Adya, Lipa City, Batangas: Historical Data Part I
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| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
PART I
PART I | PART II
Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Adya in the City of Lipa, 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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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF ADYA
PART ONE – HISTORY
PRESENT OFFICIAL NAME – In the southern part of the City of Lipa lies a barrio with more or less than a thousand inhabitants. Its rolling lands remain productive throughout the year as a result of the industry and hard labor of the people. Farming, weaving, and other home industries thrive and give enough returns to meet the people’s needs. This barrio is officially known as ADYA.
POPULAR NAME OF THE BARRIO, PAST AND PRESENT –a. In the past, this barrio was known as “Sa Pook,” which means “in the community.” Today, it is popularly and officially known as “Adya.”
b. Names of sitios under its jurisdiction:
2. Mahabang Labak – lying in the middle.
3. Carot – lying in the southernmost part.
A D Y A – According to information gathered from most of the oldest residents of the barrio, the place was first known as “Sa Pook,” meaning “in the community. That was some five hundred years ago, more or less. After about four hundred years later, the name “Sa Pook” was changed to Adya. Such [a] change was brought about in the following way:
A long time ago, an image of San Roque appeared in the community. A little book called Litany was found in the place where the image appeared. The people put the image in a little sanctuary and there they gathered to pay homage and offer prayers to the image. At the end of each part of the rosary, a request was asked of San Roque. The request runs in this wise – “Ipag-adya mo po kami sa gutom, sa giyera at sa peste.” This means – “Please save us from hunger, war, and pestilence,” a request that was granted for according to information, the people lived in abundance, in peace, and free from epidemics since the appearance of the image.
One day, while most of the people were praying, a group of Spanish soldiers came. The leader asked the name of the barrio in a loud and commanding voice. Fear stricken [torn part of the page]
congregation uttered the word “ADYA” in unison, [torn part of the page]
lieved that the people really gave the answer [torn part of the page]
that from that time on, the barrio was named [torn part of the page]
was derived from the word IPAG-ADYA meaning [torn part of the page]
MAHABANG LABAK – The name Mahabang Labak [torn part of the page]
true derivation. The part of the barrio [torn part of the page]
Carot is a broad expanse of level land [torn part of the page]
a ditch. This ditch crosses the only [torn part of the page]
from this physical feature of the place [torn part of the page]
LABAK” was derived.
KAROT – The name “KAROT” locally [torn part of the page]
place.” This place is so located [torn part of the page]
who were going back and forth from [torn part of the page]
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DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT AND ORIGINAL FAMILIES –
The exact date of the establishment of the barrio is not known. However, according to information, the barrio was in existence sometime during the sixteenth century when several families from different places settled in the region. Among these families were those of De Silva, Litan, Bautista, Kison, Vergara, Sarmiento, Comia, Hernandez, Magsino, Lahara, and Cetron. It is also believed that the Spaniards came to know of the barrio during the first half of the eighteenth century – probably in 1714 A.D. when the first Cabeza de Barangay was appointed and the whole community was organized and made a distinct part of the town of Lipa.
The following are those known to hold the office of Cabeza de Barangay and Tenientes of the barrio:
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1. Francisco de Silva 2. Bernardino de Silva 3. Benedicto de Silva 4. Hermenegildo de Silva 5. Dionisio de Silva 6. Martin Litan 7. Paulo Bautista 8. Matias Kison 9. Benedicto Lahara 10. Sixto de Silva 11. Eustaquio Sarmiento 12. Guardiano de Silva 13. Agapito Cumia 14. Juan Magsino 15. Simon Lahara |
16. Melchor Cetron 17. Pedro Magsino 18. Fausto A. Sarmiento 19. Fausto Sarmiento 20. Bonifacio de Silva 21. Urbano de Silva 22. Alejandro Lahara 23. Crisanto Lahara 24. Jose Sarmiento 25. Esteban Enriquez 26. Juan Reyes 27. Leoncio Patulot 28. Leoncio Tenorio 29. Leon de Silva 30. Camilo Silva- Incumbent |
A. During the Spanish Occupation:
2. Conversion of the inhabitants to the Christian faith. This was done gradually and slowly during the Spanish occupation.
3. Participation of some of the nationally-minded residents during the Philippine Revolution.
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2. Shortly after World War I, sometime in the latter part of 1918, an epidemic of dengue fever overran the barrio. This calamity resulted in the loss of many lives.
