Bolo, Bauan, Batangas: Historical Data
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| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Bolo, Bauan, 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 BOLO
1. According to information of the old, old folks of our barrio, this has been called past and present "Bolo" as its official name.
2. It was during the Spanish regime when the barrio got its name. Trails and roads were being constructed at that time. A group of Spanish soldiers happened to pass in a small pond in the southernmost part of this place. In this pond, a beautiful lady and an old woman wear washing clothes. Near the pond grew a plant with beautiful fruits. One of the soldiers asked the beautiful lady about its name. The lady could say nothing but "Trambulo." To them, the name "Trambulo" was hard to remember so they always had in mind "Bolo," "Bolo." From this time on, this place has been called "Bolo." No sitios are included within the jurisdiction of Bolo. At present, it has several streets namely, Rizal, Balintawak, and Legaspi.
3. The establishment of this barrio was made later after the registration of its name.
4. During the early establishment of the barrio, there were very few families existing. Some of them were Anding-Baro, Juan Animas, Amperong Kamates, Anong Tambule, Talinang Kalabasa, as they were called, and also Mang Kanaway Paglinawan. Still others were the families Enriquez, Panganiban, Cortez and del Campo. Basilio Gonzales, Lucas Gonzales, and Maria Paglinawan. There were younger families who lived in the place but they had come from [the] families mentioned, with the exception, of course, of those immigrants of the place.
5. The original families were taken charge of first by the cabesas and tenientes, then by the consejal and lastly by the Teniente del Barrio alone. The first of the Cabesas was Juang Nimas, succeeded by his son, also Lucas Gonzales and followed by his son, Nazario Generoso. This man being the last, then became the councilor during the reign of President Regino. The Tenientes of the time were tenienting Gelacio, Mundo, Dionicio Magbojos, del Campo, Thomas, Siyong, Marcelo, Guia, Mariano Medrano, Anacleto Santoyo, Daniel Dimaunahan, Owete, Esco, Gregorio Magbojos, Jacinto Magboo, Ruperto Carmona, and lastly the present one Jose Guia.
6. The barrio does not have any sitios within the jurisdiction that are now depopulated or extinct. Every corner and every place within the barrio is inhabited or depopulated.
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7. During the American regime, the people of the community were in a good situation; because of the low-priced commodities, they could live easily and happily; but when World War II broke out, the people in the community suffered very much. They suffered not only in earning a living but also in other life situations because of the animalistic behavior of the Japs. The prices of goods were high. After the war, there was a great change. People could earn their living easier. Although the prices of the goods were still high, up to the present, they can still afford to live.
8. Customs:
According to the old folks in Bolo, the customs of the people of yesterday had a great difference from those of today. Like the giving of birth, the infant would be placed in a basin of water with some coins in it. As to baptism, it was the same as today.
When a young man desired to marry a woman, he did not go and tell her that he wished to marry her. He asked his parents and his parents would tell the parents of the girl. He also asked for a third person to go with his father to see the young woman’s father and arranged the marriage. When they went to the girl’s parents, they took with them something to eat. When both of them agreed, they would be married. Sometimes, the young man would render service to the family of the girl without seeing her for five years or more and then let them marry. That was only the time that the young man would see the girl.
Before the marriage took place, the amount of the dowry that the bridegroom should give to the young woman’s parents was agreed upon. The dowry was called “bigay-kaya” meaning “Marriage Gift.” The dowry was given by the parents of the bridegroom to be turned over to the newly married couple.
It was also the custom of the old folks that when somebody died in the family, everybody in the family should mourn. The dead was put in the coffin and buried with ceremonies.
11. It is said that when plants wither, there will be a typhoon.
When a dog howls at night, somebody will die.
When cats wash their faces near the door, there will be a visitor.
The seasons affect the lives of men, plants, and animals.
When there is lightning, do not touch a cat because lightning always strikes a cat.
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When one bathes a cat, there will be a thunderstorm.
One should not take a bath on Friday and Tuesday because he is likely to be sick.
Combing the hair at night produces a bad omen.
