Salaban, 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 Salaban 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]
DIVISION OF BATANGAS
District of San Jose
MALAININ SCHOOL
HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO (OF SALABAN)
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 barrio.
3. Date of establishment. None in the place could give the date.
4. Original families:
5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date.
Lucio Perez
Catalino de Torres
Bartolome Malauan [Malaluan?]
Segundo Baril
Domingo Guerra
Tomas Malaluan
Cayetano de Castro
Calixto Aguilera (present teniente)
6. Story of old barrios or sitios within the jurisdiction that are now depopulated or extinct.
7. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.
8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place.
(a) During the Spanish occupation.
(b) During the American occupation to World War II.
[p. 2]
(c) During and after World War II.
The bridge that linked Salaban and San Jose and the bridge that linked Salabaan and Ibaan were destroyed by the Japanese soldiers when they retreated to the mountains of Makulot.
Schools at San Jose and Malainin, Ibaan were organized when the people felt the need during the liberation. Through the active support of the PTA, a temporary building out of surplus materials from the U.S. Army bases, was constructed at Salaban, San Jose. Children of school age attended classes in Salaban School San Jose, and Malainin School of Ibaan.
Through the active support of true Catholics of Salaban and through the leaderhip of Father Guido, a chapel enough to accommodate the people of the barrio was constructed. This chapel is used by the people in the celebration of [the] May festival.
9. (a) Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during the following wars:
(1) 1896-1900 – None could be remembered.
(2) 1941-1945 – The following were killed by the Japanese:
(b) Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II.
The principal means of livelihood of the people are farming and peddling. Many who failed in farming engage themselves in peddling and they become successful in the venture. Those who started first are at present financially stable and have new homes and have acquired large tracts of land in Mindanao.
There are a few who receive pensions from the U.S. Army & the Philippine Army. These help much the families left behind.
Part Two – FOLK-WAYS
10. Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life; birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial, visits; festivals; punishments; etc.
[p. 3]
11. Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions; origin of the world, land, mountains, 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:
a. Popular song: Dagat Silangan
b. Popular game: Indoor Baseball
c. Popular form of amusement: Drinking wine and dama. A few are engaged in raising cock fighters.
13. Puzzles and riddles: Same as the neighboring sitios.
14. Proverbs and sayings: Same as the neighboring sitios.
15. Methods of measuring time, special calendars.
16. Other folktales.
Respectfully submitted:
(MRS.) GUILLERMINA MADLANGBAYAN
Teacher, Malainin School
[p. 4]
Centuries had passed from now when an unforgettable incident took place in the small barrio which divides San Jose and Ibaan. Roads during that time were still unmarked; [a] few houses could be seen because the entire land was covered with thick forest. Travel, therefore, was by walking. When better roads where built, when trees from the bath leading to adjacent towns where cut, commerce was born. [The] Exchange of articles was done through barter or through the use of native coins. No doubt, merchants tried in the place.
Not to the expectation of one of the merchants, while on his trade, a number of men met him and blocked the way. They were robbers. For the desire and want of wealth, these men liquidated the merchant. So pitiful it was that the said trader met his death by roasting amidst the forest where birds and trees did the praying for the complete and eternal repose of his soul. From the time, when you spread to the entire populace of the towns of San Jose and Ibaan, the place where the incident took place acquired the name "Sinalaban." It was then cut short to "Salaban."
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