MUNICIPALITY OF CANDELARIA, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 2

places, and those who were really afraid went away and resided in other places so as to be free from the investigation of the American officers.

The town of Candelaria progressed very fast. The municipal building was built during that period. The church, the public market, and many beautiful houses were built. The railroad station was another accomplishment. There were many Chinese stores at the center of the town, and that was the business section of the town. The big concrete church surrounded by a fence was at the center of the town. It was Father Raymundo Esquinet who was responsible for the construction and beautification of the church and the churchyard. The remodeled municipal building was facing the church. All going to Lucena coming from the west would pass this town. All going to San Pablo westward would pass the town. And from San Juan, Batangas, travelers passed the town, too. Candelaria, therefore, was at the center, so that all goods from different towns found their way to the market. Candelaria increased her population very rapidly and made the town a first class town, but there was a very great misfortune that befell the town in the year 1938. There was a big fire that burned many houses. Our great commercial center was ruined and big residential houses were burned. Fire is a great calamity, and our people felt this irreparable loss. But the people strove to replace this destruction brought by fire, and once more, Candelaria was up on her feet. Our place did become again a pleasant place to live in. As evidence of our progress, the municipal building was remodeled, and it could compare favorably with other municipal buildings in the province. Later, big and modern houses were erected. Dr. Engracio Malison's, Mr. Saturnino Velasco, Sr.'s, Dr. Sagullo's residences, and last but not the least, the Felmar Club are examples.

The latter was of a modern style, like those we see in the city. The businessmen once again prospered; commerce and industry were stimulated. Thus, our town developed, the living condition was stabilized, and this continued until the American-Japanese War.

On December 8, 1941, war broke out in the Philippines. Normal conditions were interrupted. Schools were closed and our inhabitants, one by one, steadily left the town. By December 20, only a few were left, and on the 25^th, Christmas, in spite of the day of the nativity of our Lord, people journeyed far away to escape the rigors of the threatening Japs. On December 27, the battle the Japanese soldiers and the Philippine Army was fought in Candelaria. There was the burning of our most precious municipal building. But that was not only the destruction, for many residential houses were burned, together with the public market. At dusk of that day, the Japanese flag was hoisted. It marked the Japanese occupation of Candelaria. The inhabitants, fearing that the Japanese soldiers would do them harm, stayed hiding in the barrios. Great was our fear that whenever Japs were announced coming, we all hid.

Later, it was ordered that the townspeople should go to town, and those who would be found in the barrios would be punished. They also said that the houses in the town would be burned if the occupants would continue residing in the barrios. Although we feared, we yielded, too. So, by May and June 1942, the town residents settled again in town. Mr. Francisco R. Malabanan was appointed mayor fo the town. Government officials were also up-to-date with the census, so our palay was yet in the fields, but they were already censured [?]. Captain

Shiraishi was the captain among the people, but among the soldiers, Captain Kodote. Everyone talked about the cruelty of Captain Kodote. They also said that the soldiers were forcing girls to marry them, so people living in the town were always afraid. All ladies and their parents were always ready to face what would happen. The rest of the year, the people were pacified, so the town was inhabited as before. Contented as they were, the people were once stupefied late in August when it was ordered that all men should gather in the elementary school building. All men, including barrio folks from fifteen years of age up were gathered. So, there was disorder. For a day, they were kept in the open air without tasting anything, not even a drop of water. No one knew it would be what we call "zona," so they went to the school building without eating their breakfast. It was already noon, and when the women at home waited in vain for all their men, the womenfolk got worried and brought their men food, but their attempts to feed them were all in vain. The people were divided into groups and were confined in different places. They confined all men from a certain barrio in the church. Others were gathered in the cockpit, show house, and other big buildings. They set a fixed date for investigation. The investigation was made in the churchyard. Those suspected guilty (pro-American) were brought to the headquarters. Others were brought to the Tayabas Western Academy Building for further investigation. The Japanese resided in Dr. Vicente Macasaet's house. You could see women lingering around the town bringing with them food for the men. After twelve days of torture, they were released. Just the sight of those men made us shudder. They had long beards and hair, they were thin, haggard, pale, and sick due to hunger. A few died. This enraged some Filipinos.

firearms, imposing punishment on those who refused. Even if it was raining and the Japanese wanted the presence of the people, they would call a meeting in the plaza. Radio Taiso was observed daily and our youth was organized into a society. The Philippines was given independence, which was celebrated on October 14, 1943. Mr. Pastor Javier was our mayor.

was Rizal Day, so all the people were celebrating the day of our greatest hero. Suddenly, four American planes came flying very low. All people were scared, running here and there while others were lying on the ground. The four planes machine-gunned the railroad station and flew away. From that time on, people in the town were always expecting the coming of the airplanes. In January 1946 [most likely 1945], the American planes visited the town very often. Mr. Cresenciano de Gala was the mayor of the town. They didn't permit people to go out of the town, but on January 9, they could no longer prohibit the townspeople from going out of town, for there were many planes hovering above the town dropping bombs in all military objectives. There were very few inhabitants left in the town, so the Japanese residing in the town became angry. The mayor also went out of the town, so the Japanese went to the barrios on February 13, 1945 and massacred several people. They burned many houses, that caused many townspeople to go very very far. They left the barrios and lived in nearby towns. From that time on, Candelaria became a very lonesome place to live in because very few people were residing.

