Munlawin, Alitagtag, Batangas: Historical Data
Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Munlawin, Alitagtag, 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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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO
Part One – History
1. Present Official name of the barrio.
2. Popular name of the barrio, present and past; derivation and meanings of these names. Names of sitios included within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrios.
3. Date of establishment.
4. Original families:
5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date.
6. Story of old barrios or sitios within the jurisdiction that are now depopulated or extinct.
7. Date on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.
8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place.
Historical Legend of Munlawin
Long before the creation of the town of Alitagtag, province of Batangas, in the year 1910, there was already the barrio of Munlawin in existence.
Munlawin, as this barrio was called by the past and present generations, has a venerable and historic legend. Formerly, this barrio was a part of Bauan, inhabited
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8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place.
9. (a) Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during wars, especially in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945.
Part Two: Folkways
10. Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life; birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial; visits; festivals; punishments; etc.
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11. Mythis, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions; origin of the world, land, moutains, caves, seas, lakes, rivers; plants, trees, animals; sun, moon, stars, eclipses, earthquakes, lightning and thunder, clouds, rain, wind, storms, changes of climate; other natural phenomena; first man and woman; birth of twins or more; sickness; witchcraft, magic divination, etc.
12. Popular songs; games and amusements.
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13. Puzzles and Riddles:
“MGA BUGTONG”
1. Bintiririt Bintiriroy nasa likod ang tiyan. – Binte.
2. Buhok ni Adan hindi mabilang. – Ulan.
3. Tubig ko sa digan, hindi mapasok ng ulan. – niyog.
4. Bahay ni Jose punong puno ng garuti. – apoyan.
5. May isang dayap maraming humahanap, iisa ang nagkapalad. – dalaga’t binata.
6. Isang princesa nakaupo sa tasa. – kasoy.
7. Taga ng taga, walang tatal sa lupa. – habihan.
8. Kabiak ng lukban santaon kung talupan. – Linang.
9. Tinaga ko sa puno, sa dulo dumugo. – linti.
10. Isang bias na kawayan puno ng kamatayan. – Baril.
Proverbs and sayings.
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15. Methods of measuring time, special calendars.
16. Other folktales.
Notes and references:
Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of the Barrio Munlawin, Alitagtag,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
Part One – History
1. Present Official name of the barrio.
MUNLAWIN
2. Popular name of the barrio, present and past; derivation and meanings of these names. Names of sitios included within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrios.
Popular name of the barrio, present and past – MUNLAWIN. No sitios included.
3. Date of establishment.
Nobody remembered.
4. Original families:
No one can tell.
5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date.
While Munlawin was still under the town of Bauan, there were no records.
Names of tenientes from the time Alitagtag was created.
[p. 2]Names of tenientes from the time Alitagtag was created.
| Tenientes | Year |
| Teodoro Dagdagan Eduardo Marquez | 1910-1917 |
| Prudencio Cusi Jorge Dimaunahan | 1917-1920 |
| Candido Rosales Nemesio Marquez | 1920-1923 |
| Juan Guia Agapito Cabalfin | 1923-1926 |
| Candido Rosales Tomas Agito | 1926-1929 |
| Juan Guia Eleodoro Dagdagan | 1929-1938 |
| Tenientes | Year |
| Genaro Marquez Agapito Cabalfin | 1938-1941 |
| Prudencio Cusi Alejandro Magnaye | 1941-1944 |
| Genaro Marquez Agapito Cabalfin | 1945-1947 |
| Ignacio Tubo Alejandro Magnaye | 1947-1951 |
| Juan Guia Facundo Maranan | 1951-1955 |
No story of old barrios could be given.
7. Date on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.
No date on historical sites, structures, could be given.
8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place.
Long before the creation of the town of Alitagtag, province of Batangas, in the year 1910, there was already the barrio of Munlawin in existence.
Munlawin, as this barrio was called by the past and present generations, has a venerable and historic legend. Formerly, this barrio was a part of Bauan, inhabited
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by nearly more than half a thousand families, which later gave birth to another barrio named Concordia. We may not believe how the name Munlawin came to a reality. But according to the basic and vital information gathered, we will now all believe that Munlawin originated from the name Munlawin tree (molave) symbolizing quality, durability and vitality.
It was said that many years ago, prior to the creation of Alitagtag in 1910, a man by the name of Anacleto bought four molave posts from Aplaya, Bauan, and used them to build his house. As months went by, he wonderingly noticed that branches grew on one of the posts in the corner of the joint of his own house. In Tagalog, we call it “sulok ng batangan.” With this incident, the people believed that of all the trees, molave is the strongest for any building purposes. A year later, an account of the vast area and increasing population of the town of Bauan, the barrio of Munlawin was born, derived from the name Munlawin tree. Many years more had passed when in 1910, Alitagtag was created, and separated from Bawan. Since then, Munlawin became a part of Alitagtag.
