Tubigan, Lemery, Batangas: Historical Data

Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Tubigan the Municipality of Lemery, 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.

[Cover page.]

COMPILATION
OF
HISTORICAL DATA
FOR THE

BARRIO
OF
TUBIGAN

MUNICIPALITY OF LEMERY
PROVINCE OF BATANGAS

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DIVISION OF BATANGAS
DISTRICT OF LEMERY
Bukal School

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF TUBIGAN
PART ONE: HISTORY
Present Official Name of the Barrio

The present official name is Tubigan.

Former Name or Names and their Meanings or Derivation

Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines, the town of Lemery was not yet in its existence. According to the old folks, Lemery at that time was plain water. No land could be sighted. In other words, the place was still devoid of vegetation and human habitation.

Since that time and up to the coming of the Spaniards, Tubigan remained to be a little sea. Legendary stories stated that the main source of its water came directly from the barrio of Bukal. As time passed on, the sea became so shallow and gradually land areas for habitation expanded, so with the birth of Lemery. Eventually, Tubigan became an area for vegetation. The changes were obvious. The frequent occurrence of floods carried with it the soil from the mountains and rich deposits of soil were formed. Tubigan, then, was opened to settlers. Vegetation and habitation gradually increased and developed. The name of the barrio was derived from the so-called flood occurrences.

Name of sitios included within the territorial [jurisdiction] is what they call Bulwagan.

[The] Date of establishment was in 1860.

Original Families

List of Tenientes from the Earliest Time to Date

Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc. - - - None

Important Facts and Incidents

During the Spanish Occupation: In the year 1897, Vicente Patoto held the position as teniente of Tubigan.

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In that year, trouble are rules in the barrio due to the confiscation of contraband by the Spanish civil guards and Filipino volunteers. They made a house to house rate in pursuit of those people who were engaged in business. This critical condition led to the resignation of Vicente Patato and the acceptance of the position by Candido de Castro. In spite of the change in leadership, the trouble could not be suppressed, instead, it rose to a bigger one. The barrio folks, then, could not otherwise but evacuate to other places, leaving behind them their personal belongings. Others were fortunate enough to keep some of their properties in some inconspicuous places far beyond the reach of the Spaniards. The barrio was razed by fire. The big houses were burned by the Spanish civil guards and Filipino volunteers. These events greatly enraged the Filipinos and finally, they decided once and for all to rise in rebellion against the Spanish government. They joined the revolutionists and fought bravely to the end of their lives. Revenge proved to be very sweet to them. "Teniente" Candido de Castro held his position up to the time of the arrival of the Americans here in 1901.

During the American regime: upon the arrival of the Americans, the barrio of Tubigan began to flourish rapidly, although it's unique and antique big houses, which were totally destroyed by the Spaniards, were not rebuilt. Suffice it to say that the natives of the barrio who were left homeless by the Spaniards were not easily demoralized, but instead, they exerted their innermost efforts to rebuild and rehabilitates their homes. There zealous efforts in improving their places where worthwhile emulating.

During and After World War II: in 1941, World War II broke out. The lives of the people we're always at stake. Nobody could say that he was perfectly living in security and prosperity. Rest, because of the able leadership of "Teniente" Caag, misunderstandings and troubles with the Japanese and the view realist where amicably settled and pacified.

Destruction of lives during world war in 1896 and to 1900 and 1941- 1945 – nothing could be said about this.

Measures and accomplishments two-word rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II. Accomplishment and reconstruction could not be traced except the construction of the nipa houses and some semi-permanent houses.

PART TWO: FOLKWAYS
Traditions, Customs and Practices in Domestic and Social Life

Birth – It has been a custom among the people of Tubigan that when a mother is certainly going to deliver, the people, especially the neighbors, go to the mother's house to console her and help her ease her sufferings. They prove to themselves that they are always ready to lend a helping hand whenever a need for it arises. Some of them go to fetch a licensed doctor or a quack doctor or an experienced midwife known as hilot or salag. Others kill chicken for the food of the expectant mother. One

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distinct characteristic of these barrio folks, is that charity always finds its way among them, regardless of the financial conditions of the people to when [unclear what is meant] they are helping. It doesn't matter much to them whether they are wealthy or poor. Upon delivery, the 'hilot' or 'salag' it's not allowed to go home until after she is notified off the would-be godparents of the baby.

