MUNCIPALITY OF LONGOS (KALAYAAN), LAGUNA, Historical Data of

About these Historical Data

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN OF LONGOS

Part One: History

At present this town is officially known as Longos. In the early days before the coming of the Spaniards in Luzon, then known as “Tabing Dagat” was an uninhabited wilderness. Big trees called “anid” grew there abundantly. Species of this kind of trees may still be seen along the roadside between Lumban and the barrio of San Juan. How it got the name “Tabing Dagat” may possibly be due to its location on the shore of Laguna de Bay.

According to records Longos was created a pueblo (municipality) in 1678. Its name was never changed.

Juan Longos, a native of Lumban and a fisherman by occupation was no doubt the founder of the settlement. The place was a good fishing ground. As the place was abundant in different kinds of fish he was attracted to permanently settle the place with his wife. He built his hut near the shore. Because of his plentiful catch and good earnings, he invited his brothers–in–law who were then residing in Bay. Many of the couple’s relatives from Lumban and from Bay followed them and decided also to live in the place. Since then the inhabitants of the place have grown larger and larger.

After so many years “Tabing Dagat” became inhabited by many people. Juan Longos, the pioneer fisherman and first settler of the place, was a brave, intelligent, industrious and kind man. He was loved and respected by all the inhabitants. They regarded him as a leader. They at last thought of naming the place after his second name.

Names of persons who held leading official positions in the community:

a. Capitan Municipal During the Spanish regime:

Different priests that rendered service to the Roman Catholic church:

Justice of the Peace During the Spanish regime:

Maestro Municipal:

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Different town presidents that ruled the town during the American regime:

Justice of the Peace:

Municipal Councillors:

Municipal Treasurers:

Data on historical sites, structure, buildings, old ruins, etc.

As to the coming to this new settlement of the Christian missionaries who were mostly Franciscans no definite account was available. The first priest assigned there was Father Santiago Suarez. Through his ingenuity and leadership together with the cooperation of the town people a chapel facing south was built. In 1862, it was destroyed by an earthquake. The remains still stands today. Another priest whose name was not recorded undertook the building of a new church. It was erected behind the former and facing west. The same priest worked hard for the erection of a schoolhouse called “Escolapia.” This, too, was destroyed by the earthquake. The present school building was built in its place during the American regime.

Important facts, incidents or events that took place:

1. During the Spanish occupation:

During the Spanish occupation many events of interests took place. In 1896 there occurred a great conflagration which burned almost all the houses. In the same year the insurgents or katipuneros entered the town and kidnapped and killed Don Vicente Maranaes, a Spanish Teniente Mayor. This incident made the Spaniards so angry that they took one Ludovico Nadal and condemned him to death. The last Spanish Teniente was Don Pro–quinto Estrella. He was also killed by the katipuneros. Father Castor Garcia a Spanish priest and sympathizer of the Filipino movement was never molested by the katipuneros. The maltreatment of the natives of Longos by the Spaniards grew so worst that they were obliged to take active part in the revolution of 1896 under General Sino (Severino Taino), a native of Pagsanjan. The evils of the Spanish administration were so serious that two able–bodied men namely Roman de la Rosa and [text obscured in original] did everything they could to free the people from unjust [text obscured in original]

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B. During the American regime:

The Americans were good to the people. But they were in constant search of Epifanio Montes, who during that time was the right–hand man of General Juan Cailles.

C. During the Japanese regime:

The Japanese were not good to the people. They looted people’s properties. All important things that they could see were taken from the hands of the owners. Pedro Kabanalan and Numeriano Saldo were killed by the Japanese. Because of the Japanese maltreatment the people themselves became guerrillas under the leadership of Turiano Montes.

D. The end of World War II:

On April 27, 1945 the church was bombed. Then at about 12:00 o’clock a.m. of the same date the Americans arrived. All the people were ordered to enter the town.

Destruction of Lives, properties and institutions during wars, especially in 1896–1900 and 1941–1945.

