MUNICIPALITY OF BINANGONAN, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 3

Nabalisa si Isabel.

Nang gabing iyon ay hindi nakatulog ang mga taga-Pilapila. Katakut-takot na ingay ang gumambala sa kanila. Nang sila'y sumilip sa butas ng dingding at siwang ng mga bintana ay nasindak sila nang makita ang maraming demonyong nagliliparan at gumagawa ng tulay.

Kinilabutan si Isabel. Nagkurus siya at nagtungo sa simbahan ng nayon. Batid niyang ang binatang kumausap sa kanya ay isang demonyo.

Hinanap ni Isabel ang sakristan. Ipinatunog niya rito ang kampana. Kinuha ng dalaga ang malaking kurus na nasa altar ng simbahan at siya'y nagtungo sa pinagtatayuan ng tulay ng mga demonyo.

Nang makita ng mga demonyo ang dala ni Isabel ay nanginig ang kanila mga katawan. Tinakpan ang kanila mga mukha at saka lumayo.

Ang tulay ay hindi nayari.

Kimaumagahan ay nakita na lamang ng mga taga-Pilapila ang puntod ng bato sa baybay ng lawa. Yaon ang simula ng tulay na ibig itayo ng mga demonyo sa ibabaw ng Lawa ng Laguna.

Binangonan, a lake town of Rizal, is to the young a paradise, to the weary a haven of peace, to the nature-lovers a masterpiece of nature. Yes, this is Binangonan, which can boast of its famous little mountain, the Kalbaryo, that rises in the eastern nook of the town. It is rich in islets inhabited by simple, busy folks. It owns, too, the famous island of Talim, roofed by the azure skies and enveloped by verdant hills and the limpid waters of Laguna Lake. All these sum up Binangonan, the home of twenty-thousand peace-loving and God-fearing people.

Shortly before the discovery of the Philippines, this lake town was ruled by a sultan who was lucky enough to be a (familiar) father of Mahinhin, a beauty radiant to behold. Mahinhin grew to be a young lady whose beauty was enviable and well-known not only

[Note to the reader: Some texts or pages seem to be missing from the the last line in the previous page.]

receive me as a man.

such as pancit, putong-puti, bibingka, etc. This "panik-kanin" is done as a token of gratitude of the parents of the bridegroom for the peaceful settlement of their son's love affair.

Like marriage and courtship, Baptism has its own peculiarities. Upon a child's delivery, the parents notify the man or the woman whom they want to be their child's godfather or godmother. As a preliminary step the actual Baptismal ceremony, the parents give the child a "buhos-tubig."

"Buhos-tubig" is a form of local way of baptizing a child. It is done when for one reason or another, the child cannot be baptized right away. In it, an old man says a prayer while the godfather or the godmother holds the child and lights a candle. After praying, the old man pours water unto the child's head and pronounces the child baptized. After the ceremony, the godfather or the godmother offers drinks to visitors who are present.

Then, the parents and the compadre or the comadre set aside a day for the actual Baptism in the church. On the appointed date, great feasting is observed. The sponsors spend for the

baby's clothes and church fees. Again, they offer drinks to everybody present at the baby's home. Most often, the sponsors give the baby some presents which may be in the form of money, jewelry, or clothing.

A person at the point of death is made to have his Confession to a priest. After the Confession, the dying man is said to be ready for his departure for the land hereafter. An old "manang" is summoned to come to pray for the soul of the dying man. "Pahesus" is the term used for the purpose. When the person dies, his relatives give him the best clothes, a nice coffin, and an expensive tomb if they can afford it.

