MUNICIPALITY OF BURDEOS, Historical Data of

THE
HISTORY OF THE MUNICIPALITY
OF
BURDEOS, QUEZON

April 1953
oOo

This is the history of Burdeos, Quezon, a municipality just created on July 1, 1948 on the northern part of Polillo Island. To date, there are eight barrio schools or nine schools, including the Central. This history of Burdeos includes only seven barrios, namely, Magdalo (Hd. Teacher - Miss Anacleta Murillo), Carlagan (Hd. Teacher Miss Leticia Pelejo), Calutcot (Hd. Teacher Mrs. Purificacion Briones), Bagong Silang (Hd. Teacher Mr. Castro Elma), Patnanungan Sur (Hd. Teacher Mrs. Luz Afable), Patnanungan Norte (Hd. Teacher Mrs. Loreto Sustento), San Rafael (Hd. Teacher Mrs. Araceli Aycardo), and Palasan (Hd. Teacher Mrs. Virginia Mercado). Each barrio history had been written by its respective head teacher with the cooperation of the companion teachers. The history of the Poblacion had been framed by a committee created for the purpose with the kind help, too, of every Central teacher.

Time and resource persons had not been sufficient to enable us to produce and excellent history of Burdeos. It is hoped that a revision of its history with much better facts and accounts will be secured later on, and then to include all the rest of the barrios.

We express herewith the utmost gratitude that we have to Mr. Pelagio Valentin, Mr. Brigido Villaseñor, Mr. Getulio Gonzales, Mr. Cornelio Foliento, Mr. Candido Avenilla, Mr. Reymundo Filomeno, and to all others who had afforded us to produce this history of Burdeos thus far.

The past and popular name of the town was "Bisita," that is, the present poblacion of the town. It was so-called "Visita" because, since the Spanish regime, people from different places such as Polillo, Infanta, Mauban, Perez, and the Bicol regions came to this place to worship the image of the patron saint San Rafael in the church which was called "Visita," meaning the place to visit. Early profounders [?] believed in the divine, the miraculous power of the patron saint, that the sick would get well. "Visita" is now called Burdeos, originally given by a Spanish priest who came here in 1911 or 1912.

1. Ciriaco 2. Laurento 3. Comidos

4. Avelino 5. Pelagio Valentin

The site of Amot was already existing then. There were even wild carabaos in that place. The present barrio of Aluyan was not yet even known. It was a forest land. The first family who began making kaingin was that of Mariano Acejo. Later, more people went to make kaingins there. The first teniente was Vicenteng "Tuyag." "Tuyag" meant a skillful hunter or sharpshooter. Another family that lived there was that of Toribio Tuyag and his wife Candida. Still later on came Mariano Ritual, the great-grandfather of the present Andres Ritual of Angib. The sitio

of Tawi was first opened by Antonio Manlugon.

A tribunal was made in front of the site now owned by Faustino Gonzales. The tribunal was quite a big one with wooden walls and nipa roofing. When the people were called for a meeting, they willingly went. They went naked with only a small narrow piece of cloth covering their bodies known as "bahag." These people ate camote and rice. Another thing to note was that there were only three coconut plants in the place now owned by Concejal Leon Bantigue. These were long blown by typhoons as they were already tall and slender.

So far, there no important dates or events that took place during the Spanish occupation.

During and after World War II, as this was still a barrio, this was governed by Councilor Raymundo Felomino, while the teniente for fifteen (15) years was Felix Marciano. The Japanese came in 1943 and occupied the Burdeos Elementary School site. A small building was constructed on the northern part of the school site. This was their kitchen. All at once, they called the males to work. They brought and dug earth around the town site and made walls around the school fence. In front of the school that was at the gate was a high wall of earth. There was a little passage at the left side. Around the building was a mound of earth, so nobody could go under the school as it was there where the ammunition was stored. Trenches were dug around the school campus.

As time went on, a wooden headquarters was built by the Japanese soldiers just at the back of the main building. It contained many rooms, prison cells, and the rooms of the captains. The main building was given to the teachers as school was opened on February 1, 1943 by the Japanese.

Education was hampered as few children enrolled. Classes in Grades I and II were conducted by a female teacher from Polillo. This class was often troubled as when the teacher and the pupils heard gun shootings, they had to run away and hide themselves. Japanese soldiers proved to be friendly to the pupils and teacher. Every afternoon, a Japanese sergeant taught the class their language. Later on, as the teacher grew scared everyday about prisoners who were only suspected guerrillas, the class was transferred to a temporary nipa building near the church. There were very few desks as the Japanese used them for firewood when they just arrived. The blackboards were used as toilet walling and still the others were used as their bodegas.

Political relations were kept secret that time. Once the Japanese detected or even had a bit of doubt in a man about his relations with guerrillas, about how he gave any form of help to them, he was seized at once by the Japanese soldiers and confined to prison. On the other hand, if any spy misinterpreted anyone siding with the Japanese, he was stolen [kidnapped] by the guerrillas, too. Life that time was at a great stake. Death was usually the result.

