Pantalan, Nasugbu, Batangas: Historical Data Part I

Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

(a) Past popular name of the barrio – Embarcadero (b) Present popular name of the barrio – Pantalan (c) Names of sitios:

1. Domingo Barcelon
2. Victorino Zafra
3. Izoy Sambat
4. Prudencio Villaluna
5. Gaspar Villafania

1. Cabesang Inggo (Domingo Barcelon)
2. Modesto Barcelon
3. Gaspar Villafania
4. Eladio Villafania
5. Mariano Barcelon
6. Pedro Villafria
7. Telesforo Tiangco

a. Pantalan, now and before:

In the northern part of the poblacion lies the peaceful barrio of Pantalan. As the name suggests, it was for a time a port for the entry of ships coming from different places. There were, then, only a few houses and few

inhabitants. The natives depended only on two means of livelihood, farming and fishing. Year by year, more people came and lived permanently in this barrio. But the river became shallow until it could no longer be a harbor for ships.

Now, Pantalan Proper is composed of 134 houses peopled by more than 820 inhabitants. It has two one-room school buildings, 2 teachers and 128 pupils. The men are hard-working, industrious folks while the women are simple, cooperative and kind.

The rice fields offer work for the farmers. The big fish ponds are good sources of income. Salt-making is a flourishing industry. Very few in the barrio own the fishponds, yet those who work in the ponds live happily and contentedly with their families. Many of the men work as laborers in the C.A.D.P.

Many new names are added to the first inhabitants. Many newcomers came from Manila, Parañaque, Balayan, Taal, Bauan, and even as far as the Visayas. Being only 1½ kilometers from the town, the people are influenced by the manner of living of the town folks.

Although Pantalan is [a] small barrio, different religious sects exist. It shows that the people are not united in their beliefs in the Divine Providence. However, they do not interfere with each other’s beliefs. Everybody enjoys the freedom of choosing his religion.

The barrio is under a barrio lieutenant. He keeps peace and order in the place. One bad influence of modern civilization is the existence of vices. A very popular pastime is the game “saklay.” A weakness which until now has not [been] overcome is the belief in superstitions. Superstitions still guide the lives of the people.

Parents are now fully aware of the need for sending their children to school. Every child of school age is given the chance to study. Parents even send their children to Manila to continue their studies. We hope someday there will be professionals from Pantalan.

With its ambitions, hardworking people, its vast green fields planted to rice and sugarcane, its fishponds filled with bangus, crabs, shrimps, and prawns. Pantalan may someday emerge as a prosperous barrio of the town of Nasugbu.

b. Talañgan:

Talañgan is a sitio situated on the southern part of the barrio. It is well-populated that time will come when it will become a barrio. There is only one road leading to the sitio with houses located by the roadside.

During the early days, the sitio was popularly known because of its productive fruit trees named talang (mabolo). Many people, especially from the town, go there to get talang. When a certain person inquired where they were going, the reply was “to Talañgan,” thus, it had acquired its present official name Talañgan. Nobody served as head of the sitio for it is a part of Pantalan.

c. Palsahingin:

Palsahingin is a portion of land near Cabahong, another sitio situated near a river. Previously, there were a few inhabitants living therein. It got its name from the tree which was known to them as the palsahingin tree. At present, this sitio is extinct and depopulated, but it is planted to sugarcane, bananas and corn.

When a mother gives birth, the infant’s first bath should consist of a basin of water where a piece of thread, needle, a piece of paper, a pencil and coins are placed. It is their belief that in this way, the child will be intelligent, and will live a prosperous life in the days to come.

1. Pag maliit ang itim ng mata ng pusa ay maliit ang tubig sa ilog, at kung malaki naman ang itim ay malaki ang tubig.

2. Pag may nahiwa o nataga at kakaunti ang dugo ay maliit ang tubig sa ilog at kung marami naman ang dugo ay malaki ang tubig.

3. Pag nagliliparan ang mga layang-layang ay babagyo.

4. Kung may bagong buwan at salok, ang ibig sabihin ay maulan.

1. Masamang mag-anak sa binyag ang isang nagdadalang-tao sapagka’t alin man sa batang bibinyagan o ang nasa sinapupunan ay mamamatay.

2. Ang malapit nang ikasal ay masamang manaog lagi ng bahay sapagka’t ang kakasalin ay malapit sa disgrasya.

3. Kailangang hatiing mabuti ang labis na handa sa kasal upang hindi maging kabilanin sa pakikisama.

4. Kung ang nobya ay lilipat na sa bahay ng nobyo ay kailangang walang sumamang kamag-anak ng nobya upang ito ay hindi maging kabilanin sa pakikisama.

5. Ang damit pangkasal ay hindi dapat isukat sapagka’t maaaring hindi matuloy ang kasal at may mangyayaring sakuna.

6. Ang lalagyan ng bigas, asin at iba pang bagay ay kailangang puno sa pagsapit ng bagong taon upang maging masagana ang kabuhayan sa loob ng bagong taon.

7. Kung lilipat ng tirahan o sa bagong bahay ay sa pabilog ang buwan upang ang kabuhayan ay umunlad.

8. Kung lilipat ng tirahan ay unang dalhin ang bigas at asin upang maging masagana ang pagkain.

9. Ang sahig na malapit sa hagdan ay gawing pabalagbag upang hindi magkaroon lagi ng

Notes and references: