MUNICIPALITY (NOW CITY) OF TABACO, ALBAY, Historical Data of Part 3

PART 3

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V

About these Historical Data

The transcription of this page was done using AI technology. There may be errors.

[p. 41]

continuation of HACIENDA

1889 – The people of this Hacienda now, were accused of not respecting the ownership of Capitan Mariano Villanueva lent the case ceased temporarily due to the Philippine Revolution.

(b) During the American Occupation to World War II.

1900 – Organization of San Miguel town under the Philippine Commissions. Mr. Miguel Bercas was elected by a group of intelligent and prominent people of the whole island as the Municipal President.

1902 – Resumption of the case between Capitan Villanueva and the people of San Miguel.

1907 – The case was tried in the court and won by Capitan Villanueva.

1908 – Sheriff Anacleto Mercado officially turned the ownership of the lands to Capitan Villanueva. People lost the place lamenting in despair.

1910 – Villanueva sold the land to Agusan Refining Company for P105,000.00.

1912 – The people through the leadership of Ex-Municipal President Bercas won the case of improvements of the land.

1917 – Agusan Refining Co. sold it to Glass Company for P350,000.00.

1919 – Glass Company sold it to Agusan Coco Cove Company.

(c) During and After World War II.

1942 – The Japanese soldiers destroyed the imposing 4-room Converts school building.

1943 – Lepers were cared for by the people of Hacienda by supplying food.

1944 – Fabian Burac, a guerrillero killed Teniente del Barrio and neighborhood president Zacarias Sanuria. The latter was accused by Burac for collaboration with the Japanese government.

1945 – Fabian Burac was killed by Gerardo Cornel as a retaliation to his abuses to the latter during the Japanese occupation.

1946 – July – R. F. C. member visited the place to find the true desire of local leaders for selling the land to the tenants through government social amelioration program.

1949 – May, Velasco – Gancayco partnership bought the land for P200,000.00.

[p. 42]

4. MATAGBAC

No important incident can be remembered by the people of this barrio during the Spanish regime.

[During the American occupation the inhabitants fought bravely and heroically also against the new foe. According to the oldest man in this barrio named Cenon, he was an eyewitness to the fighting between the well-armed Americans and poorly armed Filipinos in the place now called Qui-nampohan. The Filipinos were under the leadership of two valiant brothers Elpidio and Carpo Ruivivar. There was a great toll to their lives due to the superior arms of their enemies who fought with rifles and pistols, whereas their arms consisted only of bolas and sharp sticks. Cenon and his father helped in curing the wounds of their Filipino brothers.]

The Japanese ransacked and burned some houses. They took away food, animals, clothing and jewelry, but no one was killed.

After World War II the people reconstructed their houses and chapel. They built a school building and resumed their peaceful lives working in the fields and in warehouses in the poblacion.

5. QUINASTILLOJAN

(a) Spanish occupation: not known by the present residents of the barrio.

(b) American occupation to World War II:

In 1903 the place was made an American camping ground. The school building was made as a storehouse by the guerrillas during World War II.

(c) After World War II: None.

6. SAN ANTONIO

(a) During the Spanish Occupation:

The municipal government of Tabaco was transferred to San Antonio to seek refuge from the Moros who often came to rob the people of their belongings.

(b) During the American occupation to World War II.

[A day or two prior to the landing of the American Forces, the people of this barrio organized a civilian defense called “Sandataan,” whose purpose was to fight against the Americans. Their weapons were the Lantakan.

[p. 43]

Continuation of: SAN ANTONIO

Their weapons were the “Lantakan,” bow and arrow, bolos, spears and ambers. Ambers are a sort of modern shot gun. They also used “kampilan.” The people barricaded the entrance to the barrio with big trees. Upon arrival of the Americans the members of the Sandataan fought with them. The Sandataan were defeated and the remaining ones fled to the hills. They again organized the “Insurrectos” to carry on guerrilla activities. The members of this organization were worse than the Sandataan. They robbed and burned the houses, kidnapped the people. The Americans sent out a message to them to surrender and return to their home. So the people were concentrated in the barrio for a month. The aim was to separate the good civilians from the Insurrectos. In 1901, there was peace in the barrio until 1940.]