As informed, from the year 1896 to 1900 a great destruction of lives and properties occurred in the population. Several important men in the community were killed by the Guardia Civil and on the other hand the Katipuneros were also forced to kill Spaniards and Filipinos who acted as spies. Farming was badly neglected because of the trouble.

In the year 1941 to 1945 there were also persons from this community who lost their lives. This was due to the war. The people were so much troubled that farming was also neglected, especially at the end of the war, because the Japanese cruelty became worst.

Part Two: Folklore

Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life:

1. Birth – The manner of treating the mother and the child after delivery is entirely different from the system applied at present. The cutting of the navel of the child for example is done by using “lapad” instead of scissors or knives. Lapad is a very small piece of bamboo usually three inches long and one–half inch wide. Both sides of which are sharp. In the belief that “taul” (bari–bari infantile) is driven away, the forehead, the chin, the cheeks, the alae of the nose and the back of each of the palms are scorched with a sudden touch of a piece of sharp pointed coconut shell that is glowing. For its food on the first day it is made to suck a kind of nipple prepared by wrapping ampalaya leaves and dipping it in molasses. The mother is never allowed to drink cold water. The warm water of the boiled sarsaparilla (root of medicinal plant) is given instead. For washing purposes she is given the warm water of boiled guava leaves. For her bath which is usually given every eight days consists of boiled leaves and roots of different kinds of medicinal plants that are sweet scented.

2. Baptism – The child after birth is not baptized at once. The usual practice is to baptize the child after eight days or more. In some cases baptism is much delayed even for a month or more. There is a common belief that if baptism is delayed the child grows intelligent. Baptism, however, is given after a day or more when there is a sign that the child is going to die. The ceremony which is called “buhos tubig” is performed by the midwife or some old folks who know to recite what the priest says in baptismal ceremony. It is a common belief that the child will die a Christian. Whether baptism is officiated by the priest or some laymen, there is usually proclaimed godfather or godmother. Custom dress that the godfather or godmother of a child baptized by the priest has more obligations to meet than the godfather in a “buhos tubig.” He pays for the dress used of the child. In case of the child’s death, he pays [unreadable] the music, and even for the [unreadable] entertainment [unreadable]

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3. Courtship – Courtship in the old days is never done without the knowledge of the parents of the girls. A young man who proposes his love to a young woman pays her a visit several times with the permission, of course, of the parents of the woman. If the young woman is in love she informs her suitor to tell his parents to interview her parents to talk the matter over. The business is in most cases not settled in the first interview. A second interview called “tapusan” is necessary. If the proposal is accepted many matters are agreed upon. The dowry in the form of money, land, house or animals, the feast, the date of marriage, and the sponsors or best man or best woman are decided. From the time of the agreement to the date of marriage the young man renders service to the family of the young woman.

4. Marriage – The marriage ceremony is done in the church before a priest. After the ceremony the newly married pair goes around the town followed by a band. Upon reaching the house they pay necessary respects to the relatives of both sides. They are advised to perform the “galahan.” The bridegroom and the bride approach everybody with their glasses of wine. Any one approached will drink a little of the wine and then give a certain amount to the married couple. The money collected by them is kept for their own.

5. Death – Whenever there is a dead person in a certain house it has been the practice by the relatives and friends to pay respect to the dead and to express sympathy to the bereaved. They sometimes give a small amount of money. At night many people go to the dead person’s house to help comfort the family of the deceased. They often play games like “Tres siete.” The young men and the young ladies have their own games too. They did this so that they will not fall asleep. Oftentimes they have also something to eat like boiled camotes or bananas, coffee and bread.

6. Burial – The custom of burial is also the same as of the present. Only, they don’t use during those days the wooden coffins. But instead they wrapped the dead body in the mat where he is lying. Then it is carried to the church for some blessings of a priest and then taken to the cemetery.

