when the people of Calamba could no longer bear the hardships, they revolted against the Spanish government in 1896 resulting in its overthrow in this part of the globe.
TRADITIONS REGARDING DEATH
When a Catholic is gravely ill, a priest is called to administer the last rites of confession. A “manang” stays beside the dying person and recites prayers to prepare the dying person to meet his maker.
As soon as a dying person breathes his last, a handkerchief is tied around the head to the jaw so that the mouth will be closed. If the eyes are open, a centavo piece is placed on the eyelids so that after a while these will close. The knees are straightened at once to prevent becoming bent. The body is cleaned with warm water with some antiseptic. Then it is dressed. If the corpse is very
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thin, cotton is inserted in the cheeks, so that they will appear stout. The hands are clasped and a crucifix or rosary is inserted depending on the sex. If a maiden dies, she is dressed in white with bridal flowers around the head. There are cases when stockings are worn but most often the corpse is barefooted.
In the case of older persons, the color of the coffin is gray. For ladies, white, and for children, white or blue. The death is reported to the parish priest who in turn asks one sacristan to toll the bells. If the corpse is a woman, the high pitch bell is tolled first. If the corpse is a man, it is vice versa. Then like the town crier of the olden days, one of the sacristans goes around the town and inform the people of the person who had just died.
On the day of the burial, the funeral march varies with the age of the corpse. The older ones have somber music while the younger ones have gay music furnished by a band or orchestra. In these days, phonograph records are utilized, and usually the piece played is the Ave Maria.
The coffin should not touch the door or any furniture in the house when it is taken down. If this happens, someone in the house will die soon.
It is bad to sweep the house or yard when the body lies in state in the house. It is the belief that when this is done, it will rain. The cleaning of the house starts immediately as soon as the funeral procession has left the house.
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Small children of the deceased are brought across the coffin by somebody before the interment. This is done so that the children will not cry at night and call for their deceased parent or be visited by the spirit of the departed.
In Calamba singing jousts are held when the dead one is a child. While in many places the death of an adult is mourned, that of a child should not occasion sorrow. Children, it is held are innocent creatures without any sin at all and when they die they are sure to go to heaven. As a matter of fact, the parents of deceased children believe that their little son or daughter will be at the gates of heaven when they (the parents) die and these little ones will be the ones to pull them up into paradise.
If the deceased is a mother and has left behind several small children, it is believed that the deceased will try to take her little children with her to the other world or haunt them until they fall sick and die also. To offset this horrible possibility, the children are passed over the bier of the dead mother.
In some barrios, a surviving child is either dressed in red or wrapped in a red blanket to frighten the spirit of the deceased mother from haunting her child.
When there is a dead person in the house, the family prepares things to eat for those who will keep vigil over the dead. Members of the family wear black for mourning. They do not wear gaily clothes.
During the fourth and ninth day after death, prayers
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are offered by the members and relatives of the deceased. This is intended to rescue the soul of the dead from hell or purgatory. On the last night of the “novena” for the deceased, the altar is removed. It is not left overnight because an immediate member of the family may soon follow the deceased.
When a corpse is being taken out of the house, the path where the dead has been carried is poured with water. It is believed that the soul of the dead person will not return.
It is a common custom among the people of the locality that when a person is dead, no member of the family of the dead takes a bath or cleans the house, as it is considered ill omen.
When there is a funeral, people take off their hats in token of respect. Members of the bereaved family do not attend social gatherings for a period of one year.
A person should not be buried in a coffin the measurement of which is larger than the dead. People say that this is bad because there is more space for others. An immediate member of the family of the dead may soon follow.
When a dog howls in the dead of the night, a person in the neighborhood is about to die.
If someone smells a lighted candle or the fragrance of flowers when they are not around, it foretells that a relative is about to die.
A black butterfly hovering around someone, foretells
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death of a relative. When chickens or fowls under the house cackle or make some extra ordinary sound at night without any cause at all it means someone in the house is conceiving, or it may mean an accident or death to any member of the family while traveling on a journey.
