MUNICIPALITY OF MORONG, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 5

ng tao. Kumalat ang balita at pangyayari, at upang mabigyan yao ng pangalan ay tinawag na Saging. Kaya't ang saging ay nanggaling daw sa kamay ng tao o ng "Lamang-Lupa."

"Saging" or banana is an indispensable item in the daily diet of all Filipinos. It is nourishing, medicinal, and delicious. The legend tells that long ago, there were two lovers, Huwana and Aging, whose love affair was objected to by the girl's father. In spite of warnings, he could not prevent them from meeting. One day, when he came home, he saw the hand of Aging as it was placed on the window wall. He took his bolo and but the hand. Huwana, in grief, buried the hand and, from this, there grew a strange plant with a strange fruit, like long fingers. She named it "si Aging" which later became just plain "saging."

Noong unang panahon, ayon sa isang matanda sa nayon, noon wala pang banyagang bansang nakakasakop sa bayan ng Morong, ay may isang binatang sugarol na nakatira sa paanan ng bundok na hindi tantong kalayuan sa bayan ng Morong. Ang binatang ito'y natutong mangibig sa isang dalagang paminsan-minsan lamang makita, at may pambihirang ganda. Ang dalagang ito'y hindi nalalaman ng binata, ay isa palang encantadang makapangyarihan, nguni't nabihag sa matatamis at mapamihag na pahayag ng binata. Lubhang kilala ang ating binatang ito sa tawag na Isagani at ang dalagang encantada naman ay sa tawag na Santa.

Minsan sila'y nalalasing sa pulot-gatang pagsisintahan ay nasabi ni Santa na tigilan na sana ni Isagani ang pagsusugal at masiyahan na lamang sa tamis ng kanilang pagmamahalan.

Nguni't sa halip na paunlakan ang mabuting aral na ito ay kanya pang kinutya ito. Dinamdam ni Santa ang pagkutyang ito sa kanya, kaya't makapangyarihan sinabing ang magandang binatang si Isagani ay magiging isang matalinong kuago na siyang magiging tagapag-alaga ng bundok sa dakong nilulubugan Febo sa bayan ng Morong.

Long ago, according to an old man, when our town Morong was not yet under foreign rule, there was a young man, a gambler, who lived at the foot of the mountain not far from the poblacion. This young man loved a very beautiful woman whom he saw quite seldom. He didn't know that she was a fairy. The young man was popularly known as Isagani and the young woman Santa.

Once, while they were in the midst of their sweetest relationship, Santa requested Isagani to stop gambling. The young man was stunned and surprise at what his loved one said. Instead of obeying her request, he despised her. Santa felt it was too much so she said that Isagani would become a wise owl to guard and take care of the mountain.

She touched Isagani by the ear and, with her supernatural power as a fairy, the young man became an owl.

This was the beginning or the origin of the name of the mount of Bahay Kuwago.

I. Animals	I. Hayop
1. When an owl hoots in U-ugong, it is going to rain. When it hoots at the church's tower the weather will be fine.	1. Kapag ang kuwago'y humuni sa U-ugong, nangangahulugang uulan, kapag humuni sa tore ng simbahan, magibing mabuti ang panahon.
2. When a firefly enters the house at night, it is going to rain.	2. Kapag pumasok ang alitap- tap sa loob ng bahay, nanga- ngahuhugang uulan.
3. When earthworms appear, the rain will fall.	3. Pag lumitaw ang bulate sa lupa ay uulan
4. When there is continuous rain and then the frogs begin to croak, the rain will stop.	4. Pag ulan ng ulan at humuni ang mga palaka, titigil na ang ulan.
5. When winged ants enter the house, the rain will fall.	5. Pag pumasok sa loob ng bahay ang langgam na may pakpak, uulan.
6. When a house lizard makes noise near the door, a visitor will come.	6. Pag humuni ang butiki sa may pinto, magkakaroon ng bisita.
7. When cockroaches fly, it will rain.	7. Pag lumipad ang ipis, uulan.
8. When a snake crosses the river, the water will become big.	8. Pag ang ahas ay tumawid sa ilog, lalaki ang tubig.
9. When rats are scolded aloud, the more they eat the clothes and palay.	9. Pag kinagalitan ang daga ng malakas, lalong naninira sila ng damit at palay.
10. When a kingfisher makes sounds at the river bank it will rain.	10. Pag ang salaksak ay humuni sa tabing ilog, uulan.
11. When a cat sits at the stairs, visitors will come.	11. Pag ang pusa ay tumigil at naupo sa hagdan, magkakaroon ng bisita.
12. When one steps on a turtle his foot will have cracks.	12. Pag natapak ang paa sa pagong ang paa nito ay magpuputok putok.
13. Centipedes will fall when one sweeps at night.	13. Pag nagwalis kung gabi, mala- laglag ang mga alupihan.

