MUNICIPALITY OF ROSARIO, CAVITE, Historical Data of Part 3

PART III

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About these Historical Data

The transcription of this page was done using AI technology.

[p. 41]

but remain unbalanced. If she accepts the dwarf, he takes her with him to his home, nobody knows where, and she disappears on this earth.

One may befriend the dwarf. He will find this creature a good and faithful friend who will always succor to his help.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. Describe a dwarf.
2. What happens when a girl rejects the dwarf’s love?
3. What happens when he is accepted?
4. What kind of a friend is the dwarf?

IV. THE “TIYANAK”

Babies who die without being baptized don’t go to heaven. They remain on earth and become “tiyanaks”.

“Tiyanaks” do not do any harm to the people but they cause a lot of embarrassment and annoyance. These little things for they are so small, love to come out at dusk. They can change themselves to any likeness they so desire, and poke funs on some poor helpless folks.

A story is told of a woman who had some beetle nut trees in her yard. One afternoon, just as the sun had set, she went out to pick up the nuts that had fallen to the ground. Soon she had a handful. As she turned to go, she spied another near the fence. She went to get it.

[p. 42]

Just as her hand closed over the nut, it flew away, its laughter ringing in her ears. It was not a nut after all. It was a “tiyanak” in the likeness of a betel nut.

Another tale tells of a woman gathering some banana leaves for her “suman”. She placed the leaves she had gathered in a neat pile on one side of the yard. When she had enough, she took them into her arms carefully so that they would not get torn. She took them up to her house and placed them on the “banggara.” Suddenly the leaf on top took wings and flew away leaving a ripple of merry laughter behind.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What is a “tiyanak”?
2. What does it do to people?
3. Give the stories told about the “tiyanak”.
4. Can you tell another story about it?

V. THE “ASUWANG”

The “asuwang” is believed to be a person who has the power to transform himself into a dog or a pig or any other animal on certain occasions. The transformation usually happens at night, especially when there is a woman on the family way in the neighborhood where the asuwang lives. Some say the asuwang goes under the house and stays below where the pregnant woman is enjoying her odor. She smells very sweet to this thing. The danger

[p. 43]

is that, a pregnant woman whom the “asuwang” smells will have hemorrhage. How a person becomes an “asuwang” is told in the following story.

Two friends went out hunting one day. Soon they felt tired and hungry. They looked around for something to eat but there was none. From a distance, they saw a hut. They went towards it, glad that they could rest and maybe have some food. They found the hut empty, however they saw signs of life in it. There was a jar of rice and several pieces of dried meat. The two men boiled some rice and broiled some pieces of the meat. They had a hearty meal. Not long after, and while the two were resting, the owner of the hut returned. Greetings were exchanged. The two friends then told the man that they took the liberty of cooking some of his food to satisfy their hunger. The man did not mind yet when he heard the word meat, his happy expression changed to one of consternation.

“Oh,” he said. “You ate something which you should not have.”

“What do you mean?” the visitors asked.

“The meat you ate was a human being’s liver. Anybody who eats it will become an “asuwang,” was the reply.

[p. 44]

The two friends were troubled but could not do anything about it. The man, however, told them that the sickness, for so it is believed, would fade away with the passing years. There is no known cure for it.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What is an “asuwang?”
2. How does a person become an “asuwang?”
3. Why is it dangerous for a pregnant woman to be smelled by this creature?
4. How does a person get well from this sickness?

[p. 45]

CHAPTER V
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

1. Birth and Baptism

When a woman is about to deliver, a woman known as “hilot” is called to help in the delivery of the baby and to look after the mother. The “hilot” has a helper called “salag.” Together they help bring out the baby into the world. They attend to the infant, after its birth. The “hilot” bathes and dresses the baby. She gives him his first feeding. The “hilot” attends to the mother during her confinement about fifteen to twenty days. During this period she is massaged and her daily needs attended to. After the mother is bathed, the “hilot’s” job ends.

Today, the doctor and the midwife are taking the “hilot’s” place. Mothers who are on the family way consult the doctor during and after pregnancy. Many expectant mothers go to the hospital for the delivery.

How will the new baby be named? The calendar for names is consulted. The baby must be named after a saint. She must have a namesake among the saints who will help and look after him. Selecting names outside the baby’s birthday is not desirable. Who will look after him from above? So the baby gets its name.

