San Agustin, Ibaan, Batangas: Historical Data

Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of San Agustin 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.

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PART I HISTORY

1. Present official name of the barrio – San Agustin

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 – 1862

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:

This barrio is bounded to the north by the barrio of M. Tubig, to the south by the barrio of Lucsuhin, to the west by the barrio of Matala and to the east by the barrio of San Ignacio of Rosario. The barrio has a good level land. Rice, corn, sugar and peanuts are raised abundantly.

7. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc. – NONE

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 II FOLKWAYS

Birth –
1. If the offspring of the family we're all females and a boy is desired, it was believed that when the mother steals a man's article, the child that would be brought forth would be a boy.
2. During the. Of pregnancy it was bad for the family to have the back porch (batalan) built or repaired. This meant that the mother would have to undergo [a] difficult delivery.
3. A member of the family should not sit near the door because it was believed that a pregnant woman would have to undergo a difficult delivery.

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4. A pregnant women should not take a walk during sunset.
5. In order that a newborn child would acquire some special talent, something had to be buried with [the] placenta, e.g. needle, thread to become a good dressmaker.
6. A pregnant woman should not wrap anything around her neck. This meant that the umbilical cord off the child might also and tangle the net.
7. A pregnant women followed by a "tianak" or a premature child which was not baptized was bad. It meant and abortion.
8. Anything ask for buy a conceiving woman must be heeded, for it would have a direct effect on the child, e.g. physical deformities might resemble the fruit conceived a pond.
9. A plant conceived by a conceiving women will turn sour.
10. A pregnant women must not laugh at a funny thing.

Baptism –
After the baby was baptized by the priest, the godmother or godfather of the child gave the child back to the parents with a lighted candle.

Courtship or marriage –
Courtship today is quite a contrast to courtship during the early years. During [the] early days, a man should be very courteous and respectful. When he visited a girl, he should pay particular attention to the old folks of the house. Right after entering a house, he should walk in [a] kneeling position up to the one whom he wanted to pay respect. Conversation between the girl and the man was very limited because the old folks we're watching their ways and actions. When it was already late in the night, the parents would have to close the windows, meaning that time was up.
It was quite common in those days for a man to be married to a woman he did not or he did not know because it was the parents who made the rearrangements. So, when a woman in love with a man she loved, the parents were very angry because their agreements or compromises did not materialize.
When a woman was set to be married, the groom to be actually gave a carload of you fuel. He gave many presents to his bride to be. A man before marriage underwent an acid test. He offered daily chores, he offered his services freely by getting water, chopping firewood, helping in the household chores, farming, repairing the house and many others. If, however these services we're not done faithfully, the marriage might still be annulled. For the well-to-do, it was quite easy because he could someone to do the job for him. Dowries sometimes determined much the success of the proposal of marriage. If a woman did not like the man, she could ask a large amount of dowry (bigay-kaya) such as hectares of land, money, animals etc. from the man and if the latter could not live up to her wishes, his love could be spurned. The wedding was set, reset that it was best to set the dates when it's [a] moonlit night. The wedding gown could not be worn before the marriage because it was said that when a young woman to be married wore it, the marriage might be discontinued.
In the church, some crude practices also prevailed such as tapping on the feet of the man without being noticed. This meant that when you have stepped on the feet, you would gain control of him. Two candles were placed beside them. If a candle was put out, it meant that one would not survive long. After the ceremony, the newlyweds would be hurrying to the church door.
When they reached the house of the bride, where the wedding feast was held, they were showered with rice, meaning to say that the couple would not starve. Some sweets were given to the couple. The first set of the table was for the relatives of the bride exclusively or until everybody of the bride's family had all eaten. The rest of the setting might be for the rest of the guests. After the feast the shower where all the relatives and friends of both parties where enjoined to share. The special seller called them one by one for them to give their gifts to the newlyweds. Malicious humor made the occasion very lively and merry. Then the bride was taken away to her new family.

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She was accompanied by a throng of the groom's relatives and friends. While she was leaving her family, she should not look back. When she reached the home off the groom, she kissed the hands of the old folks there. She sat down on the mat together with the groom's family, the groom was left behind. She followed her when the sun set. They went together in the bride's house.

10. Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life:

Different places in the Philippines have different ways to show that a family has been bereaved. In San Agustin and in other places, the female members of the family and close relatives wear black dresses usually for one year. The men who wear armbands or a piece of black cloth over their hearts. Also, men wear veils over their heads when wives die. If a mother dies and has left behind her several small children, she will either try to take them with her to the other world or haunt them until they fall sick and died also. So, the members of the family allow these children to wear red clothes at night, so that the mother can't see them. Nine nights praying is done at the bereaved’s house. Thirty days if a woman and forty days for [a] man is also celebrated. On the fourth and ninth days, feasts are held. People believe that the souls of the dead return. When the dead has some hidden money or something she [missing word(s)] or she will haunt you, until the money is discovered.

Burial – When the dead is being carried downstairs, someone will throw a small can of water. A pregnant woman is forbidden to enter the cemetery. A widower must not look in the grave for it [he] may marry too soon.

FAITH IN THE PATRON SAINT

Formerly, San Agustin existed only as a part of Munting Tubig. Just how the barrio came to be and to have a name of its own is told in this tale of long ago.

During the early times, when men of power were chosen to head the villagers, one Agustin who was believed to be possessed of certain charms known locally as “anting-anting” was selected head of Munting Tubig. The people considered him their idol for in many instances, he performed extraordinary and unusual facts.

He was extremely religious and every afternoon, at Angelus time, the people could see him praying fervently. After saying his prayers, he faced the four directions and made signs of the cross as if he was giving benedictions. The people believed that his prayers saved them from many of the misfortunes which should have befallen them for rinderpest, locusts, and wickedness were rampant in the neighboring barrios but they were free from all these mishaps.

Their belief in his extraordinary power was strengthened more when once, a swarm of locusts came to the place when their grains were almost ripe. The people were very much disappointed so they appealed to their chief, Agustin. He said, “Worry not, my people, for we shall be saved.” After saying this, he again muttered his prayers and performed his blessings to the vicinity.

POOK SAN AGUSTIN

San Agustin is one of the oldest barrios in Ibaan. It was named in honor of the patron saint, San Agustin. This barrio is bounded to the north by the barrio of M. Tubig, to the south by the barrio of Lucsuhin, to the west by the barrio of Matala and to the east by the barrio of San Ignacio or Rosario. This barrio has a good level land. Rice, corn, sugarcane and peanuts are raised abundantly. The men are mostly farmers and the women help with the work at the farms. The products which are peanuts and sugar principally are easily carried to nearby towns. Since there is a good

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means of transportation, people can easily go from one place to another.

The barrio of San Agustin is the most historical place in Ibaan. It was once raided by the Japanese during the occupation. Houses were burned and some men who were innocent were killed. [The] People being industrious quickly recovered from this war damage. In June 1949, the people were suspected as Huks and, in fact, it became one of [the] link lairs in Ibaan, and one the constabulary placed under military control. People evacuated to the poblacion carrying their belongings. The school of San Agustin was their headquarters. Men who passed by here were checked. When this place was cleared of dissidents, people returned to their homes.

During Sundays and holidays, people heard Mass, children attend religious instruction. Majority of the people are religious. It is their belief that the land yields abundant crops, it’s because of the help of their patron saint – San Agustin.

Thus, the name San Agustin came into existence.

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