14. If the goose makes noise at night, you can be sure that there are intruders in the yard.	14. Pag ang gansa'y nagsisigaw sa gabi, ay may tao raw nag- nanasa ng masama sa iyo.
15. If someone is bitten by a dog, kill the dog and get the brain. Let the person bitten eat the brain.	15. Pag nakagat ng aso, patayin ang aso at kunin ang utak at ipakain sa nakagat.
16. The howling of dogs at night is a sign that someone will fall ill or die in the house it is facing.	16. Ang pag-aangol ng aso sa gabi ay pangitain ng pagkakasakit ng mabigat o pagkamatay ng tao sa bahay na hinaharap nito.
17. An owl making sounds at night in the cemetery foretells the death of someone in the community.	17. Ang kuwagong nagsisigaw sa pantiyon ay nagbabalita ng pagkamatay ng isang tao sa bayan.
18. A black cat crossing one's path foretells an unsuccessful trip or disappointment.	18. Ang itim na pusang masalubong o kumurus sa daan ay nagpapa- hiwatig ng kasiphayuan sa layunin ng lakad.
19. The appearance of black snakes in the house foretells [good] fortune.	19. Ang paglitaw ng ahas na binge sa bahay ay nagpapahiwatig ng kaluwagan sa pamumuhay kung hindi man kasaganahan.
20. Owls frequenting the center of the town brings with it misfortune in the form of epidemics.	20. Ang paglitaw ng kuwago sa git- na ng kabayanan ay nagdadala ng salot.
21. Flocks of monkeys going down to town means famine.	21. Kapag bumaba ng bayan ang kawan ng mga matsin ay pangi- tain ng kagutuman.
22. The cackling of hens after dark before sunrise and after sunset foretells misfortune.	22. Ang pagputak ng manok sa gabi at madaling araw ay pangitain ng masamang sakuna na darating sa may-ari.

II. Persons	II. Tao
1. When two persons speak at the same time, a visitor is coming.	1. Pag nagkasabay ng pagsasali- ta ang dalawang tao, may dara- ting na panauhin.
2. When a person has a mole on his shoulder, he is to shoulder heavy burdens.	2. Pag ang tao'y may taling sa balikat, siya ay pasang krus.
3. When one's stomach is full press the stomach with a ladle to avoid stomach ache.	3. Kapag busog na busog, kayu- rin ng sandok ang tiyan u- pang huwag sumakit.

4. When one has a mole at the back, he is lazy.	4. Pag may taling sa likod, asahan mo't tamad.
5. When one has a mole on the lip, he is talkative.	5. Pag may taling sa labi, asahan at madaldal.
6. When one has a mole on the feet, he is very fond of loitering around.	6. Pag may taling sa paa, asa- ha't palaboy.
7. A person who has curly hair has a hot temper.	7. Ang taong kulot ang buhok ay bugnotin.
8. When a person has a red mole, he will marry a rich woman or vice-versa.	8. Kapag may taling na pula, magkaka-asawa ng mayaman.
9. When a person has a mole on the palm, he is a stealer.	9. Kapag may taling sa palad, asaha't magnanakaw.
10. When one tries on a wed- ding gown, the wedding will not materialize.	10. Kapag isinukat ang pangka- sal, hindi matutuloy ang kasal.
11. When one sings in front of a stove he/she will marry a widow/widower.	11. Kapag nakanta sa harap ng kalan, magkaka-asawa ng balo.
12. In a wedding party, if the bride throws the bouquet and you catch it, you will be the next one to marry.	12. Sa isang kasalan, kapag i- pinukol ang bulaklak ng iki- nasal at ikaw ang nakasalo, ay susunod ka nang ikakasal.
13. If, in a party, an unmarried woman happens to eat on a broken plate, the woman will be a spinster.	13. Kapag sa isang handaan at ang natapat na pinggan sa isang dalaga ay may basag, asa- ha't tatandang dalaga.
14. If the bride steps on her veil, she will dominate her husband.	14. Kapag may ikinasal at nata- pakan ng babae ang belo, asahan mo't matapang ito sa lalaki.
15. A baby less than one year old kissing the mother will very soon lose her.	15. Ang sanggol na humahalik sa ina ay hindi malaon at mau-ulila.
16. A child resembling very closely any of the imme- diate parents will soon die if the parents do not die.	16. Ang batang kamukhang-kamuk- ha ng isa sa mga magulang o nuno ay mamamatay nang maaga kung hindi man iyong kamukha.
17. Persons who kick pot rings, meet snakes on the way or are encircled by snakes unaware.	17. Ang taong nagsisipa ng di- kin ay makakasalubong ng ahas kung hindi man ma- lingkis ito.

