Machinan, Calaca, Batangas: Historical Data

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Machinan in the Municipality of Calaca, 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.

[Title page.]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF
MACHINAN

[p. 1]

RIDDLES

These are the common riddles still existing in the vernacular.

1. Ang ina’y nagapang pa ang anak ay matulin na. (tabayag)
2. Naito-ito ang hindi mo naman makita. (hangin)
3. Hinila ko ang bagin nagtakbuhan ang matchin.
4. Lumabas si Rita ang saya niya’y pula. (puso ng saging)
5. Ano ang wika ng puso? (musika)
6. Nalakad walang paa, naluha’y walang mata. (fountain pen)
7. Isang bias na kawayan punong-puno ng kamatayan. (baril)
8. Bahay ni Gering giring butas-butas ang dingding. (bethay)
9. Pungong-kahoy dulo’y bakal. (baril)
10. Niyog ko sa Maynila abot dito ang unga.

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF
MACHINAN

[p. 2]

The Origin of the Name Machinan

The town of Calaca is divided into various and sitios. These are the following: Dacanlao, Machinan, Pantay, Calantas, Bagong Tubig, Puting Bato, Sinisian and Camatchilisan. Each of these barrios has its own history and origin. My group, therefore, take the pleasure of presenting to you the history and origin of Machinan.

Turning the golden pages of history, we have Machinan, a small place just south of the provincial road two hundred meters away. It is bounded to the north by the barrio of Dacanlao, to the east by the Kawong River, to the south by Balayan Bay and to the west by the Dacanlao River. Machinan was once a forest like with bamboo groves bordering along both banks of the rivers – Kawong River to the east wild Dacanlao River to the west. This place is so densely populated with but few houses. Most of the inhabitants are engaged in farming and fishing due to [its] nearness to the sea. As trees abound in this place, monkeys could be seen in great numbers. Very often, you could see them playing along the banks of Kawong River – especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Puting Kilay as some people call him became the terror of the inhabitants, for very often, Puting Kilay usually run after people whoever may happen to pass by.

As the place was inhabited by numerous monkeys, so the place was named Machinan by the people living therein. The place, although no more inhabited by monkeys, still carries its name up to the present.

[p. 3]

The Traditions, Customs and Practices in Domestic and Social Life

Different provinces have different traditions, customs and practices in social life, but very often we have slight differences. The following information will give us light on each of the following topics.

Birth:
When the mother is nearing the stage of delivery, the father usually prepares a fat hen, some drinks and firecrackers known in the dialect as labintador. Just after birth, the fat hen is killed. The firework is set for the neighbors to know that the mother has just delivered the child, and the neighbors having heard the fireworks then come to visit the mother and the child, each giving praise and words of cheer to consul [console?] the mother. When the mother has been fixed and the child was given a bath, the table is then set for all the visitors to share the humble preparation. The preparation usually consists of a boiled hen known in the dialect as nilabong [na] manok and a few drinks. For the meantime, they are eating. The couple then decides as to who will be the godmother or godfather of the newly-born child. Usually, it is made known to everyone before they leave for their homes.

Baptism:
A week before the party, the couple prepares all the necessary things needed for the party. A very elaborate party may consist of one or two pigs, some goats, a hundred chickens and a cow, but a simple one may only consist of a pig and some chickens. Preparations usually depend on the standing of the family in the community. Early in the morning of the date fixed for the baptism of the child, the child is then taken to church with some of the close relatives with the godmother. After the baby is baptized, especially with a group, each one tries to be the first one to reach the door of the house with the belief that the child will have a good fortune. On arriving at the house, sounds of fire gun or firecrackers are heard informing the neighbors that the child has arrived from the church. Usually, the first set [seat?] is offered to the godmother and for all her invited visitors to dine with her. Presents are usually given to the child by the godmother. It usually consists of money, clothes or jewels.

