Mataasnalupa, Taysan, Batangas: Historical Data Part I

PART I

PART I | PART II

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

DIVISION OF BATANGAS
District of Lobo
TAYSAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Taysan

H I S T O R Y    A N D    C U L T U R A L    L I F E
O F    T H E    B A R R I O    O F
MATAASNALUPA

[p. 1]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF
MATAASNALUPA

1. Known from the early times up to the present as Mataasnalupa.

2. Popularly known since 1872. It got its name according to the geographical position, being situated in a high place. The first Spanish settlers who came to the place called it “Alta Tierra,” and from that time on, it was given that name Mataasnalupa. It has no sitio. Bounded to the north by Mahanadiong, east by a river, to the south by Santo Niño and to the west by a river also.

3. It was established as early as in 1872, when Poblacion de la Mercedes was first settled by the Spanish friars.

4. The original families were Zaras, Africas and the Perezes. As a proof of this, we will find out that nearly all the families found in Mataasnalupa are at present of these surnames. Other families are just newcomers to the place.

5. During the Spanish time:

[p. 2]

6. At present, Mataasnalupa is sparsely populated because of the poor soil. People went to other places due to the fact that the yield they had could not support the family’s use for the whole year.

7. In 1937, gold was discovered and mined sometime in 1938.

8. During the American regime and under the Commonwealth of the Philippines, gold was discovered, thus the economic side of the people living near was greatly bolstered.

The Antipolo Gold Mining Company began operations in1939. Half a million capital was invested. During the company’s operations, many people were employed. Unfortunately, the Second World War broke out. The company was forced to stop operations because the Japanese soldiers nearly got all the iron materials for was purposes.

After the war, the company [unreadable word] its operations. It is called Taysan Gold Mine, because another company bought claims and rights from the former.

Hundreds and hundreds of laborers were employed. The people of Mataasnalupa are politically and educationally benefited because they have learned the likes and dislikes of the Ilocanos, Bicolanos and the Visayans.

Because of the higher wages claimed by the laborers, the company was forced to stop operations. Thus, several hundred thousand pesos were lost, both to the company and to the people of Mataasnalupa. The income of the municipality was greatly affected, too.

9. No properties, lives and buildings were destroyed during 1896-1900. Our early soldiers used the hit and run tactics.

[p. 4]

In 1941-1945, several suspected guerrillas were picked up and killed by the cruel invaders. Just after the war, the company started operations. New homes were built, scattered in the [unreadable word] parts of the barrio.

10. Traditionally and religiously, the people of Mataasnalupa observed Sundays and Church holidays, i.e. never work in the farm on these days.

(a) Birth:

All members of the family are usually present during this time. They have the “PUYATAN” for several days; before the child is baptized. This is very common among the Mataasnalupa folks.

(b) Baptism:

During the early times, the young couple was not given freedom to select the supposed-to-be godmother or godfather of the child. The parents of both couples were the ones selecting the supposed second mother or father of the child. Nowadays, they are given freedom to do so. During baptism, a party is being held to celebrate the coming of a new member of the family.

(c) It was an old custom that the parents of the young man courted the parents of the bride. Oftentimes, she never talked with [unreadable]. Courting usually lasted for one year or more. At present, courting takes the other sides.

(d) Marriage:

Before marriage, the parents of the young man came to the house of the girl. They make arrangements for the coming marriage. They selected a date. They planned the expenses to be incurred during the party. Sometimes, a “bigay kaya” is given by the parents of the man. [The rest of the page is unreadable.]

[p. 5]

Death:

When one dies in a family, all relatives of the deceased are being informed. During the night before the burial, there is a puyatan. During this time, a pig or a cow is being slaughtered for the rich and a pig for the poor ones. Sometimes, the impairment is too expensive. Ordinarily, it costs about ₱100.00. Naturally, they celebrate the 4^th, 9^th, and 30^th days, after death. Cows and pigs are being slaughtered during these days.

Burial:

For rich people, they have expensive burials. For the common family, only simple ones are done. Mourning continues for one year.

Visits:

They seldom received visitors. Only the comadres and compadres and some immediate members of the family come to them during [the] Christmas season. But when certain visitors happen to drop in, then they are very hospitable. Chickens and eggs are being served.

Festivals:

Religiously every year, they have the Flores de Mayo. During the day, mass is being said. People enjoyed themselves during this day. Games are being held, like softball and Huego de Anillo.

World:

The people of Mataasnalupa believe that there is one God who created the world. They naturally adore Jesus Christ as this God.

The Land:

[A] Long time ago, the sky and the earth were two good friends.

PART I | PART II

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