MUNICIPALITY OF TERESA, RIZAL, Historical Data of Part 2

5. Data on Historical Sites, Structures, Buildings, and Old Ruins

During the Spanish occupation, in the year 1891, the church, schoolhouse, and tribunal in Teresa were constructed. The church was constructed under the leadership of captain municipal Santiago Paiñgo Cruz; and the school building and tribunal under the leadership of captain Hugo Celo Francisco. The church was built for the Catholics, the school house for the good of the people to study the national language and Spanish under the municipal teacher Mr. Rafael Mañgona; and the tribunal for the municipal officials where to work in.

The construction of these buildings was done by the people free of charge. The materials used like wood, stones, and galvanized iron were furnished by the people. The people of that time were afraid of the leaders of the town. If they would not work for the good of the government that time, they would be punished severely like the forced labor the Japanese had done in this town.

II. American Time:

On June 12, 1899, the Americans met the Filipino soldiers at "Paso," a barrio of Teresa where they fought each other for many hours. Many Americans as well as Filipino soldiers were killed in this encounter. After the fight, the American High Commissioner at Morong sent four soldiers to scout around for more enemies, but they were met by tulisanes at a place near Paso called "Canlibot." After a brief struggle, the Americans were overpowered, captured, and killed. The dead bodies were buried in the very spot where they fell. The commanding officers at Morong came to Teresa and accused the leaders of the town, namely: Mr. Maximo Garrovillas, Pablo Alejandro, Saturnino Francisco, and Juan Natividad for complicity in the killings. These four leaders were taken to Morong and investigated, but were later released after convincing the commanding officers that the killers were not from Teresa but tulisanes from other towns. They were released after promising to locate the whereabouts of the four missing American soldiers. These leaders went home and called all able-bodied men to help in the search because, if they failed, the whole town would suffer. The Americans threatened to kill everybody at Teresa if they failed to locate the four missing Americans. After several days of frantic search in the nearby hills, they were able to capture one tulisan named Tomas Hinto Santos, who upon investigation confessed that he was one of the killers and pointed the place where the dead bodies were buried. The four leader of Teresa took the dead bodies as well as the killer to the headquarters of the American soldiers in Morong. Tomas, the killer, was tried and found guilty and sentenced to death by firing squad the following day. After that incident, Teresa became a peaceful town.

6. Data on Important Facts, Incidents or Events that took Place:

1. During and After World War II -

During the Japanese occupation, there were two guerrilla factions operating in the Province of Rizal, namely: The R.O.T.C. guerrillas under the overall command of Colonel Eleuterio Adevoso, a Philippine Military Academy cadet; and the Marking's guerrillas, headed by Colonel Marking Agustin, a former Antipolo bus driver, and Colonel Yay Panlilio, a pre-war newspaperwoman. One group wanted to be organized as the leader, while the other insisted that they were organized earlier. This struggle for supremacy culminated into bloody clashes between the two warring guerrilla factions. One such fight happened in Teresa, Rizal in June 1944. One company of ROTC guerrillas arrived at 8:00 A.M. and made a camp at the school building. As they were busy eating their noonday meal, a group of Marking's men, under the command of Colonel Cabalin, attacked them. There was an exchange of fire which lasted until 7:00 p.m. The following morning, after the smoke of battle had cleared, and the two combatants had retreated to the hills, the mayor, Mr. Jose M. Cruz, arrived to investigate the cause of the trouble. There were thirteen persons killed in the crossfire of the warring guerrilla groups. The casualty from Teresa was buried in the Catholic Cemetery, while the rest were buried near the place where their dead bodies were found. They were buried by the civilians.

Three days after this incident, 19 truckloads of Japanese soldiers arrived and made camp at Bulak, a place near the boundary of Teresa and Morong. The Japanese made this camp their base of operations where supplies and ammunition were stored to supply the needs of the Japanese troops patrolling the area.

