MUNICIPALITY OF TAGUIG, RIZAL, Historical Data of

THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE TOWN

OF
T A G I G

COMPILED BY THE TEACHERS OF THE TAGIG DISTRICT

Realizing that the last global war caused not only the loss of life and of property but also of historical records, and that the time now is ripe for the gathering of threads of history of more than three centuries and the beginning anew of the weaving of the fabric of national existence and culture — this book has been compiled.

This book is a compilation of the history and cultural life of the nine barrios that comprise the town of Tagig at present. This edition has two principal parts. Part I treats of the detailed history of each barrio — the origin of each name, its date of founding and establishment, its original families, its "gobernadorcillos" during the Spanish rule, the important historical events that took place and the historical landmarks and other improvements that stand remarkably in each barrio. Part II deals with folkways — traditions, customs, and practices in domestic and social life, superstitions, popular songs, games and forms of amusement, proverbs and sayings, and methods of measuring time.

This books is the result of the wholehearted cooperation of the teachers of the Tagig District, Division of Rizal who, in addition to their regular duties, had given considerable overtime work to its preparation.

In the preparation of this edition, much credit is due to the old folks of the barrio, who unselfishly furnished the pertinent data in this edition, and to those whose unstinted cooperation will be due a large measure of whatever success this book may attain. Equal credit is due to the head teachers, principals, and the District Supervisor of Pateros-Tagig, to whom the different materials herein contained were submitted for criticism and suggestion.

It is hoped that this edition will serve to reorientate the present generation and its posterity with the valuable records of the past and enable them to carry on and cherish their ancestors' ways of life, retain their priceless heritage in their basic culture and modify those that should be modified in the light of the valuable experiences of their people.

Sang-ayon sa mga matatandang naninirahan sa bayang ito, ang ngayo'y bayan ng Tagig ay wala pang pangalan noong mga unang panahon. Noong tayo'y nasasakop pa ng mga puti ay pangkaraniwan nang nakikita ang mga ito sa naturang bayan.

Nai-ibigan sana ng mga mamamayan ang kanilang pamamalakad, nguni't kung sila'y naglalasing na at gumagawa ng mga bagay na labag sa mabuting kaugalian ng mga tao ay naghihimagsik din ang kalooban ng ating mga kabalat.

Isang araw, habang naglalasing ang ilang sundalong Inggles, ay nakagawa sila ng mga bagay na laban na laban sa mabubuting kaugalian ng bayang iyon. Kapag daka'y kinubkob ang mga sundalong Inggles na iyon at pinagtataga ng mga taong bayan ang kanilang mga liig. Mula noon, kung may isang tiga-kalapit bayan na nagtatanong kung saan pupunta ang isang kaibigan, at ang nais tukuyin ay ang bayang tinuran, ang sinasabi'y ganito, "Doon sa mga tinaga-liig, hanggang maging taga-liig na lamang at nang tumagal pa ay naging Tagiig o Tagig na siyang pangalan ng bayang ito ngayon.

The town of Tagig, according to old folks residing in this town, got its name from an incident which happened when we were still under the rule of the Europeans.

The people were contented with the kind of treatment they were receiving from these people were it not for one thing — getting drunk, abusing the people, and doing things against the accepted pattern of conduct in the town.

One day, some English soldiers went to town to acquaint [themselves] with the natives. In the course of their merriment, the soldiers got drunk and, naturally, they acted like barbarians. The aftermath of this incident was the wanton destruction of the barrio and the immoral acts committed against the women. This actuation greatly angered the populace because it was against the good moral standards of the Filipinos. In their anger, the people of Tagig got their bolos and, without any preliminary notice, hacked the English soldiers to death. Such was the bravery of the people, especially if their honor was at stake. The English necks were severed from their bodies and, in Tagalog, we say "taga-liig." Ever since, the place has been called Tagig, its present name.