MUNICIPALITY OF CALAMBA (LAGUNA), Historical Data of Part IV

To bring prosperity and happiness throughout their wedded life, it has been the custom to throw rice at the newlyweds after the ceremony in the church and upon reaching the house.

It is the belief that to sew one's own wedding gown or to try the same before the wedding will bring bad luck. For some reason or another, the marriage ceremony may not be solemnized.

Unmarried ladies or bachelors should not act as sponsors in marriage or they will not get married anymore.

After the marriage ceremony, the bouquet is thrown at the bridesmaids. The one who catches the bouquet will get married soon.

During the marriage ceremony, the candles should be kept burning. The putting out of the light of either one of the candles accidentally signifies early death for the one who owns the candle.

It is not good to get married during the period of mourning for either party. If this happens, the couple will not have a happy life.

To ensure the prosperity and success of married life, the best time to get married is when there is a full mooon.

In barrios where bananas grow in abundance, a man cuts a broad banana leaf and uses it as an umbrella. Once indoors, he discards the leaf.

Children often use a jute sack over their heads and shoulders, tucking one closed end under the other.

When a Tagalog calls at a house and does not find anybody at the door or at the window to bid him enter, he knocks timidly on the door or on the wall and follows it with a soft, respectful, "Tao po."

Literally translated, "tao po" means "person sir," a contraction for the longer "This is a person sir!", "po" being for sir or madam. "Tao po" must have been invented a long time ago not only as a greeting to the household but also to save the people of the household the trouble of finding out if the jarring sound at the door is made by a human or an animal or the wind.

Very widespread in the Philippines is the awarding of peculiar nicknames or aliases to both men and women. Among the Tagalogs, the alias is called "bansag." One looking for a Julia de los Santos would be met by vacant stares until somebody remembers that the real name of "Juliang Basahan" (Julia the Rag) is Julia de los Santos.

This awarding of aliases makes the people in the rural areas feel closer to each other. The familiarity makes them

How do the aliases come about? They are given by one's close friends and, by frequent repetition, become known to everybody in the place. The usual bases for aliases are (1) a physical defect or peculiarity. Examples: Tomas Pilay, Bertong Duling, Juan Bulutong, etc. (2) a fondness for some peculiar food as: Pedrong Guinataan, Carlos Pakuan, Juanang Dinuguan (3) A similarity to some animals as: Inggong Daga, Joseng Kabayo Tomas Bayawak (4) Only the vulgar humor of the rural folk could be responsible for such outlandish aliases as Pedrong Sawa (Pedro the Serpent), si Apoy (the fire) (5) A bad habit as: Nenang Daldal, Busiang Galgal, etc.

It will be seen that the Tagalog bansag or alias is given more in fun and as a sign that one belongs to a compact community, than for any other reason. That's why no one resents the alias given to him no matter how humiliating it is.

1. The wife of a governmental official or a professional is not called simply by her first name or even as Mrs. So and So. If she is the wife of a doctor, she is called Doctora. The wife of the mayor is called Alkaldesa and that of the governor is called Gobernadora.

Among the Tagalogs, "Mang" is prefixed to a man's name, exclusively. It is equivalent to "Mister" but is not as respectful as "Ginoo."

When one is not familiar with a person's name and wants to call his attention, it is the height of impoliteness to use the equivalent of the American "Hey!" The address used is "Mama" (equivalent to Mister) or "Ale" (equivalent to "Miss" or "Mrs.").

Wives of men occupying high positions in the government get the same titles as their husbands except that the suffix "a" is added. Thus, the wife of the capitan is addressed Capitana, governadora (the wife of a governor). It is a survival of the custom during the Spanish days. Both husband and wife carry the title even after the husband's administration is over. Even after their deaths, they are always referred to by these titles.