The guerrillas were interested in seizing these arms and ammunition to supplement their diminishing supplies and, with this end in view, raided this camp one night and surprised the Japanese guards. The guerrillas were headed by Major Roberto Mata, a native of San Guillermo, Morong, Rizal. There was a brief exchange of fire and the guerrillas retreated when the Japanese soldiers were killed, while the guerrillas suffered no casualties.

From that time until liberation, the Japanese were very strict on the civilians. They stopped all passing vehicles and inspected the passengers and cargoes. Innocent civilians suspected as guerrillas or guerrilla sympathizers were brought to the Japanese garrison in Antipolo for investigation. More than 20 Teresa folks never came back to their homes after the investigations.

But, by the latter part of 1944, when the American liberation forces were already in Leyte, the Makapilis and other Filipinos from different provinces with pro-Japanese leanings, numbering around 500, arrived in Teresa. With the help of the Japanese soldiers, they looted the town and killed anybody who dared to stop their inhuman practices.

One such incident happened near the bridge at the southern end of Teresa. A group of unarmed Makapilis went to Libis to commandeer foodstuff. One Makapili snatched the chickens of Roberto Luis. The owner was awakened by the noise

of cackling hens and the crowing of roosters. He got his bolo and chased the thief. His neighbor, Eladio C. Cruz, who was also awakened by the commotion, went to the rescue of Roberto San Luis. The Makapili was able to escape from the two angry men and lost no time reporting the incident to the Japanese. The following morning, a truckload of Japanese soldiers arrived and searched the houses of the two men. They herded Roberto San Luis and Eladio C. Cruz from their homes and maltreated them in the usual Japanese fashion. The limp and badly battered bodies of the two were piled on the road, where some soldiers poured gasoline and burned them in the presence of many people. After that incident, nobody dared to stop the abuses committed right and left by the Makapilis and Japanese soldiers.

The American liberation forces were already marching from Lingayen, Pangasinan, towards Manila when, on February 7 and 8, 1947, the desperate Japanese soldiers ordered all civilians to leave the town with the warning that those who were found loitering around would be killed. Many Teresa folks fled to Laguna and some went to Pulo, a place near Prinza, a barrio of Teresa. There were around nine innocent civilians who were unlucky enough to be found by the retreating Japanese troops from Angono. These civilians were bayoneted to death. The former mayor of Teresa and pre-war member of the Manila Police Department, Mr. Francisco Gonzales, and his brother Hermogenes Gonzales, were among the nine men murdered in cold blood.

After the civilians were safely evacuated to far away places, the American planes started bombing the town. The church and many houses near the plaza were destroyed and razed to the ground. By March 1945, the Japanese and Makapilis were completely driven away from Teresa by the combined forces of the American soldiers, ROTC, and Marking's guerrillas. When notified of the liberation of Teresa from the clutches of Japanese imperialism, the Teresa folks happily returned to their town. Some were lucky enough to find their homes intact, by bare of household belongings because the Makapilis got what they wanted from the deserted houses. Some were unlucky to see only the ruins of their homes.

7. Measures & Accomplishments Toward Rehabilitation after World War II

With sad and heavy hearts, the survivors of the Second World War started life anew. They repaired their damaged houses. Those whose homes were completely destroyed made makeshift barong-barongs from whatever materials they could gather.

The municipal building was only slightly damaged. The public market was still intact with only a few sharp-nailed holes in the zinc roofing.

The Americans were generous enough to recognize the services rendered by the guerrillas. Many Teresa folks were able to receive their liberation pay. Widows and orphans of deceased USAFFE [personnel] and guerrilla men were able to receive back pay and insurance benefits. The War Damaged Commission paid the claimants for their losses. The Rehabilitation and Finance Corporation extended loans to those who wanted to rehabilitate their destroyed homes. All these agencies helped in the rehabilitation of Teresa.

