Bunducan, Nasugbu, Batangas: Historical Data Part II
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| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
PART II
PART I | PART II
[p. 8]
attention to. Little or petty neglect from the side of the groom often causes much grievances or trouble and misunderstanding between the two families. If the family of the bride is understanding, the wedding goes on smoothly.
(f) After the nuptials, it is a common sight to see the bride and the groom make a dash to the door of the church. The one who comes out first will be dominating the other in their domestic and conjugal affairs. After the wedding feast and the couple had completed their rounds of receiving the blessings from the parents of both parties, the bride moves to the house of the groom to stay for the night, while the groom is left at the bride’s house to please his new parents.
(g) Death: Nobody must take a bath or close the house and surroundings of the bereaved family until after the fourth day. It is said that if they neglect to observe this, somebody else in the family will soon die.
During mealtime, used plates, when moved, should not be placed one over the other. This would mean death in the family again.
A sort of nightly prayers for the repose of the soul of the departed is performed until the ninth day. On the fourth day, the family has a get-together. On the ninth day, a whole-day affair is done. Prayers are said the whole day and at night until the wee hours of the morning. After the prayers, food and drinks are served and games are played to console the bereaved family. After a year, another nine-day prayer is done. This will mark what they call “babang luksa" or they will cease to wear the black attire or mourning clothes.
Beliefs and Superstitions –
(1) It is believed that one the fourth day of the death of a member of the family, this spirit will come back to earth and visit his beloved ones, talk to them and tell them of his last will, especially when he died unprepared or accidentally.
[p. 9]
(2) Some believe that during All Souls’ Day, the spirit of the dead will come, so the family of the dead serve delicious food on the altar which is lighted with candles.
(3) It is believed that when we point at the rainbow with our forefinger, our finger will be cut or spoiled by a skin diseas.
(4) That if we point to young shoots or fruits of vegetables, the fruits will wilt.
(5) If we dream that our molars are extracted, one of our near relatives will die.
(6) If we sleep in the open air, the evil spirit will pass over us and, thus, our growth will be checked.
(7) If a hen cackles at night, an unmarried girl will give birth to a child.
(8) That if a cat washes its face in front of the door, there will be a guest coming.
(9) If we see a black cat on our way, we must not go to our destination because danger might befall us.
(10) If women or girls will approach an unfinished well, the water underneath will not flow anymore.
(11) A girl on a certain time of the month should not enter a garden or touch any tended plants because it will wilt or die.
(12) When we sweep the house at night, we will miss God’s blessings or graces. We will remain in poverty.
(13) If we comb our hair at night, one of our parents will die. A parent seeing a daughter or son combing his or her hair considers the latter disrespectful.
(14) If we open an umbrella inside the house, a centipede will drop from the ceiling.
(15) Unmarried women who sing in front of the stove will marry an old widower.
[p 10.]
(16) If we move from one place to another while we are eating, we will not be faithful in marriage.
(17) If we clear the table when an unmarried boy or girl is still eating, he or she will not enjoy the blessings of marriage.
(18) If one leaves the house while the rest of the family is still eating, he or she will stumble on the way.
(19) If a fly insists on alighting on us, it is a sign that somebody dear to us has died.
(20) If a black butterfly hovers near us, it is another sign that somebody dear to us has died.
(21) If an ill person is cleaning his nails, it is a sign that he is nearing his end.
Interpretations:
(1) We can tell the height of the tide by looking at the cat’s eyes. If the pupil of the cat’s eye is small, the tide is low; if the pupil is big, the tide is high and the water in the river is big.
(2) When the birds fly westward in flocks, there will be a storm. When they fly eastward, good weather is returning.
(3) Through the sound of a tree lizard natively called “tuko,” the people can tell whether tomorrow will be rain or shine, by following the sound it makes with the words: rain or shine or vice-versa.
(4) A pregnant woman who puts a lump of dough on hot coal can tell whether the infant in her womb is a boy or a girl. When the dough swells and bursts the infant is a girl; and when the dough swells and protrudes, the infant is a boy.
MGA BUGTONG
(1) Heto na si itim, sinundot ni pula, nanaog si puti, pinatay ni pula. (sinaing)
[p. 11]
MGA BUGTONG
(2) Ako ay si ikmo, kapatid ni bunga, pamangkin ni apog, apo ni maskada, pag kami pong lahat ay nagkasama-sama, labi ng dalaga ay pinapupula. (buyo)
(3) Aso ko sa Malabon, naligo’y di basa nang umahon.
(4) Puso ko’y kahoy, dahon ko’y niyog. (kawot)
(5) Umulan at umaraw, nakalilis ang salawal. (manok)
(6) Heto, heto na, hindi pa nakikita. (hangin)
(7) Kalamay ng hari, hindi mahati-hati. (tubig)
(8) Heto na si Pirit, kinain pati anlit. (bayabas)
(9) Malayo ang bunga sa pusou. (bungang araw)
(10) Isang butil na palay, sikip sa bahay. (ilaw)
(11) Saan ka man pumunta, lagi mong kasama. (anino)
(12) Lumalakad si kaka, nag-iiwan ng luha. (pluma)
(13) Kung araw ay bumbong, kung gabi’y dagat. (banig)
(14) Pag lagapak, turi agad. (talupak)
(15) Hindi hayop, hindi tao, may mata na katulad mo. (niyog)
MGA SALAWIKAIN
1. Kung saan ang hilig ng kahoy ay duon nabubuwal.
2. Tikatik mang patak ng ulan ay nakakaagnas din.
3. Pag wala kang itinanim ay wala ka ring aanihin.
4. Pag may isinuksuk ay may titingalain.
5. Magtanim ka ng hangin, bagyo ang aanihin.
6. Ang kahoy mang babad sa tubig, pag nadararang ng init, sapilitang magdirikit.
[p. 12]
7. Saan mang gubat ay may ahas.
8. Alin mang balatong ay may liyas.
9. Magpakapula-pula ang saga, maitim din ang kabila.
10. Ang hindi lumingon sa paroroonan ay hindi makakarating sa paruruonan. [Obviously erroneous, as everyone will agree.]
11. Huwag mong bilangin ang sisiw hanggang hindi napipisa ang itlog.
12. Pag may kasayahan ay may kalungkutan.
13. Pag may hirap ay may ginhawa.
14. Hindi lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto.
15. Kung anong puno ay siyang bunga.
16. Ang pari ay doon sumasama sa kapwa pari.
17. Ang santol ay hindi magbubunga ng mabolo.
18. Pag may tiyaga ay may nilaga.
19. Ang taong nanunuyo ay may sunong na bukayo.
20. Ang taong duling ay walang gawang magaling.
Methods of Measuring Time:
1. In this place, time is told by the sounds made by a mountain bird called calo. The calo gives out a shrill cry that can be heard regularly at intervals from morning till night. It is said that they can tell the time accurately by listening to its cries.
2. Another method of telling the time is by looking at the location of the sun. People can calculate the time of the day by locating where the sun is. They can tell an early dawn, meantime, and afternoon by means of the sun.
3. People can calculate the distance by smoking a cigarette. A cigarette that is finished is equivalent to a kilometer and a comfortable pace.
[p. 13]
Special Calendars:
1. Time is expressed in this place by counting how many seasons have passed as only one harvest season; 15 weeding seasons or “tag-gamas,” etc.
2. Another calendar is the time of Kapitang So and So.
Example – He was born during the rule of Kapitang Isko. He was married during the rule of Kapitang Juan.
The old folks are very keen in observing the time of the different kapitans and cabezas.
PART I | PART II