Talaga, Mabini, Batangas: Historical Data

a. Present popular name of the barrio – Talaga

b. Past popular name of the barrio – Talaga – Name given due to the shallowness of water in every nook of the barrio.

c. Names of sitios:

With the advent of the Japanese occupation in Mabini in October 1943, the inhabitants of Talaga evacuated to different places for safety and survival. They left their homes together with their belongings and livestock. As months went by, the people realized the inadequacy of food. A great majority of them had to depend upon root crops like cassava, taro, sweet potatoes and wild root crops (tugi) for food. But later, Indalicio Calangi, a native of Talaga and at the same time the Mayor of Mabini, made amicable settlements with the Japanese officials. Wide publicity was given that all people of Talaga as well as from the adjoined barrios could come back and live peacefully. In spite of such information, many people were not convinced. They remained in their hiding places. Not many people of this locality could engage in farming activities as well as in other important industries. The scarcity of every commodity was met that time.

In Talaga, there were soldiers both regular and reservists that were released from concentration camps in Capaz, Tarlac. The soldiers, with patriotic civilians who possessed military bearings, prepared for a resistance movement against the Japanese. The Fil-American Irregular Troops were organized in September 1942 in Talaga, Mabini by Major Pedro Balita. He was the commander of the 9^th Regimental Staff with Captains Domingo Castillo and Braulio Panopio. Captain Juan B. Panopio of Anilao later became Lt. Colonel in the Blue Eagle Command. The 9^th Regiment, Fil-American Troops, operated in the towns of Mabini, Alitagtag, Sambat, Taal and Batangas proper.

Later on, the Japanese learned that the Americans were already on Philippine soil. Their attitude towards the civilians changed. They became more cruel and civilians linked with guerrilla activities were given the 3^rd degree punishment, hogtied to a pole and in brief, tortured.

The arrest of Major Pedro Balita, commanding officer of the said regiment on the 27^th of August 1944, demoralized their members. The operation ceased and the members were ordered by the 2^nd person in command to lay low and wait for another opportunity. Came the time when the Fil-American Irregular Troops were fused with the 1^st Blue Eagle Brigade.

The people became aware of the death of Major Balita and they felt uneasy. They evacuated and it did not take long when American planes dropped bombs in Talaga where the Japanese dwelled and assembled. Several army ships were destroyed. The Japanese soldiers residing in Talaga lost their faith towards their standing army and they began to burn private houses, the school, and killed people they met.

a. It is a custom of the mothers to keep the thread used in making holes of a baby girl for her earring so that whatever earring may be used may not be lost.

b. After birth, silver coins are placed in the water to be used for bathing the baby so that the child may have a successful life.

c. A newly-baptized baby as she arrives home is placed over the smoke of frankincense and myrrh to drive away evil spirits.

d. The bride is not allowed to change her wedding gown until she is brought to the bridegroom’s house.

e. It is a custom of the people to have “sabangan” in a wedding party. The family or relatives of the male give money to the female and the family of the female to the male. After the sabangan, the total money is wrapped in a handkerchief and the groom hands it to the bride who takes it with both hands.

f. On the fourth day after the [death] of a family member, all the people in the house take a bath.

g. When a person dies, the relatives or companions in the house do not cook marungay leaves as vegetable.

a. The old people say it is bad to comb the hair when the sun is setting because the parents will die.

b. When the star is very near the moon, somebody will elope.

c. In time of eating, when a spoon falls, a female visitor will arrive; and if a fork falls, a male visitor is coming.

d. When building a house and the doors are very opposite each other of the same width and distance, bad luck may come to the family.

e. When taking a bath during Tuesday and Friday, a person is near to be sick.

The traditional methods of measuring time are still practiced not only by the people of the town but also very common among the people living in the remote areas. The latter use the natural ways of telling time because man-made clocks are not always available in their places.

Some methods of measuring time are by shadows, the crowing of the cocks in the morning, by stars and constellations, by the sun and by [the] loud noise made by the hornbill bird (kalao) in the mountain.

The town also has its own folktales. These folktales are believed by the people to be true as being explained to the young generation by the old folks. One of those folktales common in this place runs this way.

A farmer named Pitong was walking on the farm. He came upon a baby crying on the grass. He picked up the baby and put it in his arms. After a while, he felt a scratch on his side, just under his ribs. At first, he did not mind it, but it became very painful. So, he looked to see what the baby was really doing. At his surprise, he saw a frightful dwarf with long sharp teeth. Pitong dropped the tiyanak. The tiyanak laughed at Pitong and disappeared.

Still other folktales common in this place are about the eagle and the rat.

The eagle and the rat were two great friends. One day, the rat saw an ant carrying a bag full of food. The rat laughed at the ant because he was very busy.

Then, [a] storm came. The eagle had plenty of food but the rat had nothing. The rain was so heavy that the hole of the rat was filled with water. He came out of his hole and looked for his friend, the eagle, to ask [for] food for he was very hungry.

There is no such information on books and documents treating of the Philippines that has ever been written by anyone in this barrio. The only forms of documents that were made locally in the early days were the documents regarding the sale of lands and animals. It was the practice of the people during the Spanish period and at the beginning of the American regime to prepare a home-made document when a piece of land or a cow was sold.

A responsible man in the community was requested to furnish the concerned parties with documents in manuscript form. However, this is not practiced anymore in this locality.

Respectfully submitted:

[Sgd.] BERNARDO A. ILAGAN
Head Teacher