Those who were lucky enough to receive the above-mentioned benefits constructed beautiful homes. Some bought surplus vehicles from the Philippine Surplus Commission and are using them in transporting firewood and other products of Teresa to the neighboring markets of Taytay, Cainta, Pasig, and Marikina.

The marble factory located in the northern part of the town was rehabilitated after the RFC granted it a half a million loan. At present, this factory is supplying the San Miguel Glass Factory with silica to be used in the manufacture of empty bottles. The marble floorings and pillars of the Philippine National Bank, Banko Hepotekario, the Finance Building and many other buildings constructed in Manila and suburbs was supplied by this company. The finances of the town was greatly improved by the presence of hundreds of workers employed by this company.

The arrival of ECA fertilizers greatly helped the Teresa farmers in increasing the harvests from their ricefields.

The present modern, though small, church that stands on the old site was constructed through the untiring efforts of Rev. Fr. Espiritu Hizon, coupled with the generous help of the different religious societies of Teresa. The old folks asked contributions from the different towns of Rizal. The parish priest approached rich people and philanthropists from Manila and other towns. Civic-spirited citizens from Teresa contributed money and materials to help build the church. The present operators of the Marble Factory in May-Iba donated more than two thousand pesos' worth of marble slabs to make the church one of the most elegant edifices in this side of Laguna de Bay.

The present peace and order situation is the only hindrance to the social and economic advancement of the town. It geographic location makes it a dangerous place because of visits from dissidents and fugitives from the law. Many farmers from Bosoboso, Pantay, and Buhañgin are afraid to cultivate their farms in these remote places for fear that they would be molested by the Huks. As a matter of fact, the inhabitants of these far-flung barrios of Teresa are now living inside the town, after one farmer was killed by the Huks a year ago.

The town was raided by an armed band of dissidents last September 21, 1950. The few members of the Teresa Police Department did not put up a fight for fear of hitting innocent civilians in the crossfire. After the electric lights were switched off, shots from both ends of the town [were heard?]. When nobody challenged their arrival, they proceeded to the town hall and ransacked the Treasurer's Office. When they failed to open the safe where the money was kept, they burned the building and retreated to the hills. One radio receiving set and several pieces of clothing were taken from the homes of civilians near the plaza. Nobody got hurt in this incident.

The army sent one company of soldiers to pursue the fleeing bandits but failed to make contact with the enemy. After this incident, the 14^th BCT assigned one company to guard the town and drive away the Huks hiding in the nearby hills of the Sierra Madre.

After two years of operation, the army, under the able guidance of Sec. of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay, was able to minimize the Huk depredations and raids in the Province of Rizal. At present, there are only a few scattered and poorly-equipped dissidents roaming the nearby hills of Teresa, and the 7^th BCT is always chasing them farther to the mountain fastness of the Sierra Madre.

With the present improvement of the peace and order condition prevailing in the vicinity, the inhabitants of Teresa are steadily marching on to rehabilitate their war-torn town.

II. Part Two - Folkways

I. Practices in Domestic and Social Life:

There are many customs and practices in domestic and social life that are being observed by Teresa folks. Most of these practices were handed down from generation to generation, dating as far back as the pre-Spanishdays.

After a child is born, the placenta is buried in a place where the raindrops coming from the roof of the house will fall over it so that the child will be cold-proof. In other words, the child will not easily catch colds upon exposure to the rain.

When a child is baptized with a group of children newly-christened, the godmother or godfather holding the baby must run ahead of the others because they believe that the child who reaches the door first will have a longer life and the slow-foots will have shorter lives.

With regards to courtship, the young man desiring to visit his lady-love must first call in a very respectable manner, "Tao po," and stand silently in front of the girl's house while waiting for the invitation to come in. Upon entering the house, the newcomer must pay his respects to the old folks and must not sit down until told to do so by the parents of the girl. He must not also talk to the girl unless given permission by the old folks.

The names of the man and woman about to be married will be announced (tawag) for three consecutive Sundays during High Mass. From the first announcement of the forthcoming marriage up to the wedding day, both the man and woman must not go out of the town and must not attempt any hazardous or hard work because some accidents may happen to delay or postpone the marriage.

