Cale, Tanauan, Batangas: Historical Data

Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Cale in the City of Tanauan, 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]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF CALE

Part One: HISTORY

1. Present official name of the barrio: CALE

2. Popular name of the barrio: Cale; Past – Calle

Calle means street. When the Spaniards came to this place, they lived in the calle. Since then, this barrio was called Cale, which originated from the word calle.

3. Date of establishment: No information can be secured.

4. Original families:

Leon Mercado, Policarpio Melanio, Placido de Luna, Gavino Oñate, Francisco Terrible, Santiago Umante, Martin Oivar, Dionisio Panganiban, Juan Malabanan, Alfonso Luna, Tomas Manimtim, Cecilio Mercado, Agido Mercado, Felix Miano, Atanacio Maitim, Proto Legrero, Domingo Arroyo.

5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date:

Alfonso Luna, Tomas Manimtim, Honorio Luna, Paulino Luna, Cipriano Luna, Agustin Terrones, Simon Manimtim, Esteban Gonzales, Regino Oñate, Catalino Luna, Tranquilino Mercado, Felipe Manimtim, Jose Endrenal, Bernabe Saludo, Rufino Terrones, Ruperto Luna, Catalino Luna, Pantaleon Melanio, Roman Mercado, Cornelio Mercado, Catalino Regalado, Miguel Mosares, Casiano Luna, Federico Maranan, Gregorio Melanio, Wenceslao Pagsaligan, Pedro Luna, Francisco Mercado, Regino Mercado.

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.:

From the earliest time, three structures had been built, namely: the Cuartel by the Guardia Civil, the Cuartel by the Filipino Revolutionary Forces, and the American Constabulary camp in 1903.

8. Important facts, incidents or events that took place:

(a) During the Spanish occupation:

During the Spanish time, fighting took place in this barrio between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. Later, during the American occupation, another fighting took place between the American peace officers and the Filipino outlaws.

(b) During the American occupation to World War II: None.

(c) During and after World War II: None.

9. (a) Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during wars, especially in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945: None.

(b) Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II:

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Part Two: FOLKWAYS

Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life:

a. Courtship: (The Beginning of Courtship)

When a man goes to the house of a girl, he gives due courtesy and politeness by bending on both knees and saying at the same time “Mano po,” which means the kissing of the hand, to the parents. He does not change this position unless any one of her parents answers, “Kaawaan ka ng Diyos,” which means “God have mercy on you.” After that, he stands and does not move from his place until any of the elders tells him to come in. When he is already in the receiving room and has taken a seat, any one of the parents of the girl entertains him and the girl remains in a part of the said room.

To show that his love is true and sincere, he should bring water and wood for fuel to the house of the girl, and her relatives. If the girl’s parents received the said water and wood, the man will remain in the house of the girl and begin to serve them. After a lapse of days or weeks, the girl’s parents will call up the man’s parents to decide on how many months or years the man has to serve. After the end of the term and the man has served them satisfactorily, then the marriage can be held.

(Tagalog translation of Courtship practices)

a. Ligawan: (Simula ng Pangingibig)

Pag akiyat ng binata sa bahay ng dalaga ay tiklop-tuhod na nagbibigay galang sa mga magulang ng dalaga at bilang pamimitagang sinasambit ang salitang: “Mano po.” Hindi tumitinag ang binata sa gayong ayos hanggang hindi sinasagot ng alin man sa mga magulang ng dalaga ng salitang: “Kaawaan ka ng Diyos.” Pagkatapos niyan, ay tatayo ang binata at hindi rin titinag sa gayong ayos hanggang hindi pinatutuloy pinapasok ng alin man sa matatanda sa tahanan. Pagkatapos makapasok ang binata sa tanggapan ng tahanan at makalikmo, ay pakikiharapan ng alin man sa mga magulang ng dalaga at ang dalaga naman ay mananatili sa isang panig ng nasambit na tanggapan. Kung may ginagawa ay ipagpapatuloy ang paggawa hanggang sa pag-alis ng panauhing binata.

(Kung Magpapatuloy ang Pangingibig) – Kinakailangang magdala ng tubig at kahoy na panggatong sa bahay ng dalaga at sa mga hinlog nito bilang pagpapakilala ng wagas na layunin. Kung tanggapin ang nasambit na tubig at kahoy, ay mananatili ang binata sa bahay ng dalaga at magsisimula ng paninilbihan tulad ng isang utusan. Pagkalipas ng mga ilang araw o linggo, ay ipagbibilin ng mga magulang ng dalaga ang mga magulang ng binata upang pagtalakayan kung ilang buwan o taon ang itatagal ng paninilbihan. Pagkatapos ng taning na panahon at makatupad ang binata sa walang kapintasang paninilbihan, ay saka pa lamang magaganap ang kasalan

Proverbs and Sayings:

1. Ang taong matiyaga, ano ma’y nagagawa.
2. Pag may sinuksok, may madudukot.
3. Sa kabila ng ulap, lilitaw ang liwanag.
4. Kapag tinatawag na utang, sapilitang babayaran.
5. Walang yamang sambuya kung di ang maatikha.
6. Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim man ay kakapit.
7. Pag may tinanim, may aanihin.
8. Ang batang matigas ang ulo, mahirap matuto.
9. Mag-aral habang bata nang huwag magsisi kung tumanda.
10. Pag may hirap, may ginhawa.

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Notes and references: