MUNICIPALITY OF BINANGONAN, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 1

1. At the Rizal Cement Factory, a number of Japanese officers who were on an inspection visit to the factory were liquidated by the members of the local guerrillas recognized under Col. Agustin Marking.

2. At the house of Mrs. Brigida de Ulang, a group of guerrillas was captured by the Japanese Kempetai.

3. At Wasa and Batasin, groups of retreating USAFFE men, mostly Filipinos, landed with rifles and machine guns. These army men were provided with civilian clothes by local residents, while their arms and ammunition were utilized by local bona fide guerrillas.

4. At the town plaza, the Japanese Army occasionally held meetings, informing the people, with map illustrations, that the proximity of the American forces to return to the Philippines was not only remote but also impossible.

1. Prominent members of the judicial and legislative branches of the government were evacuated to Binangonan. Among them were former Justice Mariano de Joya and now Congressman Jose Roy and their families.

2. Prominent residents of the town were imprisoned by the Imperial Japanese Army for being suspected of being members of the underground movement. Among them were Atty. Napoleon Antazo, now Justice of the Peace of Angono, Rizal, who was subjected to the severest punishments. Yet, he was able to survive this brutal treatment. Teofilo Ceñido, now a member of the Municipal Police Force, the late Emerenciano Unida, former appointed town mayor, and later beheaded for guerrilla activities. The late Moises Villamaria, one time prominent pawnshop owner of Manila, brought to this town his fortune, which consisted of pieces of jewelry, estimated to have a value of several hundred thousands of pesos.

1. The political situation, as a whole, was almost totally forgotten. Party affiliation was not distinguished. The late Mayor Felix Katipunan, last of the elective official mayors, died of a nervous breakdown. He was then succeeded by the late Vice-Mayor Emerenciano Unida.

1. During the early period of the Japanese air raids, elementary school teachers were appointed as air raid wardens, assisted by the Civilian Administration.

2. The population of the town was temporarily increased. To guide the mail carrier in delivering the mail correctly the houses were give each a number.

1. Due to the influx of evacuees, who were mostly from Manila, there was a temporary boom in the prices of foodstuffs. Evacuees who ran short of cash bartered their jewelry and other personal belongings for food. Those who really had nothing more to spend had to return to Manila, while others stayed and pursued trades like fishing and gardening to provide for their livelihood.

2. Cooperative associations were formed so that prime commodities could be purchased at government prices. These associations were later identified to have been established for the personal interests of members entrusted with the management, and naturally, were short-lived.

1945 - (1) As the inhabitants of the town celebrated its town fiesta (Feb. 25, 1945) in honor of the patron saint, Sta. Ursula, the Americans wiped away the Japanese invaders, thus liberating the town. People paraded around the town to greet the Americans. Food was given to them. In turn, the ever-kind Americans gave back to the people chocolates, candies, cigarettes, and the like.

(2) Mayorship was acquired by appointment just after the liberation period. The mayor then was Casimiro Ynares. The Nacionalista Party was then in power. After the general election, the Liberal Party triumphantly came out on top in the election. Dr. Jose M. Pacis won the mayorship of the town.

1947 - There was a local election and Dr. Jose M. Pacis was elected the town mayor.

1949 - (a) Inauguration of Pritil, sponsored by Mrs. Sumulong.
(b) Inauguration of the public market, sponsored by Mrs. Primitiva Lovina.

1951 - (1) Last Sunday of May 1951, the Cavalry Mountain, with an elevation of 77-78 meters and 114 steps, was inaugurated, sponsored by Mrs. Dolores Vda. de Villamaria.

(2) During the last election (Nov. 13, 1951), Casimiro Ynares came out as mayor by a wide margin.

Submitted by:

Nothing can be said about the destruction made during the first world war. It has been said that no buildings were demolished, and only a few, if there were any, suffered the cruelties of the casadores.

During World War II, the Rizal Cement Factory was machine-gunned. However, there was no report on the loss of lives. Talim Island was bombed. There was only a few number of families who suffered. Some were killed. The suspected guerrillas of the town were taken prisoners by the Japanese. Few of them were able to escape the inhumane punishment by the Japanese. Some of them were brought to Antipolo, according to the news, but they never returned to their families. People suffered from starvation. They depended chiefly on camote, camote tops, papaya, corn, coconuts, and other vegetables. Many people contracted beriberi and other diseases.