(b) During and After World War II.

On Dec. 12, 1941, the second World War affected very much the lives and property of the people in this barrio. On that day there was a great commotion of the whole barrio population, for this barrio is being situated along the National Highway. The people left their homes and fled to the mountains, carrying along with them what little belongings they can afford to bear. For three months they all stayed in the mountains. In April 1942, the men went back to the barrio. They formed an association called Katipunan. The leader of this organization was Gregorio Casual [Casal?]. He and his men forced the young men to join. When this organization was made known to the Japanese the name was changed to “Guerrilla.” The members used a few shot guns “paltik” and revolvers. Some of the members terrorized the people of the barrio. About five per cent of the people’s animals and rice harvest were taken by them.

In April 1943, the family of Buenaventura Fuentebella was kidnapped by a band of guerrillas under the leadership of “Sarto.” The family was brought to Boring and there the family members were put to death. A few weeks later “Sarto” was killed by his own men.

[p. 44]

7. SAN CARLOS

No important incidents happened during the Spanish regime except that the people learned the doctrine of Christianity.

During the American regime the heroic attempt of the Filipinos to resist the Americans led to several encounters, although the Filipinos were poorly armed. The Carpo brothers led the Filipinos, who as was to be expected met defeat with a great toll on their lives.

A permanent school building was constructed in this barrio in 1914. The first teacher was Mr. Justino Bonafe, who put forth great effort in the construction of the building. After the school building was finished, an artesian well was built outside the fence of the school.

Nothing of importance happened during the Japanese occupation. But seven persons died at the hands of the Japanese. After liberation a semi-permanent chapel was built, with the help of Benigno Bron.

8. SAN MIGUEL

1. Rawis (sitio),

A. During the Spanish Regime:

The people were governed by the “cabezas.” Those cabezas were tyrannical. They abused the power vested upon them and the poor people had to submit to their rulings with bowed heads. Such abuses were:

(a). Men at the age of 20 were made “quintos” or soldiers who were sent to Manila to undergo training. Whether the men liked it or not, they had to be soldiers or else something dreadful would happen to them.

(b) Each person was obliged to buy a residence certificate at P2.00 each. A non-compliance to this ruling would mean the trying of that person and undergoing investigation by the guardia civiles at the headquarters in Tabaco. Only the cabeza of the place where the prisoners come from could defend and set free the prisoners.

B. During the American Regime:

During the early part of the American regime, Moros infested the waters around San Miguel Island. They captured the people sailing in the wide seas and brought them to the Moroland as slaves to the datus to whom the Moros were indebted. Some of the captives could be released by their own kin by ransoms.

[p. 45]

Continuation of: SAN MIGUEL

RAWIS

In order to make the landing of the enemies difficult in Rawis, the natives planted bamboos thickly around the vicinity. The bamboos hid the dwellings of the natives and made invasion by the enemies hard. During the raids the women and children were confined in the chapel and had to wait until the fight was over. The men fought the enemies outside the chapel.

C. During the Japanese Regime:

All the able-bodied men were forced to work in the garrison for one chupa of rice each day. Because of this, the people fled but were forced to return by Capt. Watanobi who threatened to burn their houses.

AGRAS

A. Spanish Regime:

The head of the sitio was called “Cabeza.” He ruled the place with an iron hand. His words were the laws. His commands had to be obeyed otherwise the disobedient were punished cruelly. The punishment was usually by whipping. Those who committed serious crimes were sent to Tabaco for the higher officials (mostly Spaniards) to investigate and punish if found guilty.

B. American Regime:

After the World War I in 1918 members of the Coast and Geodetic Survey built a very tall tower in Agras. The natives found the stay of the Americans a blessing because many of them were employed as laborers. When the Americans left, they gave “gratis” all the materials from the tower to the natives.

