Taysan, Batangas: Historical Data Part II

PART II

PART I | PART II | PART III

[p. 6]

THE ORIGIN OF TAYSAN (Legend)

A long time ago, a couple who traveled with no definite destination happened to settle on a plains with verdant trees and tall grasses. They were so captivated by the place that they decided to settle on it. After some years of painful hardships in clearing it, the place became fit and [a] lovable one for human habitation.

Year went by and a couple multiplied. They were later joined by other families who happened to see the place. Tall trees and grasses were cleared, houses were built and, thus, a little village was formed.

One they, the head of the group thought of a plan to give their place a name. He assembled his men and asked them to give their suggestions. One shouted, “Tiisan for we suffer hardships in coming here because of crossing some rivers and brooks and passing through lonely and hazardous trails.” It was agreed upon by the people of the whole village.

Some years later, it was changed to Taysan when it was no longer very hard to travel because of the bamboo bridges across the rivers and brooks. Thus, “Taysan” was born amidst the hardships and sufferings of the people in their struggle for existence in a far secluded place.

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[p. 7]

PEOPLE ARE SUPERSTITIOUS AND HERE ARE SOME OF THEM

1. When you are eating if a spoon drops on the floor, it means a female visitor will come. When it is a fork, it will be a male.

2. When a woman is on the family way, she should not stop at doorways for when she gives birth, she would find hardships.

3. When a member of your family dies, the plates should not be piled together or else many will follow.

4. When a woman is married before a priest and the time comes for her to put the engagement ring on the plate, she should put it too quietly or else the couple will quarrel oftentimes.

5. When there is an eclipse of the moon, women on the family way will suffer hardships during their delivery.

6. During the marriage ceremony, the candles of a couple are lighted. It is said that [the] one who has the shorter candle will live shorter then [the] one who has the longer candle.

7. When a snake drops in your house, it means good fortune.

8. When you will go on a journey and a plate or any chinaware breaks, it means you will meet bad luck. So don’t go on that day.

[p. 8]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN OF TAYSAN

Taysan is a very old and new municipality. Old, because it was originally built way back [a] hundred years ago, when we were still under the Spanish regime. The old map of the province shows that Taysan was connected with the good road of Batangas, and some small bridges which are still found connecting Taysan and San Juan. During the Spanish time, the Governadorcillo was on Don Pedro Bianzon. He got [the] office through appointment which was submitted by the parish priest or cura parrocco, who was very powerful at that time for the church and the state were indivisible.

During our short Philippine Republic, the Governadorcillo [that] was the title of the head of the town, was changed to Capitan Municipal. The Capitan Munciipales of Taysan were the following in their order:

During the days of Capitan Municipal Feliciano Ona, Taysan was robbed by the “tulisanes” who were the terrors of those days.

Then, in 1897, the Spaniards came and a small battle was fought between the “Insurrectos” and the Spaniards. That was during the days of Capitan Esteban Viril. Capitan Esteban Viril, being the leader, and his followers fought bravely. They won the battle and the Spaniards were taken as prisoners. Some of them were made slaves by the Filipinos.

[p. 9]

In 1902, the Americans came and another battle was fought. Unfortunately, the Filipinos were defeated due to [the] lack of good weapons. They had only bolos while the Americans had guns and better weapons. The town was fenced and all people were sent to town. Animals and rice stocks were taken to town and given to all persons inside the fence. Persons who did not go to town were then hunted by the American soldiers with the help of the “Guardia Civil.” The terrors during that time were the “Macabebes.” They took beautiful girls and [the] belongings of those people from the barrios and burned all the houses.

In 1904, better reforms came. The Americans built schools, and children were taught. They had the Escolopia and big houses as schools. The first teachers were Mr. Rufino Ona and Miss Lorenza San Gabriel. They taught the primary grades (I-IV).

Unfortunately, the town was robbed by the “tulisanes” and from that time on, Taysan became a part of Rosario. The poblacion was named Mercedes. The people met hardships in going to Rosario during those long years. So, they struggled to become an independent municipality again.

It was in 1916, through the untiring efforts of Mr. Manuel H. Viril, supported by the townspeople, when it finally became again a fourth class municipality by itself. The first Presidente Municipal was Mr. Manuel H. Viril, the so-called “Father” of the new municipality. In 1919, when there was a general election for municipal president, he was elected unopposed by the people.

Since then, the following became municipal presidents or municipal mayors as chief executives of Taysan:

[p. 10]

The term was extended because of World War II.

On December 8, 1941, when the Second World War broke out, the people of the town went to the barrios to escape the Japanese cruelties. After six months of hardships and sufferings, we returned home. Then, business transactions progressed. People earned their living through “buy and sell” and very many persons became rich. We used the Mickey Mouse money. Later on, [the] barter system was used.

During the latter part of the Japanese occupation, in 1944, they became too cruel and took all horses, cows, chickens, etc. and burned nearly all the houses of Taysan. The Municipal building and convent were burned, too. It was on March 12, 1945.

On April 1, 1945, all [the] people who evacuated to the barrios went to their homes, because the Americans had liberated the Philippines. People were very happy and there was great prosperity that time. Many people became rich through “buy and sell.”

Schools were opened and the municipal government was estab-

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Transcribed from “Historical Data of the Municipality of Taysan,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.