MUNICIPALITY OF PATEROS, PASIG, Historical Data of

1. Present official name of the town - PATEROS

2. Popular name - Pateros derived from the word "pato," which means duck.

3. Date of establishment - Spanish time in the year 1815.

4. Name and social status of the founders - Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin: parish priest of the Catholic church.

5. Names of persons who held leading official positions:

6. Dulumbayan - The place where the Filipinos and the Spaniards met and fought on the evening of August 29, 1896.

7. Manggahan - The place where some of the inhabitants were shot to death by the Spaniards.

8. Important facts or events:

a. Spanish time - The burning of the town after its capture. The town was left homeless and treeless.

b. Japanese time - Before the Americans left the town, the houses were burned. Later, the men were zonified and

some of them were punished.

The zonification was done twice.

Before the Japanese left the town, it was also burned. Very few houses were left undestroyed.

The town was liberated on February 18, 1945, at four o'clock in the afternoon.

The destroyed bridges were rehabilitated.

1. Birth - It is a custom among the inhabitants of the town that, as soon as a child is born, the calendar is consulted for the Christian name of the newly-born.

The sponsors are sought as a preparation for the Baptism.

2. Baptism - Sponsors are expected to furnish the baby with the baptismal attire as well as all the expenses for the purpose.

There are 3 types of baptismal ceremonies in the Catholic church: the first, second, and third kinds.

After the Baptism, the sponsor gives any amount or symbol of the affair.

3. Courtship - Any young man can make love to any woman. He comes up to the house in the evening and makes love to her.

When the time comes that they love each other, then they get married, either in the Catholic church or in any other church.

Some do not have any formal betrothal but they just elope and then get married.

4. Death - After the burial of the dead, the family offers prayers for nine consecutive nights for the salvation of his soul. The ninth is known as the last or "katapusan"

in the vernacular. There is a little party with the Rosary sung to mark the night's prayer.

Some people celebrate the 40^th day with a party also.

But during the nine nights, there are some games or jokes after the prayers.

5. Festival - The most popular festival of the town is the so-called Sta. Marta, which is held in February. In connection with this fiesta, there is a fluvial parade. As the procession goes on, there are small bancas laden with different fruits, bread, etc. which the carrier throws at the people on the banks of the river. This is great fun and a means to gain more friends. The procession in the evening is different from the common ones. This is done without candles, but those attending dance to the tune of the pandango.

6. Punishments - During the Spanish regime, punishments were severe. Some of them were kneeling on mongoes or corn; crossing hands with heavy things on both; whipping with a piece of wood or bamboo; tying together both hands crossed at the back.

The old inhabitants were very superstitious. Some of these [superstitions] were about birth, that is, when a mother was nearly to deliver, nobody should stay at the door for she would suffer hardships. Planets had various meanings to the old. If many were eating and one would like to leave the table earlier, he should turn his plate three times so that he would not meet any accident.

If one met two priests, which was very rare, one should tie one corner of his handkerchief to have good luck

The town formerly had two big rivers which were both navigable. But one of them became shallow until it dried up. At present, there is only one shallow river.

In the town, there were six twins born; of these, only three are living.

Recently, there were heard of saints in Biñan, Lipa City, Sampaloc, Manila. Believers said that such were true, for they could see signs of the truth.

An inhabitant of Pateros by the name of Pastora is said to be the patron saint of Gapan, Nueva Ecija.

During Palm Sunday, the town appoints two capitanes sa "Bagong Tao." The parents then prepare the so-called "Hosannahan" and "pamitin" which are both attended to before the Mass.

During the month of May, festivals are held. These are the so-called Santacrusan, in which there are the Reyna Elena and the other queens.

The different games are juego de anillo, palo sebo, juego de prenda, and ungguyan. These are done during the nine nights prayer for the dead.

The juego de anillo and palo sebo are done in connection with the fiestas of the barrios. This is the entertainment after lunchtime.

The juego de prenda is somewhat a puzzle. This is played with the "it" as the starter. He recites a short paragraph about a lost bird of the king and then asks the different players if it alights on each. The players either give an affirmative or negative answer. The players are either named fruits or flowers.

If the player fails to give the right answer, he is then punished and becomes the new "it."

1. Magpakahaba-haba man ang prusisyon ay sa simbahan ang urong.

2. Ang mabulo ay hindi mamumunga ng santol.

3. Saan mang gubat ay may ahas.

4. Kung ano ang taas ng pagkadakila ay siyang lakas ng lagapak sa lupa.

5. Saan sasama ang pari kung di sa kapwa pari.