Malibu and Palingkaro, Tuy, Batangas: Historical Data
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| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Malibu in the Municipality of Tuy, 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.
[Note to the reader.]
Batangas History wishes to advise the reader/researcher that may be inevitable errors in the transcription of the documents for the poblacion as well as barrios of the Municipality of Tuy because the original documents were either typed using poor typewriter ribbons or poorly scanned. Many of the pages, therefore, were very difficult to read.
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CULTURAL HISTORY OF MALIBU AND PALINKARO
Here is a barrio in the western boundary of the town of Tuy which has been existing since Spanish times up to the present. Malibu is its name. It has not changed up to the present, for the significance of the place still holds true to the present, hence the name became popular to people far and near the place.
According to the old residents of the place, the barrio of Malibu was formerly a part of Palingkero, an adjacent barrio which, owing to its wider area and greater number of people was divided into two. Between this place is an [unreadable] creek running diagonal from the northwestern part to the southeastern part extending to a river. The land bordering north of the creek is the present Palingkero, and the land bordering south of the creek is the present Malibu.
The story of how Malibu got its name runs as follows: during the early spanish times, the river in the eastern side abounded with fish of different kinds, shrimps and shells, so much so that the people were not only supplied with food but money as well, derived from their catch. One day, the barrio folks, a hundred of them, excluding children, all met in the river to catch fish. Although there were many people fishing, their catch was still plentiful. From the time on, the river was called Malibu.(Libu meaning thousands and Ma meaning many.) So, Malibu means many thousands. A council of barrio folks end [the] barrio head agreed in giving the name Malibu to land bordering the rich river running along the its border. The same is still true to the present for not only the river abounds in wealth but [also] the land, too, is flowing with milk and honey, and is contributing thousands of pesos to the community.
There are no sitios under its jurisdiction and no clear data of its establishment could be found except that in the year 1800 [uncertain, blurred], the place was still covered with thick forest and was believed to be the roaming place of fairies and witches by those people who experienced their witchcraft while hunting for food and game.
Sometime in the year 1845 to 1850, the family of Felix Fronda from Balayan tried to acquire a part of the land. These men pioneered the clearing of the forest and finally acquired more. Now, his great-grandchildren inherited them. After his death, his son Faustino Fronda managed the farm. With his marriage to an industrious woman, they both became devoted to their farm work and became the pattern to
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their relatives and friends who followed them to settle the place. Several hectares of land in Malibu are still owned by Paz Fronda, a granddaughter of Faustino Fronda. Most of the people in the barrio are distant relatives of the Fronda family, in fact there are still many Frondas in Malibu, even in Palingkero.
Several years after, many families built homes and settled permanently in the barrio. As the number increased, there was a coming demand for a teniente or barrio lieutenant to look after the peace and order of the group. The first teniente to be appointed was an able man called Crispin Abellero. After two years, Fernando Butiong, a more commanding personality, two his place. During the American regime in the year 1918 to 1923, Fruto Bahia took the post. Next to him was Manuel Ballelos [unsure, blurred], now ninety years old and still serving as consultant in the civic affairs of the place. He served for 18 years, ably assisted by Marcelino Comia during the latter nine years. During the Japanese Occupation, Luis de los Reyes was appointed teniente and after him, Juan Abellero, the present barrio lieutenant.
No important event in Malibu could be remembered during the Spanish occupation, except that the people were obedient to the loss although they were somewhat indifferent to the conquerors. The people enjoy peace and prosperity during the American regime. But on December 8, 1941, the peacefulness was interrupted. The Japanese occupation brought much havoc to the people. The friendly attitude towards Americans was turned to hate against the Japanese. When the Americans came back in 1944, the Japanese retreated to the barrios. Malibu became a target of their retreat. Crops were neglected and two old men who resisted the Japanese were bayoneted. They were Bonifacio Rosales and Sesilio Rodriguez. The people left their homes and fled to the nearby towns for refuge.
Meanwhile, two young men, Arcadio Pedraza and Pedro Punongbayan, sons of Mamerto Pedraza and Lino Punongbayan, were called by the Philippine Army. During the fall of Bataan in April 1942, the Filipinos who surrendered where concentrated at Capaz, Tarlac and these two young men of Malibu died of hunger and disease with other soldiers.
