MUNICIPALITY OF MONTALBAN, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 2

Then, in the early part of 1943, a certain Evaristo and Macario were killed by ex-Bataan veterans who were then organizers of guerrillas to fight the Japanese and other pro-Japanese organizations like the "ganap party," for instance. In the latter part of the same year, Isidro Salen, Vivencio Ramos, Jose Domingo, Anselmo Valdez, Isidro Ramos, Doroteo Cruz, and Vicente Ramos were also taken by the Japanese Kempeitai as guerrilla suspects, but were later released for lack of evidence.

In 1944, Lt. Col. Severo C. Cruz, an ex-USAFFE [soldier], was taken but was soon released also for lack of evidence. Then, in October of the same year he, together with Dr. Jose Bautista, Sergio Bautista, and Dominador Cueto were again imprisoned as guerrilla suspects. Not one of them returned.

In November that year, the Japanese Kempeitai stationed in Marikina came to Montalban to arrest some Marikina residens suspected of being guerrillas. There were about thirty arrested in the barrio of San Jose. To mention a few of those who never returned were Delfin Bautista, Teofilo Mendoza, Pacing Manuel, and, in fact, only about three of the ninety taken were later able to return. During the same year, there were so many political prisoners from other towns who were shot and killed at "Paang Bundok."

Before Christmas of 1944, the Japanese forces began retreating to the town of Montalban. By January of 1945, the town was fully occupied by the Japanese. Gavino Cruz and Eustaquio Rodriguez went to Manila to escape from the Japs. But, unluckily, they were captured in Manila. Later, while they were trying to escape, Eustaquio Rodriguez was shot and killed, while Gavino Cruz was able to save himself.

The townspeople, little by little, left the town. In the

In February of 1945, the Japanese forces ordered a general evacuation of the residents. On the other hand, the American forces were in full offensive. Between April and June, the whole town was razed to the ground by the Americans to clean the town of Japanese snipers.1

In July 1945, a provisional government was established with Gavino Cruz as Acting Mayor.

Little by little, rehabilitation was made. The schools were erected. The church and the municipal building were being built. Private houses were already erected, while others were still under construction. Pretty soon, Montalban will be itself again and may be nicer.

Both the men and women generally went about barefooted. Their headgear was a native hat called "salakot." They were font of personal adornments. Among these were the rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. They inserted gold between their teeth as an ornament.

They were clean and neat in their habits. Upon waking up early in the morning, they used as toothbrushes the fibrous husks of the betel nuts; and as toothpaste, they used salt and water. Their habit of chewing buyo contributed further in preserving their teeth beside strengthening their gums.

Our early ancestors practiced monogamy. However, marriage was usually arranged by parents but subject to two prerequisites: first, the lover's servitude to the girl's family; and second, the dowry, which was a sum of money, gold, property, or anything of value given by the lover to the girl's parents. In matters of servitude, the lover was supposed to help the girl's family in matters pertaining to both the domestic and field duties. The length of the lover's servitude often took a number of years before he was actually able to gain graces from the girl's parents. The dowry, which was called "bigaykaya," was a regular dowry.

The people took great care in burying their dead. The funeral was held with much weeping and sorrow. The bereaved family and friends showed their mourning by wearing black attire of clothes. The immediate family of the dead wore black for one year.

If the deceased died today, the night would be characterized by great lamentation and sorrow on the part of the immediate relatives and friends. The dead was buried the following day if the corpse was not embalmed. During the

Festivities were also the features that colored the lives of our ancestors and the traditions have been carried to date. Festivities were not made without purpose. They were held to honor someone or as a sort of thanksgiving for a beautiful [bountiful?] harvest, for the safe return oe one's beloved, or for honoring the patron saint. The last was the most common.

During such occasions, different sorts of activities were held in the town plaza. Usually, during fiestas, Masses were held in church where people even from the remotest barrios went to hear Mass. In every home, food of many kinds were served to guests invited or not invited. The fiestas were characterized by different games, dances, and amusements.

The hospitality of our folks is proverbial. It is practiced to accommodate any visitor known or unknown in every home. A visitor, in fact, is treated like a member of the family. It is also an old tradition of our folks that when they visited a friend, they usually brought with them gifts of any form, most of which were food, fruits, etc.

After a few years, a child was born and they named him Bernardo Carpio. While still a child, he showed an extraordinary strength.

When he grew up to be a man, he fell in love with a beautiful lady at first sight. But, without his knowledge, a giant happened to be courting the same girl, too. One day, he was summoned by the giant to test their own strengths and power, but luckily, Bernardo won over the giant.

The giant still did not lose hope in defeating Bernardo, so he challenged him again to have a race to the top of the mountain. It happened that the mountain was enchanted and, with the power of the giant, the two mountains became closed together with Bernardo inside. But because of his extraordinary strength, Bernardo was able to separate the two mountains again.

That's why, according to the saying of some of the old folks, every time Bernardo Carpio moves, the earth moves, too, and that's what we call an earthquake that comes from one of the mountains of Montalban.