Cumba, 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 Cumba 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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THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE
BARRIO OF CUMBA
PART I – History
PRESENT OFFICIAL NAME @@ -
The barrio of Cumba lies in the southern part of Lipa. It is bounded to the north\ by the barrios of Bolbok and Lodlod, to the east by Malagonlong and Mabini, to the south by Adya and to the west by Pangao and Bilaran. The sitio of Sampalucan is under its jurisdiction. Ever since its organization as a distinct part of Lipa, it was popularly and officially known as “CUMBA.”
DERIVATION OF NAME –
CUMBA – The name “Cumba” has a very natural derivation. The topography of the barrio is mostly of rolling lands. This land form was called “cumba-cumba” by the early settlers. Cumba-Cumba means rolling. It was from this land form from which the naming of the barrio was derived.
THE SITIO OF SAMPALUCAN – The sitio got its name from the many sampaloc trees that once grew in the place. Sampalucan means groves of tamarind trees. Even to this day, sampaloc trees of great sizes can be seen growing here and there within the sitio. Perhaps, they are the remains of the sampaloc trees that thrived in the barrio a long time ago.
DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT AND ORIGINAL FAMILIES –
The exact date of the establishment of the barrio was not known. However, information gathered from some of the oldest inhabitants of the barrio point out that the barrio was in existence sometime during the latter part of the seventeenth century. Among the families who were known to have been the early settlers were those of Hernandez, Panganiban, Litan, and Igle. Those families were said to have been farmers who came from different places [and] who, having been attracted by the fertility of the soil and the accessibility to a good water supply, settled in the region. By intermarriages and by the coming of other settlers, the population increased. Realizing the need for unity as a means of protection, the people organized into a community which was later named Cumba.
LIST OF KNOWN CABEZAS DE BARANGAY AND TENIENTES:
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1. Fernando Rodelas 2. Leodovico Laygo 3. Celestino Hernandez 4. Baldomero Laygo 5. Selvistre Pasahol 6. Salvador Hernandez 7. Andico Laygo |
8. Benito Hernandez 9. Santiago Litan 10. Tomas Lorzano 11. Ruperto Silva 12. Maximino Panganiban 13. Fidel Hernandez 14. Clemente Lanto – Incumbent |
A. During the Spanish Occupation:
2. The indoctrination of the people into the Christian faith. This was slowly and gradually implemented by the work of the Spanish missionaries.
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4. Organization of a centralized form of barrio government under a Cabeza de Barangay.
5. Participation of some persons in the Philippine Revolution.
2. Appointment of a barrio lieutenant in the place of the former Cabeza de Barangay as the leader of the barrio.
3. This was a period of rapid progress. Home industries were developed. Houses were improved and built of more durable materials. The barrio road was made wider and improved.
4. The people became conscious of the political movements of the time. They took active part in selecting government officials by exercising their right to vote.
5. Public education was made possible by the establishment of schools for the barrios of Adya and Cumba.
6. Sometime in the year 1918, an epidemic of dengue fever occurred. This accounted for the loss of many lives.
7. Occupation of the Japanese from December 30, 1941 to April 11, 1945:
b. Forced labor in the Japanese military establishments.
c. General fear from the cruelties of the Japanese. This was particularly true during the last six months of the occupation – from September, 1944 to March, 1945. During these months, the Japanese were at the height of doing their atrocious acts done in the form of rape, arson and massacres. To avoid being seen by the Japanese, majority of the people left their homes and went to some places of safety. They often experienced sleeping outdoors, in the woods, banks of brooks, or in any place which according to their judgment was safe from the Japanese.
d. During the night of December 31, 1944, some twenty persons including some boys were caught in a surprise raid. They were taken to the Japanese camps. Only a few managed to escape. The rest were killed.
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f. During the month of March and the early part of April, the barrio of Cumba was amost deserted by its inhabitants. The people went to some places of safety. They moved to places like Rosario, Ibaan and Batangas, trying as much as they could to be near guerrilla bases and in places that were seldom if ever reached by the Japanese. In the meantime, their houses were looted of whatever were left behind, animals were taken, and in some cases, some of the houses were burned to ashes. The coming of the American Liberating Forces spearheaded by the Filipino Guerrillas was a great period of rejoicing.
C. MEASURES AND ACCOMPLISMENTS TOWARD REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION AFTER WORLD WAR II:
Soon after liberation, the people returned to their homes. Free from the fear and worries, they began the work of rehabilitation and reconstruction. The following were done:2. The people resumed their former occupations paying close attention to the development of farming and household industries. Quick-growing crops were planted to remedy the felt need of having food.
3. The barrio school which was burned during the war was temporarily built by the people of the barrios of Adya and Cumba and in May, the classes were opened.
4. The school building was finally constructed by the War Damage Commission and turned over to the barrio on April 1, 1950.
5. In 1951, a complete elementary school was opened for the pupils of the barrios of Cumba and Adya.
From the period of liberation up to this writing, the people of Cumba have been trying all they can to help in rehabilitating work particularly along economic lines. Farming and household industries were further developed. Many people engaged in retail business. Some of them do their business in other towns and provinces. Peace and order is satisfactory. In fact, normal living conditions now prevail in this barrio or rolling lands. The people of the barrio will continue to progress until the time comes when the barrio as a whole will be very progressive.
