MUNCIPALITY OF LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, 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.

[p. 21]

In olden days, the Filipino farmers, fishermen, lumberman, and barrio folks, used to tell the different hours of the day, by the sun, hooting birds, lizards (tukó), and some birds that move in flock. At night the hours are told by the cock crows, and some constellations. Some of these guides in meaning time are briefly being presented below.

Measuring time during the day period

By the sun. By experience, the different lengths of one’s shadow, throughout the day period, may be used as an accurate gauge to tell the particular hour of the day. In the absence of a watch or clock, Filipino farmers, fishermen, lumberman, barrio folks, as well as barrio pupils, used to tell the different hours of the day by the sun. One of the most accurate among these, is at 12:00 o’clock noon, when the sun is over head and the shadow is shortest, or when one is stepping on it, when he is exposed to the rays of the sun. However, the angles affect the lengths of the shadow, as they can never be the same at different months of the year.

By the birds and lizards. In the forest, a lumberman can tell that it is already 12:00 o’clock noon, when he hears the hoot of an owl, or the announcements of the different hours of the day by a lizard or lizards (tukó). Farmers know that the time is between 5:00 and 6:00 o’clock in the morning when they see a flock of white heron (tagak) migrating to a newly prepared lowland rice field, to feed on the worms. They also can tell that it is already past 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon when they see the same flock of

[p. 22]

Meaning time during the night period

By the cocks crow. During the early part of the evening, one can not tell the hour by the cocks crow. But at the first time the cocks crow, one can be sure that it is 10:00 o’clock at night. The cocks crow again at 11:00 o’clock, then at 12:00 o’clock midnight. The next time the cocks crow is at 4:00 o’clock in the morning, then at 5:00 up to about 6:00 a.m.

By the constellations. The different constellations commonly used as guides by which to tell the different hours at night are: the Southern Cross (Krus na Bituin in Tagalog), which may be seen in the South; the Scale (Timbangan in Tagalog), which may be seen in the East; the Big, Great, or Northern Dipper (known in Tagalog as Arka ni Noe), which may be seen in the West. These constellations are composed of stars brighter than the rest that we ordinarily see at night. To give an idea of how they look, they are indicated in the following illustrations:

Illustrations

[p. 23]

Except the Evening Star, which may be used as a guide only from 7:00 to 10:00 o’clock in the evening, all others can be used for ten hours at night, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Due to the difficulty in illustrating the use of all of them, which may only be understood through long experience in actually using them as guides in meaning time, only the Southern Cross (Krus na bituin) will be used to indicate exactly the different hours, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. These hours are interestingly illustrated below, according to actual positions of the Southern Cross at the respective hours indicated. Let us look at the following illustrations and then check them hourly tonight. We will certainly appreciate how nature moves with clock precision.

Hourly positions of the Southern Cross
Illustrated

7:00 p.m.

[p. 24]

[p. 25]

It should be noted that, like a clock’s movement, the Southern Cross moves from its lying position at the left from 7:00 p.m. to its lying position at the right at 5:00 a.m.

[p. 26]

Their wish was granted. They were given a daughter who grew up to be very beautiful. The promise was fulfilled.

One day the couple went to the mountains to gather wood. As usual the couple reminded her not to go down the stairs. The mother even left her some darning to do to pass time away. It so happened that the needle she was using fell under the house. The young lady was afraid she would be scolded by her mother and decided to go down to get the needle.

As soon as her foot touched the ground the lot sank deeper and deeper. Then a body of water arose until a beautiful lake was formed. The lady turned into a crocodile. Its depth up to this date can not be determined as the lake bottom is of a shape similar to that of a bottomless cup.

Interpretations Related to the Presence of
the Holy Virgin of the Immaculate Conception –
The Patron of Los Baños

Since the erection of the chapel in this town by St. Peter Bautista, Martyr of Japan, people became very devoted to the Holy Virgin and began to have much faith in her. Whenever some unbelievable grace is granted, people always believe that it is heavensent through the intercession of the Holy Virgin. They show their gratitude by lighting a candle, making a novena or have a mass said in her honor.

One incident happened when some people from Calamba were passing by one hot day. They were very tired, hot and thirsty, and they could not find any water with which to quench their thirst.

They saw a waterfall at a distance, but they could not go there as it was quite far from the road. They could only shout at the top of their voices asking for a few drops. Unexplicably enough, a few drops of water from the waterfalls reached them. This relieved them very much and were very grateful for such unbelievable happening.

From then on, this incident was related by one person to another, until everybody who heard it believed that only a heavenly being could have done that and that it could be no other than the miraculous Immaculate Conception.

One of the latest incidents is what happened just before the town fiesta after the liberation. Someone donated a new set of clothes to be worn by the Virgin during the fiesta donor did not have a chemise made anymore believing p

[p. 27]

it is not necessary.

One day a woman from San Pablo came to the parish priest and asked permission to take measurement of the Virgin and told her intention to have a chemise made. When asked why the chemise only, she related this story:–

“One morning while we were having breakfast, a very beautiful long–haired woman came begging for a chemise. This woman explained that she had a new set of clothes beautifully embroidered for the town fiesta of Los Baños, but she had no chemise to wear with it. At the sight of her, I already had the premonition that she must be the Holy Virgin of this town as she is known to be miraculous.”

Folks say that at twilight, she goes around the town as if giving her blessings to the inhabitants.

[p. 28]

MARIA MAKILING

During the good old days, the people of Los Baños were living a simple life.

One day a certain family in the town planned to celebrate an important occasion in their residence but they were hesitant because they did not have enough plates, spoons and cooking utensils to be used. The night passed, early in the morning, to their astonishment, a pile of plates, set of spoon and cooking utensils were found in the kitchen. People began to wonder where those things came from. For many consecutive years, this wonderful event happened to everyone who was in need of those things. A beautiful maiden living at the foot of the mountain, known as Maria, was believed to be the one responsible for the good things offered to the needy for being kind and hospitable. Unfortunately, a woman from a nearby town borrowed a set of silver spoon from Maria and intended not to return it. Since then, Maria was not seen around and the appearance of plates, spoons and cooking utensils was gone forever.

The people believed that Maria, the real Maria Makiling, who had offered many good things to the people, was in the mountains, never to appear again.

SUBMITTED by:

C. LANTICAN

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