Toong, 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 Toong 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.
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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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF BARRIO TOONG
[The] Present official name of the barrio is Toong. [The] Popular name of the barrio present and past is also Toong.
According to an old man, Toong got its name in the following manner:
“Noong panahong una pa ay mayroon ditong kultihan sa nayong ito. Ang kinukulti ay ang balat ng baka. Iyong bariles na lalagyan ng tubig, apog at sibukso [unsure, blurred] ay toong. Kaya buhat noon ang nayong ito ay naging Toong ang pamagat hanggang sa kasalukuyan.”
Another vernacular version as translated into English had this latter origin on how Toong got its name.
It was the time of the early Spanish period when the production of the first introduced sugarcane plants was so limited and scarce. The milling of sugarcane was done by squeezing the cane stalks (ipitan) to extract its juice. The milling of sugarcane was so slow and crude that human labor was resorted to be individuals for lack of working animals. The barrio folks had to manipulate the so-called roller squeezer. There arose the need for a big container. Since there was no available container, the barrio folks contemplated to make one, cylindrical in form and big enough, to accommodate the extracted juice and called it toong. This name was the one given later to the barrio.
The following sitios exist up to the present: Mahabang Parang, Kaybubuaya, Kakawatihan and Don Fruto. Mahabang Parang got its name from the long ranges of forest and meadows by the foot of Batulao Mountain. Kaybubuaya – a young crocodile was lost by some boys in a deep river and from that time got its name. Kakawatihan – a wide open field planted to kakawate or madre de cacao by the Lopez family. Don Fruto – a wide tract of land owned by Don Fructuoso of Balayan annexed and bought by the Lopez clan.
Date of establishment: Since the early Spanish period. No actual date available at present.
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Original Families: Anselmo Carinan and Olegaria Jumarang, Mr. and Mrs. Mariano Carenan and Epifania Carenan, Mr. and Mrs. Doroteo Arce and Simeona Benter [unsure, blurred], Mr. and Mrs. Atanacia Buisan and Guillermo Salazar.
List of Barrio Lieutenants: Atanacio Bulsan, Doroteo Alea, Mariano Caranan, Mamerto Arcayes, Lucio Ajon, Manito Barangan, Sisenando Caranan, Dalmacio Arcayes, Lazaro Calavaro, Eleno Carinan, Pedro Macalalad, and Troadio Bautista.
Important fact, incidents or events that took place: Two barrio lieutenants were killed by hanging during the Spanish regime. One barrio lieutenant was killed during the first American occupation.
During World War II (Liberation): The underground movement of the Fil-American Irregular Troops under the command of the late Domingo Tuguigui Sr. brought renown to the barrio of Toong for its resistance movement remained strongly united against the Japanese. This was shown by the capture of several Japs in Batulao Mt. who were turned over to the liberating forces under the command of General Swing. There were several casualties in the sector of Toong, especially civilians. A guerrilla by the name of Macario Abarquez, who was wounded in the fight between the Japs and the liberating forces, had to be transported by bi-plane to Leyte for treatment. Destruction of human lives and properties was so serious that civilians had to evacuate. Innocent civilians were killed by the fleeing Japs. Animals and food were commandeered by the atrocious Japanese soldiers and farmers by the names of Eleno Carizana [unsure, blurred] and Leon Valdez were victimized as their food was taken and in 1945, two civilians were innocently killed by the sudden explosion of bombs left by the Japanese. The Blue Eagle Brigade under the command of Eduardo Alabastro, a recognized guerrilla outfit, captured a cannon of the retreating Japs in Batulao mountain in Toong. This cannon can still be seen at the home of ex-Colonel Vicente Calingasan.
Don Sixto Lopez of the well-known Lopez clan, patriot and philanthropist, once resided for five year in the barrio of Toong. He had built a home here made of local materials in his large tract of land planted to coffee and coconut trees.
Don Sixto Lopez was one of the last revolutionaries. He never swore allegiance to the United States and until his death was an enemy of Quezon’s party. But he believed
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in demoracy and sheltered American flyers during the Jap occupation. To mention names, Harold, an ex-American soldier in Corregidor had lived a long time in Toong, only to be captured in Mindoro, tortured and killed by the Japanese in the garrison in Central Azucarera Don Pedro. Patrick and four American flyers also found shelter and had lived in Toong under the support of Don Sixto. After the war was over, they visited Don Sixto in Balayan and were able to tell their tales.
FOLKWAYS
Traditions and customs in social life: The giving of birth was under the care of the practical midwife (hilot) whose knowledge about child care is based on actual experience.
Baptism was quite unfamiliar for the child was first baptized by a Magbubuhos Tubig then later by the parish priest.
Courtship – It was an easy thing to find one’s life partner, for it was arranged between barrio lieutenants and well-known matchmakers of the locality.
Marriage – Very often, man and woman have lived as man and wife without due process of religious commitments or rites. They just live together as common law wife and husband with due consent from the barrio lieutenant.
Death, Burial, Visits and Punishments were in a common pattern in conformity with the ideal practices of the community.
Myths, legends, beliefs and interpretations and superstitions – Mountains (Batulao) – It was the common belief of the old folks that if Balaton Mountain was covered by white clouds, a calm and bright weather will follow. That of dark clouds, heavy rain will soon begin and in the months of April and May, the farmers will begin to plant and sow their seeds for the ensuing planting season.
Caves – There are several caves but no local legends exist except the general belief that prevailed which was that the witch or tigbalang, giant or kapre haunted these caves. Wild birds like [the] swift or swallow (balinsasayao), bats (kabag or paniki) usually live in those caves in the steep mountain cliffs and deep ravines and rivers. Some bird’s nests of those kinds were often gathered with the belief that they possessed some healing powers as medicine by the herbolarios or quack doctors.
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Rivers: It was the belief of the old folks that the [if] streams, riverbanks got shallow with so much sand, a bountiful harvest will be had for the coming season. That if the rivers got deep, hunger or famine will be in the offing for drop will bring about [a] poor harvest.
Witchcraft or Magic: Old folks also believe in talismans as colored stones were healed to present some inherent magical powers. Medals with engraved images of Christ are still in the possession of old folks and often kept to give supreme power. (Antinganting)
Popular Songs: The so-called awit, korida, reading of the passion or life of Christ existed among the folks. Kundiman and hits off the season are song by the lasses and serenaders. The pangkat or comman [?] ways like jousts were often held or stage during social gatherings.
Games: Softball is a common sport, so with boxing among young men and fencing with elders. Common amusements are hunting and fishing.
Puzzles and Riddles: Riddles are common among young kids. 1. Baboy ko sa pulo ang balahibo’y pako. 2. Baboy ko sa kaingin, tumataba walang pakain. 3. Hinila ko ang bagin nagkarahan ang matsin.
Proverbs and Sayings: In the vernacular, they have the following: Pag may sinuksok ay may titingalain. Walang matimtimang birhen sa matiyagang manalangin. Walang sunog na tutong sa taong nagugutom. Huwag kikibo ang Diyos ang humihipo.
Methods of Measuring Time: By the position of the sun, by the shadow of the mountains, by the flowers of the patola, by the acacia leaves, ipil leaves and balatong-aso leaves, by the crowing of cocks in the morn, by the hornbill (kalo) in the mountain, skylark (pagapog) which fly all night long in the air.
Other folktales, information and authors: None.