Binubusan, Lian, Batangas: Historical Data Part II

Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

PART II

PART I | PART II | PART III

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Luyahan-Birth:

Matapos na lumabas ang bata, ay isang taong matalino ang maglilipat sa banig na malinis upang Ang bata ay maging matalino rin. (Immediately after the birth of a child, and intelligent person is selected to transfer the baby to a clean matte so that the baby would come out intelligent, too.)

Baptism: Kinabihasnan ang maghanda sa araw ng pagbibinyag ng bata. Ito ay ginagawa ng mga magulang ng bata. (It is a common practice among the parents of the child to give a baptismal party at the time of baptism.)

Ang ninong o ninang ng bata ay palihim na naglalagay ng salapi sa kamay ng bata. Ito ay tinatawag na pakimkim. (The godfather or godmother of the child puts secretly in the hand of the baby a certain amount of money.)

Courtship: Ang pagsisilbi sa tahanan ng babae upang maibig ang isang binata ay isang kaugalian. (Rendering services to the family of the girl to win her love is traditional.)

Ang paghingi ng sari-sari tulad ng bahay para sa bagong kasal, tugtugan at handa sa araw ng kasal at iba pang mga bagay ay bahagi ng panunuyo ng isang binata. Ang mga kahilingan ng magulang ng babae ay dapat tuparin upang matuloy ang kasalan. {The request for a house, orchestra, feast and others by the parents of the girl is a part of the courtship. The suitors to fulfill the wishes to realize the marriage.)

Marriage: Ang pagbibigay ng pasunod sa bagong kasal ng angkan ng bawat panig ay karaniwang ginagawa. (Giving dowry to the newlyweds is a common practice.)

Ang paghahanda sa araw ng kasalan ang hindi pa nalilimot sa ngayon. (Giving a wedding party is customary up to now.)

Death and burial: Matapos mailibing ang patay ay ipinagdarasal ang kaligtasan ng kanyang kaluluwa. Ito ay ginagawa sa loob ng siyam na gabing sunod-sunod. Sa ika-siyam na araw ay naghahanda para sa mga nakikiramay. Ang mga gawaing ito ay umaaliw sa mga naiwan ng namatay. (After the burial, solemn prayers follow for nine successive nights for the salvation of the dead's soul. At the 9^th day, a feast is given for those who will come. This practice serves as a consolation to the bereaved family.

Balibago – Courtship and Marriage:

A young man chooses his ideal girl. Then, usually after sunset, he often makes visits to her home. He sees to it that he is courteous, takes off his hat before entering the house, and greets the old persons. After having spent [a] sufficient length of time in courting, he begins to show his sincere love and intentions by serving in the girl’s home. He supplies water and firewood, found the rice, and works in the fields. This is called "nagpapakilala" or "nangingibig." At this time, the parents asked the lady if she is decided to marry the young man. If answered affirmatively, they tell the young man to let his parents come. The boy's parents invite some old counselors. They confer on the date of and requirement for the wedding. This is called "pamumulong."

When everything is settled, both parties prepare for the marriage celebration. The man's parents shoulder all the expenses.

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They buy the lady’s and the young man's dress and suit. The woman invites her friends and relatives. The bride's parents select the "Ninong and Ninang sa kasal" or the witnesses to the wedding rites.

On the appointed day, the wedding ceremony is performed in the church. The groom takes care not to drop the wedding ring for dropping it would mean bad luck. As the married couple walks down the aisle the people welcomed them with cheers and smiles. Going home, they are met with showers of rice, money and sweets on the stairs. This is done to invite good luck. Then, food is served to the visitors and dancing and singing afterwards take place. After this comes the "pangangaan." A small table and two chairs are arranged. The bride and the groom sit opposite each other. Relatives and friends come around them. Each one gives either money, or wares, or other kinds of gifts. If one offers a rope, it means he would give a domestic animal. The boy’s party gives the "panganga" to the bride and the girls party gives theirs to the groom. When the marriage celebration is ended, the bride is escorted by the relatives of the groom to his home. The groom is left but the next day, he will join his wife.

Baptism: Since this place is far from the town, "buhusan ng tubig" is commonly practiced. With the use of salt and water, a person performs the temporary baptism. A child is truly baptized by the priest during the feast days in the neighboring barrios.

Death: When a sick person is already dying, his neighbors and relatives attend to him. They pray for the salvation of his soul. When he is dead, his clothes are changed. He is placed in the coffin. When night comes, many sympathizers stay overnight with the family of the deceased. They play cards and other games. Coffee, bread, and cigarettes are served. The dead is brought downstairs for the funeral, someone breaks a piece of bamboo floor from the place where the person died. Another gets a coconut shell with water. Water is poured drop by drop along the way to the cemetery. When there is no more water, the coconut shell and the piece of bamboo floor are thrown away.

Four days after the burial, prayer is offered for the salvation of the dead’s soul. Food is served to the sympathizers. The same thing is done during the ninth day or “siyaman,” and the fortieth day or “apatnapung araw.” After one year, the family and relatives of the dead end the wearing of black dresses. Again this time, a prayer is offered and food is served.