During the wedding feast, the servers must always carry plates or spoons in pairs because, if they carry only one, they believe that one of the pair, either the man or woman, will die early. After the guest has eaten his share of the wedding feast, he or she is approached by the bride and groom and offered drinks or cigarettes. In return, he must give any amount he can afford to the newly-married couple.

When an old person dies, his children and grandchildren must walk over beyond the dead body because it has been the belief that the spirit of the dead will not molest them if this ritual is done. It has also been the custom to open the coffin before it is lowered into the pit for burial. The relatives kiss the dead person for the last time but must be careful not to let their tears fall on the dead body, for it has been the belief that if tears come in contact with the deceased, the soul of the dead person will suffer.

At the northern end of Teresa stands a tall mountain called "Kay Uñgulan." The legend as to how it got its name runs this way: the people of the neighboring town of Morong wanted to make and image of their patron saint. So, they sent some men to cut a tree in this mountain, but every time their axes hit the tree, they heard the mountain groan just like a human being in mortal pain, so from that very moment, they tagged this mountain "Kay Uñgulan." The Philippine Marble Corporation, operated by Elizalde & Co., is getting limestone rocks from this mountain. This rock is very valuable because it is a raw material in the manufacture of marble slabs, marble chips, fertilizers, and empty bottles. As a matter of fact, the San Miguel Bottle Factor of Manila is buying its needed supply of the raw materials from Teresa.

A little bit farther to the west is a plateau overlooking the small town of Teresa. It is called "Payong" because when seen from a distance, it looks just like a big umbrella.

Another source of marble raw material is a mountain called "Kay Maputi," so named because the side of the said mountain facing the town is white, while the rest is sky blue. At the foot of this mountain is a cave which thousands of bats inhabit. Guano, a local fertilizer, is taken from this cave every year to supply the local needs of farmers. This cave is called "Kay Kapalang."

Prepared by:

(Mrs.) SIMEONA O. GAVIOLA
Teacher - Teresa Elem School

II. Local Customs and Traditions:

A visitor from other places or abroad who attends one of our home celebrations will be surprised to find a tug-of-war that ensues just before dinner or luncheon is served. The tug-of-war is between the hostess and a gust who grew up in the ways of his forefathers.

"Let's eat now . . . " the hostess announces. The guest does not make a move. "Come on . . . " the hostess insists, pulling the guest by the arm. "Let the others go ahead," the shy guest says. "No!" the hostess shouts and pulls harder. The short distance to the table is negotiated by a series of tugs and counter-tugs until, perspiring, the hostess succeeds in seating the reluctant guest.

In many parts of the Philippines, especially in Manila, to be a godfather or sponsor at a baptism does not invoke much trouble and expense. All that one has to do is to buy the baby a dress or a necklace and, perhaps, pay for the baptismal [fee] to receive from the "ninong" or "ninang" a small amount of money or a toy. That's about all.

In this place, the godparent spends much on the godchild as the real parents cannot send their child to school, it's the godfather who finances the child's education.

And what's more burdensome, the godparents spends for the godchild's funeral should he die before he gets married. The marriage of the godchild terminates all of the godparents obligations to him.

In this town, nobody purchases needles and pins a night but always in the daytime. It is believed that pins and needles purchased at night will become rusty right away.

III. Origin of the Rivers

RIVERS OF TERESA

Teresa is composed of many rivers with various peculiar names. These peculiar names are "Kay Laway," "Kay Tumok," "Kay Mantika," "Kay Banka," "Kay Balon," and "Sa Batuhan." These rivers were named after the owners of the place.

In the northern section of the town, a small long river can be seen. Adjacent to the river are big ricefields belonging to a person named Tomas. This person has plenty of saliva or "laway" rolling [down from] his mouth. Every time he speaks, his "laway" splashes. This is how this river got its name.

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