MUNICIPALITY (NOW CITY) OF LIGAO, ALBAY, 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]

POPULAR SONGS

In those days, the popular songs of the town folks can be classified into four groups namely: (1) The Love Songs (2) Religious Songs (3) Songs About Nature and (4) Lullabies.

The “Passion,” the “Santo Rosario” (Holy Rosary in tune), the “Trisagio,” the “Perdon” and “Tara Hade” belong to the religious type of songs. The “Trisagio” and the “Santo Rosario” are sung usually in the evening or in the early dawn. The “Tara Hade” and the “Perdon” are sung by midnight, during epidemics or during novenas, in order to appease the anger of God, who sends the tribulations to the people, on account of their sins. The “Passion” (Life of Christ in tune) is sung only during the Lenten season, which commences on the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday. It is, however, sung sometimes during the wake of a dead person.

To the first group of songs, the “Kundiman” is the favorite melody, very popular to both the young and the old, but especially to the young men who go serenading. The “Kundiman” is sung either singly or by the so called “sompogan” method of singing. It is akin to the way operettas are sung, in the sense, that a song is answered by a song, until one of the two contenders gives in. This is done most often, by a young man and his lady–love.–

The most widely used songs are the Lullabies and Songs about Nature. Both children and adults sing this type of songs, wherever, the lot of rocking a baby to sleep falls on anyone of them.

The Songs About Nature are a favorite among children. The following are samples of songs classified accordingly. The songs are in native dialect with translations in English.

LOVE SONGS

SARONG BANGUI

Sarong bangui, sa igdaan
Nacadangog acong, huni nin sarong gamgam
Sa luba co, catorogan
Baco cundi, simong boses iyo palan.

(Translation)
One lovely night, in my fair bed
I heard a voice, a voice of a birdie fair

[p. 42]

I thought it was just a dream
But then it was your voice, I recognized.

MARASAPA

Marasapang pagcabuhay sa kinaban
Labing pait, labing pagal na pagmasdan
Minamarnay co pang sarong kagadanan
Biyo pa logog na an langit sacong camtan.

(Translation)
Oh, how hard it is to live in this world
With hardships and sorrows met
I prefer death the best of all
That I may live and taste heaven’s sweetness.

BURAC NA MAGAYON

Ngonian na panahon, na quita tiripon
Caadaclan na burac, anas na magayon
Pero iguang saro na orog cagayon
Iniho si Miss Y boot cong comancion.

(Translation)
On this occasion, where all are gathered
There are many damsels, all beautiful
But there is one most beautiful of all
She is Miss Y whose voice I love to hear.

SONGS ABOUT NATURE

Ano dao idtong sa gogon
Bulawan bagang paghilon
Caso sacuyang dolocon, ay, ay
Burac palan nin balagon
Caso sacuyang quinoa
May boses na nag sayuma
Hari man ngaya pagcoa
Ta iyan burac ni Maria

(Translation)
What is above the cogon grass?
It looks like a cogon sash
When I came over to see it
’Twas only the flow’r of a vine.
When I thought of picking it
An enchanted voice refused me
Please don’t get the golden flow’r
That is owned by fair Maria

[p. 43]

SALAMPATING GUMINARO

Salampating guminaro
Guminaro dahil saco
Ano daw ang Ikinamundo
Ta nag layog nin harayo.

Nag lalayog, nagibaba
Nagtuturo si sacong luha
Naging salog, naging sapa
Naging dagat na dacula.

(Translation)
A pretty dove and tame was she
She was tamed because of me
I didn’t know what made her sad
For once she flew away.

The dove flew up and then flew down
I could not help my tears that flowed
The tears that flowed became a spring
And turned to a river, a sea and an ocean.

LULLABY

Patorog patorog sacloton nin banog
Ipag layog–layog sa sirong manoyog
Ipag lacao–lacao sa sirong macacao
Ipag agui–agui sa sirong macafe.

(Translation)
Go to sleep, the kind bird might get you
You might be brought under the coconut grove
Or walk with you under the cacao trees
And still take you under the coffee trees.

RELIGIOUS SONGS

The “Passion” is probably the longest of all religious songs because it deals with the life of Christ. For examples of religious songs, the best references are the novenas and other religious books written in the vernacular or in Spanish. Many copies are still available nowadays.