PART II – Folkways
Like all other Filipinos, the people of Cumba are hospitable, helpful, polite, and very neighborly. They are true to the traditions of their ancestors. Some of these customs and traditions were modified as a result of education on the part of the masses. Moreover, a great majority of the people still cling to them in their daily lives. Some of these customs are enumerated below.
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BIRTH – The birth of a child is hailed with joy on the part of the family concerned. The following are some of the customs and practices relative to birth:
1. The expectant mother consults a midwife – the hilot, to put the baby in the right position so that ease in delivery is made possible. This is done usually one or two months before the time of delivery.
2. The delivery is made by the midwife who attends to the health of the mother as well as of the baby. Only in serious cases is a doctor asked to attend to delivery. The following practices are done in connection with birth:b. The child’s pillow, called inunan, is put in a clean container – most often a glass, and with some written matters buried under the house. Written or printed matters are included in the belief that the child will be intelligent when he grows up.
c. The baby should be watched by night until he is given a name. This is done in order that malignant spirits like and “aswang” and “tiyanak” will not have a chance to get the newly-born baby.
d. A piece of cloth called “babat” should be tied around the waist of the mother.
e. A nursing mother should not drink fresh cool water. Lukewarm water boiled with some leaves of medicinal value should be drunk by the mother until she is given a bath which is done after three or four weeks after delivery. The midwife cares for the mother for a period of at least nine days.
BAPTISM – The newly born child is baptized within one or two days from the time of birth. Baptism is done either at home or in the church. The baptism done at home is called “Buhos.” The one done in the church is essential to make the child a true Christian. In either case, the child is named in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The naming is done by a rite which is climaxed by pouring holy water on the baby’s head.
COURTSHIP – In the olden days, courtship was very different from what it is today. In those days, the young men and women were often married without their mutual understanding. The parents were the ones to agree, and once agreed upon, the children would have to follow in spite of all other things. Courtship was done by serving, by doing favors,
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giving gifts called regalos and, perhaps, by night visits which were done according to established customs and traditions. However, there were [a] few cases in which mutual understanding between the young man and woman was reached. No long periods of engagement was allowed. Courtship was a sacrifice for it required long periods of serving and working in behalf of the lady loved.
The present way of courtship is more liberalized. Few persons, if ever there are any, are married without their mutual understanding. Courtship at present is done in one or all of the following ways:2. Conversations in the home of the lady or in any place where opportunity exists.
3. Serving and doing favors for the family of the lady.
4. Sometimes, through the agreement of the parents, with the consent of those concerned.
2. Bulungan – Several days or perhaps a week after the Pakilala, the parents of the lady will call the parents of the young man to talk about the requisites of the proposed marriage, and such other things required of the occasion. In this connection, the dowries, kind and date of marriage, and other things that the whims and caprices of the parents and the lady may so desire are talked about. If the parents of the young man can give all that is asked, the marriage will be continued. If not, the young man will have to quit. At present, the latter often results in the elopement of the lovers.
The following are some of the things asked by the lady’s parents during the bulungan:
2. A parcel of land, work animal, or both.
3. Repair or construction of a house.
4. The kind and date for the wedding ceremony.
If the conditions of the marriage as set forth in the Bulungan are accepted by the parents of the young man, the marriage will be continued. The marriage ceremony is done by either the priest, pastor, or justice of the peace in a manner prescribed by law or order. Before the marriage is solemnized, the following requisites are needed:
2. Execution of the marriage contract with the consent of the parents of both parties.
3. The marriage ceremony and the giving of the wedding party.
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DEATH – The following customs and practices relative to the death of a person are observed:
1. The death of a person is considered a great loss to the family. When a person dies, there is much crying and lamentation on the part of the family and relatives of the deceased. A. Of mourning which lasts for nine months or perhaps a year it's accorded to the death. Black [the yes color] of mourning clothes.
2. The dead is buried in the cemetery. Prayers and other services are done for the salvation of the soul. The fourth-day, ninth-day, and the babang-luksa end of the mourning period, where usually given with a feast wherein all the relatives of the deceased participate.
3. Alms locally known as “Pakandila” in the form of money are given by sympathizers to the widows and orphans of the dead.
4. Requiem masses are said so that the soul of the dead may rest in peace.
5. During All Souls Day, the people go to the cemetery to offer prayers, light candles, and put wreathes over the graves of their loved ones.
FESTIVALS – The people of the barrio of Cumba lead a simple life. Few festivals are held during the year. However, during the month of May, Flores de Mayo is celebrated for the whole month. This is characterized by the offering of flowers to the Virgin every night. An hermana is in charge of the flower offering every night. For almost every afternoon during the month, there is a party in the house of the designated hermana or hermano, and every night soon after the flower offering, there is much merriment in the chapel of the barrio. Sometimes, a barrio fiesta is held as the culminating activity of the Flores de Mayo.
MYTHS, LEGENDS, BELIEFS, AND SUPERSTITIONS
THE LEGEND OF CUMBA
Once upon a time, in one of the provinces of southern Luzon, there lived a group of people who loved agriculture better than any other means of getting in livelihood. Unfortunately, they happened to be living in a place where the soil and climate were not fit for this undertaking. All their efforts to provide themselves with their daily needs proved to be in vain. Finally, they decided to leave their homes. They packed all their things and set forth in quest for new lands and better homes.
They traveled on and on. Days, weeks, months slowly rolled away, but we found no place that would satisfy their ideals. But one
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