Tumalim, Nasugbu, Batangas: Historical Data Part I
 |
| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
PART I
Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Tumalim in the Municipality of Nasugbu, 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.
[p. 1]
PART ONE: HISTORY
I. Present official name of the barrio – Tumalim
II. A. Present official name of the barrio – TumalimB. Derivation and meaning of this name:
It is quite interesting to note how this barrio got its name. Tumalim is the name of the many trees that grew in this place that were used for making cribs. Just because of these useful common growing trees, the early inhabitants named the place Tumalim.
C. Names of sitios included within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrio –
(1) Bungahan – Mutalyo [unsure, blurred] Onabalijo established this sitio in the year 1884 when he created some clearings in one of the tracts of land. He found out that it was almost covered with abundant betel nut trees called in the Tagalog language “bunga,” thus deriving the name.
(2) Munting Latag – In the earliest part of the American occupation, Eugenio Dimaala and Urbana Esteron viewed a certain part of land of Tumalim for their clearing when their attention was called by a small area of land which was so level. They called it then Munting Latag and dwelt there.
(3) Kay-tapas – During the Spanish regime, Kabesang Roman Rodriguez always fished in a creek where “tapas” fish abounded plentifully – thus, he gave the name “Kaytapas” to the land surrounding it.
(4) Sabang – Kabesang Roman Rodriguez gave its name, deriving it from the two rivers that both met each other in that place.
(5) Juliana – This sitio got its name from Juliana de los Reyes, who was the owner of the land. Almost all the people residing in that place are the close relatives of Juliana, thus, her name was given it.
[p. 2]
(6) Pare – It is a sitio lying east of Tumalim. It was so named Pare because it was formerly owned by one of the parish priests of Nasugbu. The priest had passed away but the sitio still maintains its name.
(7) Paraig – The people in this sitio are so industrious that they always bragged about their harvest. They do not like to be behind any other sitios in the amount of harvest, thus “di-padaig” in our local language was modified to “Paraig.”
(8) Tala – Natives of this sitio cannot tell how the place got its name. (For further information, see the story of Tala on p. )
(9) Voluntario – It was so-called deriving its name from the people who voluntarily offered their services as guards of the place during the latter part of the Spanish regime.
(10) Bubuyan – Many inhabitants live in this place. Many “bubuy” trees abound in this place, thus its name was derived from that plant.
(11) Himamawo – The first people who settled in this place cleared a part of the land which is a wilderness. They left a family of tree which is very different from the others in beauty and usefulness. The people loved the tree very much that when the plant died, they called the place Himamawo, taken from the name of the tree which they adored very much.
(12) Nangkaan – Many jackfruit trees are grown in this place so its name was derived from it.
(13) Mataas-na-Pulo – It was so-called because of a group of very tall trees found in the place.
(14) Kay-Igtiw – “Maninitiw” is a Tagalog term for a certain method of catching fish commonly used by the natives of that sitio, thus its name was derived from it.
(15) Pinagmakinahon – The man who first resided there was Juan Mendoza in the latter part of the Spanish regime. He derived its name from the sugar mill called “makina” in the native tongue, which had served the place for many years.
[p. 3]
(16) Sibukwan – It was occupied by Florentino Cambalijo and his family in the latter part of the Spanish period. Nobody could tell how its name came into existence.
(17) Ospital – During the administration of Florencio Oliva that was more or less in 1882, there was a parcel of land given to the “inquilinos” and Cornelio Desacola occupied the place. He cultivated it and planted many products.
3. Date of establishment –
b. In the same year, the place suffered economic devastation.
c. Later, swarms of locusts ravaged the place. There was also rinderpest.
4. Original families –
a. Roman Rodriguez and Juan Mendoza were the two pioneers of the place.
b. Later, these two became the first “inquilinos.”
c. Year by year, the number of inhabitants increased.
d. Economic prosperity began, rice and corn were the chief products.
5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date –
a. Cabesang Roman Rodriguez – Spanish regime
b. Pedro Rodriguez succeeded his father.
c. Lorenzo Pineda
d. Miguel Pineda served after his brother’s term.
e. Antonio Arizobal.
f. Lorenzo Cabalag
[p. 4]
6. Story of old barrios or sitios within the jurisdiction that are now depopulated or extinct – none
7. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc. – None
8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place.
2. The natives under the leadership of the late Juan Ramos and Pedro Rodriguez didn’t surrender to the enemy but fled to another place where they again organized another group of revolutionists.
3. The mountains of Apayang and Himamawo were battlegrounds. Because the natives were poorly armed, they were defeated.
4. However, these groups of revolutionists agreed to the terms of surrender when the Americans came.
2. People were economically sufficient.
3. Unlike during the year 1862 and several years following when swarms of locusts wrought havoc to the rice and corn plants.
4. Not only did the people suffer from this, but also from the rinderpest which wiped away their work animals, poultry and hogs.
5. Cholera epidemics, too, brought about countless deaths of inhabitants.
9. Destruction of life and property during the years 1896-1900.
2. Lives were lost due to epidemics.
3. Animals were wiped away by rinderpest.
[p. 5]
5. Years of money depression also followed.
Birth: It is a common belief among us that if a male is the first born of a couple, this signifies good luck and prosperity for the family. But if it is a female one, it is an omen of misfortune and ill fate. Allied to this belief is that if three successive males from the eldest is borne by a mother, the family is supposed to be lucky, that is, they are destined to be prosperous, happy and fortunate.
Conceiving and the stages of pregnancy are the stages of an expectant mother wherein she sacrifices. These stages require careful attention to her health as well as following and practicing prevalent customs in the locality if she desires a good delivery. The mother-to-be must beware not to go outdoors, especially when night has befallen lest she be a victim of the terrible “aswang.” For this demon, a pregnant woman, they say, is compared to a fragrant flower whose delightful scent is smelled by the demon though far away. Some have been victims of this devil due to carelessness. Expectant mothers, visitors, or anyone should refrain from staying at doors or at the stairs of the woman’s home. It is believed that this delays the delivery. Another is the belief that expectant mothers should avoid, if possible, going under the house especially in the afternoon, but if necessary to do so, pass directly to the other side so that analogous to her delivery, the infant will come out directly without any hindrances.
Care should be taken that a conceiving mother should be given a greatly desired food, else if delayed will cause her severe stomach ache. If a child is born during the day, he is supposed to be talented and charming. If during the night, the child is born, he is supposed to be brave but not as beautiful as the one born during the day. A newborn baby is considered a blessing to one’s family. Hence, the members of the family, especially that of the father, bears the responsibility over the mother and that of the child. For the first diet of the mother, she is given coffee and also malunggay leaves as it