[p. 46]

Nowadays, modern fathers and mothers consult no calendars. They name their babies the way they see fit for them.

The baby should be baptized at once. Waiting very long is not good. Suppose something happens to the baby? And a baby who becomes sick without being baptized yet, is difficult to cure. If it dies, it is denied a life in heaven. A few days, say seven days at most after the baby’s birth is time enough to have the infant Christianized.

The selection of a godmother or godfather, depending on whether the baby is a girl or a boy is taken up. Those people will stand as second parents to the baby and therefore need careful selection. Since it is believed that a baby takes after the “ninang” or “ninong,” the choice should fall on someone worthy of emulation. When an agreement is reached the one selected is notified. The godfather usually provides for the baptismal dress of the baby. He also may give a baptismal gift in the form of money, clothing, jewelry or other baby things.

Saturday following the christening the baby is taken to mass.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. Who may be called to attend to the mother’s delivery?
2. How is a name for the new baby selected?
3. Why should the baby be baptized at once?
4. How is a godfather or godmother chosen?
5. When does the baby hear its first mass?

[p. 47]

2. Courtship and Marriage

When a boy wants to meet a girl, he usually resorts to a serenade. He requests a go-between to accompany him and some friends to the girl’s home in the evening. Together they serenade her. If luck is with him, he and his companions may be asked to come up the girl’s house; in which case introductions are made. And boy meets girl. Luck may be against the serenaders. They may not be asked to go up the house for some reasons. But the girl may show herself at the window and with a winsome smile thank the young men. That lessens the gentleman’s disappointment. They can always try serenading again.

In some instances a man who desires to marry a girl makes known his intentions to the girl’s parents. If they approve of his suit, he serves in her house. He chops firewood, carries water, fixes the fence, helps in the farm, and does a score of things for the girl and her family. When the girl gives assent, the boy’s parents are sent for. They come to ask for the girl’s hand in marriage to their son. The Tagalogs term this as “pamamulong.” During this time, agreements are reached between the parties concerned. The wedding day is set. There may or may not be a wedding party, depending on the whims of the girl’s family. Sometimes the girl’s parents give requests (hiling). It may be a house where the couple will live after their marriage or

[p. 48]

jewels or anything which the girl’s family may fancy.

Sometimes marriage takes place without the girl’s consent. It may be just a parental arrangement. This takes place when the girl’s family approves of the young man very much. And the girl in deference to her parents’ wish marry the man of their choice.

The wedding ceremony is usually performed in the church. Marriage ties under the church rites are believed to be more binding and sacred than others.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. Why does a man serenade a girl?
2. How may a young man make known his desire to marry a girl?
3. What is the “pamamulong” as the Tagalogs term it?
4. Why is a church wedding often resorted to than others?

3. Death and Burial

When a man dies, the church bells toll for him. His death is recorded in the files of the municipality. Arrangements are made for the dead man’s burial in the municipal cemetery. Permit is secured to that effect. The deceased may be placed in a plain grave under the ground or in a cemented niche.

The bereaved are showered with sympathies. Voluntary help in labor, money, flowers, prayers are offered

[p. 49]

for the dead. An all night vigil is kept over the deceased by friends and relatives. Food and games keep the watchers awake.

Funeral services may be simple. The corpse is taken to the church where funeral rites are performed by the priest. After this, the dead is taken to the cemetery. Usually a band of music accompanies the funeral procession from the house to the church then to the burial place. In the cemetery chapel prayers are offered for the repose of the dead man’s soul, before his body is finally interred.

The family mourns for their dead for at least a year. During this period, the women wear black while the men may wear white or colored suits with a black ribbon or band.

In olden times the coffins belonged to the church. When a man died, his relatives rented one for him. Upon reaching the cemetery, the corpse was removed from the coffin, wrapped in a mat and laid in the grave. The coffin was returned to the church.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. How is the death of a person announced?
2. What help do the relatives of the deceased get?
3. Describe the funeral services.
4. How long is the period of mourning?
5. In olden times, how was a dead man buried?
6. Who owned the coffin used?

[p. 50]

CHAPTER VI
BELIEFS, SUPERSTITIONS & INTERPRETATIONS

1. The Placenta and the Baby

When a baby is born, the parents’ first concern is its welfare. Preparations for its future are carefully laid out and followed.