[p. 44]

POPULAR GAMES AND AMUSEMENTS

The amusement of early times was a combination of stage performances and common folk dance. The “Comedia” or “Moro–Moro” and the “Zarzuelas” were performed on the stage during barrio celebrations or fiestas to entertain the public. The “Pantomina” and the “Pandango” are common dances, the first, being performed, often, by newlyweds before their guests during their wedding feasts. Up to the present, the “Pantomina” and the “Regodon” are still in vogue in remote barrios, although, some people in the poblacions still use it to entertain the “Old–timers,” as we call them. These dances, “Pantomina,” “Pandango,” “Inkoy–Inkoy” and “Regodon” were danced by the people of long ago just as the modern folks perform ballroom dances now.

Aside from the stage performances and folk dances, the old people of long ago enjoyed seeing the “Onas” and “Enciero.” The former is a common form of ordinary cock fighting. The latter is rooster fighting with knives attached to their spurs. Those people who are rather, non–sociable and are musically minded, amuse themselves by playing musical instruments like the harp, guitar, violin, flute and the “bandoria.”

The people of olden times were not wanting in games. They had outdoor games, indoor games & card games. The outdoor games played by both young and old are the “Sipa,” the “Tubigan,” and the “A La Viva–Viva del Amor,” the same as the game(singing game), “For the Sake.” The children have as their favorite games the “Isiw–Isiw”(Hawk and Chick), “Luksuan”(with the use of the rope) and the “Luksuan” was also called “Jump the Spines.” They also play “Taguan”(Hide and Seek) and the “Ababan,” using coconut shells as playthings. The “Noyog–Noyog” are played by the children in the rivers. Just as the girls use coconut shells as stilts, the boys use tall walking sticks called “tagpanao.” The boys use this in playing or walking on muddy roads or in shallow water when there are floods. At times, the boys walk on stilts purely for fun. They then walk on stilts even on firm, dry soil.

Of the indoor games, the old people play the “Sungka

[p. 45]

Buraw” is a card game in which the prize won is not usually in the form of money but in kind. The first player who wins the first five games or (first five “todas”) gets a tapis, chinelas, cloth, chocolate or any form of prize equivalent to the amount of money won. The “Rifa” is another kind of game played long ago. The “Monte” and the “Entre Cuatro” are sometimes used as amusement when the betting does not incur a big amount.

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COMPILED BY:

(SGD) Miss M. Regalario
(SGD) Miss A. Molina
(SGD) Miss A. Dayandante
(SGD) Mrs. P. R. Redillas
(SGD) Mrs. J. P. Peralta

[p. 46]

PUZZLES AND RIDDLES

1. The child is already sitting while the mother is still crawling. (squash)
2. The longer it stands, the shorter it grows. (candle)
3. You carry him and he carries you. (shoes)
4. The house of John is surrounded with guns. (papaya)
5. What is one whole with seven holes? (face)
6. The house of the Lord is surrounded with swords. (pineapple)
7. It is my best friend, but I don’t kiss him. (post)
8. I went to the window, I saw one centavo. (moon)
9. I pull the string and it is always dancing. (top)
10. Hold me and I will dive. (dipper)
11. A piece of plate can reach United States. (moon)
12. When I opened the garden, I ate the captain. (banana)
13. In the middle of the sea there is a golden money. (eggyolk)
14. A piece of rattan can reach Guinobatan. (telephone wire)
15. When it is raining, little sampaguita is opening. (umbrella)
16. What thing has four legs but cannot walk. (table)
17. Riddle, riddle, a man is in the middle. (centavo)
18. It is not an animal, it is not a human being, but it has three heads. (stove)
19. Skin and bones are flying together. (kite)
20. If you touch the sun, Bonifacio will run. (spider)
21. It has an eye, but it cannot see. (needle)
22. A piece of meat is always wet. (tongue)

[p. 47]

23. What leaf is respected by all people? (flag)
24. I have a small handkerchief. If I open it, it will talk to me. (letter)
25. Four men with one hat. (house)
26. Adam’s hair cannot be counted. (rain)
27. Chikito is hiding but his head is seen. (nail)
28. Before reaching an ocean, you will be passing three islands. (coconut)
29. A fish in Albay has scales inside. (pepper)
30. There it goes, but we cannot see it. (wind)
31. You have it, but you cannot see it. (thoughts)
32. A fish in the ponds has no bones. (leech)
33. If you find it, kill it; if you cannot, carry it. (lice)
34. A tiny power can climb the tower. (ant)

Compiled by:

(Mrs.) Rosario V. Navera
(Mr.) Jose Velarde
(Miss) Thelma Rosal
(Mr.) Francisco Rances

[p. 48]

This page is a duplicate of page 46.