Such were the results of World War II. The conditions that prevailed during those days created in our youth a bad trait, and that was the loss of respect for oneself and other people.

After the death of Mayor Emerenciano Unida, Dr. Jose Pacis took his place. He, although silent in nature, has done a lot for the improvement of our community. Among them are as follows:

(1) The Muelle de Sta. Ursula was built for the benefit of the people coming from the islands. Formerly, the place was so stony, muddy, and an unsightly place. But at present, after the construction, it can be considered as one of the best wharves along Laguna de Bay.

(2) The new market place was also an outstanding improvement through the initiative of Dr. Jose M. Pacis. The money was borrowed from the RFC. The market place was inaugurated last 1948.

(3) The town plaza, a place for recreation, staging programs, meetings and the like, was another improvement that should be accredited to Dr. Pacis. It was inaugurated last 1950.

(4) Roads were reconstructed and artesian wells were built in different barrios to safeguard the health of the barrio folks who depended on Laguna de Bay for their supply of water.

(5) Concrete steps were built up to Calvary, a place which is considered as a religious one in the locality.

It was the belief that during the delivery of a child, the husband should not stand at the door, otherwise the mother would encounter difficulties. If a child was born feet first, then it was said that he will possess the power to remove bones of fish [stuck] in our throats.

Births during those times were not recordd. The child grew up to manhood without being registered in the municipality. So, when an individual looked for a certain person, either for good or for bad, he or she could not be ascertained.

Baptism is one of the most sacred rites among the Filipinos. When a child is set for Baptism, the parents select a person or persons whom they like best [to act] as the child's godparents. It is believed that the child inherits the traits of the godparents, and that they look upon them as their second parents. In the event that the child's parents die, the godparents take it as a moral obligation upon themselves to look after the child as a father or a mother.

A young man who is in love with a lady visits her in her house to express all that is in the man's heart regarding his feelings towards the woman. Before a man can come up to the house of the woman he loves, he needs to call several times by the gate. The man shall not come up unless he is invited three times to come; for if he comes up for just a call, he will be greatly criticized.

The man ascends the stairs after the third invitation to come up only until the doorstep of the house. He shall greet all the old folks found in the house. Soon, the man shall be invited to take a seat. He shall not sit until after the third offer.

As soon as he is seated, the parents ask him [for] his errand. Then, the father or the mother calls for the lady concerned. They sit opposite about two meters away from each other in the presence of the parents. A man shall never dare to come near a woman because such is the disgrace to him if, by several visits, the man win's the woman's interest, still, the parents shall decide as to whether she shall marry the man [or not].

Their parents trace their ancestors. If the ancestors are found to possess good characteristics, the parents may agree or consent to the marriage. Sometimes, courtship takes place between the parents without the consent of the children. Marriage can be done at the discretion of the parents.

Marriage can be decided by the parents of both parties but never by the children alone, unlike now. When a man wants to marry, his parents notify the parents of the woman he loves. After the notification, the relatives of the woman shall be informed. No agreement is made without the presence of all the relatives of the woman. A fix is set aside for them to meet.

During the first meeting, wine, buyo, and cigarettes are brought by the parents of the man to the woman's house. These are served to the woman's relatives in the course of the conversation. In case both parties agree to marry their children, a dowry is set such as:

1. A parcel of land to be given to the woman's parents.

2. A certain amount of money.

3. Clothes, jewelry, and animals.

4. The house of the woman to be mended, if necessary.

When a date is set aside for the marriage, the man temporarily stays with the woman in her house. He undertakes all the work in the house. He does the cooking, the cleaning, the fetching of water, the feedingof domestic animals, and the washing of the dishes and utensils.

When the dowry is to be submitted to the parents of the girl, some kind of food like pansit, kilawin, puto, or sinukmani are prepared by the parents of the man. Each kind of food is placed in a con-

tainer is carried by a partner, a young man and a woman.