3. The public school in Adya was opened in 1917. Later, the school was transferred to a place where the people from Adya and Cumba could be accommodated. The first public school building was constructed in 1927 when the people of Adya and Cumba jointly donated a hectare of land for [the] school site. Complete primary classes were taught in the school. During the war for liberation (World War II), the school building was burned by retreating Japanese forces. It was temporarily rebuilt after liberation and classes were opened again. In 1949, the school building was completely rebuilt by the Philippine War Damage Commission. During the same year, a Grade V class was opened and in 1951, the school became a complete elementary school. In line with the policy of the Bureau of Public Schools to educate the masses, the school managed to improve the barrio by the implementation of the so-called “Community Centered Activities.”
4. A chapel was built several years before the outbreak of World War II. During the Japanese Occupation, a permanent site for the church was acquired and a larger and stronger chapel was built.
5. Throughout the half century of American occupation, the people of the barrio exercised the right to suffrage in selecting their government officials. Slowly but surely, the people progressed which was only retarded by the outbreak of World War II.
6. The Japanese occupation of the place was a very dark period in the history of the barrio. It was a period characterized by the lack of prime commodities and everyday needs, food shortages, of fear and unsettled conditions of living. The latter part of the Japanese occupation was the period of great miseries and hardships. People had to leave their homes, sleep in secluded places for fear of being caught by the Japanese raiders. Several persons of the barrio were killed and nearly all the houses in the northern part of the barrio were burned in one of the raids undertaken by the Japanese. One of the most atrocious acts done by the Japs in the place was the burning of a blind man and his hold mother by tying them in the house while the fire was set in the house.
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PART II – FOLKWAYS
Traditions, Customs, and Practices in Domestic and Social Life
The people of Adya are true to the ideals of our ancestors. As Filipinos, they are by nature hospitable, helpful, kind, and neighborly. Other customs and practices are enumerated below:
A. B I R T H – The birth of a child is regarded with joy and a blessing to the family. When a newly-born child is not yet christened or given [a] name, it is a custom of the members of the family to keep awake in the night so that the evil spirit called “Tiyanak” will not have a chance to get or harm the baby. A baby to be baptized must have a godfather or a godmother as the sex of the baby may be who will hold the baby as a priest or minister performs the ceremony. The ceremony varies according to the religion of the parents of the baby to be baptized. In some cases, the baby may be named in the house of the mother – locally known as “buhos” which means naming the baby. During the baptismal celebration, a party is given. Foods and drinks are usually given for it is the common belief of the people that [if] there is no wine or any form of drink in the ceremony, the baby will not develop and grow normally. In all cases, the baby must be baptized in the church following the rites of the church officiating the ceremony.
B. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE – The old custom of courtship and marriage is quite different from those of the present. Formerly, the parents of both parties agreed to join their children in wedlock without consulting the children. They alone prepared everything until the union was accomplished. Nowadays, the young men and young women must undergo courtship and mutual understanding before a marriage can be solemnized. The following were observed in this connection:
b. By regular night visits. These visits should be in no case be later than eight o’clock at night. During these visits, proposals are made until [an] understanding is reached. The people of Adya regard the home of the lady as the only place for proposing love.
c. In some instances, for a young man to show his love for a lady, he helps in the various work of the household and renders services that will tend to win the favor of both the lady and her parents.
There are still other ways in which the people of this
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barrio use in winning the love of the lady. After this period of courtship comes the period of engagement – that is, when the lady accepts the young man. This period is considered the happiest moment of the lives of those concerned. Long periods of engagement are not acceptable to parents. Due to this fact, marriages are almost always performed once the lady informs her parents of her engagement to a young man or when the parents come to know of such [an] engagement.
2. Preparatory Services to Marriage –2. A parcel of land and, in some cases, with work animals.
3. Repair or construction of the lady’s house.
4. The kind of wedding celebration.
5. Other things which the whim and caprices of the lady and her parents may think of.
6. Fixing the date of the wedding.
If the terms of the “Bulungan” are agreeable to the young man’s side, the marriage is officially announced. If, however, said terms could not be given, the love affair of the two parties must be broken in spite of the true love that existed between them. The latter case sometimes results in the elopement of the lovers.
There are also some cases when the dowries are not necessary. Once the parents know that the young people love each other and much more so when the man happens to be the choice of the family, they will only do their duties as parents in the forms of reminders and give their consent to the marriage.