[p. 49]

This page is a duplicate of page 47.

[p. 50]

PROVERBS AND SAYINGS

[p. 51]

[p. 52]

Methods of Measuring Time, Special Calendars

The shadow of man:
The shadow of man cast by the sun determines time. When the shadow is cast right from the head to the foot when standing, it is presumed to be twelve o’clock sharp at noon.

Sunrise and sunset:
When the sun rises, it is considered to be six o’clock in the morning. As well as when the sun is right overhead when standing, it is presumed to be twelve o’clock, noon. And also, when it sets on the west, it is supposed to be five o’clock in the afternoon, the time when workers in the mountains leave their work and proceed home.

The Crying of the crickets:
Crickets usually begin singing when it is six o’clock in the afternoon and continue until six o’clock in the morning of the following day.

The Singing of the hornbill:
The hornbill sings during the day when it is twelve o’clock noon. People in the mountains stop working and take their lunch.

The crowing of the cocks:
The cocks make their first crowing in the morning at four o’clock. The crowing becomes more frequent as it grows lighter lasting up to six o’clock in the morning. This is repeated at twelve o’clock midnight.

Travelers determine time also by reaching a certain tree along the route.

Moonrise and moonset:
The appearance of the moon is considered to be the beginning of the new month. When the moon is round, it is considered to be the middle of the month. It disappears at the end of the month.

Climatic conditions:
In our regions, cool climate appears in the

[p. 53]

[p. 54]

OTHER FOLKTALES

I – MAKOSOG AND MAGAYON

Makosog was born a long time ago. His mother said, “Let us name him Makosog, for he will be a strong man.” The father of Makosog was a great datu. He lived in a village near a forest. Makosog often went to the forest with his bow and arrow and shot wild animals for food.

One day Makosog was on his way to another village. He saw a beautiful girl. She was coming for a jar of water. She was surprised to see a strange boy near her village. Boys could not go far from home because their fathers’ enemies might catch them. When anyone was caught by an enemy, he had to be a slave, unless his friends gave gold to free him. Makosog stopped and talked to the girl. Her name was Magayon, for she was very pretty. Her hair was black and wavy. Her teeth were white and shining.

When Makosog went home he told his father about the beautiful girl. He said, “When I am old enough to marry, I want to marry Magayon.”

Makosog became a man. He was strong, as his mother had hoped. He was a brave man. Magayon’s father was a great datu and a friend of the father of Makosog. The two datus often helped each other in war. Makosog saw Magayon often. She was always weaving pretty cloths. She was always happy and smiling at her work.

Now that Makosog was a man he wanted to marry Magayon. His father gave his consent and sent one of his warriors to Magayon’s father. When the warrior came to Magayon’s house, he stuck his spear in the staircase. By this sign, Magayon’s father knew that the messenger was sent by the young man’s father to ask for his daughter.

He said to the warrior, “What present will the father of Makosog give me?”

“Two slaves, many jewels and gold,” was the reply. “It is well,” said the datu. “Go and tell the father of Makosog that it is well.”

When the warrior came back, Makosog was very happy. His father’s house was made ready. The hunters

[p. 55]

When all was ready, the warriors went to Magayon’s house. One took her upon his shoulders. She was happy and laughing. Thus she came to the house of Makosog. Then she became very shy. She played that she did not want to go up stairs.

The father of Makosog came to the door and said, “Here is a pretty slave girl for you, if you will come up.” Magayon went up for the slave, but she would not go in. The father of Makosog said, “Here is a necklace for you if you will sit down.”

For the jewel she sat down. Then he gave her another jewel to make her eat and another to make her drink. She laughed and was not shy anymore. She had only been playing. This is the way the daughter of a datu always acted when she was married.

An old man stood up and said, “Magayon marries Makosog. They are now man and wife.”

Makosog and Magayon stood up. An old woman joined their hands, and laid the joined hands on a dish of rice. Then she threw some rice over the people in the house. All the people shouted, and the marriage was over.

After the people had feasted, Makosog and Magayon went to a new house to live.

