Wawa, 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 Wawa (Balele) 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.

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HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF WAWA (BALELE)
Part One: History

WAWA is one of thirty (30) barrios comprising the progressive and peaceful town of Tanauan, Batangas. Its location along the beach of Taal Lake and Sabang River gave it its name. Since its establishment (date unknown), the present inhabitants could not, with certainty, tell of the other names given to it aside from what is officially known today.

As to who could have been the original families that made up the barrio, nobody could tell, either. Inquiries about this could not be answered without a penumbra of doubt. But the old men of the barrio say that the present populace is [made up of] the descendants of those who came from the towns bordering the lake, and from those neighboring towns of Tanauan. It was the rich and fertile soil of the valley and the variety of the crops that could be planted all throughout the year as well as the proximity of the barrio to the town road that attracted most the fancy of the settlers. The advantages of settling in the place are far more than the disadvantages they could think of. The peace and quiet of the place and the hospitality and friendliness of the barrio folks are the added factors in the increase of population and the economic progress of the valley. From the earliest time to date, men of good repute lived and died to carry the governmental affairs of the barrio with the municipal government. The following are the nineteen known barrio lieutenants:

There is no known sitio included within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrio that is now extinct or depopulated. No mention could be given as to dates on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc. with regards to the barrio of Wawa.

During the Spanish occupation, no event in the history of the barrio is worthwhile mentioning with regards to [the] political, educational or economic matters, for the barrio was at a standstill throughout those years.

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During the American occupation, the eruption of Taal Volcano shocked the whole barrio and the surrounding regions to near death. That was in 1911. There was not much change in the status of the barrio on political and educational matters. But the economics of the barrio showed some progress. It was after World War II that the education of the youth had a better inertia which enhanced the establishment of a barrio school. During those years, the farm produce was heavy and more than sufficient to meet the necessity of home consumption. Motor boats are now plying along the coast of Taal Lake in place of the old sail boats.

Between the years 1941 and 1945, during the dark years of Japanese occupation, there were but few cases of death resulting from the inhuman atroticities perpetrated by the soldiers of Japan to the barrio folks of Wawa. But the properties destroyed were great during that epic period. However, these are being rehabilitated with the help of the United States government through the War Damage Commission.

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Part Two: Folkways

Traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life of the barrio:

1. Ang batang bagong inianak kung mamamatay ay kailangang mabinyagan kahit na buhos tubig lamang.
2. Ang bagong kasal, bago pumanhik ng tahanan buhat sa simbahan, ay winiwisikan ng bigas upang umunlad ang kanilang kabuhayan.
3. Ang namatay, pagdating ng apat na araw ng kamatayan, ay pagdarasalan (apatan) at pagdating ng ika-siyam na araw ay pagdarasalang muli (siyaman o tapusan).
4. Pagsapit ng buwan ng Mayo, ang tao ay naghahandog ng bulaklak sa Mahal na Virgen (Flores de Mayo).
5. Minsan sa isang taon, idinadaos ang fiesta ng nayon.

Beliefs, interpretations, and superstitions:

1. Ang magwalis ng bahay o harapan kung gabi ay tanda ng pagpanaw ng kabuhayan.
2. Ang magsuklay ng buhok kung gabi ay pinananalangin na mamatay ang isang angkan.
3. Pag ang manok ay nagpupuputak sa tuwing hahapon ay asahan na mayroong dalagang pagkakasakit.
4. Pag ang manok ay tuka ng tuka pa kung dilim na at hindi pa nahapon, dadaan ang mga tao sa salot at paghihirap sa panahong dadaan.
5. Kung ang manok ay putak ng putak sa tuwing pagtalon sa haponan sa umaga ay tanda ng paghihirap ng tao.
6. Kung magtutunton ng manok ay dapat pagtungtungin sa batong buhay o sa ano mang kasangkapang bakal at huag aalis kung gustong huwag maglayas ang manokan.
7. Huwag gumamit ng asis sa pinggan o sa palyok kung ang bagay na ito ay nalilinis sapagka’t ang kabuhayan ng naglilinis ay parang inaasis at pinaalis.
8. Kapat ang isang tandang at ang isang dumalaga ay nagpuputak sa hatinggabi ay mayroong magbubuntis na dalaga.
9. Kapag ang baka ay nag-uunga ng walang inuungaan ay mayroong dadanasing epidemia.

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10. Ang bagong kasal, kaya pina-iinom at sinasabugan ng bigas bago pumanhik ay upang sila ay bigyan ng maluwag na kabuhayan at mabuting pagsasama.

Popular Filipino Folk Songs:

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