MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF LACUB, Historical Data

This narrative consists of three parts, the first dealing with the Municipal District of Lacub (Poblacion), the second with the Barrio of Lablabinag, and the third with the Barrio of Bacag. It is the efforts of the three public school teachers of Bacag Elementary School, namely, Mr. Jaime Ola, Mr. Romulo Timbreza, and Miss Agustina Alcantara.

Since no written records were available, they had to resort to information given by old people who were in a position fo furnish the data desired.

EMILIO R. CASTILLO
Principal-In-Charge
Licuan District

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE
MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF LACUB

PROVINCE OF ABRA

PART I

The present name is Lacub or Aguingan which means "frequently surrounded by enemies." It was during the latter part of the Spanish regime, around the year 1878, when this Municipal District was founded. The strongest and bravest among the first inhabitants named Balucas served as chief.

The last "insurrecto" leader of Lacub to surrender was Lamdaw. He was appointed by the American officer to be the President. The following men served also during this period:

A place called Aguingan was believed to be where gold and precious beads were hidden by their forefathers, but until now, none had been unearthed.

A flood which the people named Ablogan destroyed many rice fields and many animals about the latter part of the Spanish regime, a day after the storm and earthquake occurred which caused landslides that buried more rice fields and animals. This earthquake lasted for one and one-half day continuously.

A guerrilla unit composed of more than one hundred well-armed men under the command of Major Walter Cushing and some other Americans raided the Japanese headquarters at Lamonan. In this raid, they were successful that Major Cushing moved to Apayao and never returned.

After a week, many Japanese soldiers went to Lacub. They tortured persons by beating them with pieces of wood and by making them drink jars of water. One of them finally revealed the place where the Americans evacuated. He guided them to this place and surprised the Americans there. The three Americans who surrendered to the Japanese were Capt. Feriam, Captain Stephen, and Lt. Ordon.

In 1944, a guerrilla named Dozon came to Lacub and executed several persons. Rich people saved their lives by giving him a hundred of grams of gold or a thousand pesos of Philippine money.

The unlucky persons who were executed by Dozon were Antonio, Ingo, Inso, Oyang and Jesus. Many animals and cavans of rice were taken by both the Japanese and the army during their stay.

Once a child is born, the parents must give a party in celebraton of its birth. They give the baby a name selected from the names of their brave and strong forefathers.

Since the marriage is through parental agreement, no courtship is observed. Both parties make an arrangement on how much the female party gets as a dowry. The contract, thus, made was signed by the two contracting parties.

If a well-to-do person dies, the remains are left unburied for a week or more. Seated on a chair at the middle of the house, the dead person is the center of celebration and ceremony.

A funeral oration is dellivered by a person who represents the dead, advising his family and asking the cooperation of the peopie of the locality to help them in some of their undertakings.

When they are visited by a close relative or an official, they usually give a party. After the meal, they bring out the gong and play. They let the visitor dance the "tadec."

During parties, they love to sing the "Oggayam." In changed verse, they also love to tell about their life in what they call the "Paliwat."

Any person found guilty was often exposed under the hot sun.

There is a handsome young man who lives at Bawao. He is fond of pretty girls. At night, he goes to the house of the girl he is courting and grabs her or throws stone at her. In order to elude him ,she must go to other places, for if she does not, she may become pregnant and die at delivery.

All young men do not eat the legs, lungs, heart and liver of any animal so that they may be able to run fast. When one dreams that the moon is shining overhead, it is believed that he may meet an accident in the future; but when the moon is in the east or west, a relative dies.

There once lived in a kaingin a couple named Wadagan and Ayo. One day, Wadagan went hunting in the forest. When he was on his way, he was bitten by a snake and so died. Late in the afternoon, his wife was very worried for her husband had not yet arrived. But at that time, dead persons could walk and talk just as the living could. At midnight, the dead rose and went home. On his arrival, he immediately went to sleep near his wife. Ayo was awakened by a strange odor. She was very much frightened for she felt a very cold body.

There was once a hunter who went to the forest with his dog to hunt for wild animals. When they were there, the dog started barking and the hunter followed his dog. After a few minutes, he came to the place where his dog was barking and found that it was barking at a turtle under a bush. Here, he found a strange grain. He took the grain and planted it. This was the first rice plant.

1. There is a long bamboo which reaches Vigan. (River)
2. There "He says, but has no eyes." (Pointing finger}

1. If there is patience, there is always success.

2. If your cow is untamed, give it plenty of salt.

3. Leam to labor and to wait.

Since during the early days, there were no calendars, and watches birds and shadows were the means of measuring time.

When a hombill (calao) says "calao cao," it is dawn already. When you are in the forest where the sun is unseen, just listen to the sound of the wild bird named Piyat. When it says "piyat, piyat," it is getting dark or around 5:30 p.m.

Committee:

JAIME L. OLA
BENGAY
MARTIN

Transcribed from:

History and Cultural Life of the Municipality of Dolores, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.