II – THE FIRST COUPLE

A great bamboo grew in one of the villages. It was very large around, larger than any of the others. A bird lit on the ground and began to peck the bamboo. A voice inside said, “Peck harder, peck harder.” The bird was frightened at first, but it wanted to know what was inside. So it pecked and pecked harder. Still the voice said, “Peck harder, peck harder.” At last a great crack split the bamboo from the bottom to the top. Out stepped a man and a woman. The bird was so frightened that it flew very far away. The man bowed low to the woman for they had lived in the different joints of the bamboo and had never seen each other before.

They were the first man and woman in the world.

[p. 56]

The man said, “I don’t know how I can take care of myself.”

“Well,” said the young woman, “I am also alone, I should not mind looking after you.”

“If you only would,” said the young man.

“Oh, yes,” said the young woman. “You are simple and easy to take care of.”

“Then, let us be together,” said the man, as he stood up. So arm in arm he and the young woman went together to live. They built a hut of bamboo and coconut leaf near the clump of bamboos by a river.

The man went fishing every day. Sometimes, he went hunting. The woman learned how to keep their hut neat and clean. She also learned to cook. She was always cheerful. The man decided that she was the one thing he loved best of all.

III – THE REWARD OF KINDNESS

In a village called Sandig, there lived a young couple whose names were Malikse and Mataba. Seven months after their marriage, Malikse became sick because of overwork. A week later he died. Mataba mourned for him so much that she also became very thin and pale. Two months after Malikse’s burial, Mataba gave birth to a baby boy. Mataba died after the baby was born for she was very weak.

The baby was left under the care of an old couple. The man was called Iniong and the woman was called Inad. Iniong and Inad were very poor. They owned a piece of land where they raised corn and vegetables as their source of livelihood.

Iniong and Inad took very good care of the baby. They called him their own. No matter how careful the old couple were, the baby too became sick and then died. They sold their small lot in order to have some money for the burial of the baby. The lot was sold to their neighbor who was a rich widow.

The widow was a very selfish woman. After the sale of the land, she told the old couple to leave.

[p. 57]

The old couple had to move to another place nearby. There, they planted camotes and some rice by the kaingin.

One pleasant afternoon while the old couple was cleaning their kaingin, they saw a monkey. The monkey went around to see the plants. The old couple pretended not to mind the monkey. The following morning, the monkey came again to the kaingin to see the old couple. His visit became habitual.

One day the monkey went to the yard of the selfish widow. He began to dig up a well in the yard. The widow saw the monkey. She asked the monkey what he was doing there. The monkey told her that he was digging a well where he could invite the old couple to take a bath in order to become young. The widow asked the monkey if she might be the first one to take a bath there. The monkey consented. The widow prepared for the bath. The monkey helped the widow go down into the well. When the widow was in the well, the monkey hurriedly covered up the woman with earth. That was the end of the widow’s life.

The monkey told the old couple to live in the house of the selfish widow. At first, they were reluctant to go. They wondered how the monkey could be a help to them. The monkey told them that he was the baby whom they adopted as a child. He saw how miserable they were so that he was forced to work for them in return, he added.

The old couple moved to the house of the widow. They lived there for many years more. They were happy and contented in their new home. They never forgot to pray for the departed souls.

IV – CLEVER JUAN SALAKOT

In the sitio of Baligang near the base of Mayon Volcano, there lived many years ago a very industrious couple whose names were Pedro Maribok and Juana Maigos. The man was called Pedro Maribok for he was very talkative and noisy in his home and when he talked to his neighbors. The woman was called Juana Maigos for she was always busy making things at home or taking good care of their farm. She would wake up early to drive away the crows that ate the rice and corn in the fields.

This couple had a son whose name was Juan.

[p. 58]

One day during the planting season Juan’s parents sent him to the village to hire some men and women to work. The men would plow the field to make it ready for planting. The women would transplant the rice seedlings. His parents gave him the money to pay for the workers.

Clever Juan thought of a trick. He would show to his parents that he was really helping them; that he could manage the work in their stead. Instead of hiring men and women, he bought fifty straw hats (salakot), placed them on strong wooden stakes in a row across the field. Then he went home. He told his parents to prepare enough food for fifty persons. When the food was ready, Juan placed the rice in big baskets and carried the fish and meat in iron vats. He loaded them on a cart. He drove the cart toward the fields and invited some friends to eat with him.

