Tumalim, Nasugbu, Batangas: Historical Data Part II
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| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
PART II
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is believed that these greatly aid in the secretion of the mammary glands, thus enhancing the appearance and flow of the mother’s milk for the baby. She must not be served with foods or vegetables that have “dagta” like those of papaya, banana blossom, some kinds of fish because these have an effect on the umbilical cord of the baby.
To the near relatives, a newborn baby is a precious one. As soon as they learn of the birth of the new addition to the family, they don’t hesitate to pay a visit. They usually bring something for the baby and for the mother.
Baptism:
It is the sacrament which is given to any Christian. This sacrament is usually performed by the priest but if the child is in danger of dying, it is impossible to bring the child to church immediately, any person may do it. This simple ceremony is termed in the locality “buhos tubig.” The godmother or godfather holds a candle together with the baby to be baptized. Both the godmother and the person baptizing whisper the prayers, “Creed.” At the same time, he pours water over the baby’s head. This ceremony is, however, followed by real baptism. The baptismal party is made pompous and grand by preparing refreshments and roasted pig, to the godmother or godfather. The godparents, in turn, usually buy the baptismal dress for the baby and when the ceremony is over, he pay the amount of money required as fee for the baptism. He also gives a gift to [the] baby called “pakimkim” in the form of jewelry or money.
The godmother or godfather becomes akin to his new comadre or compadre and acts as a second parent for the bringing up of the child as he ought to be. Interesting to note also are the beliefs related to baptism. It is commonly believed that if a godmother is holding the child and it urinates at the moment he is baptized, sooner or later the sponsor will have another godchild. If also there are a number of children baptized, and the girls outnumber the boys, the girls when they grow up will have many suitors.
When the baptismal ceremony is over, the parents or any of the relatives of the baptized children are compared to racing deer in coming out of the church. This is done so for they believe that the baptized child who first leaves the church will be
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the luckiest of all those who were baptized. So, each one races for the exit.
Now and then, please customs and traditions which are being handed down from generation to generation serve as guiding patterns for those who still adhere to them. Many have been modified because of the ever-changing conditions of the time.
Superstitious Beliefs:
People especially in the barrio still adhere to superstitious beliefs that until now they still prevail among them. These are as follows:
Marriage:
a. The bridegroom and the bride when ascending the stairs are offered sweetened water to have their marriage relation happy. Grains of rice are strewn on their pathways to give them [a] bountiful and prosperous life.
b. The bride upon arrival in the house usually tosses her bouquet intentionally or gives it unconsciously to somebody, whoever is the maiden recipient of the bouquet will be the next to marry.
c. Relatives, friends and parents of the bride and the groom are not allowed to cry during the marriage ceremony or any of the newlyweds will die.
d. The bride does not put on her wedding gown before the wedding day an accident or any form of hindrance may bar the marriage.
Baths:
a. Taking a bath on Tuesdays and Fridays will bring serious illness to a man.
b. Taking a bath on the seventeenth, twenty-seventh and thirty-first of the month is not good because it brings serious illness to a person.
c. On Saint Lazarus’s Day, taking a bath is not advisable for it will cause sickness to a person.
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Planting:
a. While planting sugarcane, it is not advisable to shake the hands because the plant will be eaten by the rats.
b. Spread the hands when planting bananas so that it will bear forth good fruits.
c. Looking up at the banana plant when planting it will cause the plant to grow tall with small fruits.
d. [The] Standing when planting bananas will influence the tree to grow very tall so it is advisable to assume the squatting position.
Gambling:
Baptism:
a. Before and after the baptismal ceremony, the godparents take care of the child’s bonnet and booties from falling to eliminate bad luck on the child’s part.
b. Conceiving and pregnant women cannot act as sponsors in the baptismal ceremony because by doing so, either the godchild or the fetus inside the god mother’s womb may die at an early age.
c. Godparents need not visit their godchildren when the latter are sick because it will cause the illness to become grave.
6. Other superstitious beliefs:
a. Sweeping the ground in the late afternoon is like driving away the wealth of the family.
b. Combing the hair in the evening will cause the early death of parents because the act at the moment means praying for the death of one’s parents.
c. A maiden singing in front of the stone while cooking will cause her to marry an old widower.
d. When three persons are taken in a pic-
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ture, the one in the middle will die.
e. In traveling, it is not good to turn the head to the left or else the demon will pull that person to ill fate.
f. During All Sainst’ Day, it is not good to clean the floor because the spirits of the dead relatives are entering the house and by doing so will drive them away.
g. [A] Corpse with open eyes is waiting for the arrival of relatives who have not yet come.
h. Cutting the nails in the evening will cause illness to that person.
i. Shaking the lamp’s receptacle will cause headaches to the house members.
j. The cat wiping its face at the head of the stairway foretells the coming of a visitor.
k. When a widow or widower is weeping over the death of his or her partner in life facing the stairway, he or she will remarry immediately whereas if facing the corner of the house, will never remarry.
MGA AWIT
Kung ang bata’y umiiyak, ito ay inaawitan ng ina upang tumahan:
Isa na rito ang pag-awit ng:
Ang dinadahilan ay wala raw saging
Nang pangakuan kong ibili ng saging
Tamo, Neneng ko, kain na nang kain
Tamo, Neneng ko, ayaw raw maligo,
Ang dinadahilan ay wala raw gugo.
Nang pangakuan kong ibibili ng gugo
Tamo Neneng ko, ligo na nang ligo.
Tamo Neneng ko, ayaw raw magsimba
Ang dinadahilan ay wala raw saya
Nang pangakuan kong ibili ng saya
Tamo Neneng ko, simba na ng simba.
Kung di nakuha sa ganitong awit, panawag-pansin naman ang gagawin ng ina:
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Ano yaon? Kanyon
Saan pumutok? Sa Muralyon.
Sino ang tinamaan? Si Nanong Garapon.
Nariyan ba si Ka Pitang?
Wala at naninindahan.
Ano ang binili? Isdang tambulukan.
Ano ang isusuka? Sampalok na mura.
Ano ang isasabaw? Ihi ng kalabaw.
Sit! Sit! Pansit!
Hoy! Hoy! Kahoy!
Kung ang bata’y gustong patahanin o patulugin ay inaawit naman ito:
Ale… Aleng namamayong
Ipakisukob yaring sanggol
Pagdating sa Malabon
Ipagpalit ng bagoong.
Ale… Aleng namamangka
Ipakisakay yaring bata;
Pagdating sa Maynila
Ipagpalit sa kutsinta
Kundiman
Hatinggabi ng Buhay
Kay lungkot ng buhay
Luha sa mata’y nanlalaglag
Wala ng ligaya
At lahat na ay pagdurusa
O ito na kaya
Ang hatinggabi ng buhay
Ay, ay buhay
Wala nang kasing-saklap
Koro
Narito ang puso ko
Nawiwindang na at ngayo’y wasak
Ang dati kong kaligayahan
Lumayo, ngayon at umilag
Kamataya’y halina
Isama ako sa hukay
At nang doon magwakas
Hatinggabi ng buhay.
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Isang Sawing Palad
May isang sawing-palad
Kaluluwang naghihirap
Pusong lipos ng sugat
Dahilan sa pagliyag
Ang dusa’t kalumbayan