If a family plans to build a house, it should not be thoroughly completed otherwise a member of that family may meet an early death. The house should be built with a part unfinished which should be completed when the family has lived in it for sometime.
People believe that the soul of a dead person will come back if money or anything of value has been left hidden in the house. Unless this is found, scratching sounds or knocks will be heard in any part of the house.
TRADITIONS REGARDING BAPTISM
A child is usually baptized when he or she is a month old. By that time the mother is strong enough to attend to the festivity. In cases of emergency as when the child is on the verge of death, any person in the household can get water and salt and sprinkle water on the child. The usual prayer is “In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I baptize you by the name ------------”.
If the child is a girl, the godmother provides the baptismal dress. The dress is either white or pink. When a boy, it is either white or blue. The godmother or godfather pays the church fees and often times gives “pakimkim” in the
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form of jewelry like necklace, ring or earring or money. In case there is a co-sponsor, one holds the baby while the other holds the feet of the baby. If the infant is a boy, the godfather holds the baby while the godmother holds the feet. A baptismal party is held in the home of the parents of the baby, while relatives, friends and neighbors drop in and everybody joins the feast. Some of these people also bring gifts for the newly baptized baby.
When one is asked to be a godfather or godmother, he or she should not deny it. It should be accepted for it will bring good luck.
During the baptismal ceremony, one should be careful not to let the bonnet or shoes fall as it will cause the early death of the child. If the child cries when he is given salt during the ceremony, it is believed that the child will be industrious, intelligent and lucky in life. Otherwise the child will be stupid, dull, lazy and shy.
After the ceremony, if there are many who had been baptized, the godfathers or godmothers see to it that they are first to go out of the church door. They believe that when the godson or goddaughter grows, he or she will not be defeated in all his or her undertakings.
Godfathers or godmothers often give gifts in the form of money or in order to bring good fortune to the child. This is called “Pakimkim”.
The godparents usually scatter coins on arriving at the home of the godson or goddaughter. This means that
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the child will not suffer want. The child’s life will be one of plenty.
During the baptismal ceremony care should be exercised that the bonnet or shoes of the baby do not fall to the floor. This is a sign of bad fortune. The baby may die early.
In a baptismal ceremony, where there are more girls than boys to be baptized, these girls will have many suitors when they grow up. This goes with the boys too. They will be lucky in love affairs.
The bonnet used by the baby during baptism is kept and hidden by the mother. On the first day the child goes to school, the very top of the bonnet is cut into fine pieces and mixed with the food of the child when he come home from school. It is believed the boy will be bright in his school work.
B I R T H
When a woman is about to give birth, visitors and relatives should not stand on the doorway. It will cause the woman hardship in delivery.
It is believed that those born on bright days are cowards, while those born on moonless nights are brave.
Many people believe that when a woman is conceiving and she happens to like something which she is unable to possess or to eat, her offspring will be affected. A defect on the children will be seen,
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It is a common belief among the people that when a child is born, paper money should be placed under the place where the baby lies. This will mean sign of plenty for the child.
It is a common practice that when a child is born, his “inunan” is wrapped in a newspaper before being buried. People believe that the child will be intelligent.
When a woman is conceiving, she should not put anything around her neck, especially a towel, because the child will have a hard way coming out. The “pusod” of the baby will coil around his body resulting in the baby’s death.
If a woman is in the family way, and she cooks, the pieces of firewood should not be placed inverted in the stove. This will cause the baby to come feet first. A mother about to give birth, should not construct a house. The woman will have a difficult time in delivery. It may result in death.
If a wife is pregnant, the husband should not act as a godfather. It is the common belief that death may result to the mother or to the young babe.
WITCHCRAFT
A person possessing witch craft powers can inflict any kind of harm to anyone he gets angry with. He does this by confining himself alone in his house uttering incantations. Then with a doll in one hand and a sharp-pointed object in the other, he thrusts it into the doll’s body. After a day or two the person he becomes angry with will suffer the pain.
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