18. A candle put out on occa- sion of a marriage cere- mony foretells early death for one of the couple.	18. Kapag namatay ang kandila sa oras ng kasal ay pangitain na mamamatay ng maaga ang isa sa kinasal.
19. Uncooked rice served on wedding feasts tells that very soon, trouble will arise in the family rela- tion of the newly-wed couple.	19. Ang kasalang mahilawan ng ka- nin ay pangitain ng kagulu- han o gusot sa pagsasama ng ikinasal.
20. Two or more persons ut- tering the same words at a time is a sign of good luck.	20. Dalawa o tatlong taong magkasabay sa pagbig- kas ng parehong salita ay may darating na mabuting kapalaran.
21. The appearance of red moles is a sign of good fortune.	21. Ang taong litawan ng nunal na pula ay pangitain ng magan- dang kapalaran sa hinaharap.
22. Cutting nails on days other than Monday causes toothache.	22. Ang pagpuputol ng kuko sa ibang araw maliban sa Lunes ay nakakasakit ng ngipin.
23. Couples who are not in good terms sleeping with a child in the middle aligned between them will lose the child very soon.	23. Ang batang patulugin sa gitna ng mag-asawa ay mamamatay agad.

III. Natural Phenomena	III. Kalikasan
1. When the moon is full, the crabs are fat. When the moon is thin, the crabs have no flesh.	1. Kapag ang buwan ay kabilugan ang alimasag ay mataba. Ka- pag ang buwan ay kulang, payat ang mga alimasag.
2. When an earthquake overtakes a hen sitting on her eggs the eggs will not be hatched or, if they are hatched at all, the chicks will not live long.	2. Kapag inabot ng lindol ang ni- lilimlimang itlog, ito'y mabubugok, o kung mapisa man, ang buhay ng sisiw ay hindi magtatagal.
3. When a star is near the moon, many young women ran away with young men.	3. Kapag may bituing malapit na malapit sa bagong buwan, maraming babae ang sasama sa lalaki.
4. When the acacia or tamarind leaves are folded during the early part of the day, there will be bad weather.	4. Kapag ang dahon ng akasya o sampaloc ay tiklop sa umaga, sasama ang panahon.
5. When shooting stars appear, make your wish and it will be fulfilled.	5. Kapag nakakita ng tumataing bituin, humiling agad, at ibibigay ang kahilingan.

POPULAR GAMES
MGA KARANIWANG LARO

The Cat and the Rat
(A popular game before the Spaniards came)

This is a game for boys and girls regardless of number. One will be the cat and another will be the rat. The rest join their hands and form a circle. The rat is always inside the circle while the cat is outside. The children keep moving around while the cat cries mew, mew and the rat squeaks. The cat tries to get inside the circle to chase the rat. The children in the circle will pluck to the spot where the cat tries to pass through, so it takes time before the cat succeeds. When the cat succeeds, the rat is released and the cat is kept in the circle. If the cat succeeds in going out, it runs to chase the rat. If the rat is not chased, it goes back inside the circle and the game is continued until the cat succeeds in chasing the rat.

The players select others to take the place of the rat and the cat and the game is continued.

Ito ay nilalaro ng maraming batang lalake at babae. Ang isang bata ang gagawing daga at ang isa ay pusa. At ibang mga bata ay maghahawak-hawak sa kamay at magbibilog. Ang daga ay ikukulong sa bilog ng mga bata, samantalang ang pusa ay nasa labas. Iikot ang nakabilog na mga bata. Ngingiyaw ang pusa at iigik ang daga. Susugod ang pusa at magtatangkang pasukin ang daga, nguni't ang pusa ay makakapasok din. Pagkapasok ng pusa ay pawawalan ang daga. Kukulongin ang pusa. Kapag ang pusa ay nakawala, hahabulin ang daga. Kung hindi mahuli ang daga, ito ay babalik sa bilog. Patuloy ang laro hanggang mahuli ang daga.

Pipili na naman ng pusa at ng daga at patuloy ang laro.

It is a game for boys regardless of number. The players are divided into two teams. Two long lines are made on the ground not far from each other. Each team selects a king. The game is started by sending some away from the line as baits. The opponents try to tag them. The players of each team try to tag any opponent who is away from the line. Any player tagged is considered their prisoner. If, through skill in playing, the king, who is always in the midst of the companions, is tagged, the game is ended. The playes in each team is counted and the one with many prisoners is the winner.

The loser is punished by carrying on the back each player of the winning team from their line to the opposite one and return.

The game is started again and continued in the same manner.