C. Japanese Regime:

The Neighborhood Association was organized. The people feared the Japanese so they stayed in their farms all through the Japanese occupation. Only the people who were summoned by the municipal mayor ventured to go to Tabaco. The people found peace and contentment in their seclusion.

VISITA

In the year 1930, there was a malaria epidemic. For fear that this sickness might spread throughout the island of San Miguel, an emergency

[p. 46]

Continuation of:

Visita

hospitals was established. It was under the supervision of Dr. Vicente Villanueva. The nurse who was assigned in the emergency hospital was Miss Avelina Austero. Mr. Eguidio Patricio was the chief sanitary inspector. There were also sub-sanitary inspectors. They were Mr. Arsenio Loyola, Mr. Arsenio Borabo, and Mr. Marcial Bornilla. During that epidemic many people died.

SAGORONG

No available data

9. SAN VICENTE

1. During the Spanish Occupation:
   1. The existence of the Gobierno Provisional Filipino.
   2. The early Spanish creation of parochial schools which went side by side with their religious teachings and conversion to Christianity.
2. American Regime:

   American occupation brought about the creation of the primary schools and the introduction of inoculation and vaccines against small pox and cholera which epidemics caused great mortality in the year 1904.

3. World War II:

   During the World War II the barrio was made a seat of business transactions, thereby making said place a trading center. The place, however was made into a ghost barrio when nearly all its residents went to the hills and some evacuated to town for fear of the guerrillas who killed one teniente del Barrio who was suspected of being a pro-Japanese.

[p. 47]

PART TWO
FOLKWAYS

[p. 48]

PART II – FOLKWAYS

1. TRADITIONS
   1. TABACO
      1. Births:
         1. A woman in a family way when taking a walk must bind charcoal around her waist or just let her hair loose behind her back to drive away evil spirits.
         2. A pregnant woman must not witness an eclipse. If the eclipse occurs while she is outdoors, she must return to her house after it has ended.
         3. When a woman is in labor, the old folks usually go under the house with a lighted blessed candle and start whipping every corner with a broom. By so doing, they believe that the evil spirits are driven.
      2. Wedding:
         1. After a wedding ceremony a widow or widower must not meet the newly-weds or one of the couple will die soon.
         2. At the end of a wedding, each of the couple starts stepping one’s foot. The first one successful to step the other foot will overpower the other in all household activities.
         3. A lady who receives first a pin from the bride will be next to tread the aisle.
      3. Deaths or Burials:
         1. Here in Albay, it is believed by the people that those who join the funeral procession must not look back or else another member of the family will follow soon.
         2. Married people must not try to meet a widower just after the funeral procession if they don’t like their better-halves to die soon.

[p. 49]

4. BAPTISM

   When a baby is baptized, the godmother or godfather is expected to give the baby some money or even a chicken after the ceremony. The cash is preferable for if he fails to give, there is bound to occur bad luck for the godchild.

5. COURTSHIP

   When a young Romeo thinks he cannot live without a certain lovely Juliet, he lets his parents go to the house of the girl to settle matters with her parents. Close friends and relatives of the boy accompany his parents, taking with them meat and wine, enough to entertain friends and relatives and girl. Sometimes when both parties are still very conservative, the settlement of the affair is carried on the aid of the third persons supposed to be well versed on marriage settlement diplomacy.

   After this day the boy stays in the home of the girl, helping in all the household chores, like fetching water, chopping wood, pounding the rice, repairing the house, or taking care of the animals. This continues for several months, even a year or two, until the parent of the girl sets the date of the marriage, after which emancipation comes to the happy groom.

