De la Paz, 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 De la Paz, 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.

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HISTORICAL DATA OF DE LA PAZ

De la Paz, one of the remotest barrios of the municipality of Batangas, is located along the coast, south of the mountain of Talim. In the early days, this barrio was called Dalasa and as time rolled on, it was changed to De la Paz. The barrio is composed of five sitios, namely, Maalbo, Bayanan, Bagilbil, Dapdapan, and Pook.

During the Spanish regime, almost the whole barrio was owned by the Spaniard named Jose Rea. His wife was a Filipina whose name was Eugenia Iturralde. The couple was residing in the sitio of Bayanan within the jurisdiction of this barrio. Inasmuch as this couple owned a large farm and they were well-to-do, a temple was built at their own expense and in this connection, a fiesta was held every year. This temple and home of the rich couple was already ruined but the walls could still be traced at present.

Since the Spanish time, there has been a long succession of barrio lieutenants, Mr. Tiburcio whose family name was unknown was at the helm. He was followed in chronological order, by Mr. Agustin Atienza, Mr. Antonio de Leon, Mr. Teodoro Ebora, Mr. Pablo Perez, Mr. Nicomedes Lumanglas, Mr. Ciriaco Asi, Mr. Felix Aquino, and Mr. Alberto Ebora who is an ever-ready pangulo at present.

As time went on, the Americans came. The Spanish authorities ceded the whole Archipelago to the United States but many of the Filipinos refused to recognize the right of sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines. Such being the case, battles began here and there and as a result, many of the Filipinos known as veterans fled to the mountains. The American soldiers even reached the remotest barrio of the town searching for the veteranos and as a proof a battle took place at this village. Fifteen American soldiers fought against the veterans and, unfortunately, one of them was killed and one among their opponents was wounded. Because of this happening, the people of the community were told by the American authorities to evacuate the place and live in the town for a period of three months.

Formerly, De la Paz was a part of this barrio and only a few families were living in the whole community. But on account of the unprecedented increase in the number of people, the community was divided into two distinct and separate barrios namely De la Paz Pulot and De la Paz proper. The latter has

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at present one hundred forty homes and a total population of seven hundred eighty.

The Second World War broke out on December 8, 1941. For a period of three months, continuous battle of the Japanese won and from that time, they began to rule the Philippines. The people supplied the Japanese soldiers residing at this place with food but sometimes the soldiers were still abusive with the properties and food of the Filipinos. Well and good, the Japanese did not destruction of lives and properties in this barrio.

Batangas was liberated on March 11, 1945 and as soon as reasonable peace and order in the poblacion and barrios was established, the military authorities ordered the immediate opening of public schools.

From March 11, 1945 to July 1, 1947, pupils enrolled in the schools of the district by the thousands. This necessitated the opening of many extension classes and one of which was De la Paz School. The school building was built in February 1946, donated by the barrio people. Since the very beginning, this barrio had never had a public school except after World War II.

In conclusion, great improvements were done in this barrio especially in food production and in cleanliness since the establishment of the school.

Concerning the origin of the world, land, mountain, caves, seas, lakes, rivers, plants, trees, and animals and others, we are sorry to say that we don’t have any information to say.

PART II F O L K W A Y S

Different places have varied traditions, customs, and habits. The barrio of De la Paz proves no exception to this.

Birth: In this barrio, it is interesting to know the beliefs of the old folks about birth. It is their belief that, if the placenta of the child is buried with books, pencil, and paper with the alphabet written on it, the child will become talented when he grows up.

Baptism: The child immediately after birth is baptized by either the midwife or any person who knows how to do this if the child is likely not to survive. If he is not in danger, he is baptized in the same way as we do at present.