Do the parents want to have a traveler for a son or a daughter — one who will cross the seas and come back with glowing accounts of those places he has seen? Who would not be proud to be the parents of such a widely traveled fellow? So the baby’s placenta is carefully cleaned and wrapped in a piece of cloth. This is taken and thrown far out into the sea where the waves and the current will carry it far, far away.

Sentimental parents can not afford to have their child a wanderer. His safety is uppermost in their minds. Anything can happen to him away from home. He must be a home lover. Hence, his placenta is buried under the house.

It is both a joy and a pride to have an intelligent child, more so if the intelligence is coupled with diligence. And to obtain this, a piece of paper and pencil are buried with the placenta.

Who does not love a sweet child? Rosary beads and a prayer book placed with the baby’s placenta when

[p. 51]

when it is buried will make the child religious, pious, gentle and meek.

For the child’s health, the placenta is buried right below the house gutter where the water drips when it rains. With such precaution, the child will not be subject to chills.

How about a needle and thread buried with the baby’s placenta? It is an assurance of an efficient worker in needlework.

Sometimes the placenta is placed in a coconut shell to assure the child of being the home type.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What will happen if the baby’s placenta is thrown far out into the sea?
2. If the parents desire to have an intelligent child, what will they bury with the placenta of the baby?
3. Give some more beliefs about the placenta and the baby.

2. The Howling Dog

Nothing sends a chill down a man’s spine than the howling of a dog at night. A dog howls when it foresees death. The dog faces the house where death will occur. It seems that it can see the shadow of death as it hovers over the place. This is the very reason why it makes the blood in a man’s veins freeze whenever he hears the fearful howling of the dog at night, and who is not afraid of death?

[p. 52]

3. The Cat

Cats are clean animals. They are seldom seen messy and dirty. It is a common sight to see a cat cleaning itself.

When a cat washes its face, there will be a coming visitor. And if a person is fast enough to cover the cat with a basket, visitors will come with gifts, otherwise there will be none.

A cat is not always a good omen. A black cat crossing one’s path means an unlucky incident will come your way.

Bathing a cat will cause the rains to fall.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What does a howling dog foretell?
2. How does a person know there will be visitors?
3. What will bring the rains?

[p. 53]

CHAPTER VII
AMUSEMENTS

The sarsuela and the drama used to be a popular pastime of the people. Companies of sarsuelistas and dramatists from Manila gave performances before an appreciative audience several times a year. The town residents were willing to come with a peso or maybe a lesser amount for a good show.

Boat races out in the open sea were enjoyed both by young and old folks. Boat owners wagered with one another for this test of speed. It was a sight to see the men as they stood, moved and rowed with perfect rhythm. Sometimes a “balagtasan” was held. Well-known Tagalog poets were hired for the purpose. People were willing to pay good price just to hear a good clash in Tagalog verse.

In the days gone by, Moro-moro or “komediya” was a popular pastime. This told of the strife between the Mohammedans and the Christians with princes and princesses as heroes and heroines. The comedy always ended with the Christians emerging as the victors.

Then there was the “duplo.” It was a sort of a debate where two or three or even four persons took part. The debate, however, was in verse not ordinary language.

[p. 54]

During fiestas and holidays, the young men and women held the Juego de Anillo. Ribbons with a ring on one end of each are suspended from a rod. Young men on bicycles tried their feats in piercing with a sliver the rings that dangled above them as they passed under them in their speeding vehicles. Meanwhile, beautiful ladies each bearing a gift, sat prettily on a high platform, watching and cheering at the young men. When all ribbons had been taken, the lucky ones presented their spoils to the one who was in charge of the game. The names of the donors were read out from these ribbons. As their names were called, the ladies stood and presented their gifts to the winners. Thus the game ended to everybody’s enjoyment and delight.

Juego de Pato was another form of amusement.

The feet of a live duck were tied to a horizontal pole. Men on horseback passed one after another at great speed under the hanging duck and pulled at its neck. The idea was to have the neck of the duck cut with the bare hands. The one who successfully did the job was the winner. He got a prize for his effort.

These days the old forms of entertainment seem to have vanished. No longer are “duplos” conducted. Moromoros and comedias no longer give entertainment to

[p. 55]

town people. Juego de anillo and juego de pato are no longer resorted to by the youth of the community. Now it is motion pictures, or stage shows or amateur hours. Community programs are held once in a while.