12. Popular songs - - - - - - “Alerto Katipunan,” “Sa Dakong Sikatan”
PUZZLES AND RIDDLES
1. Halamang di nalalanta, kahit tabas na - - - Buhok
2. Oo nga’t niyog, nasa ilalim ang buntot - - - - Mangga
3. Dumaan ang hari, ang tao’y nagtatali - - - - Bagyo
4. Manok ko sa Maynila, abot dito ang tuka - - Karayom
5. Dalawang tindahan, sabay buksan - - - - - - - Mata
6. Pag bata’y inaalagaan, kapag matanda’y pinupugutan - - Palay
7. Baboy ko sa Pulo, balahibo’y pako - - - - - - Langka
8. Kahoy naging tubig, tubig naging dugo, dugong naging bato - - Asukal
9. Dalawang magkapatid, matatag sa init - - - - Sipit
10. Oo nga’y ayama, nasa ilalim ang paa - - - - - Pagong
11. May kilik pa’t may sunong, may tali pa sa ilong - - Haligi
12. Malayo pa ang sibat, nakabukas na ang sugat - - Bibig
13. Dalawang magkapatid, nag-uunahan ng bait - - Palito
Informant: Vicente Manalo
PROVERBS
1. Ang hipong tulog ay nadadala ng agos.
2. Magpakapula-pula ng saga maitim ang kabila.
3. Ang laki sa layaw karaniwa’y hubad.
4. Walang matimtimang birhen sa matiyagang manalangin.
5. Aanhin ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo.
6. Anak na di-paluin, Ina ang patatangisin.
7. Ang lihim na katapangan, siyang pinakikinabangan.
8. Pag ang ilog ay magaslaw, turukin mo at mababaw.
9. Walang matibay na bagin sa matiyagang bibitin.
10. Magsisi ka na’t huli, wala ng mangyayari.
11. Ang marahang mangusap, sa puso’y nakakalunas.
12. Kung ano ang taas ng pagkadakila, siya ring lagapak kung marapa.
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13. If there is a will, there is a way.
14. Pardon others but not thyself.
15. A faithful friend is better than gold.
16. A santol tree never bears guava fruit.
17. Soft words soften the heart.
18. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
19. There is no smoke without fire.
20. Look before you leap.
21. Never buy what you do not want.
22. Be contented with what you have, either be it or much.
23. Live and learn.
MEASURING TIME
The people in this barrio are already well-accustomed in telling time without the use of clocks and watches. But how? These are the ways by which they can ascertain the approximate time of day and night.
2. By the position of the moon.
3. By considering the time the pupils are dismissed from school.
4. People living near the provincial road determine the time by the passing of the B.T. Co. buses.
5. By the crowing of the rooster at night.
6. By the ringing of the church’s bell.
OTHER FOLKTALES
ANG UNANG ASO SA MUNDO
Noong matagal na matagal na panahon, may mag-asawang nakatira sa tabi ng gubat. Ang mag-asawang iyon ay mayroong apat na anakn. Ang tatlo’y babae at ang isa nama’y lalaki. Ang ama ng mga batang iyon ay may ama na matandang matanda na. Kapisan nila ang matandang iyon. Hindi sila makalakad at halos sa bahay na sila naglalahok. Hindi na sila makagawa. Sila’y kinaiinipan na ng kanilang anak at ibig pa sa kanila’y mamatay na. Ang matanda naman ay wala na maiimik kundi umiyak na lamang. Hindi na ibig silang pakanin noon.
Noong isang araw ay ang anak ng matandang lalaki ay sinabi sa kanyang asawa’t anak, “huwag na ninyong pakakainin ang matandang iyan, at ako na ang magbibigay.” Ang ginawa niya ay siya ay nagdurog ng bubog at boto [buto] ng hayop at kanyang inilahok sa kaunting nilugaw at ibinigay niya sa kanyang ama. Noong makakain ng kaunti ay naayaw na ang matanda. Ang ginawa ng anak ay gumawa ng supak na
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kawayan ang isinupak ang kanyang ama. Ang matanda naman ay sumigaw ng sumigaw at hindi lunukin ang sinupak sa kanila. Dumalo ang mga kahanggan at tiningnan kung ano ang nangyayari sa matanda. Noong dumating na ang maraming tao aty tumigiil na ng pagsusupak ang kanyang anak. Hindi nagtagal at ang kanyang anak ay namatay at kinamay-an-may-an ay siya’y nabuhay at naging aso at tumahol na ng tumahol at naghanap ng buto at dala-dalang tangay na sa kanilang bahay. Iyan ang pinagmulan ng unang aso sa sanglibutan.
THE FIRST DOG IN THE WORLD
A very, very long time ago, there lived a couple near the forest. The couple had four children. Three of them were girls and the other one was a boy. The father of the children had a father who was already very, very old. The old man lived together with the family. The old man could not talk and go out of the house. The old man could not work. The son of the old man was tired of his father. He wanted to drive away his old father. But the old man remained sitting alone and did nothing but cry. At that time, the people in the family did not like to give any food to the poor old man.
One day, the son of the old man told his wife and his children not to give any food to the old man and he would be the one responsible for him. Afterwards, the father got some pieces of broken glass and bones of animals and mixed them to a little boiled rice or porridge. He then gave it to the old man. After eating a little, the old man refused to eat. But the son made a bamboo joint and placed the boiled rice inside and forced the old man to take it. But the old man refused to do so, instead he cried aloud for help. Afterwards, the neighbors arrived to see what was happening to the old man. When the neighbors arrived, the son stopped forcing the old man to eat the food. The old man knelt down and prayed. Later, the son of the old man died, but still later lived again, but not in the form of a man but in the form of a dog. The dog afterwards barked and barked and searched for bones in the courtyard and carried it in his mouth going to his home. That was the legend of the first dog in the world.
17. Information on books and documents treating of the Philippines and the names of their owners. None in the locality.
18. The names of Filipino authors born and residing in the community, the titles and subjects of their works whether printed or in manuscript form, and the names of the persons possessing these. None in the locality.