6. MARRIAGE

   During the marriage ceremony the other sponsors who put the marriage veil on the marriage pin it on the coat of the groom and veil of the bride because it is believed that if it will fall, bad luck will never leave the couple all their lives. After the ceremony the bride and the groom stage a race for the door, for it is believed that first to come out of the church will be the boss in the household. When the wedding party is approaching the home of the bride, all the widows and widowers are required

[p. 50]

2. BANKILINGAN
   1. BIRTH

      The placenta of the newly-born child is placed in a glass and then buried under the eaves of the house because it is believed that the child will possess a clear and fresh mind. It is also the practice to place the placenta in a container, just enough to contain it because if there is a space left in the container, the child is believed to become a voracious eater.

      When the newly-born child’s navel is not yet cut, no one is allowed to ask live coals from the house where the child is, otherwise, the child will suffer pain.

      As soon as the navel is cut, the parents see to it that the cut navel is never found or eaten by domestic animals as that would make the child a thief.

      On the eve of Christmas, mothers on the family way, put a strip of cloth which they use as their belt, under the image of the Blessed Virgin mother at the main altar of the church. It is believed that the mother will have an easy child delivery.

[p. 51]

2. BAPTISM

   On the eve of the child’s baptism, the parents keep a light burning the whole night for it is believed that once the light is put out, evil spirit will kill the child.

   The child’s characteristics are believed to be patterned after those of the godparents so parents are selective about them.

   Godparents are supposed to give the child any cash amount as a gift to the child after baptism (Pagagom) so that the child will always be lucky and successful in life.

3. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE

   When the suitor is accepted by the girl, proposal of marriage follows. The suitor brings along with him, his parents, relatives and a spokesman who makes the formal proposal to the girl’s parents. They also bring with them some eats and drinks, usually meat and wine (somsoman). Most often, the conversation is not direct to the point. The spokesman speaks figuratively and in the course of the conversation they eat and drink. In most cases, the girl’s parent give requirements which the suitor and his parents have to meet before marriage could take place. Usually, the suitor serves the girl’s services are satisfactory, the requirement given are lessened, however, if the services are not satisfactory, these serve as a ground for the girl’s parents to reject the proposed marriage.

   In marriage, both parties are very selective as regards marriage dates.

[p. 52]

4. DEATHS AND BURIALS

   A vigil for the dead is kept the whole night and the Passion of the Lord is sung to keep the vigilants awake. It is believed that evil spirits will come and carry away the corpse if it not watched.

   As soon as the corpse is placed inside the coffin members of the family would take care not to let any tear drop on the corpse for it would mean rough sailing of the soul to Heaven.

   When the coffin is taken for the funeral nobody inside of the house should look out of the windows and those bringing the coffin should never look back otherwise another member of the family or close relatives will soon die.

   During the interment, there should be no sweeping of the floor in the house, otherwise other members will soon die. Also members of the family of the deceased should not hold anything round or else they will develop goiter.

   Those arriving from the funeral are not allowed to enter the house until someone in the house sprinkle ashes over them. This is believed to block the soul’s return to the house.

[p. 53]

1. 2. 5. FESTIVALS

         Barrio fiesta is always observed. However poor they may be these barrio people would always try to prepare lavishly even to the extent of incurring debts or borrowing silver or chinawares from other barrios. A barrio fiesta is not complete without a dance held on the eve of the fiesta day.

1. 3. BANTAYAN
      1. BIRTHS
         1. Women in the family way are refrained from walking in the dark. To facilitate good birth and delivery, these women are urged to pound palay.
         2. A husband in fetching for a midwife must not tarry by the doorway of the house. When this is done the birth of his wife’s child is easy and safe.
         3. When the umbilical cord is cut the cord is tied tightly and placed in a place where no animal can reach, it for if it is stolen the child will grow up to be a stealer.
         4. If the placenta is buried in the middle of the street the child becomes a great traveler, if thrown into the sea the child becomes a sailor.
         5. During the Eve of Christmas, mothers in the family way put a piece of cloth under the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mother that she might be given an easy delivery.

