Folklore from Taal, Batangas by Eulalia B. Oñate, 1924

This page contains the complete transcription of the 1924 ethnographic paper written by one Eulalia B. Oñate from .jpeg scans of the originals made available by the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. Corrections for grammar had been made in certain parts but no attempt was made to rewrite the original paper. Original pagination is indicated for citation purposes.

[Cover page]

[p. 1]

Three hundred years ago, there lived in Bauan, a barrio of Taal, a couple who very living very unhappily. The husband was a very bad man. He was engrossed deeply in vice and used to return to his house very late at night. The woman was the slave of her husband, and in spite of all, she was faithful to her husband.

Once, he came home very late at night as he often did, and found that there was no water in the house. He commanded his wife to draw water from “Diñging,” a spring about three kilometers from their house. The wife readily obeyed, took her “galong” or buñga along with her, and went to draw water.

She had to pass rice fields before reaching the spring; on her way, she saw a lighted spot at a distance; on seeing this, she directed her steps towards it.

On arriving at the place, she saw that it was a cross – (crosses even nowadays are placed in rice fields called patubot). On seeing that it was a cross, she knelt down and prayed, and placed her jar on the ground. As she was praying, water came from one side of the cross. When her jar was full, the water stopped flowing.

[p. 2]

She went home and her husband got very much surprised because of the shortness of the time she employed in taking water. She was investigated by her husband, she told him the whole truth, but he would not believe her, so that the two had to go see the place that same [approximate word, blurred] cross.

From that time on, people began to venerate the cross, later the priest of the town was asked by the people to build a “tuklong” chapel made of bamboo and nipa.

Such was the origin of the cross now venerated as the patron of the town of Bauan.

The cross is at present called “Mahal na Poon,” meaning “Dear Lord” or “Holy Lord.” (August 4, 1924.)

Once upon a time, a young woman went to a photographer to have her picture taken. On arriving at the studio, the photographer asked her to pose. She sat on a chair and began to pose the best she could.

When everything was arranged, the photographer went to the camera for he wanted to see how the woman looked. After looking, he gave the following orders:

“Husayin ang kamay” (arrange your hands in this way).

“Ytunghay ang mukha” (have your face in an upright position).

The above orders were, of course, readily obeyed by

[p. 3]

the woman posing for the picture.

Finally, the photographer told her, “Ituwid ang tingin” (eyes at the camera).

This order was not obeyed by the woman, but was answered abruptly, “Paciencia pare, at acoi duling” (Pardon me sir, I cannot do that because I am cross-eyed.)

September 15, 1924.

Transcribed from “Folklore from Taal, Batangas,” by Eulalia B. Oñate, 1924, online at the Henry Otley-Beyer Collection of the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.