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Courtship: It is very interesting to know the common practices of young folks in this barrio. According to them, it takes time for a man to court a lady. Traditionally, he has to pay a visit once in a while to the girl whom he admires at the close of the day, that is, in the evening. This is to show that he, the admirer, wants to call the attention of the lady’s parents concerning his love for their daughter. He must have to be courteous and gentlemanly. These things count much, and in case he fails to do so, that will mean something against him. The courtship lasts for several years before the man can win the favor of the lady or it takes time before a man wins the favor of the parent or the lady.

Marriage: When a suitor seems to be favored by the parents of the lady, he will have to enter trials in her house. He must try to work hard and to do tasks commonly done in the house. After two or three days of hard labor, both parents of the two parties will have to talk over the matter seriously. When they meet into a fair agreement, the next step they do is to set aside the definite date for the marital celebration. On the day of their wedding, all relatives and friends of the bride are to be served first together with the Ninang and Ninong who act as witnesses to the performed ceremony. The relatives and chums of the bridegroom are served later. After dinner, the bride and groom offer their friends drinks and the godmother and godfather in baptism and confirmation of both parties are called upon to give their wedding gifts in terms of money. Parents, relatives and friends of both parties do the same.

Burial and death: In matters of death and burial rites, there is no extraordinary custom followed here. As usual, the dead bodies are buried in the cemetery of Ilijan after the ceremonies are performed. The body is laid to rest quietly amidst sorrows and grief of the family and relatives of the deceased.

Punishment: Whenever disputes arise, the matter is brought to the attention of the vice-teniente del barrio and if matters do not come into agreement, it is brought to the teniente del barrio or “pangulo” for [the] final decision. In grave matters concerning life and property, it is brought to the town for the authorities to decide.

Popular songs, games and amusements – Tagalog songs are very popular in this locality. Among them

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are “Babaeng Uliran, Paalam, etc.” Like any other remote barrios where there are no recreational places such as parks, theaters, plazas, the people gather at night and converse, play the dama and other else. Women spend their leisure hours embroidering commercial cloth secured from the town.

Puzzles and riddles: Common riddles here are as follows:

Proverbs and sayings: The most common proverbs here are as follows:

Methods of measuring time, special calendars – There is no special calendar used in this place. Concerning the telling of time, they just look at the position of the moon and when there is no moon, they depend upon the crowing of the cocks.

Superstitious beliefs concerning birth of twins and sickness – They believe that if a woman eats twin bananas or other fruits, she will give birth to

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twins. This barrio still believes in witchcraft and they sometimes account the sickness of a person from these malignos. They say that if you take a bath in the river and you find marks of a pinch, they said that the “taong-lupa” had played with you. They also believe in anting-anting and some men still tattoo their bodies.

Iba’t ibang lugal ay may pagkakaiba rin sa mga kaugalian. At ang nayon ng De la Paz ay babanggitin ko dito bagay sa mga paniniwala at kaugaliang sumusunod:

Pagsilang: Ito’y katuwa-tuwang malaman tungkol sa paniniwala ng matatanda dito sa nayon ng De la Paz na ang inunan ng bata ay ibinabaon na may kasamang aklat, lapis, papel at saka abakada ng sa gayo’y ang bata ay maging matalino pag lumaki.

Pagbibinyag: Ang bata ay binibinyagan ng “buhos” ng sino mang marunong magsagawa ng pamamaraang iyan kung ang bata ay ina-akalang di mabubuhay. At kapag ang bata ay lalawig ang buhay ay binibinyagan ito ng karaniwang pagbibinyag sa ngayon.