At night, the relatives, close friends, and sympathizers watch the dead lying in state. As usual, the host offers the visitors coffee and bread. Most often to pass away the time, the younger set play parlor games. The games are played till dawn of the following day. Some of the most commong parlor games are:

a. Sukluban

b. Huego de Prenda

c. Bulong-Pari

On the day following the death of a person, a cross and wreaths of fresh or artificial flowers are made. With all the relatives in mourning, the dead is taken to the church for necrological rites. From the church, the relatives and sympathizers of the dead person proceed to the cemetery where the dead is to be buried in a grave or tomb. For nine consecutive nights after the burial, a prayer is said in honor of the departed soul. The ninth day is called "Katapusan ng Siyam." On this night, the relatives of the dead offer a party. Friends and other relatives give financial aid to insure the success of the party. However, this is not the last of the offerings made in honor of the dead. One year after the death of the person, another party called the "paladlag-luksa" is held. Every year thereafter, during All Saints' Day, parents

and close relatives visit the tomb or the grave to make the necessary offerings.

a. It is bad to pay a debt at night. The debtor will become poor.
b. It is bad to sit at the doorway when somebody in the house is pregnant. The pregnant woman will suffer great hardship and is liable to die during delivery.
c. Sewing clothes while wearing it will cause the person to bear a child without an anus.
d. Sweeping at night will make one bankrupt.
e. Meeting a black cat on the way at night is a sign of a bad omen.
f. Dreaming of an extracted tooth is a sign that a relative will die.
g. A dog howling at night will bring bad luck to his master.
h. The clucking of hens in the evening means a bad thing will happen.
i. A person who takes a bath when somebody in the community is dead will also die.
j. When one combs his hair at night, he will become poor.
k. When one loans money at night, he will become poor.
l. If one leaves while someone is eating, one is liable to meet an accident on his way.
m. A person who goes on a journey when a dead person is lying in state will meet accidents.
n. One who trims his fingernails on Thursday will get sick.
o. One will get ill health if one takes a bath on Friday.

There is a place in Pipindan which the people call Batasin. That place is a strip of land connecting

the barrio to a promontory called Tapao Point. Whenever there is high tide, the Batasin is submerged in water, cutting off the promontory from the mainland. For sometime, the Batasin serves as a river. The word Batasin is derived from the word "butasin." "Butas" means a hole or a tunnel.

a. Indoor Baseball b. Patintero c. Hide-and-Seek

d. Piko e. Volleyball f. Basketball

a. Sarsuela (stage show)

b. Moro-moro, a form of drama depicting the life in European kingdoms. Examples of the Moro-moro are:

(1) Don Juan Teñoso
(2) Ibong Adarna
(3) Siete Infantes de Lara

The following are examples of the popular songs in the barrio:

Kung ako man ay malayo
At di ka abutin ng tanaw
Huwag ka sanang malulungkot
Luluha at magdaramdam
Kay pait, kay saklap
Na kita'y maghiwalay
Di ano ang gagawin
Ang palad ko'y sadyang ganyan.

Hindi sa aking paglayo
Kita irog ay lilisanin
At iwawaglit ka na
Sa aking panimdim
Hindi ako isang ibon
Na kung matapos gumiliw

Lilipad sa malayo
At di ka na papansinin.

Ako'y isang ibong sawi
Na hindi na makalipad
Na sa puso'y may sugat
At walang lumingap
Inabot ng hatinggabi
Sa madilim na paglipad
Nasaan ngayon ang aking pugad?
Sa mata mo'y mayroon kang
Langit na pangarap
At sa puso'y mayroon pang
Pugad ng paglingap
Kung ako'y mamamatay
Sa kapighatian
Sa piling mo lamang
Muli ako mabubuhay.

a. Sa taong may hiya Ang salita ay panunumpa.	a. To the man of honor, His word is sacred.
b. Sukat sa katagang sabi, Sa marunong umintindi.	b. To the intelligent, A word is enough.
c. Ang bayaning nasusugatan Nag-iibayo ang tapang.	c. A wounded hero Becomes braver.
d. Ang taong nagigipit Kahit sa patalim ay kumakapit.	d. A person in dire need Will hold onto even a sharp blade.
e. Ang pagsasabi ng tapat Pagsasamahang maluwat.	e. Frankly speaking is a way To true friendship.
f. Madaling maging tao Mahirap magpakatao.	f. It is easy to be a man; It is difficult to be one.
g. Anumang gagawin Makapitong iisipin.	g. Think seven times Before you do anything.
h. May tainga ang lupa	h. Earth has ears

