MUNICIPALITY OF ALABAT, Historical Data of Part 2

26 (b). Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II:

27. Traditions, customs, and practices in domestic and social life: birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial, visits, festivals, punishments, etc.:

Baptismal Practices in Alabat

The Race to the Door: After the Mass baptismal ceremony comes the race to go out of the church door. As soon as the church bells peal to announce the end of the ceremony, each sponsor, carrying his or her godchild, stages a race down the aisle. It is believed that a child whose sponsor reaches the door first will be healthy, prosperous, and will live a long life, or will be a leader among men.

For Baby's Sake: The sponsor pinches the baby during the ceremony to make him cry. It is believed that a baby that cries during the rites will live a long, intelligent, and prosperous life.

Duties of the Sponsor: To most Alabat people, to be a sponsor is both a social and moral obligation. After the baptism, the ninong or ninang becomes the second father or mother of the child. During Christmas, the godchild visits his or her godparents to kiss their hands for blessings and to ask for gifts either in cash or in goods.

The Balite (Enchanted Tree)

The balite is much feared in the town of Alabat, especially the tall, big ones with so many spreading branches. Before one passes near or under a balite, he has to address it and say, "tabi po" or "excuse me, sir," may we pass? It is believed that unless permission is requested, the fairy inhabiting the tree will get angry at the intrusion and cause harm or even death to the intruder.

May I Cut You?

The woodcutters or farmers in Alabat long time ago had a way of telling whether it was safe to cut down a tree or not. A bolo was struck at the tree's trunk and left there overnight with the blade embedded in the trunk. If, in the next morning, the bolo was still embedded, it was a sign that the dwellers gave the permission for the tree to be cut down. If, however, the bolo was discovered on the ground the next day, the tree must not be cut down or else anybody who dared cut it was certain to get ill or ruin his life.

Courtship and Marriage

In some places here in Alabat, certain families still cling to the old ways of courtship. The young lady's parents still believe that no man could marry their daughter if he could not show ablebodiedness in carrying out the work of a married life. The young men are tested in the way they could work as a farmer, a carpenter, etc. If the young woman's parents plow the field, the young man should help in plowing; if building a house, the young man should show knowledge of carpentry by helping build the house. The local term for this is "pamimianan." In short, the young man must help first the parents or the young woman in every work they do before he can marry their daughter.

Courtship and Marriage - con't.

The verbal contract, locally known as "pamayaanan" or "pamanhikan," is done when the young man and the young woman are already decided to marry. For the sake of formality, the young man's parents send an informer to the parents of the young woman that, on a fixed date, the former will go to the house of the latter so as to arrange the marriage of their son and daughter who are in love. The informer is usually the most influential individidual to the parents of the young woman. If the the informer is affirmatively responded to, preparations will be made by the young man's parents and relatives for the formal talk and arrangements for the marriage. Usually, delicious food and drinks are prepared to be served to the young woman's parents and relatives after the formal talk.

When the fixed date comes, the young man's party will inform the young woman's party of the time of their coming, which is usually in the evening. The coming party is most often headed by the informer who, at the same time, is the spokesman of the male's party. And conversation begins and ends in a very, very formal way. If the female's party appreciates the suitor, the formal contract for the marriage is at once decided, i.e., on what date they are to be married, who will marry them, where they will be married, what kind of dresses the bride wants to wear, how many pairs of shoes, jewelries to show off, and lastly, how many pigs and cows to be killed for the marriage banquet. But if the female's old folks are not agreeable to the behavior, parentage, and social standing of the male, no promising results will be had during the first arrangement. So that the invading party till not be requested to come for a second, third, or even fourth time before the final decision is reached. Most often, during the intervening periods of these talks when no promising results are realized, the two-single party becomes so desirous so that they often elope. This interference of the old folks with the love affairs of their sons and daughters is the most common cause of elopement in this municipality.

28. Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, superstitions:

(2) The Origin of the Islands - A long time ago, there was no land. There were only the sea and the sky. A bird was flying in the sky. It grew tired flying. It wanted something to rest upon. The bird was very cunning. It set the sea and the sky to a quarrel. The sea threw water at the sky. The sky turned very dark and angry. The sea only threw the waves higher and higher. Then, the angry sky showered down upon the sea all the islands.

That was how the islands came to be. Now, the waves break on the shores and can never rise so high again.

(3) The First Man and Woman - One day, a bird was wanting a nest where to lay eggs. It alighted on a bamboo thicket and began to peck on it so as to have a nest for her to lay eggs. The bamboo was very large and round, larger than any others. As she pecked harder and harder, a voice inside said, "Peck harder, peck harder." The bird was frightened at first, but it wanted to know what was inside. So, it pecked and pecked. Still, the voice said, "Peck harder, peck harder." At last, a great crack split the bamboo from the bottom to the top. Out stepped a man and a woman. The man bowed very low to the woman, for they had lived in different joints of the bamboo and had never seen each other before.

