MUNICIPALITY OF ATIMONAN, Historical Data of Part 5

These were light offenses. A man caught stealing was made to go around the main streets carrying the things he stole and a bench and shouting at the top of his voice, "Do not imitate me!" At every street crossing, he was requested to lie on his front on the bench and receive a hundred lashes. Water cure, exposure to ants, removing the nails, placing lighted candles on both palms, buring the lower extremities with hands tied, and hanging were the punishments for heavier offenses.

In the beginning, there were only the sky and the sea. A big bird came looking for a place where to rest on. The bird had a hard time in selecting between the sea and the sun as to which of the two he would rest. Both the sea and the sun liked to give a place for the bird. For this reason, both of them became angry, so they began to quarrel.

The sea formed big waves that almost reached the sky. The sky began to throw clouds down at the sea. This dispute was the start of the formation of the mountains and plains. Mountains were formed in the parts where many clouds dropped, and the parts were there were less clouds that dropped, plains were formed.

A long time ago, there was no sun in the sky. So, there was no daytime. People during those days had no time to work because it was always dark. The Holy Trinity pitied the people, so they planned to make something that would help them.

The decided to talk on the matter by the side of a big stone at the summit of a big mountain. There, they were able to make the things that would help the people. It was the sun. But they were very sorry because the sun that they had made would not give enough heat and light. At

that very moment, while they were thinking of what they would do, a mysterious voice was heard by them. They could only hear the voice telling them to as for their needs from an old woman that they would see. At that very hour, they saw the old woman, so they did not waste any minute. They followed what the voice had said.

LEGENDS

Origin of the Clouds, Rain, Thunder
and Lightning

A long time ago, there was a couple named Barbara and Felipe. One day, the husband was cutting down trees. He asked his wife to dig some camotes for them to eat. He was so tired that he lit a cigar and puffed at it. The smoke which rose into the air became the clouds.

Barbara arrived carrying the camotes. She washed her hands and the dirty water dropped down the hill. That people on the lowland thought it was raining.

She boiled the camotes. The water bubbled very loudly, so the sound echoed in the mountain. The inhabitants of the neighborhood said that it was the first thunder ever heard.

From Barbara's stove, the flame flashed lightning instantly [at] the country folks. They claimed that it was the first lightning that they ever saw.

There was a land where riches had been buried by the bandits. Here dwelt an old dwarf who owned a rooster. This fowl was always victorious in any fighting resort.

One day, this rooster threw its dung just above the buried treasure. A certain person urinated on the dung. After several months, the dung grew bigger and higher. Then, some years passed and it continued to increase in size and height. A hill was formed at last. This lofty land was the first mountain ever

Emmanuel was a young beggar who was always belittled by his rich playmates.

One day, while sleeping, he was suddenly awakened by the falling of a gold dipper near his bed. Happily, he picked up the shining thing and showed it proudly to his fellow children.

On the next day, he went to the well to fetch water. When he was drawing, the gold dipper filled with water, but it slipped from his grasp. Then, instantly, it fell into the well. It rose and rose until its contents escaped. Every droplet ascended the sky and thus turned [out] to be the stars. The precious dipper went up to the sky. It appeared as the first full moon.

1. Whenever anything that appears from the body of a dead person is noticed and broadcast, it increases or multiplies.

2. At low tide, the pupil of the cat's [eye] is tiny, but it is huge at high tide.

3. When thunder rolls during a heavy rain, it is a sign that the downpour will stop readily. However, if the thunder is heard before the rain drops, the precipitation will not begin.

4. A widow or widower screams during the funeral of his or her deceased spouse, surely and quickly wins a substitute.

5. A person lives long when his ears are large and one with small ears has a short life.

6. One's fist is as large as his heart.

1. Before or during the wife's pregnancy, the husband has the habit of carrying a coupe of firebrands to light his way home. The wife gives birth to twin babies.

2. Within nine days after the death of someone in a family, all its members refrain from eating gabi roots or leaves. Breaking this rule means unexpected passing of another kindred.

