MUNICIPALITY OF ALAMINOS (PANGASINAN), Historical Data of
[Note to the reader: It is regrettable that most of the historical data of the Municipality of Alaminos in the Province of Pangasinan appear to have been destroyed. The document on file at the digital library of the National Library of the Philippine begins at page number 18; and moreover, all of the measly five pages left have been torn off in parts. There will be an attempt to transcribe these pages, nonetheless; but suffice it to say some of the transcription may not make any sense at all.]
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by the sponsors, including the musicians, if there are any.
3. At the end of the celebration, the new couple, accompanied by music, goes to a certain house preferably a relative of the groom, wherein the groom grabs the bride and places her on the laps of his parents; after which she will open a trunk where the clothing of the groom is and including the inventory of the dowries.
4. On the first night after the celebration, the girl sleeps in the home of the groom and the boy sleep's in the bride's home.
5. When the new couple ascends the stairs of the bride's house, they go together and usually, before ascending, they are showered with rice, fine leaves or flowers.
6. The one having a brighter life in the church is believed to have a longer life. Marriages of sisters and brothers on the same year is not advisable for it brings misfortunes [torn].
E. Death:
1. There was no sign of mourning when the dead is being [torn] years. A band of black cloth is worn by the men who mourn a dead person from eight years or older, while the women wear black clothing.
F. Burials:
1. Members of the dead's family are not allowed to look, not even a glance, at the grave or tomb while [torn] being placed, for [torn] that the dead will have to take another [torn] within a short period.
2. All properties of the deceased such as clothing, jewels, needles, pictures and the like are buried with him.
G. Visits:
1. If visitors come on Mondays, it is presumed that you will have a visitor throughout the week.
2. The frequent rejoicing of the house lizard in the house tells the coming of a visitor.
H: Festivals:
1. The Fiesta and holidays are religiously observed by the people. They do not do any kind of work.
2. During the Holy Week, the people do not work. They are even prohibited to carry an umbrella, to ride on animals' backs and to climb trees.
3. Fiestas are celebrated elaborately and with [torn]
I. Punishments:
1. Punishments during the old days were [torn] the great fear of the children to [torn] mistake.
2. A breaker of customs and [torn] fine or free labor [torn] demons and follows [torn]
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and God was the only creature in Heaven seem [unreadable] life is worth living. He felt sad and pondered. A few moments after, He came to the conclusion that He should create things to make Him happy. So, one day, He started to [unreadable] out His plan. His work was finished in seven days and it is now the world in which we live in.
b. Origin of the Land:
1. It is generally believed that the land was created by God Himself so that He could place all His creations at His pleasure.
c. Origin of Mountains and Caves:
1. It was generally accepted by the old people of Apangbangan that the mountain sediments of the water that [unreadable] up during the great flood of a certain God called Noah.
2. The caves were said to be places of big fishes that were dashed up in the waves in the great flood of Noah.
d. Origin of the Seas:
1. So far, there is no myth, legend, belief, interpretation or superstition as regards to the origin of the tide phenomenon.
e. Origin of Lakes:
1. It is said that these lakes were the footsteps of a giant that moved from his place of abode immediately after the great flood of Noah.
f. Origin of Plants:
1. So far, there is nothing said about [torn]
g. Origin of Trees:
1. No comment on this phenomenon, however, [torn] ways regarding some of them. Big trees [torn] for the belief that it is the home of an [torn] if you cut these big trees, you may either [torn] severe sickness. The balete is generally believed [torn] home of ghosts.
h. Origin of Animals:
1. It was accepted in the long, long past God found [torn] discontent in His creation of the forest, grasses, and that [torn] of men because it made the earth dirty and the men, so sad [torn] about living on herbs and grasses. God, seeing this adverse [torn] condition of men, thought of creating the animals to clean [torn] the fields and roam the forests. These also served as food [torn] the lonely men.
i. Origin of the Sun:
1. The sun had been interpreted as God Himself. [torn] based on the fact that it floats in the air [torn] beautiful and warm.
j. Origin of the Moon:
1. The moon is interpreted as a modest [torn] fairy who comes to earth to comfort [torn] inviting them to enjoy with her soft [torn] love.