There was a time when the ex-mayor of Tuy, Mr. Tirso Cruz, a census of destruction of lives and property but so far, no benefits were received except by parents of deceased soldiers who are receiving monthly pensions.
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Malibu, in its entire history, had for the first time the privilege of having an election precinct during the year 1951 election. The people became more cognizant of the rights to suffrage.
During the year 1938, a primary school was established in Malibu. In 1949, the intermediate classes where open. It had its first commencement of Grade VI in 1951-52. Also during that year, the community centered school was introduced. Purok systems were established with Luis de los Reyes as President.
The people are very religious. The majority of them belong to the Catholic faith and few to the Protestant faith. They hailed St. Isidro as their patron saint and hold festivals in honor of him during the month of May.
A. BRIEF HISTORY OF PALINGKARO
Palingkaro, a combination of a bilingual expression, i.e., from Tagalog “Puling” means bent or crooked and “Caro,” a Spanish word for car, and through the amalgamation of the said terms, a new word evolved, Palingkaro.
Way back in the days of the Spanish colonizers, Palingkaro was a flat, level place, thickly forested with narra, amuguis [unsure, blurred] and acle growing abundantly. It had also luxuriant vegetation suited to grazing, inducing the Spaniards to settle in the place. It had flowing water on the eastern part, that supplied the people with fresh water. The western part was the rolling hills of Buntic which protected this place from the havoc of destructive westerly winds.
These white men, knowing that logging would be a gaming business, introduced machineries, locomotives and cars for hauling. The natives became laborers with Spanish technicians. The machines, though of great help, were not as efficient as the machines of today. Accidents were common, locomotives and motors were often derailed and so with cars loaded with heavy logs. The cars, when recovered, were deformed and the natives called them “paling na caro.” It became a common expression everywhere. When a buyer of lumber was asked where he would buy his lumber, a quick response would be heard “diyan lamang sa paling na caro.” This common saying became popular from generation to generation and it remained up to this time, calling the place Pakingkaro.
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As days passed, Palingkaro was cleared little by little. Its thick forests were converted into arable fields. The people concentrated themselves in the tillage of this fertile and virgin land. [The] Population grew and Palingkaro became a productive little community with contented people. Rapid increase of population made this locality progressive in a short span of time.
The destruction brought by World War II had changed this place from a productive to a neglected and abandoned community. People moved to other places, leaving their farms and some properties and settled permanently where they evacuated.
As we view Palingkaro by this time, it is just a mere cultivated place, no longer forested, with sugarcane as its major crop, while rice, corn, peanuts and mongo as its minors. It produces also some fruits and vegetables.
It is an interior barrio about three kilometers away from the provincial road. The only route connection with the main road is an improvised highway often eroded during [the] rainy season. Bull carts and sledges are the principal means of transportation. There are also two tracks of rails crossing the whole barrio from north to south, intersecting and the northern part of the barrio. These rails were used in conveying sugarcane to the factory during the milling seasons.
The people are law-abiding citizens and have a strong sense of cooperation. As a matter of fact, the majority of the people have joined a common association, the aim principally is the improvement of the working class. They are industrious people, who live by their own means. They are happy and contented, such is Palingkaro by this time.
TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
We can base the culture of the people from their customs and traditions. The older people adhere strictly to some customs and traditions whether beneficial or not, but the younger ones have found it reasonable to leave behind the impractical and preserve only some good and beneficial ones. Here are some customs and traditions still followed by the people.
Birth:
1. The people bury the placenta under the house to make the child loyal to the home and not a vagabond.
2. The umbilical cord stolen by a rat will turn the child [into] a thief.
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3. A woman in her family way does not allow visitors to stay at the door for during delivery, the child is likely not to come out immediately.
Baptism:
1. When the parents of the child to christen prepare a big feast for the celebration, the sponsor must also give a big amount of “pakimkim” to the child, whether he or she is thinking in debt or not.
2. It is the custom in this barrio to give a roasted pig to the sponsors when informing them the date of the baptism. The sponsor, in return, sends back one half of whatever is given her.