They were the first man and woman in the world.

(4) The Origin of the Stars - Once, Apollo pointed out to his sister a black spot far off in the waters and challenged her to hit it with her arrow. She did so, and too lately discovered that she had killed Orion, son of Neptune (God of the Sea). But she placed him in the stars, where his dog Sirius follows him, the Hareflies before him, and the Pleiades are frightened at his coming.

The Pleiades, according to the Greeks, were seven maidens, daughters of Atlas, who had been pursued by Orion until, in desperation, they called on Jupiter for help. He changed them into doves, then into stars.

(5) The First Mountain - A long time ago, there lived a woman named Niobe, the daughter of King Fantalus. She was married to Amplion, a son of Jupiter and became as proud of her descent, her husband, and here fine family of seven brave sons and seven beautiful daughters, and that she boasted unduly about them.

It was on the occasion of the feast day of Latona, the mother of Apollo and Diana, that Niobe bade the people cease worshipping Latona, with her two children, and to pay reverence to her, instead, with seven times as many.

Latona heard and she addressed her son and her daughter reproachfully. Swiftly, they approached the city in which Niobe dwelt. Swiftly, they surveyed the scene before them, and took [unreadable] how among the youths who exercised proudly on the plain — engaging in athletic sports of various kinds — were the seven sons of Niobe. Swiftly, the two children of Latona drew their bows to their shoulders and the arrows flew. All seven sons of Niobe were killed.

Yet, even so, her pride was not humbled, and still she defied Latona.

"My daughters are still better and greater than your two children." she exclaimed; and scarcely had the words left her lips, when the daughters, too, dropped to the ground even as they mourned their brothers. At the sight, Niobe was turned to stone with grief. But her tears continued to flow; and the gods, in pity, changed her into a fountain.

10. The first cut fingernails of the baby must be buried in the ground under the ladder to prevent the child from falling.
11. Anyone in the family should not sweep the floor when one has died until the dead body is taken to the cemetery. If this is done otherwise, someone will follow in the near future.
12. One should not peep out of the window when the corpse is being brought down from the house. Otherwise, death is very inviting to the other members of the family.
13. It is bad to leave the house when someone is eating. One may meet an accident on the way.
14. To sweep the stove at night means to become poor.
15. The door should be closed while eating. If not, the graces of God go out of the house.
16. Combing the hair at night may cause the death of one of the parents.
17. No payment for debts or any other should be done at night because it leads one to become poor.
18. When getting herbs for a cure, never put them in elevated places like tables, cabinets, and others. It is believed that herbs placed in high places do not cure illnesses easily.
19. Nursing mothers, especially those who had their child for the first time, suffer from the insufficient supply of breast milk for their infants. To remedy this, the quacks apply boiled leaves of the laguiway on the breasts of the nursing mother. By doing so, milk begins to be plentiful.

I.	May isang bulaklak, may isang bulaklak, Na ibig lumitaw, sa balat ng mundo'y ibig paibabaw. Malalanta ito, malalanta ito sa patak ng ulan At mananariwa sa sikat ng araw.
II.	Sa gayon kalamig, sa gayon kalamig, Ng sa hanging simoy Bakit sampung bunga'y nagsisipang luoy, Nagsisipang lagas, nagsisipang lagas Ang sariwang dahon, Dahilan sa iyo, ha hindi paglingon.

I.	Tamis ng pag-ibig, na iningat-ingatan Higit pa sa aking mahalagang buhay Di pahipan sa hangin, takot masalang Nguni't lalong tumitimyas nang kita'y mamasdan.
II.	Ang uhaw ng iyong paglingap Hindi ligaya ang nilalasap Ang iyong ganda at mapungay na sulyap, Siyang pumapawi sa aking mga hirap.

I.	Kamust ginoo ganda ng lagay mo Saan ka nanggaling, bakit naparito Doon may malungkot sa inalisan ninyo Lalo nang malungkot kaming dinatnan mo.
II.	Dito po sa amin ay ano kahirap Ang napaparito'y walang masalamat Ang nakakatulad ay isang masetas Sagana sa ganda'y kulang sa bulaklak.

I.	May isang sampagang bagong namumukad Sagana sa ganda, kabanguha't dilag, Samyo sa tangkay ay humahalimuyak At ang bawa't makamalas pipitasin ang hangad.
II.	At kung mapitas na'y hahawak-hawakan Wari'y mamahalin, hinahagkan-hagkan At kung sumawa na sa tinangan-tangan Biglang itatapon di na alaala'y Lanta na sa tangkay.
III.	Kaya kapag-ingat o' kadalagahan Sa kibo ng mundo'y dapat pangilagan At baka matulad sa sampagang hirang Nang sawaa'y itinapon dili na nanghinayang.
IV.	At dapat gunitaing baka kung lumipas Mga kabanguha'y limutin ka't sukat At alalahanin ang ligaya't palad Ay maging libingan ng maraming puso sa araw ng bukas.