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7. Visits – Relatives and friends has a custom of visiting each other. Oftentimes they stay for three or more days. On their visits they bring some food and other presents. During their stay they also do the household work and help them in different activities in the house.

8. Festivals – The celebration of fiestas were not so elaborate as at present. They prepare small amount of food at home and there was also a mass in the church. They do not hire bands from other towns. At night as a sort of entertainment for the public they have “moro–moro” plays.

Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions:

1. Sun – If the rays of the setting sun is yellowish it foretells bad weather.
2. Moon – If the moon is drooping at Mt. Banahaw, there will be a rainy weather.
3. Stars – If we see many stars at night, the next day the weather is hot.

4. Eclipses – When the moon passes between the earth and the sun we have eclipse of the sun.

5. Lightning – Lightning results from the electric discharge from the electricity in the clouds and the earth.
6. Clouds – When tiny particles of the water in the air becomes so heavy that the atmosphere cannot carry them anymore, they are condensed and become as if they are condensed high above the earth’s surface then they are what we call clouds.
7. Storm – Storm is mild form of the typhoon. It is accompanied by lightning and thunder. It is not as destructive as a typhoon.
8. Changes of climate –
   1. The current of the ocean.
   2. The wind movements.
   3. The proximity of bodies of water.
   4. Altitude of places (above sea level)
   5. The earth’s rotation and position.
   6. The heat that the earth receives.

Popular songs:

LUHA SA LUHA

Luha sa luha ang pinagkunan ko
Puso sa puso ang nag–atas nito
Kaya ang nangyari oh buhay ng buhay
Walang ibang giliw kundi ikaw lamang.

Chorus

Api mang yaring pagliyag
At nilimot na ng lahat
Ang nagdaan araw ay wala ng bakas
Sa puso ko nang ay nukas
At doon ay nakalimbag
Walang tanging giliw kundi ikaw lamang.

PUSONG TAPAT

Mula maghari ka sa aba kong lagay
Walang ligayang nunukal sa buhay
Dumahap ng aliw saiyo ring hanggang
Kung bakin at hindi malimutan tunay.

Chorus

Pusong sa bagabag kahimat libangin
Pagdaloy sa lungkot ikaw ring ang giliw
Yamang hindi sala, hindi pagtatakail
Matawirin yatang akoy papagramtin.

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THIS PAGE IS UNREADABLE.

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Proverbs and sayings:

1. Pag may sinuksok ay may madudukot.
2. Kung ano ang tanim siya ang aanihin.
3. Ano mang haba ng prusisyon sa simbahan din ang tuloy.
4. Ang lumalakad ng matulin kung matinik ay malalim.
5. Kung ang tubig ay malagaslas arukin mo at mahibas.
6. Ang natural ng isang tao ay mahirap ng mabago.
7. Walang pinagkikita na hindi nakikita.
8. Walang matitiman Virgen sa matiyagang manalangin.
9. Walang matibay na baging sa matiyagang maglambitin.
10. Kahoy mang babad sa tubig, sa apoy ay huwag idirikit pagkat kung madaran sa init sa pilitang magdirikit.

Methods of measuring time:

1. By the position of the sun, When the sun is overhead and you can step on your shadow it is already 12:00 o’clock noon.
2. The stars – When a certain stars are shining they give the time too.
3. The bird “calo”. Every time this bird sings the people know the time.
4. With the use of cigarettes. The people often says that upon consuming one cigar they will be able to reach a certain place.

Part Three : Other Information

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

Authors:

1. Fermin Panuntan
2. Simon Magana

Titles of their works;

1. Lidohenes
2. Haring Enrico
3. Osmundo

Nature of report:
Follows – – – – – – – – – – –

Respectfully submitted,

1. (SGD) NICOLAS ESPIRITU – Leader

2. (SGD) Mrs. MAURA PALACIO – Member

3. (SGD) Miss J. AFUANG – Member

APPROVED:
(SGD) FAUSTO M. ROBLES
Principal