San Fernando and Santiago (formerly Payapa), Malvar, Batangas: Historical Data Part II

a. Organization of “Puroks” for the improvement of community living.
b. Holding of community assemblies.

a. Construction of the P.T.A. School Building
b. Rehabilitation of the primary school building.
c. Construction of an artesian well in the lot of the school.
d. Construction of two more artesian wells in San Fernando.

1. It is believed that if a conceiving woman eats twin bananas, she will give birth to twins.
2. When an expectant mother cuts her hair, she will have a hairless child.
3. When an expectant mother puts firewood in the reverse position, she will deliver the child with the feet coming out first.
4. At the first birth, the mother eats squid, the meat of the carabao or the deer, so that the mother [will] not relapse.
5. An expectant mother does not allow any person irrespective of social relationship to stay at the door prior to or even at the delivery of the child.
6. Pregnant mothers who go to funerals do not enter the cemetery.
7. Expectant mothers fear eating bluish purple eggplants.

8. Pregnant women take a walk at an early dawn; take shower baths late in the afternoon and early in the morning.
9. The mother does not give the newly-born child its first breast feeding until after the lapse of twenty-four hours.
10. Conceiving women are very careful in their behavior anytime and anywhere for fear of anything that will appear in the child after birth.

1. Pre-baptism at home by pouring water on the head of the child lying in the arms of the sponsor-to-be.
2. After the baptism of a group of children, the sponsors rush out of the church. It is believed that the first to be out will always be first in any undertaking in the future.
3. When the priest blows on the head of the child as he is baptized, the sponsor blows also with the belief that the child will emulate the character traits of the sponsor.

1. Men court ladies most when a star is near the moon. It is believed that good luck will be nearer to them.
2. Offering of servitude to the parents by the bridegroom to be for a length [of time] until the marriage ceremony is solemnized.
3. The parents select and have an agreement on whom their sons or daughters will marry irrespective of any official engagement or acquaintance with those selected.
4. A dowry in the form of money, land, or gold is given to the parents of the bride-to-be.
5. A visitor or suitor of a maiden says “Tao po” at the base of the ladder before going up the stairs. He could go up unless he is told to do so. Before entering the house, he kneels to the parents and receive their blessing.
6. No visitor or suitor goes to the house of the maiden if she is alone in the house.
7. The visitor or suitor and the girl are seated far from each other. Some or one of the members of the girl’s family stays somewhere in the same room until the visitor or suitor goes away.

1. Marriage is often solemnized during a new moon or full moon.
2. The newly-married couple does not live together until four or nine days have elapsed.
3. In exchanging of vows, any one of the couple who presses the hand tighter will be dominant in the family. The bridegroom also steps on the feet of the bride during the exchange of vows for the same reason.
4. Pinning the veil and tying the cord will make the wedded couple live forever without separation.
5. The couple goes upstairs at the same time. Coins, especially silver, rice, and flowers are poured overhead. Both eat the sweets from the same plate and drink from the same glass.
6. At the dining table, the couple sits opposite each other at the “cabesera.”
7. The practice called “sabugan” requires the couple to sit opposite each other at the sides of the table. Money is given by both parties to the couple.
8. Before the bride leaves her house for the house of the bridegroom, any member of the bridegroom’s [family] breaks a new cooking jar into many pieces. It is believed that the couple will have many children.
9. The couple kisses the hands of the parents of the bride before the bride leaves her house.
10. The bridegroom does not go with the bride to his house. He is left in the house of the bridegroom. They remain separated for four or nine days.
11. The “bilik” is not removed until four [days] have elapsed.

1. No eating of glutinous rice (malagkit) in the house of the dead.
2. No sweeping in the house of the dead is done until after four days.
3. While feasting, service plates and other glassware are not piled up. Washers of these are very cautious enough not to break any of them.
4. While the dead in the coffin is brought out of the house, a person follows and pours water on the way as far as the door of the stairs. All windows are pulled closer to each other to darken the room.
5. Several prayers are offered to the dead at different times of the day until the dead is to be brought to the cemetery.

6. Offering of “limos” to the family of the dead.
7. Sides or any part of the coffin should not touch or bump any side of the door when going out.
8. No eating of vegetables from vine plants crawling on the ground until the ninth day.
9. Sick persons should not go to the house of the dead believing that the ailment will grow worst.
10. Pregnant women do not enter the cemetery to witness the burial of the dead.
11. The young children of the dead parents are passed over the dead before a coffin is closed. The same thing is done to the grandchildren of the dead grandparents.
12. Celebration of the so-called “lukasan” or “babaan ng luksa.”
13. In the cemetery, the coffin is opened again for the immediate members of the family to get the last view of the dead. The last prayers is said again.
14. The mourners leave the cemetery as soon as the dead is lowered to the grave or placed in the niche.

1. Punishments are third degree.
2. People are invited to witness the punishment of the person.

1. The people go on pilgrimage to any sacred place they promised to visit.
2. Persons paying visits to sick persons or to mothers who [have] just given birth carry something for them.

1. The people celebrate the so-called “Flores de Mayo” or “Santa Kurusan” and “Fiesta ng Nayon.”

1. The appearance of a comet foretells war, famine, death or pestilence.
2. Tying the four corners of a white handkerchief upon sight and disappearance of a heavenly body falling means good luck.

1. Death is often caused by the so-called “mangkukulam” “manggagaway,” and bites of the so-called “barang.’
2. The use of the so-called “bulong” and the Latin words written on a piece of onion skin paper by the quack doctor in treating ailments or sickness of a person.

1. It is believed that sickness comes from the “nuno;” wandering spirits at night; “na-uhiya;” “na-lupa;” “naitaasan;” and from the so-called “masamang hangin.”

1. Tiririt ng maya 2. Si Aling Kuwan po’y

3. Si Mariang burara’y 4. Ayokong-ayoko 5. Ako’y naglalakad 6. Ako’y naglalakad