MUNICIPALITY OF CATANAUAN, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 3

12. The captain took a bath without wetting his stomach. Naligo ang kapitan nang di nabasa ang tiyan.	Boat Banca
13. My house at Pandacan has a wide front. Bahay ko sa Pandacan, malapad ang harapan.	Wharf Daongan
14. I cut it with a bolo in the forest but it cries in the house. Tinaga ko sa gubat, sa bahay nagpalakat.	Guitar Gitara
15. There is a trunk but no branches, there are leaves but no fruits. May puno, walang sanga; may dahon walang bunga.	Ladle Sandok
16. It has no teeth and no jaws, but its breath is hot. Walang ngipin, walang panga, mainit ang hininga.	Baril na pumutok Gun that has exploded
17. It can cook without heat, it smokes although cold. Nakakaluto'y walang init, umaaso kahit malamig.	Ice Yelo
18. My tree at Lucena has live charcoal for its flower. Kahoy ko sa Lucena, bulaklak ay baga, bunga'y ispada.	Firefly Alitaptap
19. My white dog was sent on an errand, but it didn't return. Aso kong puti, inutusan ko ay hindi na umuwi.	Saliva Laway
20. I have a thin horse which I whipped with a piece of bamboo, it jumped over seven forests. May kabayo akong payat, pinalo ko ng patpat, lumukso ng pitong gubat.	Waves Alon
21. If you will allow me to live, I shall not live long; but if you will kill me once, I shall live longer.	Candle
Kung papapayaan mo akong mabuhay, yaring kamataya'y dagli kong makakamtan; nguni't kung ako'y pataying minsan ay lalong lalawig ang aking buhay.	Kandila
22. Not animal, not person, the skin is made of leather. Hindi tao, hindi kabayo, ang balat ay kuwiro.	Nuts Niyog

23. My cow's mooing at Manila but can be heard here. Baka ko sa Maynila, rinig dito ang unga.	Thunder Kulot
24. There were three maidens who attended Mass, the first wore green, the second was in white, and the third was in red, but all of them wore red when they came out	Leaf, Lime & and Betelnut
May tatlong dalagang sumimba, verde ang suot ng una, puti ang pangalawa, at ang pangatlo ay pula, nguni't nang magsilabas sila ay pare-parehong nakapula.	Ekmo, apog at bunga.
25. A small chest is full of money. Maunting tampipi, puno ng salapi.	Pepper Paminta
26. Many in such great number was created by only one. Marami at makapal, iisa ang lumalang.	Pepper Pamienta

10. A stitch in time saves nine.

11. Do unto others as others would like to do unto you.
12. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
13. He who keeps something will reap something.
14. He who goes with the wolves learns to howl
15. Without a cultured heart, a cultured mind is of no avail.
16. Over the hills of difficulties and across the fields of obstacles lie the house of success.
17. Be still sad heart and cease repining, for behind the clouds, the sun is still shining. Thy fate is the common fate of all. Unto its life, some ruin must fall. Some days must be dark and dreary.
18. Drop by drop wears away a stone.
19. If I have lost my ring, I still have my finger.
20. Look before you leap.
21. If you don't aim high, you will never hit high.
22. Little leaks sink great ships.
23. Please all and you will please none.
24. Heaven helps those who help themselves.
25. T'is not what we have but what we enjoy that makes us happy.
26. Better a free bird than a captive king.
27. Destroy the lion while he is a whelp.
28. Remember that time is money.
29. What comes often is soon tired of.
30. A fine cage won't feed the bird.
31. He who begins many things finishes few.
32. Truly polite is always polite.
33. Little strokes fell great oaks.

34. The person who cannot save is lost.
35. Money multiplies your power.
36. He who does not waste will not want.
37. In union, there is strength.
38. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
39. Saving money saves worry.
40. Ambition with strong determination will come into realization.

Methods of measuring time, special calendars: The early clock of the people was the hornbill [or] "kalaw." They watched the kalaw sing for it always sang at the exact time, say six, twelve, one o'clock, etc. They used to calculate the time by means of their shadows. Other means of measuring time were the flowers called "rosas de alas doce" or "rosas de alas cuatro." These flowers are at full bloom at twelve and four o'clock, respectively. For their calendar, they used the "Dimasalang" by Honorio Lopez from which they got the names of newly-born babies.

Another way of measuring time was by means of the sun. Whenever the sun shone perpendicularly to the earth, that was considered twelve o'clock already. When the position of the sun's rays was somewhat slanting, they said that it was already two o'clock, three o'clock, and so on.

In the town of Catanauan, Province of Quezon, a river is situated at the northeastern part of the town. This river is called, in the local term, "Ilog Tampus," because it is located at the very northeastern extremity of the town. Something miraculous is connected with this river.