k. Origin of the Stars:
1. A mother who punished [torn] their corn harvest [torn]
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for seedlings were roasted. She got the roasted corn [torn] and threw them out of their house. The young child grieved deeply and went to sleep. While he was asleep, he dreamed that his popcorn was gathered around him, waking him up. He was awakened, and to his surprise, stars where shining upon him through their open window.
l. Origin of Eclipses:
1. No comments regarding its origin but it is believed to be a sign of misbehavior on the part of God's creatures, especially men.
m. Origin of Earthquakes:
1. It is interpreted as the movement of a man pushed into a rock by one of the angels of God for challenging the power of the said angel. When the tremor is stronger, it is also believed that this bad man is at the [torn] his anger.
n. Origin of Lightning and Thunder:
1. Lightning is generally interpreted as the cause [torn] friction of the bad man's (which causes earthquakes [torn] iron chain when he wrestles for his freedom and [torn] thunder is said to be his loud challenging voice.
o. Origin of Clouds:
1. The clouds are said to have been forced by a [torn] caused by the fire we build on earth and moisten [torn] the coolness of the night.
p. Origin of the Rain:
1. None.
q. Wind and Storm:
1. This phenomenon is said to be under the control and desecration [unsure of this transcription] of the saint named Lorenzo. This said saint did not know his feast day. He asked anyone he met about it. People, knowing that he was the controller of a storm, did not tell him the correct date, even if the day was already at hand, because if he was told the right date, he celebrated it with winds of great velocity that few could survive. Then, when he met them again, they would tell him that his day had already passed. This, he would celebrate with strong winds depending upon the recency of the real day, the more recent [torn] it was, the stronger the wind and the longer it had [torn] the gentler was the wind. This wind of St. Lorenzo [torn] is said to be kept in a big iron tube.
r. Origin of the Changes of the Climate:
1. Nothing is known about it in Amangbangan.
s. Origin of the First Man and Woman:
1. This phenomenon is said to be a mystery as [torn] and woman are said to have come from the [torn] bamboo.
t. Origin of the Birth of Twins or More:
1. The phenomenon behind this [torn] especially to the women [torn] eating twin fruits [torn] the like.
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u. Origin of Magic, Sickeness, Witchcraft, and Divination:
1. There are no beliefs, superstitions, or myths regarding the occurrence of these phenomena.
12. Popular songs; games and amusements:
1. Songs: Kundiman, Dallot, Pasion, Pantawtawag, and the Albasia.
2. Games: Softball, volleyball, cockfighting, monte, and tupa.
3. Amusements: Siatog, dama, dramas, storytelling, riddles, and chungka.
2. Games: Softball, volleyball, cockfighting, monte, and tupa.
3. Amusements: Siatog, dama, dramas, storytelling, riddles, and chungka.
13. Puzzles and Riddles:
1. Puzzles: Dama, domino, siatog, and chungka.
2. Riddles:
2. Riddles:
a. Ni Jesus enao pay laen nalpas nga nagtutoocken?
b. Daguiti sasantos anta sasantos da ngaruden dida pay la nakita iti apo tay a dies [or Dios].
c. When you remove or deduct, it widens, or become longer, but when you add, it becomes shorter and smaller.
b. Daguiti sasantos anta sasantos da ngaruden dida pay la nakita iti apo tay a dies [or Dios].
c. When you remove or deduct, it widens, or become longer, but when you add, it becomes shorter and smaller.
14. Proverbs and Sayings:
a. If you don't have patience, you don't eat.
b. Repentance always comes at the last.
b. Repentance always comes at the last.
[Note to the reader: The rest of this page was so badly torn there was no point in attempting to transcribe it.]
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PART III - OTHER INFORMATION
17. Information on books and documents treating of the Philippines and the names of their owners: None.
18. The names of Filipino authors born or residing in the community, the titles and subjects of their works, whether printed or in manuscript form, and the names of persons possessing these: None.
[Note to the reader: The remainder of this page in the original file appears to be part of the historical data of one of Alaminos' barrios and will, therefore, not be transcribed as the historical data for barrios are transcribed separately from those of the poblacions.]
Transcribed from:
Historical Data for the Municipality of Alaminos, Pangasinan, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.