Economic progress was hampered a great deal. The coconut owners of Burdeos did not make money out of copra as there was the market for copra that time. Millions of coconuts were seen scattered in the wide coconut groves. Anybody could just pick up coconuts for making oil. A beer bottle of oil cost a peso, Japanese money.

Sometimes, the Japanese robbed people of their palay, animals, clothes, and utensils, and in some instances burned their homes. In

some cases, they tied up the head of the family while the rest of the family ran away to safety.

After World War II, the people of Burdeos, headed by ex-Mayor Reymundo Felomino, united to ask the higher-ups that this barrio of Burdeos be made into a municipality. It did not take long before their request was granted. It was Rep. Fortunato N. Suarez who came here to see the condition of the place. By the Bill No. 550, presented by Rep. Suarez in March 1947, Burdeos was made into a municipality. On July 1, 1948, the new town of Burdeos was inaugurated. Councilor Reymundo Felomino became the first mayor by appointment. The other first officials were Vice-Mayor Pio Orantia, Councilors Victor Ayuso, Ernesto Orozco, Aquilino Aman, Treasurer Vedasto Ello, Secretary Diego Salazar, and Chief of Police Pedro Galan. Later, a sanitary inspector came, by the name of Proceso Hilario.

Through the efforts of ex-Mayor Reymundo Felomino, the main school building of Burdeos was reported as entired destroyed during the World War. So, this town was very fortunate enough to be given a big sum of ₱15,000 for a three-room school building from the American

Rehabilitation Fund. So now stands a beautiful school building. Through the initiative of Mr. Jeremias Gomez, the Elementary School Principal in 1948, the school site was greatly expanded.

Some of the famous proverbs common in this place are the following:

10. Kung ano ang tugtog ay siyang sayaw.
11. Ano mang tibay ng piling abaka ay wala ring lakas kapag nag-iisa.
12. Ang tao ay sumasabog sa pagkalagot ng buklod.
13. Munti man ang gusi, kung buo't matibay, daig ang malaking basag na tapayan.
14. Ang lihim na katapangan ay siyang pinakikinabangan.
15. Walang humipo ng palayok na di naulingan.
16. Ang masunurin sa magulang lumalapit sa kayamanan.
17. Anak na di paluhain, Ina ang patatangisin.
18. Makikilala mo ang taong mabait sa kilos ng kamay at buka ng bibig.
19. Ano mang gawain ng tao, nararamay pati inapo.
20. Ang hanap sa bula, sa bula rin nawawala.
21. Ang hanap sa hamog, sa tubig naaanod.
22. Ang di lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay di makararating sa paruruonan.
23. Sa kabila ng ulap, may araw ding sisikat.

24. Kapag ang tao ay hinaw nang hinaw, pakaasahan mong marumi ang kamay.
25. Bihirang balita'y magtapat, kung magkatotoo ma'y marami ang dagdag.

The famous "Awiting Bayan" are the following:

1.	ISA, DALAWA, TATLO Isa, dalawa, tatlo, Apat, lima, anim, Pito, walo, siyam, Sampu, labing-isa, Liku-likong sapa, Ang kanta mo, Neneng, Hindi tula-tula.
2.	TIRIRIT NG MAYA Tiririt ng maya, Tiriri ng ibon, Huni ng tiyan ko'y Tinumis ng baboy.
3.	PARU-PARONG BUKID Paru-parong bukid, na lilipad-lipad Sa gitna ng daan, papaga-pagaspas Sandangkal ang tapis, isang bara ang manggas, Ang sayang dekola'y 'sang piyesa ang sayad. May peyneta pa siya, Uy!!! May suklay pa mandin, Uy!!! Nagwas de ohetes Ay palilitawin Haharap sa altar, Uy!!! At mananalamin At saka lalakad Nang pakinding-kinding!
4.	Mama, mamang namamangka Ipagsakay yaring bata Pagdating sa Maynila, Ipagpalit sa kutsinta! Ale, aling namamayong Ipagsukob yaring sanggol, Pagdating sa Malabon, Ipagpalit ng bagoong!
5.	HALIKA NA NENENG Nalika na Neneng, Tayo'y manampalok Dalhin mo ang buslo Sisidlan ng hinog.

Pagdating sa dulo, Lalamba-lambayog, Kumapit ka Neneng, Baka ka mahulog!!!

The different riddles common in this place are the following:

1. Bulsikot si kaka

Punong-puno ng lisa. (kalamansi o dayap)

2. Narito na ang kinaon

Wala pa ang kumaon. (bunga ng niyog na inilaglag ng pumitas)

3. Hayan na, hayan na

Hindi mo pa nakikita. (hangin)

4. Heto na si kaka

Bubuka-bukaka. (gunting)

5. Kung araw ay bumbong

Kung gabi ay dahon. (banig)

6. Dumaan ang hari

Ang mga tao ay nangagtali. (bagyo)

7. Pumuputok, di naririnig

Tumatama'y di masakit. (araw)

8. Ha-bilog, ha-pandak,

Ha-mata, ha-dilat. (atis)

9. Tubig na pinagpala

Walang makuha kundi bata. (gatas ng ina)

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