Lapu-lapu, Ibaan, 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 Lapu-lapu in the Municipality of Ibaan, 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 LAPU-LAPU Part I: History
1. Present official name of the barrio: Lapu-lapu
2. Present and past name:
It was given such a name in honor of the brave hero of Mactan. The sitios of this barrio are Pinagkurusan, Lumbang and Libjo. All the sitios and Lapu-lapu being the largest among all the sitios comprising the whole barrio is governed by only one barrio teniente.
3. Date of establishment: After the Battle of Mactan (exact date unknown)
4. Original families:
5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date:
Jose Patulot, Sabas Guerra, Pedro Magnaye, Leon Caringal and at present, Timoteo Magnaye.
6. Story of old barrio or sitio that are now depopulated:
The barrio of Lapu-lapu is big. The people, in order to justify such a place in the barrio, divided the barrio into sections or sitios namely: Pinagkurusan, Lumbang, and Libjo. In all parts of these sitios people lived, but during the American occupation (before World War II), a road was built connecting the town of San Jose and Ibaan. People from [the] sitios moved along the highway because they found it easy to travel and transport goods to any of the said towns. Life became easy and transportation easy. The sitios were left behind depopulated.
7. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.:
8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place:
A. During the Spanish occupation –
It was during the Spanish occupation when the sitio of Pinagkurusan was founded. Old folks have told such story that in a certain part of the barrio, the people residing in the place were gathered by Spanish authorities and erected a cross and prayed there. Since then, the name of the place came to existence.
B. During the American occupation –
During the American occupation, roads, bridges were constructed. People earned their living easily.
C. During and after World War II –
People were kind, industrious and all kinds of industries were practiced, but people were afraid because of some abuses of the guerrillas. Because the Japs knew that the guerrilla organization was founded in the country, they sent spies. Because of these spies, several people lost their lives and several houses burned, just only a certain man was caught reading the American propaganda (leaflets dropped by American planes). After the war, peace and order were restored. Life went easy because transactions became smooth. The bridges demolished by the retreating USAFFE was again constructed. Houses were put to condition and all lines of industry were exercised.
[p. 2]
9. Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during wars, especially 1896-1900 and 1941-1945
When the Philippines fell into the hands of the Americans, they came to be afraid of these people. They hid in the first but these people (Americans) wanted to conquer them all. [An] Order was passed calling all the people to enter the camp (zone). But the people hid because they thought that when they entered the camp, they would be put to death. Americans on horses (cavalry) with the help of the Macabebe and insurrectos fled in all over the barrio looking for the people. Those who disobeyed were shot to death. The contrary happened to those who entered the camp because they were given foods, clothing, and other necessities and those who hid in the forest were punished.
During the Japanese occupation, the people became so afraid of some guerrilla abuses. Several people lost their lives and houses were burned because a certain person was caught by a Japanese spy reading a propaganda which was dropped by a US plane. Bridges were demolished and animals and foods were confiscated.
B. Accomplishments toward rehabilitation –
Men worked hard to restore [the] pre-war type of living. Houses were constructed and owners of houses burned by the Japanese were given aid such as nipa, rattan, etc. The bridges were reconstructed and roads were repaired. The old school was repaired with the aid of the US government.
Part Two – Folkways
10. Traditions, customs, and practices in domestic and social life, birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial, visits, festivals, etc.
[p. 3]
11. Superstitions:
b. When you go downstairs and you meet a lizard, bad fortune it will bring you, if snake, good luck.
c. When a black butterfly comes to your house, bad news. A close relative is dead.
12. Popular songs, games and amusements:
2. Paru-parung Bukid
2. Reading Tagalog magazines
13. Puzzles and riddles:
2. Ang baboy ko sa pulo ang balahibo’y pako.
14. Proverbs and sayings:
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