Looc, Nasugbu, Batangas: Historical Data

The name Looc was derived from a certain named called “Kawiliwili.” During the Spanish period, many people from other places lived in Looc. When they reached the place, they fell in love with it and they stayed there for good.

It was called Looc for it was surrounded by mountains and the sky seemed to be very near. Thus, the people compared it to a bag.

Looc is a small place but it has beautiful sceneries. The people are peace-loving and happy. They live on farming. The land is planted to corn and sugarcane. At present, Looc, being the heart of the sitios within the jurisdiction and its accessibility to the neighboring sitios, made it possible for the school to be established there.

1. Salaysay is a sitio which can be considered as almost extinct. There are no inhabitants in this place due to its physical feature which does not make it possible for living. It got its name from the pile of big stones which was like a waterfalls from a distance.

2. Kumbento is a small sitio of Looc, located in the northern part of the barrio. It was named Kumbento because a concrete church was erected by the Jesuits. It was not finished because the priests got mad with the people. They even cursed the people that they will never get rich. The unfinished church or “kumbento” is surrounded by rice fields and wild grasses which grew in abundance. The few houses in Kumbento and the land around it is planted to corn and sugar. From the church, the place was named by the people Kumbento.

3. The sitio of Magsiksik is located in the eastern part of Looc. Magsiksik has been a part of the great forest before when it was not yet cleared. The name Magsiksik got its name from an incident. When the Spanish-American War was at its height, there was a woman who was stranded in that place because of so much fear.

4. Sitio Kayinthia is extinct. It is situated a few miles from Looc. There are no inhabitants living in that place because it is mountainous and quite far. It is enclosed by big mountains. It has been said that there was a woman who [due] to sudden fear lived in this place. Her name was Inthia. That is why the place was called Kayinthia.

5. Kaydalag is [an] uninhabited sitio of Looc. It is surrounded by mountains where a small waterfall flows down a river. Its scenic beauty invites lovers and picnickers to have a good time there. It was so named because the river abounds in fish called dalag, or mudfish. The place has forests yielding logs which are taken to Manila by small steamers. At present, there are laborers living there temporarily, especially those who are engaged in logging.

6. Maglañgoy is a small sitio lying in the southern part of Looc. It is inhabited by people who took the patience of clearing the dense forests. This place is very low that when it rains, it is flooded. The people swim from one place to another. The rivers are wide and deep that the people could not reach Maglañgoy unless they crossed the rivers. They men from nearby barrios, when they go serenading girls in Maglañgoy, take off their clothes and put them on bamboo poles and swim to the other side of the river. Thus, this place was called Maglañgoy. At present, there are so many people living in this place.

7. Kutad is another sitio which can be called extinct. It is situated a few miles away from Looc. There are few inhabitants because this place is mountainous and quite far. The old people said that this place during the Spanish regime had many wild carabaos. The “carabao kutad,” as the people called it, was very popular to buyers. This place is noted for its grazing lands.

8. Pingkian is a sitio just a few meters away from Looc. There are few inhabitants and it is enclosed by big mountains. In this place, there are stones used for lighting. They rub the stones together to produce fire. This process in Tagalog is called “pingkian.”

9. The sitio of Carsada is situated a few meters away from Looc. It had been a part of the great forest of that place before it was cleared. When the Spanish-American War broke out, it was the only place with a road. It has been said that all people living in Looc passed through this road. So, the people called it Carsada.

1. Ladies and gentlemen threw rice over the couple so they will have a prosperous life.

2. The relatives of both parties place coins in their pockets so that they will lead an easy life.

3. After the wedding ceremony, each one will try to go ahead of the other so that he or she will be the dominating partner.

4. When the veil falls or the light of the candle dies, it is a bad omen.

5. The couple, upon reaching the stairs of the house, are served sweets so that they will have the blessings of marriage.

6. The woman moves to the house of the groom alone and the groom stays with the parents of the woman. This is done so each one will know how to deal with their in-laws.

7. The couple will visit all their relatives after the wedding. This is called “manganganak.” The relatives, in return, give gifts or money.

8. If the couple moves to a new home, they bring rice, water, salt, and sugar as they are the most important needs of the household.

Courtship of long ago was very different from the courtship at present. During those times, the parents of both sides decided. The men will serve for a term of years before he could win the hand of the woman. Sometimes, couples were married without knowing each other. They just met in the church. It was just the desire of the parents to wed them.

They also had a wedding performed at home with relatives of both parties present. They served delicious food and wine. They talked of the couple’s new life. Afterwards, they had dancing and singing to the accompaniment of the guitar. This was called “kasal sa latak.”

When a person is dying, they call an old woman who leads the prayer. The dying follows the prayer and utters the words “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” so that he will be saved from the devil.

The body of the dead is placed on a table or bench. A glass is placed beside the corpse where in the people who visit the dead drop their “abuloy” in the form of money.

At night, the people play games so that the bereaved family will be consoled. They have merrymaking up to the wee hours of the morning. The elders play cars, while the young ones sleep on the floor huddled together.

4. When young horses, carabaos, and cows play, there will be rainy days coming.

5. When the wild deer rears [?] on sunny days, it will rain.