Courtship:
1. When a man visits a girl, the parents do not leave them alone.
2. The girls are not allowed to go to parties or gatherings with men without chaperones.
Marriage:
1. The bride must not try on her wedding dress before the ceremony.
2. The bride and the groom are confined to their houses until after the ceremony is through.
3. Breaking pots and showering grains of rice when the newlyweds are going to their new house.
Death:
1. When somebody dies, relatives are summoned.
2. The last will of the dead is carefully carried out.
3. Immediately after death, the deceased is given a sponge bath and dressed then in his best clothes.
4. Every night after death up to the ninth they, relatives and friends attend a vigil and games are performed; refreshments as “bucayo,” bread and coffee are served.
Burial:
1. During burial, relatives of the deceased throw a lump of soil into the great.
2. The children are made to cross the casket.
Festivals:
1. The tenth head of cattle born from one car is reserved for a great feast as a thanksgiving and barrio folks are invited to attend the feast.
2. Every year, the barrio celebrates a fiesta in honor of their patron saint, San Isidro.
3. [The] Community believes also for parents to make a few celebrating parties for the survival of their sickly child.
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Superstitions: Anywhere education is not deeply rooted among the minds of the people, superstitions still dominate.
1. A certain powerful spirit inhabits the underworld and controls the springs of water. When a person trods upon the spring without due reverence of saying, “Tabi po, Nuno” and the person gets sick, he is required to offer gifts to the spirit to make him well. His sickness was a punishment which can be cured only by offering as a sign of asking forgiveness.
2. Meeting a lizard on the way is a sign of bad omen but a snake foretells good fortune.
3. When a member of the family leaves home during mealtime, there is a danger of meeting accidents or the like. However, there is a remedy for this. The plates are turned around and the person traveling will suffer no harm.
4. When the swallows are flying low, it is a sign of a coming typhoon.
5. A crackling flame of fire indicates an approaching visitor.
6. A moon with a halo during [the] rainy season indicates good weather.
7. Tying corn cobs on the stems of cucumber makes them more productive.
Witchcraft:
1. A very ill person is very well guarded from the haunts of witches which prey on the patient’s liver.
2. A newly-born child who cries incessantly is said to be disturbed by [a] “tiyanak,” a bird which has the power of changing itself into any other kind of animal, but building fire under the house after sunset drives it away.
Birth of Twins: This happens as a result of eating twin fruits such as bananas, eggplants and tomatoes.
Popular Songs: Talalay
Games and Amusements: During periods of rest, cockfighting is a sort of amusmement among the people. During Sunday, young men play softball and the barrio folks are the spectators.
Puzzles and Riddles:
1. A deep well full of steel. (mouth)
2. A plant that never wilts even when cut. (hair)
3. Habang mong kinakain, lalo kang gugutumin. (The more you eat, the hungrier you will be. – Laxative)
4. Dalawang magkaibigan, unahan nang unahan. (Two friends walking hand in hand.)
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Puzzles:
1. Mag-inang baka, nanganak ng tig-isa. Ilan lahat? (A cow and a calf had each a calf. How many are they? – Three)
2. Ako’y may inahing manok. Umitlog ng labing-dalawa; bawa’t itlog ay may 30 sisiw. Ano ito? (I have a hen with 12 eggs. Every egg hatched into 30 chicks. What is it? – Hen: year; eggs: months; and chicks: days)
Proverbs and Sayings: Proverbs and sayings are expressions found in the actual lives of the people. They are full of lessons that guide and lead people to the proper way of life. Here are some sayings very common in Malibu and Palingkaro.
1. Time is gold.
2. Birds of the same feather, flock together.
3. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
4. A stitch in time saves nine.
5. Behind the clouds, the sun is still shining.
Methods of Measuring Time:
1. During the early times, the people of Malibu relied on listening to the church bell in Tuy in indicating time. The time was indicated by the number of tolls.
2. Sun Position – When the sun is perpendicular to the earth, it is twelve o’clock.
3. The crowing of the cock in the early morning indicates dawn and the crowing in the late evening is ten o’clock.
4. Position of the Southern Cross – When the Southern Cross is perpendicular, it shows it is midnight.