Anilao, Mabini, Batangas: Historical Data Part II
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| Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines. |
PART II
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the shoes. They went to church together with some relatives of both parties who would act as the “flower girl, best man or sponsor” of the wedding. This sponsor was responsible for all equipment needed like cushions, veil and ribbon to be used during the wedding ceremony. He was also [responsible] for the transportation. Upon reaching the church, the couple would receive Confession and Holy Communion first. Sometimes, there were many pairs to be married at the same time. After the marriage ceremony, the pairs raced rushing out of the door of the church for the belief that the first pair to go out would be lucky. During the putting of the veil on the married couple, the groom tried to step a little on the bride’s shoes, they said, the man would not be overpowered by the bride. After reaching home from the church, somebody with some sweets or calamay and a glass of water, waited at the foot of the stairs. With those, she asked the marriage couple to take some and then drink. This, they said, the couple would have a sweet life. When they were about to go up the stairs, the parents threw some rice to the couple so that they would have many children, they said. Upon entering the house, each one of them was given a lighted candle and they knelt in front of the parents, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers and relatives of both parties. The light of the candle told them of their future. If the candle burned brightly, they would have a bright future; and if the candle was put out without blowing out, then everybody became gloomy because the prediction was that that they would have bad luck. The one whose candle was put out would be the first one to die. As the wedding party went on, the bride tried to entertain the visitors by going around the giving them some cigarettes. At this time of the wedding, the sponsor or the ninong seemed to occupy a very important place. He carried with him a bottle of wine and a glass and tried to let every visitor drink so they could enjoy. When the feast was almost through came the climax which was the “Sabangan.” It was done in the following manner: the married couple sat on opposite sides of the table, each having a plate containing cigarettes or cigars. Then, the Ninang and the Ninong sat beside and called the attention of all the relatives of both parties for their gifts. The gifts were usually in terms of money, jewels or pieces of furniture. The relatives of the bride gave their gifts to the groom while the relatives of the groom gave their gifts to the bride. Thus, a short competition was aroused, much to the favor of the couple. As the couple received the gifts, they expressed their thanks and offered cigarettes or cigars to the giver. The Ninang and the Ninong also gave their gifts and they took into account the value of the dolot. When practically all the relatives had given their gifts, the sponsor counted all the money. He then wrapped it in the handkerchief of the groom, gave it to the groom and the groom, in turn, gave
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it to the bride and ask her to keep it as their first money. After this, they are now ready to go to the groom’s house. Now those people who helped in the party prepared the leftover meat and rice, the plates, the pots, the silverware, the labels and even the pot rings and rags and practically everything that had been used to be brought to the house of the groom together with the bride. The bride, with the relatives of the groom and all others who assisted in the party, led the parade to the groom’s house. The relatives of the groom shouted with joy as they went waving flags made out of their handkerchiefs or sometimes from towels used in the party, while the other people who carried the pots, the plates, the leftovers and all the utensils followed trying to make some fun. Upon reaching the house of the groom, pots where from into the air and when they broke into pieces, the presumption was that they would have many children. Rice was again scattered on the stairway. The bride was then led to the kitchen where she was offered a dipper of water and told that she should clean the stove after she had changed her wedding dress. While this time, the groom was left behind the house off the bride to help returning borrowed benches, tables, chairs and other equipment used. He might follow his bride the next day. The wedding day usually occurred on Monday and in the “Martisan” (Tuesday), when the groom was already in the house of the bride, the parents of the groom prepared the “maharuya.” This was made from ground sticky, ripe bananas and sugar. The first cake was exclusively made for the newly married couple. If the cake would not break, this they said, the couple would have children soon after. From that day, they would always go together for the bride to be introduced to the relatives of the groom and vice-versa. The relatives, then, of both parties usually give chickens to the couple to start a poultry with.
But today, as civilization advances, as the people are getting more and more educated, these costumes are being modified if not entirely disregarded.
Reported by:
(Mrs.) FORTUNATA A. REYES
(Miss) GLICERIA C. DIMAAPI
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DEATH AND BURIAL
Since the prehistoric period of ancient time and from time immemorial, the habits and customs in our place (Anilao) with respect to death and burial have never been modified or changed up to the present.
When someone dies without any written or verbal statement to his wife in the case of a married man, it has been the belief that the dead husband will return to his home to talk with his wife about the significant things which the former did not state before his death.
Near the corpse is placed a pair of scissors to prevent the big bird commonly called “ike” from getting the intestines of the courts. If the body of the corpse is soft, it is the presumption that a near relative will soon follow. All his children are passed over him from left to right or from right to left so that those children will forget their dead parent, and so that the children will not be bereaved or lament for a long time.
In the particular house where the corpse is, the occupants of the said house do not cook or eat any kind of leafy vegetables particularly “malunggay.” Nobody is allowed to sweep the house or yard even though how dirty the home is, not feel after the fourth day of death. On that very day (fourth day), all dirty clothes are washed and all members of the family bathe believing the gone body will bathe too in heaven, hence, knowing he is already in the next life. The plates used in the particular house are not filed one after the other until the lapse of the ninth day.
If the wife happens to die ahead of her husband, the husband is not allowed to go to the window and vice versa, when the body of the deceased (corpse) will be carried downstairs for the common belief that the days will not be far, in the case of a husband, to look for the second wife. In this case, when the mother is gone, the youngest child is dress in red to prevent her from being taken by the dead mother. The child is well taken care off especially at night for fear that the mother, who died, may come and let the child suck from her breast which will cause the child’s immediate death.
Another common belief is that no amount of tears must wet the corpse for it will cost his sufferings. He must be totally forgotten after his burial for by so
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remembering him all the time, will cause his disturbance in his resting place and will cause more sufferings on his part.
As the corpse is being carried downstairs, a dipper of water is thrown down following the corpse and immediately, all windows are closed. On the way to the grave, if the corpse is carried by persons, no carrier must utter or say that it is heavy for the belief that it will be heavier than before. All people who attend the funeral are dressed in black or in mourning attire.
In all homes, no black clothes are hung near the images of saints and virgins for the presumption that the death of another near relative is expected. No member of the family of the deceased is allowed to look at the mirror or to comb his hair thoroughly.
When an adult person died, the neighbors and relatives father to pray for the salvation of the soul of the deceased. They usually do this on the 4th, 9th and 40th day of the death. The final gathering for praying is on the death day after one year called the “wakasan.” When the family of the deceased is well-to-do, [a] big preparation is done, resembling a big party. It is the belief that when many people come, many will pray for the salvation of the soul of the deceased, so the kin of the deceased are very happy, thus, the big amount of expenses incurred in the gathering is no longer felt by the family. When the family of the deceased is poor, the preparation is simple. When children died, the praying is done only on the 4th day. During the praying dates, the altar is adorned with mourning attired with lighted candles in it. After all these mourning and praying activities, the deceased is remembered by praying nine successive days before Halloween date (Nov. 1) and every year hereafter.
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PROVERBS AND SAYINGS
(English and Tagalog)
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15. PAIN IN A FINGER IS FELT BY THE WHOLE BODY.KIND WORDS ARE THE FLOWERS,
KIND DEEDS ARE THE FRUITS.
Ang magadang puso’y parang halaman,
Ang magandang isip siyang ugat bilang,
Ang magandang salita’y bulaklak naman,
Ang magandang gawa’y bunga’y maiinam.