Baptism –

Among the Catholic folks of Tubigan, Baptism becomes a sanctified grace performed only by a Catholic priest. Usually, the parents of the baby prepare a baptismal party and invite nearly all the people of the barrio. However, the poor families hold parties of their own in the simplest manner they can afford to have and just invite their nearest relatives and close friends. This is called the "tayo-tayo" party.

Courtship –

In the early days, and even up to the present, courtship has been a hard task for a man to indulge. The moment a man falls in love with a certain woman, his intentions are made known through the interpretation of his parents. We go to the woman's home to pay a courtesy call. In going there, they bring with them something, commonly fish. This they call "paisda." if the woman and her parents reciprocate the offer, the man's parents make a second move which the term pasagad. In this system, the wooing suitor, his relatives and comrades obligingly work in the woman's home. They offer her all the possible help needed. After the period of "pasagad," comes the next step which is known as "bulungan." They fix the date of the marriage, and often times the dowry that must be bestowed a woman. The suitor continue serving the girl and her family with all errands he could afford to extend.

Marriage –

A wedding party is held in the bride's home under the sole management of the groom. This party is just the celebration of the same procedure as that of the baptismal party the distinctive feature, however, is the "Sabanaan." this is so much of giving gifts in the form of money to the new couple. There is so much fun in it and everyone in the party finds it enjoyable. The party is usually ended with the bribe transferring immediately to the groom's house and leaving the groom in the girl’s house. The following day, the man joins his wife and so the couple begins to live a marital life. A second party is often times held in the groom's house.

Death –

The spirit of neighborliness is really very strong among the people of Tubigan especially during deaths. If somebody dies, nearly all the folks condole with the bereaved ones. They pay the dead this due respect through offerings of bouquets, wreaths and prayers for the eternal repose of his soul. Aside from these, they give monetary help to the bereaved family. Family ties really prove to be very strong to these people on occasions like this.

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Prior to the interment, the people watch the dead all day and all night long. These watchers are usually served with coffee, bread and cigarettes.

Interments –

The barrio folks continue to extend their condolences up to the burial. As the coffin is being brought downstairs, a member of the bereaved family pours a pail of water in the stairways. All the things that the late person used are buried together with him. Nobody can look back as the burial procession is going on. These are superstitious beliefs of the barrio’s old folks. Old customs and traditions still persist. From the day of the interment, a nine-day prayer is offered every night in the home of the dead. The fourth and eighth days of these nine consecutive days are observed with the mourning festival.

Visitations –

The barrio folks are known for their being hospitable and generous. They know how to receive visitors and callers politely. The moment they receive guests, they begin to think of the various ways and means by which they can satisfactorily entertain them. They are greatly honored if their friends and relatives pay them a visit. Usually, a chicken’s life will prove to be the greatest answer to the entertainment of the guests. You will observe that their faces beam with joy [in] receiving them.

Barrio Fiestas –

As fiesta celebrations are very rampant in most barrios of Lemery, Tubigan has not yet had the opportunity to celebrate one. Usually, they observe it jointly with the nearby barrio.

Knowledge of the Origin of the Earth and Its Natural Resources

Majority of the old barrio folks are still doubtful of the origin of the earth and its natural resources. They think that the earth has no edges and it continues to exist internally. They strongly believe that it came to existence through God's creation. They assert further that man and all the things around him are God's creations. To them, eclipses occur as God's punishment to humanity. To them, they are signs of bad omens.

Music is the language of the soul. This contention really holds true especially to the old folks of Tubigan. They are great admirers of music and this can be accounted for in their interest in songs called "orihinal," like Ibong Adarna, Jaime del Fredo, Rodante, etc.

Aside from music, they are also interested in games, some of which are named in Tagalog as "pata," "tanga," "sungka."

Puzzles

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Mottoes and Proverbs