Maricaban, Tingloy, Batangas: Historical Data

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Maricaban in the Municipality of Tingloy, 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.]

At the time when this document was created, the barrio of Maricaban, now part of Tingloy, was still a barrio of Bauan. Tingloy was formally separated from the Bauan in the year 1955 after the passage of Republic Act No. 1344.

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF MARICABAN

Maricaban is the official name of the barrio. According to some fortunate old folks of the barrio who still breathe the cool air of the place, the abovementioned name was given in honor of an old woman exceptionally well-to-do. Her name was “Maria.” During those momentous days, countless Moro pirates oftentimes invaded the shore to take the wealth of the people with force and coercion. Maria, fearing that her wealth would be taken from her by those bandits, hid her valuable luxuries in her “kaban” and buried it deeply in the ground. There was not even a simple sign placed where the kaban or chest was hidden.

At last, peacefully, tranquility prevailed in the place. Moro pirates were driven away by the inhabitants the strong aid of the Spaniards. Maria, helped by her relatives and other folks of the barrio, searched for the “kaban.” They spent minutes, hours, days, weeks and even months to look for it but it ended in vain. They excavated every inch of the ground searching for it but their toil and labor were fruitless. Since then, the place was named “Maricaban,” which stands for the names “Maria and kaban.” As a consequence, it is officially known to everybody as it is at present. No change was made ever since that unforgettable event.

Below are the names of sitios within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrio:

Regarding the official date of the establishment of the barrio as well as the different important sitios, there is no reliable information at present due to [the] lack of permanent records and intelligent elders who can give us even second-hand notes.

Original Families

There were only but a few families who first settled the place. They were Vicente Maneja – Eriberta Mariño and his constant life partner, Canuto Vargas – Limbania Sarmiento, his lovable wife and Tomas Catambay – Maria Ecal, his wife, who was a very rich old woman.

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List of Tenientes from the Earliest
Time to Date

1. Vicente Maneja 2. Canuto Vargas 3. Tomas Catambay 4. Hilarion Casa 5. Mariano Casa 6. Faustino Atienza 7. Laureano Bacal

8. Pedro Manalo 9. Maximo Catambay 10. Diego Almasin 11. Francisco Romano 12. Vicente Almasin 13. Nicasio Sausa

Story of old barrios or sitios within the jurisdiction that are now depopulated or extinct. – None

Data on historical sites, strutures, buildings, old ruins, etc. – none.

Important Facts, Incidents or Events that Took Place
a. During the Spanish Occupation

When the Spanish naval boat first landed on the shore, the place was thinly populated. The few inhabitants were in great sadness when they first saw the Spanish naval boat coming. At the very first landing, those unexpected Spanish soldiers alighted from their battleships. People of the place were somewhat unfriendly to them. But because of the honeyed words of the foreigners promising them that their very aim was of friendship among men in particular and among nations in general, a lasting and long chain of unity tied up with policies of colonial powers. The Spaniards stressed the essential unity of mankind and they succeeded to maintain a durable peace and friendship among the people. As a consequence, the colonial power supplied the necessary initial leadership which was advantageously practiced by the people.

In conflict with the pacification of the Spaniards among the people of Maricaban, Moro pirates oftentimes invaded the shore, especially at night. Such [a] happening was very disastrous and detrimental, making the economic securityof the people impossible. Spanish naval boats guarded the shore especially at night, fearing that those intrepid Moro pirates might totally burn and ruin the place. They came to an agreement that soldiers and citizens of the place would work cooperatively and harmoniously in the noble cause of friendship. It beautifully ended with somewhat astonishing results.

b. During the Amerian Occupation to World War II

The arrival of the Americans in 1898 was a significant date in our history. All aspects of life of the people were

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eminently changed and tangible results were encouraging. Since their occupation, the standards of living of the people, though living in the remote places, were so elevated to bare-subsistence level.

At the very first day of their landing on the shore of Maricaban (that was around 1901), the people of the place were infinitely surprised, accompanied with fear. Adult males where forced by the Americans to embark their ships, the aim of which was to keep it secret to the people. Some were taken as far as Tingloy, an adjacent barrio, for pioneering purposes, while others were even taken to Batangas to guide them.

At the people of the place were given gifts by the Americans with things that money could not buy. Since their rule of the country, the achievements and improvements were in comparable to those of any colonizing powers. American teachers were assigned to those schools for the proper bringing up of the children in the ways of democratic living. Their methods of instruction nourished our way of life on the blessings of freedom and assisted us to uplift the people’s minds. It became the sounding praise among our people, saying that the Americans were very much better than any other colonial powers.

It would be platitude to say that they became the polar center of attraction for American teachers who unselfishly devoted their time and every energy for the general welfare of the children, which resulted in incalculable benefits to the nation.

During such constructive occupation of the Americans, there was a time when people of Maricaban were in constant fear. The place was nearly burned by the Americans because during those ironies of our time, there were many suspected “Insurrecdtos” hiding in this place. The American soldiers wanted, capture them. But with God’s faith and will, that proposed calamity mentioned above was abandoned, for mutual understanding between the people and the Americans was achieved. [The] Expanded horizon of human cooperation rendered signal and lasting service to the country.

Such [a] regime of strong and concrete foundation among our people was altered when our undreamed neighbors, who unknowingly came here, invaded our strand.