3. A young lady who sings while cooking marries a widower.

Wholesome recreations are had not only on feast days and during programs but also during the planting and harvesting seasons when the singing and dancing of Filipino folk songs are enjoyed by all men, women, and children.

Some of the Filipino folk dances are:

1. BALITAW	This dance was originated from the two Tagalog words spoken by the two lovers "Balita" and "raw."
2. CARIÑOSA	This dance is being danced throughout the archipelago. This means graceful, sweet, happy.
3. PANDANGGO SA ILAW	This dance comes from Mindoro. It is one of the most difficult kinds of Pandanggo, but it is [also] the most silent and lovely. Necessitating a good poise to avoid the slipping of a glass, placed at the back of the palms.
4. TINIKLING	Tinikling is a kind of bird with a long neck and feet. In dancing the "Tinikling," we see the movements of the bird when walking through the grass and when flying from one branch to another.
5. SALAKOT DANCE	This dance originated from Manila. The salakot is placed on the ground and the dancer dances around it together with the clapping of the hands.

(a) The shadow.
(b) The pole.
(c) The hornbill.
(d) The sundial.
(e) The crowing of roosters.

1. While I got out, it makes me cry.	1. Onion.
2. When Magat dried, the sea dried.	2. Boiled rice.
3. The captain took a bath but he did not wet his stomach.	3. Floor.
4. A tree without branches, a leaf without fruits.	4. Wooden spoon.
5. When sitting down, it is tall; when standing, it is low.	5. Dog.
6. The balls of "thread" when spread reach heaven.	6. Eyes.
7. There are no eyes but it cries and brings news.	7. Fountain pen.
8. I pulled the vine and the monkey made noise.	8. Church bell.
9. Adam's hair cannot be counted.	9. Rain.
10. It's a piece of bamboo during the day, but at night it is a leaf.	10. Mat
11. Five brothers each having a room for himself.	11. Fingernails.
12. A piece of hard stick when scrubbed produces light.	12. Match.
13. It is neither a bolo nor a knife, but it can build a house.	13. Spider.
14. A fruit that bears fruit.	14. Betelnut tree.
15. I have not finished peeling it yet I have almost seen the meat.	15. Kamatsile
16. A hole covers a hole.	16. Net
17. A good picture is exactly like your face.	17. Shadow in the picture.
18. Whole day shooting but nobody is being hit.	18. Popcorn.
19. It has a tail when it is yet a baby, butwhen it grows older, the tail gets shorter.	19. Frog.

20. It is not a fish; it is not a goose, but it can make noise as loud as it can even in water or in land.	20. Frog.
21. Touch it not and it grows; touch it and it fades away.	21. Makahiya.
22. Only one thing it is, but it has many names.	22. Palay.
23. It is a clear it water, but it can be carried by hands.	23. Ice.
24. It has only a head and feet, yet it can dance gracefully.	24. Top.
25. Singing and playing, but it is not tired of turning around.	25. Phonograph.
26. Leaves that bear fruit, fruit that bears leaves.	26. Pineapple.
27. A well that contains swords.	27. Mouth.
28. A piece of earth at the point of a stick.	28. Cigarette's ashes.
29. It is always full, but you don't fill it up. It lessens but it is not touched.	29. Coconut (water inside).
30. Kurukutong cooks rice and it boils without fire.	30. Soap suds.
31. A living person infested by white ants.	31. A person with smallpox.
32. Rain or shine, it has a folded trouser.	32. Chicken.
33. You always have a good harvest every year even if there are no grains or plants.	33. Kabuti.
34. It is small but terrible and strong.	34. Ants.
35. Stand up quickly for the weight is there already.	35. Dikin.
36. Here comes Lalong, always murmuring.	36. Bumblebee.
37. It goes away during the day; it comes in at night.	37. Window.
38. No bones, no ribs, but like lightning when sucking.	38. Leech.
39. When it is young, it is clothed; but when it grows, it is naked.	39. Bamboo.

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