Bagay sa pagligaw: Nakakatuwa ring malaman ang karaniwang ugali ng kabataan sa nayon ding ito ang kanilang pagligaw. Sinasabi nila na di agad karakarakang makapanliligaw ang isang binate sa dalaga na kaniyang nilalangit. Ang ibig sabihin ay upang ipabatid sa magulang ng dalaga na ang binatang pumanhik ng ligaw ay may layuning mabuti, kinakailangang maging magalang at matalino sa kilos at sa pakikitungo sa magulang, kapatid, at kamag-anakan ng dalaga upang ito’y maging karapatdapat sa dalag at lalong lalo na sa mga magulang ng kanyang nilalangit. Malaki ang pagpapahalaga ng nilalapitan sa pagiging magalangin at mahinhin sa kilos. Kapag ang binata ay kinaligtaan ang paggalang at ang mabining kilos, siya’y di magtatagumpay sa kanyang hinahangad. Lumilipas ang ilang panahon bago makamtan ng binata ang pagsang-ayon ng dalaga o ng magulang. Kapag ang binata ay walang lakas ng loob na makinig sa dalaga ay ang karaniwang kinakasangkapan sa pag-uusap ay ang mga magulang sa paghahayag ng nilalayon ng binata.

Pag-aasawa: Matapos makamtan ng binata ang pagsang-ayon ng dalaga o ng kanyang magulang, siya’y papasok ng kung tawagin ay pangagasawa. At ito’y

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itinataon sa kabilugan ng buwan sa kanilang paniwalang malamang ang tagumpay. Ang binata ay tutulong sa mga karaniwang gawain sa bahay ng dalaga tulad ng pag-iigib, pangangahoy, pag-aararo, atbp. Makalipas ang ilang araw ng pangangasawa ay saka pa pag-uusapan ng mga magulang ng binata at ng babae ang pagsasagawa ng handaan o baysanan. Ang pagtatakda ng araw ng kasalan at pagpili ng Ninong at Ninang ay nababanggit sa kanilang pag-uusap. Sa araw ng kasalan ay ang unang pinadudulog sa pagkain ay ang kamag-anak ng dalaga, Ninong at Ninang, pagkatapos ay ang mga kamag-anak naman ng lalaki. Sa matatapos na dili, ang kainan ay ginaganap ang tinatawag na sabugan o pagbibigay pabuya sa bagong kasal. It ay nagagampanan ng pagbili ng inumin, kalamay, atbp. sa magiging tindahan-tindahan ng bagong kasal.

Patay at paglilibing: Tungkol naman sa patay at paglilibing ay sinusunod ang karaniwang ginagawa ng marami.

Parusa: Kapag mayroong bagay na pinagkagalitan, ito ay isinasangguni sa pangalawang pangulo upang ayusin. Sakaling di malutas ay isinasakdal sa Pangulo ng nayon upang mabigyan ng payo at mausig ang pag-aayos ng bagay. Sa mahihigpit na usapin, ito ay dinadala ng pangulo sa bayan at duon nilulutas ang usapan.

Karaniwang kanta, laro at dibersyon: Ang kantang Tagalog ang siyang karaniwang naririnig sa nayong ito, tulad ng “Babaing Uliran” atbp. Walang bahay aliwan tulad ng sine, bar, at wala ring plasa at parke upang pag-aliwan laro ay ang tubigan o patentero sa liwanag ng buwan. Mayroon ding sugalan na siyang dibersyon ng mga lalaki at ilang mga babae. Marami sa mga babae lalo na ang mga dalaga ay nagbuburda ng tela ng siyang pinagkakakitaan ng kaunting gastusin.

Tungkol sa di-karaniwang kalendaryo ay wala. Ang karaniwang orasan ng mga tao ay ang tayo ng araw at buwan, bituin kung gabi.

Bagay naman sa pamahiin. Ang mga babae raw na may asawa kung kumain ng saging na kambal ay mag-aanak ng kambal. May paniniwala rin silang sa mga aswang, tigbalang, at maligno. Kapag sa paliligo raw sa ilog o bukal ay nagkaroon ka ng pasa sa katawan ay sinasabi nilang kinatuwaan daw ng taong-lupa. May paniniwala pa rin sila sa mga anting-anting.

Walang makuhang kwento o salaysay tungkol sa pinagbuhatan ng dagat, ilog, halaman, bundok, at ng mga sari-saring kalikasan.