Banoyo, San Luis, Batangas: Historical Data

Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Banoyo in the Municipality of San Luis, 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.

[Cover page.]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF THE BARRIO OF
BANOYO

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE
OF THE BARRIO OF
BANOYO

Banoyo is the present official name of the barrio. Long ago, when this place was still covered with thick big trees, many birds called “banoyo” lived here. These birds usually flocked together early in the morning, diving one after another, catching small fish. So, the first families who settled in this place named it “Banoyo.” Formerly, Banoyo was composed only of the sitio of Balite and Banoyo proper. The sitio of Balite got its name from the big balite tree that grew alone in the middle of the sitio. At present, Banoyo comprises the sitios of Balite, Munting Pook and Banoyo Proper. Munting Pook was formerly a sitio of Mahabang Parang. It was named Munting Pook because it comprised only three houses. This Pook is about half a kilometer away from Mahabang Parang. At the time when the people of Munting Pook suffered much from the locust destruction, there was no cooperation between the people of Munting Pook and Mahabang Parang. So, the people of Munting Pook decided to go with the people of Banoyo. This was how Munting Pook became a sitio of Banoyo.

As to the exact date of the establishment of this place, no exact date could be given, but it was established long before the arrival of the Spaniards. Banoyo was first under the municipality of Taal.

The original families who settled in this place were those of Mendoza, Villanueva and Napeñas.

The following persons became the tenientes from the earliest time to date:

The sitio of Banoyo was enlarged from time to time due to the fact that the sea has receded, leaving a large tract of land.

The first school building at the early part of the American Administration was the house of Mr. Aquilino Badillo, the first Municipal President of San Luis. Mr. Amando Ilagan was the first barrio teacher in the place. Later, the temporary building was built in the middle of the bar-

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rio. It was destroyed by [a] typhoon last 1926. Then, the classes were held under the house of Mr. Vicente Badillo until the temporary building was repaired. The permanent school building with two rooms was located in the southern part of the barrio with the standard school site.

There was an old sugar mill, long before the arrival of the Spaniards. This mill was made by the Americans and the Macabebes at their headquarters in this place. The four walls of this mill are still standing in their former places.

The Spanish occupation may be described as the period of harsh treatment among the barrio folks. Although the people were not contented with their lives, yet there was no destruction of lives, properties and institutions at that time.

The American occupation to World War II may be described as the period of happiness, freedom and contentment. At the early part of the American administration, all people in the nearby barrios and sitios were herded in this place to verify the “insurrectos.” The Macabebes help the Americans in herding all the people. In 1901, Banoyo was [at] one time called “Palengke” because it happened to have a market during the Filipino-American War. Many merchants from Taal went to this place to sell. It was during this. When people began to realize the importance of education. Banoyo had the greatest revenue income in the municipality of San Luis due to its fisheries.

The Japanese occupation was from December 8, 1941 to September 2, 1945. It was a period of havoc and confusion. When the American soldiers wear already in San Jose, Mindoro, the Japanese soldiers occupied all the houses in this place. The various folks were told to evacuate to other places.

From the beginning of the Filipino-American War that was from 1896 to 1900, not even a single life was lost in this place according to the informants. No property and institution was destroyed. During the war between the Americans and the Japanese that was from 1941 to 1945, only one soldier from this place died in Bataan. He was Vicente Cardenillo. Some Japanese soldiers destroyed household things left by the people. Chickens, pigs, and even cows were taken. Banana and cassava plantations were destroyed by the Japanese soldiers.

At the beginning of the American liberation, rice and canned foods were rationed to the people. [A] Few of them received [a] little amount from their war damaged. So far, Banoyo people were given five hundre pesos (₱500.00) for the repair of their school building from the typhoon relief fund.

PART TWO: FOLKWAYS

Birth: Nowadays, there are customs and traditions that the

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barrio folks are still practicing. When there is a newly-born baby, the people usually kill chickens believing that it is a substitute for the life of a mother. Sometimes, they light firecrackers or give fire salvoes from firearms because they are thankful for the newly born child. Later, the parents select the godfather of the baby.

Baptism: When a child is a month old or more, he is taken to the church by the godfather or godmother to be baptized by the priest. For the baptismal party, the parents again prepare something for the entertainment of his “compadre” or “compadre,” friends, relatives, and neighbors. At present, the usual practice is the same. At present, some parents just give “regalo” to his “comadre” or “compadre.”

Courtship: If a gentleman wants to court a lady, he began serving the lady’s parents by giving “regalo” and working for the young man’s family. During the early days, the parents of both parties make an agreement. The gentleman could not talk with the lady when it comes to love affairs. At present, there is a great difference, that is, the gentleman is given the privilege to talk with the lady. He is free to say everything to the lady. There are times that when a lady and a gentleman are already engaged, and the lady’s parents do not like the gentleman, they elope and then they get married.

Marriage: Before a couple can be married, a license marriage certificate is made, signed by both parties concerned. At the wedding party, after the young couple has gone from the church, they are given some sweets, believing that they shall live together sweetly. At the wedding party, there is also what we call the “sabangan” wherein the relatives of both parties have to give money or other kinds of “sabang” to the newly-married couple.

Death: If someone dies, all his relatives are informed. After the fourth or eighth day, after death, the relatives pray for the soul of the dead. They mourn for one year by wearing black clothes. On the first anniversary, they have what we call the “babaang-luksa,” then all the relatives stop mourning.

Burial: When the barrio folks are going to bury the dead, they are not allowed to turn back but rather go straight, believing that no one will follow his death.

Visits: Visitations among the barrio people are done when someone is sick, or any member of the family dies. They usually visit one another, especially during Christmas, New Year and Holy Week.

Festivals: Festivals are held usually in the month of May, because they have the “Flores de Mayo” or the “May Flowers.” They have also town fiestas every year.

Punishments: If anyone commits a crime, he is taken to the barrio lieutenant or “teniente del barrio.” The teniente investigates the matter. If he could not settle the matter, he brings the case to the proper authority of the town.

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The most common beliefs of the people are that at the New Year’s Eve, when a cow happens to moo, the following year will yield a good harvest; if a horse happens to neigh, there will be many rats which will destroy the farmer’s palay; and if a dog happens to bark, there will be an epidemic. The superstitious beliefs of the common tao are the “tigbalang,” “aswang,” “ike” and “mangkukulam.” Some of them believe that persons get sick because of “hanging lupa” and the “nuno.”

Some say that if a star is very near the new moon, it is [a] good and easy time for the gentleman to court a lady.

At times, when there is an eclipse, the pregnant mothers will have hard labor in her delivery.

The most common sickness in which the barrio folks believe are the atopiling, balis and gahoy. “Atupiling” is characterized by [a] painful sensation of the head. “Gahoy” is a feeling of painful or severe stomach ache thought to originate from Mindoro. It is caused by persons who are considered causative agents of this sickness. “Balis” is a severe aching of the forehead as if this would fall.

“Huluna” is the most common song of the people. Games commonly played by children are hide-and-seek and tibig-tibig. These games are played at night when the moon shines very bright. Gambling is a kind of amusement of the people. Going to the show is secondary to them.

The different methods of measuring time are by means of the sun, position of the shadows of trees and [the] crowing of roosters, especially at night. Another way of measuring time is by means of the “sabukut,” a kind of bird us-

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ually giving its sound at four o’clock in the afternoon.

PART THREE: OTHER INFORMATION

No information in books and documents treating of the Philippines and the sources of their names could be given.