[p. 54]

1. 3. 2. BAPTISM
         1. The godfather is supposed to give his godson after the ceremony certain amount of money to foretell good luck and good living of the child.
         2. On the baptismal rites, the sponsor must be careful. He must not have the light of the candle blown out, otherwise the child’s life is cut short. A child who cries at baptism is said to be gentle and humble. If he does not cry he is a lion-hearted child.
         3. Before the mother gives the child to the person who will carry the child she should pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father so that the child’s life will be prosperous.
      3. COURTSHIP

         Courtship is a matter of sacrifice and ordeal for a man. A suitor to prove his sincerity and loyalty must shred several coconuts. From the shredded coconut he must produce oil. He has to fetch water for the fiancée’s bath and laundering. The parent’s approval is sought before a man proposes to marry. The man must first have himself introduced to the girl’s relatives for the first time in a rustic ceremony. The man and his party must bring something to feast on while conversations are going on. From the day of having been known as an official suitor he must do manual work. The man has a slim chance to spur his passion for love.

      4. VISITS

         Calls for visits are always done at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Visits must always be short. It is out of manner to stay long.

      5. FESTIVALS

         On town or barrio fiestas every member of

[p. 55]

1. 3. the family moved heaven and earth to offer visitors something to eat. It is a sign of ungratefulness to the Patron Saint or selfishness on oneself to refrain from offering visitors something to eat. With such ungrateful attitude the family will suffer the feigned illness given by the saint.

1. 3. 6. PUNISHMENTS

         It is commonly thought that typhoons, storms, draught, earthquakes, epidemics, and other calamities are God’s wrath to mankind because of the latter’s sins.

      7. MARRIAGES

         Marriages are celebrated and solemnized according to Catholic rites. The premarriage arrangements are many and are worthy or not. Sufficient means for the expenses must be met by the groom. The well-to-do families furnish a dowry to the bride’s mother for nursing the daughter. This is called “Bigaysusu.” On the other hand the bridegroom gives his dowry called “Bigaycaya,” which is purposely done to maintain livelihood of the young couple after marriage.

         On the marriage ceremony if the bride or groom allows unconsciously to have the veil dropped will in the future have unstable, unsuccessful married life.

         Before the newly weds reach the house a handful of rice is thrown to them that their union would be prosperous.

         The newly weds should never spend the money “pasalubong” for if they do so they will be hard up in the future.

[p. 56]

1. 3. 7. DEATHS AND BURIAL
         1. Burials are made in the cemetery, in accordance with the rites of the church. Just after the burial no member of the family must pay a visit to the grave within three days. This is done to do away with the belief that he who visits soon, will die soon.
         2. The widow or the widower is not permitted to enter the cemetery after the funeral, for if he or she does so he or she will soon die.
         3. All alms given by visiting friends are spent for the funeral alone.

1. 4. BOGÑABONG
      1. BIRTH

         A woman on the family way is prohibited from visiting enchanted and dangerous places for the fear that the supposed child might be eaten in the woman’s womb by harpy. She must abstain from eating root crops like camiguin so that her child will have complete toes and fingers.

      2. DEATHS

         No one must yawn while making a vigil over the dead for in doing so he will habitually yawn in life. No member of the bereaved family must walk along the gabi plants for he or she will constantly tremble and unconsciously shake his head.

      3. BURIAL

         Burials are made in the cemetery, in accordance with the church rites. Just after the burial no member of the family must pay visits to the grave within three days. This is done to do away with the belief that he who visits soon will die soon.

[p. 57]

1. 5. COMON
      1. MARRIAGE

         No one can marry without the consent of his parents. Before the marriage is held a conference is called between the parents of the two parties. Certain contracts have to be accomplished by the groom before the marriage is held. The wedding partly is climaxed by the dance of the couple.

      2. BURIAL

         When one dies the relatives do not take a bath until after the burial. They do not sweep the floor.

      3. VISITS

         When a man goes to the house of his sweetheart and he finds out that somebody is performing a task that involves manual labor, he is ready to help.