Matabungkay –

The traditions, customs and practices in domestic and social life generally follow the old customs of our old generations. On the birth of a child, the father or relatives light firecrackers or fire the guns as a sign of a newborn baby. In selecting the ninong or ninang, the grandfathers and grandmothers of the child are given the privilege to select. After two or three weeks, “buhos tubig” will be performed and there will be a little party. When the parents of the newborn baby have saved enough money, baptism will be done by the Roman Catholic priest or by the Protestant pastor. They usually prepare foods for the godfather or the godmother and other invited persons of the community. Sometimes, there are dances and songs.

In courtship, the parents of the man has to invite several persons to do some work as plowing the fields or any other sort

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of work. They call this act as “pagpapakilala” or introduction. The next day, the parents of the man will inquire what will be their faith. When they are accepted, the marriage date will be set. The parents of the man will prepare pigs, chickens or any other kind of food for the celebration of the marriage to be solemnized by the priest or by the judge or by the Protestant pastor.

In death, they have to pass one night for the gathering of the relatives, friends, and acquaintances. During the night, they have different games played and mostly, they stay up to the morning. They prepare [the] coffin for the dead. During the burial ceremony, almost all the people go. Sometimes, they have an orchestra to furnish the music up to the cemetery. In the visits, the visitors are very courteous while the hosts are very hospitable. In this place, there is no celebration of the fiesta.

In punishments, the barrio lieutenant calls the two parties and gets their declarations. If they could not agree, they are brought to the municipal building in town for further investigation. The one found guilty is fined or put to jail. This penalty is in accordance to law or ordinance.

11. Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions; origin of the world, land, mountains and caves, seas, lakes, rivers, plants, trees, animals, sun, moon, stars, eclipses, earthquakes, lightning and thunder, clouds, rain, wind, storms, changes of climates; other natural phenomena, first man and woman, and birth of twins and more:

One of the legends and beliefs of the people was the origin of Binubusan. According to reliable sources, Binubusan came from the dialect word “pinagbubusan.” Many people from distant places who came to this place found out that the people were hospitable, the barrio was peaceful, and there was abundant food. The prosperity and contentment prevailing here made the people love to stay here permanently.

There are many superstitious beliefs that are still adhered to by the people of the barrio. Among them are the following:

a. When going to a certain place and it so happens a black cat crosses the way, it is a sign of bad luck or omen.
b. When there is a dead person, the used plates on the table are not kept on piles because it is believed that a member of the same family may suffer the same fate.
c. When there is a newly-wedded couple, the bride is not allowed to go out until after four days. If this is not followed, the man and wife will not succeed in life. These are only a part of their beliefs.

The origin of the world according to the old folks was that the world was at first all water. Then, God created the land, then the first man and woman. It is also believed that the rivers, mountains, lakes, and caves were created by God at the beginning of the world. Others believe that some caves were made by bandits living in the forests during the pre-Spanish time. When God created the world, plants, trees, and animals were created, too.

The sun, to them, is a big ball of fire which is very hot. The same belief is with the moon. It is a ball of fire

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Which is very cool. The stars are heavenly bodies which have their own light and so cool. Eclipses are believed to be the result of the fighting between the sun and the moon. Earthquakes are caused by a powerful man who makes the earth move when angry. Lightning is the opening of the sky, and that thunder is caused by a powerful man when he is shouting. The rain is caused by the angels above, who, when they are crying, tears are falling to the ground. Wind is caused by a powerful [man] who blows through the mouth when angry. Storms are caused by the fighting of the angels and the man with a powerful mouth.

No one could tell about the changes of the climates. The first man and woman who settled in this place were Turite and Aluha. It is said that this couple lived in this place until the barrio was depopulated.

Births of twins or more were signs of riches according to the forefathers or the old folks living at present. Sickness, to their belief, was a punishment by God to people who committed crimes and to those who did not believe in God. Witchcraft, in their belief, was a woman supposed to have powers to do evil. She was an ugly woman and not a believer in God.

Magic, the old folks say, was the art of performing things which happen through secret sayings. They praised the magicians in the belief that they were powerful persons next to God.

It is with high honor to say that the people of Binubusan are all believers in God and worship him in their own ways.

For Luyahan: (Beliefs and Superstitions)

1. Ang bahay na mapanhikan ng bayawak ay masamang pangitain. Ito ay tanda na hindi magtatagal at may mamamatay sa loob ng tahanan. (It is a bad omen when an iguana enters a house. It is a sign that pretty soon, one of the members of the family will pass away.)
2. Kapag ang mga bata ay naglalaro ng sunda-sundaluhan at patayan, ito ay pangitain na magkakaroon ng digmaan. (When the children play soldiers, killing each other, this is a sign that there will be war.)
3. Masama ang maligo sa araw ng Martes at Biyernes sapagka’t kung dapuan ng sakit ay malubha, lalo’t ang magiging sanhi ay paliligo. (It is bad to take a bath on Tuesdays and Fridays because persons who get sick suffer most especially if it is caused by taking a bath.)

12. Popular songs; games and amusements: Binubusan

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PART I | PART II | PART III