It was said that many years ago, prior to the creation of Alitagtag in 1910, a man by the name of Anacleto bought four molave posts from Aplaya, Bauan, and used them to build his house. As months went by, he wonderingly noticed that branches grew on one of the posts in the corner of the joint of his own house. In Tagalog, we call it “sulok ng batangan.” With this incident, the people believed that of all the trees, molave is the strongest for any building purposes. A year later, an account of the vast area and increasing population of the town of Bauan, the barrio of Munlawin was born, derived from the name Munlawin tree. Many years more had passed when in 1910, Alitagtag was created, and separated from Bawan. Since then, Munlawin became a part of Alitagtag.
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8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place.
(a) During the Spanish occupation –
Battle of the Americans and the Filipino insurrectionists.
(b) During the American occupation to World War II.
No incidents took place during the American regime.
(c) During and after World War II.
Mass evacuation of the people.
Battle of the Americans and the Filipino insurrectionists.
(b) During the American occupation to World War II.
No incidents took place during the American regime.
(c) During and after World War II.
Mass evacuation of the people.
9. (a) Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during wars, especially in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945.
Tiburcio Mapa, Susana Arguelles, and Felimon Cagimbal were shot to death by the Japanese soldiers.
(b) Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II.
Three water wells were dug out and [the] P.T.A. school building was built.
(b) Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II.
Three water wells were dug out and [the] P.T.A. school building was built.
10. Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life; birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial; visits; festivals; punishments; etc.
a. Every St. John’s Day, it is the common practice of the people to pour water on any passerby.
b. On every Good Friday, fanatic persons in the barrio test their anting-anting to prove any miracle in it.
b. On every Good Friday, fanatic persons in the barrio test their anting-anting to prove any miracle in it.
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c. When a child is born, the parents get the name of the child from the calendar.
d. On May, the barrio people celebrate the “Flores de Mayo” with a prepared fiesta usually occurring at the end of the month.
e. When a man is to be married, his parents and relatives oftentimes visit the bride-to-be as a sign of goodwill and respect.
f. When a person dies, his cousins and relatives wear black dresses.
g. After a wedding ceremony, the newly married couple will sit on both sides of the table to receive some wedding gifts in the form of money and packages of gifts.
d. On May, the barrio people celebrate the “Flores de Mayo” with a prepared fiesta usually occurring at the end of the month.
e. When a man is to be married, his parents and relatives oftentimes visit the bride-to-be as a sign of goodwill and respect.
f. When a person dies, his cousins and relatives wear black dresses.
g. After a wedding ceremony, the newly married couple will sit on both sides of the table to receive some wedding gifts in the form of money and packages of gifts.
11. Mythis, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions; origin of the world, land, moutains, caves, seas, lakes, rivers; plants, trees, animals; sun, moon, stars, eclipses, earthquakes, lightning and thunder, clouds, rain, wind, storms, changes of climate; other natural phenomena; first man and woman; birth of twins or more; sickness; witchcraft, magic divination, etc.
No myths, beliefs, interpretations could be given.
12. Popular songs; games and amusements.
Games –
| Hide and seek | Sipa |
| Pompung | Sitio |
| Hole In | Sofball |
13. Puzzles and Riddles:
1. Bintiririt Bintiriroy nasa likod ang tiyan. – Binte.
2. Buhok ni Adan hindi mabilang. – Ulan.
3. Tubig ko sa digan, hindi mapasok ng ulan. – niyog.
4. Bahay ni Jose punong puno ng garuti. – apoyan.
5. May isang dayap maraming humahanap, iisa ang nagkapalad. – dalaga’t binata.
6. Isang princesa nakaupo sa tasa. – kasoy.
7. Taga ng taga, walang tatal sa lupa. – habihan.
8. Kabiak ng lukban santaon kung talupan. – Linang.
9. Tinaga ko sa puno, sa dulo dumugo. – linti.
10. Isang bias na kawayan puno ng kamatayan. – Baril.
Proverbs and sayings.
1. Deeds are greater than words.
2. Be thrifty so as to be wealthy.
3. Birds of the same feathers flock together.
4. He who believes in tales has no mind of his own.
5. Strike the iron while it’s hot.
6. To try is to succeed.
7. Sleeping shrimps are carried by the current.
8. Judge not a book by its cover.
2. Be thrifty so as to be wealthy.
3. Birds of the same feathers flock together.
4. He who believes in tales has no mind of his own.
5. Strike the iron while it’s hot.
6. To try is to succeed.
7. Sleeping shrimps are carried by the current.
8. Judge not a book by its cover.
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15. Methods of measuring time, special calendars.
No methods of measuring time could be given.
16. Other folktales.
No other folktales could be given.
Notes and references:
Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of the Barrio Munlawin, Alitagtag,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.