May pakpak ang balita.	News have wings.
i. Walang lihim na Hindi nahahayag.	i. There is no secret Which is not revealed.
j. Aanhin pa ang damo Kung patay na ang kabayo.	j. For what use is the hay If the horse is already dead.
k. Ang magtanim ng hangin Bagyo ang aanihin.	k. He who sows wind Gathers storms.
l. Ang kalinisan ay susog Ng kabanalan.	l. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
m. Kahit saang gubat Ay may ahas.	m. In every thicket There is a snake.
n. Ang mahinahong pangungusap Sa puso'y nakalulunas.	n. Soft words bring joy To the heart.
o. Ang maghanap sa wala Ulol ang kamukha.	o. He who looks for nothing Is like an insane person.
p. Kung ano ang itinanim Siyang aanihin.	p. Ye shall reap What ye sow.

There are various methods of measuring time in this barrio. The most common are the following:

a. The use of burning cigarettes:

Burning cigarettes seems a convenient way of measuring time to the old barrio folks. They believe that cigarettes, when lighted, are consumed in the same length of time.

b. The rising and setting of the sun, moon, and stars.

Through continuous observation of the position of various heavenly bodies, old folks claim that they can tell time as accurately as a clock. Experience taught them that the position of a heavenly body corresponds to time on the dial of a watch. For instance, when the sun is overhead, to them it means it is already twelve o'clock noon.

c. The humming of an insect called "Wiswisan."

There is a certain insect in the barrio which closely resembles a big grasshopper. This insect is locally called "Wiswisan." According to the old folks, beginning at six o'clock in the afternoon, it hums once every sixty minutes. As such, they use it as a device for measuring time.

d. The opening of the flowers of the sponge gourd (patola).

Patola flowers are said to open at exactly four o'clock in the afternoon.

e. The closing of the leaves of the acacia tree.

The leaves of the tree are said to close at approximately four o'clock in the afternoon.

f. The crowing of fowls.

Roosters are said to crow at different specific times at night. The first crowing takes place at ten o'clock; the second at twelve; the third at three; the fourth at four; and then they continued crowing till dawn.

a. Binatak ko ang bagting Nagsasayaw ang matsing. TROMPO	a. I pulled a string; the monkey began dancing. TOP
b. Gumagapang pa lamang ang ina; ang anak ay nag-uupo na. KALABASA	b. The mother is still crawling; the son is already sitting. SQUASH
c. Pumutok, di narinig; tumama pa'y di masakit. ARAW	c. It burst but was not heard; it struck but was not felt SUN
d. Bahay ni Gabriel naliligid ng baril. PAPAYA TREE	d. The house of Gabriel surrounded by rifles. PAPAYA TREE
e. Isang batang maganda;	e. A pretty girl sitting

naka-up sa tasa. KASOY	on a bowl CASHEW
f. Sa gitna ng karagatan; may isang pagawaan. TIYAN	f. In the middle of the sea; there is a factory. STOMACH
g. Isang pinggan; laganap sa buong bayan. BUWAN	g. A beautiful place occupying a country-space MOON
h. Tinaga ko sa gubat sa dibdib ko nag-iiyak. GUITARA	h. It hit it in the forest it cried on my breast. GUITAR

COMPILED AND SUBMITTED BY:

(MRS.) JOAQUINA C. BARANDA
PIPINDAN BARRIO SCHOOL

a. Reverence for the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
b. Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.
c. Huwag mong isusuot ang damit pangkasal kundi sa oras [araw] ng kasal.

(a) Position of the sun - People, especially those out in the country, where time pieces are seldom found, avail themselves of the position of the sun for determining time. When the sun is overhead, it is their conception that it is more or less 12 o'clock noon. Whether this be accurate or not, it cannot be denied that they utilize their system for their own.
(b) Crowing of the cocks in the morning - Some people determine that the first crowing of the cock falls at around 2 to 3 o'clock; the second at 3 or 4 o'clock; and the third at 4:00 to 5:00 A.M.
(c) Positions of the stars - Some believe that when the Dipper stands perpendicularly, it is around 12:00 at night. When it falls toward the west, it is around 2 to 3 o'clock in the morning.
(d) Shadow of a person - When the shadow of a person fall almost to his feet, the presumption is that it is noontime, that is, 12 o'clock.

Transcribed from:

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