MUNICIPALITY OF TANAY, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 2

The customs and traditions of the people of Tanay may well be said as one traceable long before the coming of the Spaniards. A study of the ways of life of the Aetas of this town who still inhabit the wilds of the Sierra Madre may prove this. However, the more than 300 years of foreign domination had brought about changes and modifications. The advent of the machine age and, presently, the atomic age may entirely revolutionize these customs and practices and may leave no traces of these wonderful traditions for our posterity. Fragmentary information gathered from an aged individual like Mr. Simeon Bendaña, Sr. regarding various courtship, marriage, [practices] etc. are hereby compiled:

Birth - Religion is playing an important part regarding birth. This is especially true to the Christian population inhabiting the poblacion. A woman is always denied quarters when she is on the family way. The owner of a house will not allow any pregnant woman to occupy his house until she has delivered, believing that to let her do so will bring him misfortune. In connection with his belief, when any member of the family is on the family way, the owner of the house abstains from making repairs.

In the time of delivery, the woman of the poblacion is aided by a "hilot." The "hilot" has many primitive ways. She has the "salag," who helps her. The "salag" is an able-bodied individual, usually the husband, a relative, or friend.

Delivery these days is aided by a physician and a licensed midwife.

The Remontados and Aetas have simple ways of delivery. The woman delivers alone. She is aided by a pole with ends suspended firmly against any support. The pole suspended horizontally is so placed to suit the height of the woman. The abdomen is pressed against the pole, thus aiding her in her delivery.

The meal served immediately after delivery is always hot, consisting of boiled rice and roasted banana (saba). The drink taken continuously for a month or more consists of boiled "zarsaparilla" roots or bark. The woman is not allowed to drink fresh, cool water.

The three consecutive baths taken after delivery are hot baths of boiled leaves and vines commonly known as the "siyam na bagay." These are the makabuhay, sambung, sampaloc, pomelo, lagundi, lubigaw, tabak na lalaki, etc. The

After each hot bath, the hilot performs the "saklab." This is an awkward process of heating by steaming.

Baptism - Every Catholic has his child baptized not later than 20 days after birth. The godfather or godmother usually pays for the "pasulat." There is also a "paramit," given by the godfather or godmother. Aside from this, the godfather or godmother gives a "pakimkim." Oftentimes, this consists of a certain amount. Incidental expenses for the baptismal party like music, wine, and others are borne by the parents of the child.

Courtship - The Christians, those residing in the poblacion, have different ways of courtship. The young man proposes. Sometimes, the parents of the boy propose for him. The young man calls at the house of the woman at night at 8:00 and leaves at 10:00. Another way is the "harana." Another way of showing interest in a woman is to help in the "bayuhan" and the "lalahan." The former is pounding palay and the latter is mat weaving.

Marriage - Before marriage is consummated, there are many complicated steps undertaken. We have the "bulong manok." Representatives of the young man go to the house of the girl to talk about the terms of the marriage. Another term for this is the "pasugo."

(1) Bilang - This covers the amount to be paid by the parents of the boy. This "bilang" has a "pasubra." The "pasubra" is always ₱700. If the amount of "bilang" is ₱100, this amount is automatically raised to ₱107 because of the "pasubra." The "pasubra" goes to the parents of the girl.

(2) The date of the marriage may be set 6 months later or even 1 or 2 years or even more. During the period the boy is waiting for the date of marriage, he has to do the following:

(a) "Dapit" - On the eve of the marriage, a band plays. A group of selected, beautiful young women carries a gift, usually pork or beef, to be given to the "padrino" and "padrina."

(b) "Pamahiin" or Belief - During the ceremony, before the officiating priest, the couple executes such things as stepping on each other's shoes, believing that whoever steps first on the shoe of the other will always be the boss.

4. "Ika-apat na pung araw" - The ceremony is undertaken if the deceased has left wealth to be divided.

5. "Laglag luksa" - After one year from the date of death, the immediate and other relatives will terminate the use of mourning clothes. After prayers are said, a party follows.

Burials:

1. Close relatives pass across the corpse, especially the young ones. The reason is that the soul of the dead may not molest them.

2. Tears - All relatives see to it that no drop of tears fall on the dead for fear that the soul will suffer longer in hell or purgatory.

3. Clothes - The best clothes are worn by the dead.

4. Religious ceremonies depend on the ability of the relatives to pay. There is a regular service for burial; there is the "dapit" with and without pauses. There are still first class services.

5. Pabaon - Relatives and friends throw a handful of earth or a piece of stone over the coffin when the dead is buried so that they will not be molested by the soul of the departed.

Punishments:

Some forms of punishment are:

(a) Kneeling on sand, mongo, palay, or grains of corn.
(b) Sitting in the air in the squatting position.
(c) Pinching.
(d) Wearing a necklace made of materials broken or destroyed.
(e) Tying the offender on an anthill.
(f) Whipping by the cavan.

(1) Every house prepares the best food one can afford. Traditionally, doors are open to visitors.
(2) Christmas celebration.
(3) Other Religious celebrations.

As told by the old people, at the beginning of time, there was only the sun, but suddenly a part of the sun broke off into many pieces and one of the pieces became the earth. They said that the earth was a bell of fire. Nothing could live on it. After a time, thick dark smoke came from the face of the earth. These became clouds and when these cooled, these fell as rain on the earth. The earth cooled down and shrank. After thousands of years, as the rains fell, the low parts of the earth were filled with water. These parts are now the seas, oceans, lakes, and bays. As thousands of years passed by, the rain, the sun, and the wind continued to break the rocks into small pieces. The rocks became soil and it covered the rocks. Then, when there was enough soil, plants began to grow and animals began to appear.

1. When the frogs are noisy, it will rain.
2. When the "kalañgayan" flies very low, it will rain.
3. When pigs are pulling dirty things or rubbish, it means hard rain or bad weather will come.
4. When earthworms come out of their homes, it will rain.
5. If the firefly stays in the house, it will rain.
6. When several tiny insects play around the light, it will rain.
7. If the cat washes its face, it will rain.
8. Those who drink plenty during the first half of the rain will not have stomach trouble.

1. When the sun is setting and the sky in that part turns red, there will be a heavy rain with violent winds.

1. If the shadow of the moon is big, it will be rainy.
2. If the shadow of the moon is small, it will be sunny.

a. It is believed that when Saint Cristobal shakes, that is why there are earthquakes.
b. When everything is very still and warm, there will most likely be an earthquake.

a. Eating any kind of twin fruit may result in the birth of twins.

a. If a girl dies, she is followed by a boy.
b. If the casket is too big for the dead, many people with [within?] the family will die.
c. It is bad for a casket to catch up with another in the church.
d. It is bad for a pregnant woman to stay in the cemetery while the dead is being buried.

a. When the bottom of the carajay or pot has smudges, there will be visitors.
b. When the lizard is noisy, there will be a visitor.
c. If a spoon falls, the visitor is likely to be a girl; if a fork falls, the visitor is likely to be a boy.
d. When the fire is noisy, there will be a visitor.
e. When your nose gets itchy, you will have a visitor.

a. Lunes de Agosto - if sickness falls on this day, it is very serious.
b. Putting away dishes when anyone has not yet finished eating may postpone his wedding.
c. Odd numbers in making the stove denotes good fortune.
d. Odd numbers in making windows denotes good fortune.
e. It is believed that lizards kiss the ground at six o'clock.
f. The stairs should face the morning sun to bring prosperity.
g. It is bad to allow one who gave birth into your house to leave without first baptizing the child.