1. 6. HACIENDA
      1. Births
         1. A person getting a midwife must proceed directly to the house of the latter without stopping anywhere or pause right by the threshold or door.
         2. When an expectant mother is ready to deliver she must have a novena to San Ramon for good delivery. She must carry a red payaw wrapped over her belly to protect herself from “patianak.”
         3. When the expectant mother feels aching on the hips as sign of delivery of the first-born child she should not mind the pain but slap the hip of her husband so that the latter will be the one to feel the pain of delivery instead of herself.

[p. 58]

1. 6. 1. 4. Abortion, miscarriage, or premature delivery may be caused by patianak (a child who is condemned to live in hell for he died without being baptized), bewitched or enchanted or the mother does not get the thing she likes when she is conceiving it.

1. 6. 2. BAPTISM
         1. In Christian way the god parent of a child is considered the second parent in this world and hereafter. He or they have the moral obligation to give Christian education on the child if the parents fail to provide them, especially if it is due to poverty.
         2. A child will develop traits, or character similar to his or her godparents.
      3. COURTSHIP

         It is the general custom here that a bachelor visits a maiden several times in the girl’s house to talk about weather, farming, or about nature. When he is already acquainted with parents, the girl or most of the members of the family, he will send a letter of courtship although he has not talked about that matter to the girl. Sometimes either a friend or one closely related to the girl will become the go-between of the courtship.

      4. MARRIAGE

         Such above courtship leads to presentation of the man with the help of mediator or third person called “pamalaye.” The boy with parents and relative present the man to girl’s parents carrying with them food, especially meat for “somsoman” which will be eaten after the “betrothal ceremony.” Sometimes the old customs follow giving imposition of things to be done by the man, example: building house, giving money to the girl’s parent before the marriage.

[p. 59]

1. 6. 4. During the marriage ceremony the candle for each of the pair determines the health and death of each. The dim light shows poor health in marriage life; flickering and leaping tongue of light, noisy, quarrelsome or boisterous; when extinguish, — death.

1. 6. 5. DEATH

         When one dies in a family, the brothers, sisters or parents must not help in making the coffin, in helping dig the grave or to look down to the grave when the dead is buried. It is believed that after a short period one will die too in the family.

      6. BURIAL

         In burial one is escorting the departed one into a permanent slumber. He should pray to God for his delivery from evil and acceptance to the House of God.

      7. VISIT

         Close relatives who are married on the same day or month should not visit each other lest the one visiting may die soon or have unfortunate or miserable marriage life.

      8. PUNISHMENTS

         They are executed here in the Christian way and under the dictates of the law of the land. They are not so severe, inhuman, and unreasonable that they may initiate further troubles.

1. 7. MARIROC
      1. MARRIAGE

         When a young man desires to marry a young woman he proceeds a third person who talks over the matter to the parent of the woman in which case the marriage is being arranged. When this said person approaches the parents, he takes with him “tuba” before the marriage took place.

[p. 60]

1. 7. 1. The amount of dowry supposed to be given by the bridegroom is being agreed upon by the parents and bridegroom. Part of the dowry goes to the parents and part to the wed pair.

1. 7. 2. FESTIVALS

         During the fiestas every house is an inn and all visitors are welcomed. They are served loyally to such an extent that host and hostesses are left in debted for months and afterwards. Religious festivals as Patrons Day, Flower of May, X’mas season and Easter are being celebrated.

1. 8. MATAGBAC
      1. BIRTHS
         1. When the umbilical cord is cut the lenght is measured until the forehead of the child so that he or she may have a long life.
         2. The placenta of the child is placed in a small coconut shell so that when the child grows up he or she will only eat little. Together with the placenta they placed some objects a needle, thread and cord of a guitar then it is buried near the stairs of the house. They believe that the child knows how to sew and will have a good voice when he or she grows up because of the cord.
         3. A visitor in menstruation period should not visit or be admitted to visit in the house for fear that the mother will have pain in the stomach or will have plenty of blood coming out.
         4. If any marks of scale like skins of newly born baby appear on the whole body of the baby no one should be admitted to say something. They should be warned from talking about the child for if they do so the child will not become white.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V