In the afternoon, he returned home with the empty baskets. His parents asked him how the work was. He told them that the work was very well done. “The men and women are still working,” he said. “Don’t you see them working in a row in the fields, mother?”

The mother looked out of the window, and saw the men and women with salakots really working.

In the evening just before bed time, Juan slipped out and went to the fields to take away the wooden stakes and salakots.

After a week, Juan’s father went to the field to see how the rice plants grew. He found thick grasses or weeds instead of rice plants. He returned home, enraged, to punish Juan. Because Juan was a clever boy, he evaded his father’s punishments by some tricks.

From that time on Juan was called by his friends, Juan Salakot instead of Juan Mariboc, his true family name.

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[p. 59]

THE TWO STONES NEAR LAKE BOLINAO

It is said that the spot where the falls of Lake Bolinao stands now, was quite a charming spot. Around it there lived people who were very simple, finding so much beauty in just living on and on, lying down to sleep when night came, and waking up to the sun’s rays and loved their village as they loved their gods. Among them, there were a man and a woman who loved each other. They were named Cagayunan and Cacusugan. Cacusugan was the man and Cagayunan was the woman. They were married under a barely growing moon and stars of the sky. After their marriage Cagayunan asked her husband to go to the falls. There they looked at the moon while making promises of love to sweeten their ambitions for a new life. Cagayunan said loving words to her husband. “I have looked at the moon so often, but now I want to look at it with you, to see if there can be any change, if it can be brighter, cooler and lovelier still, because we loved each other.” They looked at the sky and they saw that the moon hid its face, though it was only for a while. Then the moon showed itself again, so bright, so full, and so lovely, laying mirrored in the depth of the falls.

They stripped themselves and they plunged into the water and revelled in the coolness of it. The peace around was shattered. A woman in white, with hair flowing like golden thread, stood before them saying: “I shall give you a gift; one for each of you, because you loved so much each other. You, woman whose faithfulness the gods look upon with favor, I’ll make you very beautiful. No human being can resist your beauty. It shall be heard from far and wide and bring many to your feet. To you man, I’ll give strength, perpetual youth, tremendous power and fame. But I warn you not to tell anybody of how you got your gifts because if you do so, the gods will take them back from you.” After saying this the woman in white disappeared.

Next day, all what the fairy said became true. Cagayunan became so beautiful that her husband was too surprised and amazed of her beauty and could not utter a word at first. Her beauty was heard of from far and wide. Many strangers came to see her.

Cacusugan was proud of his young wife and he became jealous. One day he got tired and enraged at the

[p. 60]

attentions bestowed on his wife by other men. He ran out and in sheer anger he made the mountains and the valleys shake.

Knowledge of how strong and powerful was Cacusugan and how well he could terrify the people who come to pay homage to his wife, spread far and wide.

Cacusugan felt proud of himself for his strength and power and so made his mind determined to leave his young wife to look for other places to be conquered and ruled by them.

Cagayunan pleaded to her husband not to leave her alone, but Cacusugan insisted and went far up in the mountains where there were wild animals and men to conquer.

At the time that Cagayunan was left alone, she wandered out to where the falls were with its clear beautiful waters that could give her company and consolation in her despair. Suddenly, as she turned a bend on the way she met a young man quite as handsome and strong as her husband, but with a humble love and with light showing in his eyes. She wanted to weep at first but her pains were uppermost and quite sudden that all what she was thinking were nothing but bitterness. She was full of anguish. No other feeling could take place in her heart but she determined to give her husband a lesson, and make vengeance by entertaining the young man who was following her. She thought she would let her husband feel her pains. She did not think she would fall in love with that young man. Her heart needed affection. There was one tender, sweeter, nobler and stronger than the former one lost, and therefore Cagayunan acceded willingly to the young man’s suggestion to elope.

Tightly held in the arms of the young man Cagayunan went to flee. But they could not get far. The fairy appeared and blocked their path, saying, “Stop, we gave you a gift because you loved so much and the gods looked with favor upon your faithfulness. But now you lost it and you disobeyed my warning, misfortune must come to you.” The fairy after saying this, struck Cagayunan with her wand. Cagayunan immediately turned into a white stone. The young man who tempted her fled away.

One night Cacusugan, in his solitude, tired and disgusted of his fruitless journey of conquest, thought of his wife. Like a new man, he sped back to

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