3. MARRIAGE: - The marriage ceremony is performed by the priests, pastor, or by the justice of the peace. After the marriage ceremony, which is usually done in the morning of Monday, Thursday, or Saturday, a party is given in the house of the bride. In this party, the relatives of the bride are invited and are served by the relatives of the groom. There is dancing and singing. The ceremony is highlighted by the “Sabugan” during which the relatives of both sides are called in order to give their presents in the form of money. A cigarette, a piece of calamay, or prepared buyo for chewing is given in exchange for the amount given. The bridegroom turns or gives the proceeds in this affair to the bride as their first mutual profits.
In some cases, the wedding proves to be very expensive so that the parents of the young man must have to borrow money, sell animals,
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mortgage or sell their land or do all they can in their power in order to finance the occasion. In spite of all these things, they fell happy and contented in the belief that they have done their duties as parents.
After the marriage, the newlyweds usually live with the parents of either side for a short period of time. Later, they will build a house of their own where they will assume the role of a separate family.
2. Burial – The dead is dressed in his best clothes, put in a casket or coffin and then buried after being given the religious services as called for by his religion. Even in the burying of the dead, a great deal of distinction can be noted between the rich and the poor. These burials are often attended by the people of the barrio. This is done to show their sympathy and love for the deceased.
3. Prayers and Services Offered:
2. Fourth-day service – In this occasion, a mass prayer is said. Food is served to those who attend.
3. Ninth-day service – The same activities as those of the fourth day services.
5. The first anniversary – This is known as the “Babang Luksa” or the time when the mourning period will end. In this service, a nine-day novena is said and at the ninth day, a feast is given.
6. In some cases, particularly among those who are well-to-do, requiem masses are said for the quiet repose of the soul.
SOCIAL LIFE AND FESTIVALS – The people lead simple lives. However, they are very neighborly and helpful to each other. This is exemplified by the help and cooperation extended by the people of the community to the persons in need. The most common forms are the “Bayanihan” and the “Pasaknungan” systems.
Social functions are of [a] low order. Aside from attending the simple barrio celebrations as the wedding, baptismal, birthday and other little parties which the simple life of the barrio offers, the people
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have little social activities. The greatest social intercourse is being manifested during the month of May when the community holds a one-month activity known as “Flores de Mayo.” During this celebration, the people meet in the house of the “hermana” to help in the preparation of the event and to dine in whatever food the hermana can give. At night, the people will assemble in the barrio chapel to offer flowers to the Virgin Mary. After the flower offering, there is singing and other forms of enjoyment. It is during this time when the people meet to exchange their views and to relax for the day’s work. The activity is done throughout May. The barrio fiesta is usually held at the end of the flower festival.
PUNISHMENTS – Minor cases of misunderstanding are settled within the barrio. They are decided in the presence of the barrio lieutenant and some old and influential men of the community. Matters are decided and corresponding punishments are given to the offending party to the satisfaction of both parties. Major offenses are turned to the proper authorities who have the sole power to decide the case and to give the necessary punishments to the offending parties.
MYTHS, LEGENDS, BELIEFS, INTERPRETATIONS, SUPERSTITIONS
T H E L E G E N D O F T H E T W I N S T O N E S
On the bank of a brook that flows in the barrio of Adya, there is to this day a twin stone. These stones are very similar to each other in size, form, and in position as they lay on the bank of the brook. They are so big that the great floods that dared to roll them away failed to move them even an inch from their original position. Many stories were told about these twin stones. One of them is the following:
A long time ago, when Adya was not yet thickly populated, a group of small people called dwarves was seen living near the twin stones. These little people lived a happy and carefree life. They wandered in the woods, played and danced to the tune of wonderful music, and dined in such a rare and delicious food which few mortals could ever dream of. What was more wonderful and amazing was that their utensils were made of pure silver and gold.
All the time, particularly when the weather was fine, these little people indulged in merrymaking. Their music could be heard and their laughter filled the surrounding air. But during rainy days, they were seldom seen and their music and laughter ceased. Nobody could tell where they went and what happened to them during the rainy days. But when the rainy season was coming to an end and the bright days were coming, again they appeared and resumed their usual frolics.
More and more settlers came to live in the vicinity. The little people of the woods were no longer seen in bands. If perchance a man could see some of them, they at once disappeared for reasons people knew not. Perhaps, they were afraid. Perhaps, they did not trust people who are many times bigger than they were.
Today, no dwarf can be seen in this place. However, those people who were living near the twin stones as well as those who pass by them can prove beyond doubt that the faint but distinct music and laughter
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