The punisments imposed upon the people before were very different from the present. Some of the punishments imposed, especially among pupils, were the following:

1. Kneeling on a place where there were scattered mongoes.

2. Stretching both arms with heavy articles placed on the palms.

3. Sitting on nothing in the air.

4. Holding crosswise both arms jumping and jumping continuously for a length of time.

5. Standing among red ants.

6. Drying in the sun.

7. Whipping with leather belts.

8. Locked in a room alone.

Among the punishments given to the old folks were:

1. Pouring water through the mouth and nose.

2. Buring [burning?] people until [up to?] the knee.

3. Hanging with the feet upwards.

4. Whipping with leather belts until the body is still or [page torn]

5. Burning parts of the body with flames.

6. Tied among red ants.

7. Striking all the ends of the fingers.

All punishments imposed before were almost fatal. The almost pathetic condition of the accused was that they were were never given a trial which was humane.

1. Sweeping at night will bring bad luck.

2. If a black butterfly or bug enters the house, it means that somebody in the family has died.

3. Leaving the house while members are still eating at the table will bring bad luck or an accidentto the former.

4. If the bridegroom ascends the stairs ahead of the bride, he will be the dominant member of the partnership.

5. If a black cat runs across your way, you will meet an accident.

6. Sisters or brothers marrying the same year will bring unhappiness to one of the couples.

7. The dead visit members of the family on the third day after the burial.

8. Throwing rice over the newlyweds brings good luck to them.

9. The dropping of spoons and forks during mealtime indicates the arrival of visitors.

10. Breaking a mirror means seven years of bad luck.

11. Wearing pearls on your wedding day portends an unhappy married life.

12. Adopting a poor child will bring good luck.

13. It is bad for the bride to try on her wedding gown before the wedding, as it will bring bad luck.

14. Trimming of nails on Mondays & Fridays will result in hang nails.

15. The howling of dogs at night means that somebody is ill or dying.

16. A pregnant woman in the [page torn]

will bring her bad luck.

When an ugly person marries a beautiful woman, it is said that he has a "gayuma," otherwise he could not have been loved by the woman.

To possess this charm or amulet, it is the common belief that one interested must patiently wait for a body to die. On the first day of the burial, he should wait for midnight and then secretly dig up the grave and open the coffin. The should then bite one of the last fingers and keep it in his mouth. After this, specters or ghosts will appear and engage him in a fight for the possession of the finger. Should he succeed in this trial and come out of the fight with a finger, he will then have a "gayuma." This wound, then, be used to charm the woman and take on as many as he chooses.

Among older folks of our place, it is the belief that there are some who are possessed with the supernatural power to render one inconvenience or sickness. Also, he is unseen or far away. This is what we call in our place "tabang." When a person loses something of great value which he thinks has been taken intentionally or in bad faith, he will then consult a "tabangero" in order to atone for his loss. The "tabangero," however, in order to will not consent until after he has weighed every circumstance in connection with the loss or finds out that the complainant is, according to his personal judgment, morally and materially abused. In the affirmative, he will then caution the complainant to get or steal anything (a handkerchief, etc.) that belongs personally to the suspect and, with his name written on a piece of paper, it will be placed in a bamboo tube (bombong) together with a frog (palakang langit), after which the "tabangero" will utter some mysterious incantations and seal the tube tight-

ly. The bamboo is then left hanging from a tree. After this process, the suspect begins to feel pains in the stomach, which gradually grows bigger every passing day.

Gaway is the native name associated with the inhuman power that makes one insane. When one fails in his love affairs or just for sheer envy, "gaway" is resorted to. A doll, a needle, plus some magic words are the things that some up this bundle of inhumanities.

A person failing in his lone pursuits with a woman, and fearing that she will fall into the hands of another, will engage the services of a "manggagaway" for a considerable amount of money. The "manggagaway" will then get a doll and pierce it with a needle in the different parts of the body. Simultaneous with the process, the supposed victim feels the pains and whirls in agony through the magic incantations of the "manggagaway." The victim loses his sane mind and remains there unless so decided by the "manggagaway." There are, however, some quacks who are said to possess the power to cure this malady with the aid of some seashells (corales), in which case the "manggagaway" is known and then forced to restore the victim to his natural mind.

The following are the popular songs, games, and amusements common in the town of Binangonan:

TUBIGAN OR PATENTERO:

This is a game common in the town of Binangonan, played by two contending teams, each consisting of four players. The first players to act at the IT are posted on the lines drawn either by pouring water or drawing lines on the ground. The opposing team runs across the lines on which the ITs are posted by using

Transcribed from:

Historical Data of the Municipality of Binangonan, Province of Rizal, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.