Visits:
One who visits a sick friend usually brings with him something that the patient appreciates most. Say, for example, the patient is fond of reading newspapers. One who visits him usually brings with him something to read as magazines, newspapers or comics. This practice is very common in the barrio. In visiting relatives, hospitality is show to the most extent. Whereby the visitor would feel very satisfied. When a friend visits a friend, not as [at?] mealtime. The hostess customarily offers some drinks usually of orange, Coca-Cola, bread, cigar or cigarettes.

[p. 4]

Punishments:
There are many different punishments employed especially during the Spanish times. They were as follows – dipping into the water, hanging to die, placing under the hot sun, pulling the fingernails, beating cruelly to death, tying to a tree, cutting the tongue and ears and allowing a person to kneel on the mongo or balatong. These punishments are no longer employed at present. The common punishment employed at present is slashing the victim several times with [a] belt or a piece of stick and made to promise not to do the same mistake. Another punishment made is by kneeling with both hands stretched in both sides. These punishments are usually given by a father to his son.

Myths:
Many beliefs still exist among the people – such beliefs are as follows: that a witch is an ugly man or woman with [a] head like a horse and with two long legs who could usually change to any form he desires to be. That when the patient is hovering between life and death the "IKI" is on the roof, while the "ASWANG" is under the house – to get the liver of the patient. That giving birth to twins will bring fortune to the family, that lightning, thunder, storms, earthquakes are created by God, that when someone is lost in the woods or forest, some evil spirit had acted on him. To look for him is to get a drum, cans and bells. The drum should be beaten loud enough and people should call the name of the lost person to frighten the "piritay." Thus, the lost one will easily be located. That when a priest puts his legs out of the windows facing the south, would mean pestilence or salot and cost many deaths on the people – that when one sweeps late in the afternoon, especially when the sun is setting, would mean that he or she is driving away good fortune, that when hens cackle at midnight, main in that some misfortune will soon be coming – it may mean that a lady is conceiving, that when a dog house at midnight, someone will soon die in the neighborhood.

Magic:
A man who is said to possess magic power or anting-anting can do some wonderful acts that are very supernatural. A man with the anting-anting of a Kima can carry or pull heavy loads or with the strength of ten horses or carabaos. One who is said to have [a] charm, whenever seen by a girl whom he likes, to apply his charm, the girl would be so kind to him that she would obey him cause, what is way. One who possesses what is called “May sa tagabulag” can make himself invisible. Few of these magic powers exist to the present.

[p. 5]

Popular Songs

Riddles:

These are the common riddles still existing in the vernacular.

1. Ang ina’y aagapan pa ang anak ay matulin na. (tabayag, kalubhasa)
2. Naito-ito na hindi mo naman makita. (hangin)
3. Hinila ko ang bagin nagtakbuhan ang matsin. (gilingan)
4. Lumabas si Rita ang saya niya’y pula. (puso ng saging)
5. Ano ang wika ng puso? (musika)
6. Nalakad walang paa, naluha’y walang mata. (fountain pen)
7. Isang bias na kawayan, punong-puno ng kamatayan. (baril)
8. Bahay ni Gering gering butas-butas ang dingding. (bithay)
9. Puno’y kahoy, dulo’y bacal. (baril)
10. Niyog ko sa Maynila, abot dito ang unga. (balangaw)
11. Kalumbitin, kalumbayog, itaas ang hulog. (kalugkog)
12. Nanganak ang hunghang sa tuktok nagdaan. (saging)
13. Aling halaman ang di malalanta kahit natabas na? (buhok)
14. Nagsaing si kapirit kinain pati anlit. (bayabas)
15. Bahay ng sinora nabuksan ay di maisara. (itlog)
16. Nagtago si Pedro labas ang ulo. (pako)
17. Bahay ko sa pulo ang balahibo’y pako. (nangka)
18. Oo nga’t niyog nasa loob ang bunot. (mangga)
19. Oo nga’t mangga nasa loob ang pula. (itlog)
20. Pag araw ay bumbong pag gabi’y dahon. (banig)
21. Oo nga’t sili nasa loob ang aligi. (alimango)
22. Tumindig siya at sumigaw ang sabi raw niya’y matapang. (tandang)
23. Langit sa itaas, langit sa ibaba may tubig sa gitna. (niyog)
24. Ang manok kung pula nagdapo sa banaba namatay ang banaba nagpakitang ganda. (buan)