PART II - FOLKWAYS

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, AND PRACTICES AMONG THE
TOWNSPEOPLE OF CANDELARIA

Customs, traditions, and practices have sprung out among the townspeople through the ages and were preserved and handed down from one generation to another. They were carried down from father to son through usage. Many of them are still popularly followed for their merits. Some have been discarded for modern Science has been rapidly driving them out and replacing them with scientific ways. Some of these customs, traditions, and practices that are still commonly used in the town are related to birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial, etc.

When the mother is on the family way, precautionary measures are taken not only by the pregnant mother but also by each member of the family. No one is allowed to stand or to stay by the door because, according to the belief, the act will hinder the delivery of the child. Entering the church or cemetery during burial ceremonies is prohibited to expectant mothers. Sitting on the steps of a ladder is taboo.

Three months before delivery, a midwife is already attending the mother. She is "fixing" the position of the baby in the mother's womb to facilitate delivery. This "fixing" consists of massaging the belly of the mother every afternoon before dusk.

Doctors are seldom called to attend the delivery. Immediately after the delivery, the cord that is connected to the navel is at once cut off, wrapped, and hanged to dry by the roof. The baby is bathed with oil and the "inunan" is buried in the ground, usually under the staircase.

Just after the delivery, any member of the family scans the calendar to find a name for the newborn child. If the name found in the calendar does not suit the taste of the family, the father and mother of the newborn baby confer regarding the selection of the name. Some families allow the sponsors to name the child. At this point, the sponsor is also selected, the date of the baptism is set aside. Oftentimes, baptism is accompanied by an extravagant party. There is much drinking (wine and soft drinks), and the "ninang," if there is one, provides the baptismal dress.

After the baptismal ceremony, which is held at the church, a party is held at the home of the newly-baptized child. Upon arrival at the house, the sponsors present their baptismal gifts to the baby. Usually, the gift is given in the form of money; but in some cases, material things other than money, like gold necklaces, are given. These gifts commonly called "pakimkim" are considered the first earnings of the baby.

Time changes, and people's ways of doing things do change, too. Ages ago, there was no real courtship between a and a boy. Their marriage was often arranged by the parents. Some of them were compromised even as early as immediately after the boy and girl were born. This happened during the Spanish regime. During these days, liberal parents (if there were any that may be considered liberal) were very precautious [precocious] over courtship. They were extra careful that their daughters would have a bright marital life in the future. They were very strict on the man's behavior. Usually, it was the parents whom the poor boy and the poor boy's parents were courting.

On social gatherings, parents chaperoned their daughters lest the loverboy

might do something disgraceful. Once a boy was accepted by the girl on the parents' proposals, he was to serve the girl's family until they got married. He was to fetch water, gather or split firewood, and help the father in the farm and also render some sort of domestic help. This was the period of testing. Gradually, however, these practices had been modified that today they are no longer en vogue.

In the olden days, after a boy had served the family of the girl for quite a long time, the parents of the boy go to the girl's home to get the consent of the girl's parents. This was called "bulungan." The "bulungan" was usually held in the evening. They usually brought food and wine to the girl's home. The parents of both parties convened and discussed the points and terms of the marriage, dowry, the date of the marriage, sponsors, and the like.

The dowry ("hingi" in Tagalog) was usually in the form of a substantial sum of money, a patch of land, repair of the girl's house, and the like.

As soon as the agreement was made, the food and wine brought by the boy's party were served to the girl's family and relatives.

Come marriage day, there were preparations by both parties — the girl's for the setting of the wedding party; the boy's for the food and the like.

The wedding ceremony, if the parties concerned were Roman Catholics, was

held at the Roman Catholic church. After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds were ushered home. Upon arrival at the house, there was a belief that if the girl happened to go upstairs first, the boy would become henpecked during their marital life. So, the practice was to have the boy or groom go upstairs first or to have both bride and groom go upstairs at the same time. Once in the house and all had partaken of the food served, there was the "sabugan." This was done in this way: the bride, accompanied by the boy's father, would kneel down and ask blessings from the kinsfolk of the groom. The kinsfolk of the groom would give her the "sabog" (usually in the form of money. In the same manner, the groom made his rounds among the girl's kinsfolk. When all was over, the bride was taken to the groom's house, leaving the groom at the bride's home. This was called "palit-paco." The groom would stay overnight at the bride's home. This practice is still followed today but with modifications.

In this place, the women of the bereaved family wear mourning dresses of black for a whole year. The men wear bands of black cloth around the left arm or just wear a piece of folded black cloth on the breast pocket.

When death strikes a family, the members of the family and all relatives gather at the house of the dead. Neighbors and friends also come and extend their condolences to the bereaved. They do not sleep for the whole night. This is called "puyatan." To while away the hours of watching [over the dead, or vigil] games such as playing cards, dominoes, "juego de frenda," etc. are held. The corpse is usually held in state for twenty-four hours before interment.

Sweeping the floor or table is prohibited. Plates are not allowed to be piled on top of the other.

The corpse is accompanied in a procession by the parents (if still alive), bro-

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