Sports also constitute modern means of amusements. Basketball teams and baseball teams have been formed and organized. Athletic clubs testify to the deep interests that the young people have on these games.

Dances are held occasionally. Band concerts are greatly enjoyed by the populace. The town has two bands and those two take turns playing for the people’s hearing pleasure.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What were some of the old forms of amusements?
2. Tell something about each.
3. What do you think of the “Juego de Pato?”
4. At present, how do the people of Rosario amuse themselves?

[p. 56]

1. Riddles

After supper the family usually gather together for some fun as they relax. Stories, quiet games, puzzles and riddles are some forms of after-meal amusements at night. The young and the old alike have a good laugh guessing at riddles. Listed here are some common riddles in the community. They are given in Tagalog, that they may be enjoyed and appreciated more.

1. Heto, heto na, hindi makita. (hangin)
2. Bugtong-bugtong, abot sa bintong. (bukid)
3. Isang butil na palay, husto sa isang bahay. (ilaw)
4. Baras ng kapitan, sa gubat ang tahan. (ahas)
5. Paano-ng paano, hindi inupahan. (haligi ng bahay)
6. Isang banyera, natupo sa tasa. (kamay)
7. Dalawang baton, hindi malingon. (tainga)
8. Isang bayabas, pito ang butas. (mukha)
9. Silab ni Adong hindi makitang. (ulan)
10. Tala ba sa Mariveles, nasa loob ang kulisapin, (sili)
11. Oo nga’t silid, nasa loob ang haligi, (alimango)
12. Oo nga’t alimango, nasa loob ang ulo, (pagong)
13. Oo nga’t pagong, nasa loob ang tumbong, (niyog)
14. Oo nga’t niyog, nasa loob ang buntot, (mangga)
15. Oo nga’t mangga, nasa loob ang pula. (itlog)

[p. 57]

11. Hindi naman pari, hindi naman hari nagdadamit ng sari-sari. (sampayan)
12. Baboy ko sa pulo, balahibo’y pako. (langka)
13. Walang puno, walang ugat, himihitik ang bulaklak. (bituin)
14. Kaloobang pinagbalo-balo, kinain ng maluto. (dinuguan)
15. Si kaka, bubukadutaka. (sakag)
16. Anong bagay sa mundo ang may paa ay walang ulo. (alimango)
17. Hinila ko ang baging, nagbakas ang matsing. (gilingan)
18. Dalawang magkapatid, nagunahan sa pagpanik. (dalawang paa)
19. Isang balong malalim, punong-puno ng patalim. (bibig)
20. Tinaga ko ang lapak, sumunod ang tigas, (niyog)
21. Tinaga sa puno na dulo dumugo. (gumamela)

2. Proverbs and Sayings

The people of Rosario usually enrich their speech with some proverbs and sayings. The townfolks quote them in their conversation, in their writings, in their talks, the better to impart the wisdom of their words. Following are some of the proverbs common in the community.

1. Walang utang na di pinagbabayaran.
2. Si Marselang lumusong, si Marselong umahon.
3. Ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasamang maluwat.
4. Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din.

[p. 58]

5. Parang isdang kupak — makintab and labas ang loob ay bulak.
6. Kung ano ang puno, ay siyang bunga.
7. Kapag may isinuksok ay may titingalain,
8. Sa taong may hiya ang salita’y pamumunga.
9. Ang wika ay salamin ng kaluluwa.
10. Ang taong maagap, daig ang masipag.
11. Kung ano ang itinanim ay siyang aanihin.
12. Ubos, ubos biyaya, mamaya’y nakatunganga.
13. Ang babaeng pangit king biruin ay nagagalit.
14. Araw-araw at Corpus, pag pista’y upos.
15. Malaking bahay, walang lilim.
16. Hang may buhay ay may pagasa.
17. May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita.
18. Walang anumang pagsisisi.
19. Sa bibig nahuhuli ang isda.

3. Creative Poems and Songs

[p. 59]

Wherever I go
Whatever I be
My town is “Rosario”
So dearest to me.

Composed by the Grade III class of Miss R. Santos, Rosario Elementary School.

Written by Alejandro G. Abadilla, a native of Rosario, Cavite.

[p. 60]

Written by TEO S. BUHAIN, a native of Rosario, Cavite.

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