Ito ay nilalaro ng kahit anong dami ng mga batang lalaki. Ang maglalaro ay maghahati sa dalawang pangkat. Maglalagay ng dalawang guhit na mababa sa katamtamang layo. Ang maglalaro ay hahanay na magkaharap sa dalawang guhit. Bawa't pangkat ay maglalagay ng kanilang hari. Pasisimulan ang laro sa pagpapalakad ng mga pain sa kalagitnaan ng laruan. Gayon din, palalaot ang mga manghahagad. Ang pain o manghahagad na mataga ng kabilang panig ay bihag na nila. Kung sakaling sa mabuting panglilinlang ng isang panig ay mataga ang hari na karaniwang nakapaubod sa mga kampon niya ay tapos na ang laro. Ang karaniwang nangyayari ay ang panig na mabihagan ng pinakamarami ang talo. Ang parusa sa natalo ay dinadapit ang nanalo sa kanilang panig at bawa't isa ay binababa patungo sa panig ng natalo at ibina-

balik na muli. Pagbabalik ng lahat sa kanilang panig ay magpapatuloy ang laro.

The game is played by ten players both boys and girls. One will be the crow and another will be the hen. The rest are chicks.

At the start of the game, the crow will go far from the others and all chicks stay close to the hen. The crow flies around the chicks with open wings, aiming to catch some and then shouts, "Uwak! Uwak!" When the chicks hear the sound, they hold one another and cling behind the hen in line with the biggest close to the mother, then the next in size, to the smallest at the end.

In the course of chasing, the chicks will be parted from the hen, so they will be captives of the crow. When all the chicks have been caught, the crow will ask them to catch lice on her body. When the crow goes to sleep, then all the chicks will escape and run to the hen again, then the game will be restarted anew.

Ito ay nilalaro ng mga sampung batang lalaki at babae. Ang isang bata ay mag-u-uwak-uwakan, ang isa ay mag-iinahin, at ang iba ay magiging sisiw.

Sa pasimula ng paglalaro, ang uwak ay lalayo at ang mga sisiw ay mag-iipon sa tabi ng inahin. Mayamaya, ang uwak ay huhuni ng "Uwak! Uwak!" didipa at wari ay sasalisalimbay upang dumagit. Pagkadinig ng mga sisiw sa sigaw ng uwak, ito ay magkaka-ingay at magkakapit-kapit sa likod ng inahin sa isang hanay, ang pinakamalaki ay sa baywang ng inahin. Ang pinakapanghuli ay ang pinakamaliit.

Sa pagdadagitan, ang mga sisiw ay mangatatangal at manga-

bibihag ng uwak. Ang bawa't mabihag ay ibibilanggo ng uwak. Kung ang karamihan ng sisiw ay madagit na ay pahihinguto ang uwak sa kanila. Itoy ay mag-aantok at isa-isang ang sisiw ay uuwi sa inahin. Kapag ang lahat ng sisiw ay nakauwi na, ang laro ay pasisimulan na naman.

A group of players or two teams of any number may take part.

"It," who is blindfolded, stays in one place while the players are hiding. At a signal, "It" takes off his blindfold and searches for the players until he finds them all. The leader of each group holds a bamboo or rattan hoop about three feet in diameter and a drawing stick less than two feet long.

At a signal from the referee or teacher, the first runners start driving their hoops toward and around the boys who are stationed at the opposite line and then back again to the starting place, where they pass their hoops and driving sticks to the runners. The same procedure is repeated until the last runner from each team has crossed the finished line. The result is determined by the order of the last runner in crossing the line.

Two teams composed of 4 to 8 players may take part.

Sides are taken and the players choose their leaders. The team which is to jump first is determined by the drawing of lots. Two members, A and B of the team not jumping, sit on the ground opposite each other, their right legs half-bent, and the soles of their feet touching. The opponents, from a starting line, step over the half-extended legs, and return the same way.

A plants his left heel on the toes of the right foot of B. B's finger and thumb are extended and above A's toes, one finger touching them. The opponents step over and back again as before. A takes his left heel off the toes of B. B places his left heel over A's toes, and A extends his finger on the feet, as B had done. The opponents again go over the resultant [?] and then B's open hand and finger is added to the barrier, and then B's are added. At each addition to the barrier, the opponents jump over the height without touching the barrier; then the teams change position. If all the members jump clear over the different heights, they repeat the game until they get tired or are willing to give their opponents a chance.

This game is most effectively played with only two players. The materials for playing are stones, sigay, or tamarind seeds, the numbers to depend upon whatever agreement the players may make. There may, for example, be 10 stones for two players, 15 stones for three players.

The player who starts the game puts all the stones in his palm, flips them over and catches them on the back of his hand. In this movement, or part of the game, some of the stones may fall. (If one stone falls, the player must pick it up after tossing the stones in the second movement before catching them). In the second movement, he tosses the stones over from the back of his hand and catches them in his palm. The player may permit no stone to fall while executing the second movement. If he does, he is replaced by another player. In case none falls, he continues the game with the stones dropped in the first movement above indicated without picking these stones up, he, with thumb and finger flips one of the stones so that it

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