Conde Labak, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data
 |
| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Conde Labak, Batangas Town, Batangas, the original scanned documents at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections not having OCR or optical character recognition properties. This transcription has been edited for grammar, spelling and punctuation where possible. The original pagination is provided for citation purposes.
[p. 1]
HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF CONDE LABAK
The official name of the barrio is Conde Labak. Conde was the popular name of the barrio before but during the time when Mr. Perfecto Condes was mayor of Batangas, the barrio was divided into two sections, namely, Conde Labak and Conde Itaas, each having its own barrio lieutenant. This division took place in 1934.
Conde was derived from the Spanish word “Conde” which means count.
Balisong is the only sitio in Conde Labak.
The Asis, Lopezes, and de Torresses were the original families of Conde Labak.
List of tenientes from the earliest to date:
|
1. Tomas Javier 2. Julian Lopez 3. Placido Villarba 4. Vicente Asi 5. Juan Doce 6. Martin Mandigma 7. Martin Bayer 8. Tomas Bawal |
9. Francisco Malaluan 10. Roque Servan 11. Francisco Servan 12. Geronimo Delen 13. Simeon Arellano 14. Calixto Doce 15. Leonardo Asi 16. Leonardo Asi 17. Victor de Torres |
During the Spanish time, many houses in Conde Labak were along the road. Many of these houses were transferred to interior place because of the people’s fear and hatred for the “guardia civil.” The latter often visited the barrio and men found idle along the road were gathered and brought to town where they were forced to work without pay.
During the Spanish regime, the people were severely punished when they failed to pay their taxes.
One good influence, however, of the Spanish rule was the religion spread in the country. Catholicism reached even the remote barrios of the town including the barrio of Conde.
The Spaniards did not introduce improvements in the economic life of the people so the inhabitants of this
[p. 2]
barrio tilled the soil with their antiquated implements but they were able to raise good crops like rice, corn and different kinds of vegetables. Farm animals were likewise raised for home consumption and for the market.
From the year 1898, when the Philippines came under the American rule, the school buildings were built. There were American teachers. The children were given pencils and paper free of charge to encourage them to go to school.
On December 8, 1941, the Japanese attacked our country. Attorney Berberabe was the mayor of the town. Because he did not like to face the Japanese soldiers, he fled to one of the barrios of our town.
The next mayor was Mr. Roman L. Perez. As he was a good mixer, the barrio of Conde and nearly all the barrios of Batangas were very peaceful. However, there were guerrillas in this barrio during the Japanese occupation. When the Japanese soldiers came to this barrio asking for food, the guerrilla intelligences heard that the Japanese soldiers were in Conde so he reported the matter to the Captain. There was an encounter near. Mt. Bakis. Some Japanese soldiers were killed.
When the Americans liberated Batangas, they raided the Japanese soldiers in Conde. Some houses were burned.
Proverbs and sayings still existing in the barrio.
2. A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds.
3. Behind the clouds the sun is shining.
4. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
5. Still water runs deep.
6. Bend the tree while young.
7. Look before you leap.
8. The greatest talkers are the least doers.
9. A good name is better than richness.
10. Rome was not built in a day.
11. A tree is known by its fruit.
12. There will be no secret untold nor debt unpaid.
13. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty.
[p. 3]
15. He who does his best does well.
Customs
1. The following marriage arrangements are still followed. For instance, the family of the groom is expected to bring food and wine to the home of the bride, and an agreement is entered into between the two families as to what the groom and his family shall do for the household of the bride. Sometimes, such an arrangement includes the repair of the house of the would-be wife or bride. The groom’s family usually prepares the food and refreshments and takes them to the house of the bride.
2. Respect for parents and elders. Use of Ate, Kuya, Inso, Nanay, Mamay, etc.
3. Washing the hair with gogo bark.
4. In memory of the dead, we have the fourth day, the ninth day, the fortieth day, and the anniversary (babaan ng luksa).
Popular songs
1. Songs
| a. Kundimans | b. Awit | c. Subli |
2. Games
| a. Dama |
b. Cockfighting d. Serenading | c. Baseball |