During and After World War II

Lamentable happenings were witnessed during and after

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World War II. It was not only due to the Japanese cruelty and rigidity among the Filipinos, but because all aspects of living were brought down to the lowest and simplest strangulation. The people of Maricaban also suffered from the iron rule of the Japanese.

During the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines, scarcity of food prevailed in this place. There were but a few among the inhabitants who were able to secure their food conveniently. Education was done on a doubtful quality of instruction and tended to unfit them for abundant life in their rural community. If not for the extent of courageousness among the people of Maricaban in time of hardships and conflicts, they would not be able to enjoy freely at present their dream bubble of progress.

Here comes some spotlight during the liberation. When the American forces liberated us from the iron hands of our ruthless neighbors, the inhabitants of the place had already suffered irremediable damages. It was a calamity caused by the liberating forces. The American planes, assisted by the “Filipino guerrillas” situated in Mag-asawang Bato at the summit of the highest hill in Maricaban, bombarded the Japanese battleships hiding in the shore. Those Japanese ships were loaded with kerosene, gasoline, food supplies and even ammunition. They were all totally turned into smoke and dust.

The momentous event place early in the morning. People’s eyes were dazzled by the glare of the morning sun and by glaring fire coming from the burning ships. This eventually led to the burning of all types of houses in the barrio from a palatial home to a spot small nipa shack. People were rendered homeless and shelter-less. Different valuable luxuries, their partial savings hidden in their “kaban” were totally burned, ruined and destroyed.

After a year of American reoccupation of the place, people constantly made their houses at the same spots where the burning took place. People at present are inhaling the cool breezes of the air in this place which they consider a place of durable and lasting paradise.

Part II
FOLKWAYS

Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life; birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial; visits; festivals; punishments; etc.

This topic involves the social, religious and economic

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aspects of the people of Maricaban.

a. Social Life – During the present time, the people develop the social life when they could secure a substantial pause from their long hours of work. Quite as many indulge in dancing to the tunes of string bands or rondalla. When the social gathering is a grand one, the people who act as hosts or hostesses usually hire the novel amplifier from the nearby municipality. The last election was settled in a normal and democratic manner and bloodshed and hatred among themselves did not prevail. In truth, they held the election in a very calm manner.

Courtship – Courtship in this locality is fashioned in two ways. We all realize that our customs have the adulteration of two concepts. The old one or the Oriental way, and the novel one as the Occidental way. The former is the agreement of the two parents to settle love affairs of the prospective bride and bridegroom. Sometimes, money or land is presented by the bridegroom as their beginning for a strong security. The latter is the fast pressure of love affairs or what some call “modern love.”

Birth, baptism, death and burials. These four factors are usually executed by the parish priest in the sitio (Tingloy) as my survey shows. There is no non-Christian residing in this barrio. All people believe in the indoctrination of Christianity to their sons and daughters.

Festivals – Festivals in the locality. This was previously discussed in the topic of social life.

They celebrate the feast days of saints of the church. This spirit imitates the Christian way of festivities during the Spanish era. This influence could be observed in all parts of the Philippines.

Punishments

People concerned on the deeds they’ve committed punishable by law were usually dealt with through the speedy comings of the sheriff and police from Bauan. Punishment is given in a democratic way through the judicial branch.

Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions, origin of the world, land, mountains and caves, seas, lakes, rivers, plants, trees, etc.

Most of the people of Maricaban still believe in

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myths, legends, other beliefs, interpretations and superstitions. We cannot fully blame them for we all understand that we are Orientals, and Orientals believe in fanatical divinations. Our early civilization was an ignorant, hostile and barbarous civilization. This influence still functions in our imagination. Generation after generation will pass before we can achieve the conviction of realists. Our industrial, agricultural and fishing activities are still in a young stage. This fanatical thinking, perhaps, affects our development as one of the progressive nations. They also believe that [the] origin of the world was the pet creation of God. Mountains, caves, seas, lands, rivers, plants and trees were but His finishing touches for us to enjoy in this exquisite and magnificent space of dirt and water. Eclipses, thunder, and earthquakes and other natural phenomena are unexplained to them. We all know that those people are still scant in obtaining a solid knowledge of astronomy. They believe that such catastrophes are but a punishment of the mighty Creator.

29. Popular songs, games and amusements.

The youth of Maricaban usually has a guitar in his possession for serenading a lovely girl somewhere in the vicinity. Kundimans, hit tunes, and other melodies are usually the necessary compositions to call his loved one to the window. [The] Variation of songs from old to novel can be heard mostly when you’re passing the houses where [the] weaving industries flourish. These melodies and tunes usually serve to brighten the long hours of work.

Games and amusements are quite scant as a substantial help to life. There are no amusement centers where people can indulge after the weariness of the long hours of the day. They enjoy their amusements by splashing in the deep sea and feeling the niceties of its depths. For girls, their only recreation after the whole day [of] work is to visit their friends.

30. Puzzles and riddles.

This kind of pastime was indulged in death, baptismal and other gatherings.

31. Proverbs and Sayings.

Proverbs and sayings are among the main objectives of the parents to inculcate in their minds the value of having a philosophy of life. It is a stepping stone for their success in life. These serve as a means to

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their moral and character upliftment.

32. Methods of Measuring Time.

a. By observing the rising and setting of the sun.
b. By the shadows cast by objects perpendicular to the earth as man, trees, etc.
c. At night, the time is determined through the crowing of the roosters and the cocks as well as the positions of the stars when the weather is clear and good.

Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of Maricaban,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.