I.	Sa mundo'y wala nang mahirap hanapin Kundi ang humirang ng kakasamahin Kakasamahing ito'y pakai-isipin At baka sakaling-loob mo'y di sundin.

II.	Araw mo'y natapos sa kadalagahan At haharap ka na sa katahimikan Pilit lilisanin ang lahat ng layaw Dahil sa asawang dapat panimbangan.
III.	Mga kaibiga'y kusang lilimutin Dating kasayaha'y pilit aalisin Bawa't mga kilos ay pagi-isipin At baka ka mauwi sa asawang giliw.

1. Sipa 2. Arnes (Eserema) 3. Lubo

4. Tubigan 5. Taguan 6. Prendahan

7. Kuliya (kite) 8. Cockfighting

(1) There is a bird sitting on a branch of a mango tree. What should you do to gather the fruit without driving the bird away?

(2) In a house of a rich man, there are three rooms. In every room, there is an altar where stands a candle to be lighted. It so happens that the housemaid has only one matchstick left so as to light the three candles in the three rooms at the same time. What should she do as to light the candles all at the same time?

(3) A farmer is going to town with three farm products for sale. They are: a dog tied before him, a bundle of camote leaves on his back, and a deer tied after him. He has to cross a bridge wherein only one of his products can be taken to the opposite bank. A great problem comes to him. If the dog is left at the door, the former will eat the latter. If the deer is left with the camote leaves, the former, too, will eat the latter. How can the poor farmer take his products without losing any of them? Remember, only the dog and the camote leaves can be left together without losing anything.

A. Cleanliness B. Courtesy C. Thrift and Economy D. Honesty and Truthfulness

E. Industry and Perseverand F. Courage and Bravery

A. The Ancient Calendar:

Kalubakob dwelt in his palace in the sea now called the Pacific Ocean. He had many attendants — among them were the mermaids. His son, Magong, was the trumpeter and carried a seashell on which he blew blasts that raised or calmed the waves and the winds. He could assume every possible form, wriggling suddenly from one shape to another.

Another attendant of Kalubakob was Mi-is, who possessed power to change her form as a woman or a fish. At midday, she would rise from the sea and sleep in the shade of any of her favorite rocks Labat, Lihin, and Polo.

So beautiful in woman form was Mi-is that Magong became deeply in love with her. He gazed at her with ecstasy and wished he could tell her of his love but dared not do so for fear of being known by Kalubakob. Nothing could Magong do but to keep watch for the hour when Mi-is rose to rest on any of her favorite rocks. He would peep out over the water to see her beauty while she slept. Sometimes, he stole softly and seated himself beside her, and gently kissed her hair and hand but took care not to awaken her.

One day, after a storm, Kalubakob strolled around to see the destruction made by the waves. He came to his resort near the rocks of Lihin. This place was a beautiful garden where he kept different kinds of sea plants and sea flowers, corals, and shells. Here, he saw his favorite oyster shell of enormous size badly destroyed.

Kalubakob was greatly incensed and resolved to punish Magong because he neglected to calm the winds and waves. He grabbed the dying oyster shell, partook it into halves and, in a fit of anger, threw them one by one into the air. One part of the enormous shell fell on the edge of the Lihin rocks and the other part fell on the top of the Polo rock.

When Kalubakob came up to his throne, he blew his whelk whistle to call for Magong. He blew three blasts and waited. But, at this time, Magong was far away. He was at the heels of the beautiful Mi-is, who was roaming among the rocks of Labat gathering rock flowers. He was sincerely whispering his advances, but Mi-is always turned deaf ears in jest, but within her heart, the budding love grew.

Kalubakob became impatient until he could no longer wait. He stood suddenly from his throne and called his trusted servants to harness a chariot. This chariot was pulled by two fiery seahorses and dashed swiftly away. He rode deeper into the ocean, then above the sparkling water, always gazing through his binoculars. At last, his focus reached the place where Magong and Mi-is were sitting side by side. Kalubakob drove his seahorses as fast as the wind. The tempest of anger fell on his son, and he changed him into a big rock. Mi-is, too, did not escape from his wrath and she was changed into a rock, too.

These two rocks grew on top of the Labat rocks and became two mountains. The Labat rocks grew and became Alabat. The two mountains are now called Tumi-is and Camagong, respectively.

As to the Polo rocks, they grew into a big island now called Polillo. The Lihin rocks grew, too, and now it is called Balisin Island. The oyster shells which were thrown into the air can be found today in the islands of Balisin and Polillo.

(Note: All other folktales can be found in the curriculum materials submitted last school year and February of this year.)

Historical Data of the Municipality of Alabat, Province of Quezon, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.