[p. 6]

25. Baboy ko sa kaingin nataba’y walang pakain. (kamote)
26. Hindi madangkal, hindi madipa usong ng lima. (karayom)
27. May balbas walang baba may mata’y walang mukha. (tubo)
28. Natindig walang paa, naiyak walang mata. (kandila)
29. Kawayan ko sa bundok abot dito ang hutok. (balangaw)
30. Nakalampas hindi nakabutas. (salamin)
31. Buhok ng pari hindi mawahi. (tubig)
32. Alin dito sa mundo ang pamagat ay C. D. O. (buan)
33. Mag tag-ula’t mag tag-init, hanggang tuhod ang biyakis. (manok)
34. Habang bilog, kuwarto-kuwarto ang loob. (kawayan)
35. Isang biging palay sikip sa buong bahay. (ilaw)
36. Walang puno’y walang ugat, hitik kung mamulaklak. (bituin)
37. Isang babaing may korona kahit saan ay may mata. (pinya)
38. Ako’y bumili ng isang alipin mataas pa kay sa akin. (sombrero)
39. May isang babae may sunong na tae. (puyod)
40. Ang baboy kong itim matakaw ng uling. (plantsa)
41. Dalawang mabilog malayo ang abot. (mata)
42. Munting bundok hindi madampot. (ipot)
43. Ako’y may biting sangkalan inaamuyan tinitingnan. (langka)
44. Tungkod ng kapitan hindi mahawakan. (ahas)
45. Buhok ni Adan hindi mabilang. (ulan)
46. Dadaan ang negro patay na lahat ng tao. (gabi)
47. Isda ko sa Marabilis, nasa loob ang kaliskis. (sili)
48. Loob ay batuhan ang labas ay araruhan. (kakaw)
49. Taga Sebu kung hiwain, mata mo ang hihilamin. (sebuyas)
50. Mataas pa ang ibinitin kay sa pinagbitinan. (bulador)

Salawikain

1. Pag alahas ang kinuha siya’y abang magnanakaw, pag baril ang dinampot, siya’y anak ng bayan.
2. Sa bunton ng mga ipa ay may paisa-isang palay, at sa hukbo ng lalaghag ay may ilang matimtiman.
3. Malamig mang tubig bago magsilakbo kailangan muna ay pakuluin mo.
4. Ang kaibhan ng babae siya’y sanay na magtago ng laman ng kanyang dibdib at tibok ng kanyang puso.
5. Kung hirap ituro sa gawang magaling kay daling ibuyo ang tao sa linsil.
6. Iyang tanod na parola sa tabi ng isang dagat ay talagang nakalaang sumagip sa nalalalad.
7. Kung ano ang takot ng isang pag-ibig, gayun din ang sukat at laki ng galit.
8. Kung tanawin mo ang langit parang isang susun lamang subalit liparin mo’t daming susun-susung hanay.
9. Ang galit ding nag-aapoy sa damdami’t kanyang loob ang siyang nagpalamig sa baga ng pagkapoot.
10. Ang bulaklak kung kailan may tinik na bumabakod lalong ibig mong samyuin ang talulot nitong ubod.

[p. 7]

11. Kaya hindi maaring sa pabalat mo hatulan ang lagay ng isang tao at ang kanyang katauhan.
12. May taong malapit ay ilap ang tulong ngunit may malayong ang damay ay lolong.
13. Iyang sakit sa pag-ibig habang iyong ginagamot lalo lamang humahapdi’t lalo lamang kumikirot.
14. Talagang may tao na saway ng saway bago pala siya ang suway ng suway.
15. Sa lilim ko nagaganap ang mahabang kasaysayan na karugtong ang pighati’t ang ligaya’y makukulay.

Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of Machinan” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.