The elder folks of this town are wondering why this river is read every Holy Week. This is a sign that the river is again in a position to take someone's life. Every year, a young man or a young woman dies in this mysterious river. The death may be due to drowning or to be devoured by a fierce crocodile found in that river. Many young men and women are lamenting whenever the Holy Week comes for the reason that they will lose one young man or woman again.

More than one and a half centuries ago, Catanauan was ruled by a "capitan" who was very strong and powerful. Although he was rich, strong and powerful, he was criticized by his people on the ground that he did not keep his promise. This "capitan" had a very beautiful, kind, and obedient daughter. She was so charming, and many well-to-do young men fell in love with her. Buhay was the name of this lovely young daughter of the capitan. One day, she frankly told her father that if ever she would marry, she preferred to marry the son of a poor farmer.

The father became dumb and numb after hearing the humble opinion of his daughter. The father remained quiet and tried to think deeply. His daughter waited very eagerly for the decision of her father. Finally, one day the capitan ordered his subordinates to call for the young man whom his daughter liked to marry. At the appearance of the poor young man, the capitan said, "You are the one selected by my daughter to be her husband, but before marrying her, I wish you to give me three leaves of three different kinds of flowers."

The poor young man traveled so far that he passed several mountains, rivers, and thick forests; and yet, he was not able to locate the desired leaves as requested by the capitan. For fear, this gentleman did not appear before the capitan, and so he died. God became angry because of the capitan's high-mindedness, and he was punished severely.

Through the power of God, a big crocodile assumed the appearance of a handsome young man. The young man was very rich and powerful. He went to the house of Buhay to express his love. When the capitan learned this, he asked for great wealth from the young man. The capitan told the rich young man that his kingdom be annexed to his before marrying his daughter. The capitan said, "I am already very old, and after my death, your wealth and my wealth will both be given to you." "That will not do," replied the young man. "If you will not agree," said the capitan, "I will not let my daughter be married to you."

"I don't need her," replied the young man angrily. "My soldiers," the capitan said, "tie this man and throw him into the river." The soldiers obeyed faithfully and the young man was thrown into the river. The next night, the river overflowed its bank. A very big crocodile appeared in the river and devoured the soldiers who threw the young man into the river.

Buhay was greatly frightened because she thought that her father might be devoured next. Buhay knelt and prayed. In this way, God heard her prayers. Her father was saved, but the crocodile appeared and said, "My dear capitan, I want you to understand that you have not fulfilled your promise that Buhay would be married to a young man." The capitan did not reply, for he was greatly frightened. Suddenly, the river became bigger and bigger and Buhay was caught by the crocodile. The people were greatly terrified because of this misfortune. All were sorry for the irreparable loss of Buhay.

From that time on, "Ilog Tampus" every hot season is in a position to take someone's life. There is a threat that someone will be devoured in this river. The belief of the people is that the crocodile is returning to eat one person in the town in order to show to the townspeople the sacredness and dignity of keeping our promises.

Sa bayan ng Catanauan, Lalawigan ng Quezon, ay may isang ilog na nakatayo sa gawing hilagang-silangan ng bayan. Ang ilog na ito ay kung tawagin ay "Ilog Tampus" dahil sa yoon ay natatayo sa gawing hilagang-silangan tampus ng bayan. May makasaysayang kababalaghan ang nasasabi sa ilog na ito.

Ang mga matatandang tao sa bayan ay namamangha na kung bakit ang ilog na ito ay namumula tuwing mahal na araw o kuarisma. Ito ay nangangahulugan na ang ilog ay gusto uling kumuha ng isang buhay ng mamamayan. Taon-taon ay may namamatay na isang dalaga o binata sa kataka-takang ilog na ito. Ang pagkamatay ay nagbubuhat sa pagkalunod os sa siba ng bangis ng buaya. Maraming binata at dalaga ang nalulungkot tuwing darating ang mahal na araw o kuwarisma sa dahilan na may mamamatay na naman na isang dalaga o binata.

Noong unang panahon, ang Catanauan ay pinamumunuan ng isang malakas at makapangyarihang capitan. Kahit na siya ay malakas, makapangyarihan, at mayaman ay napupulaan pa rin siya ng kanyang mga tauhan dahil sa siya ay hindi tumupad sa kanyang pangako.

Ang capitan ay may isang maganda, mabait, at masunuring anak na dalaga. Siya ay napakaganda at maraming mayamang binata ang lumiligaw sa kanya. Ang pangalan ng anak na dalaga ng capitan ay si Buhay.

Isang araw, si Buhay ay nagtapat sa kaniyang ama na kung siya ay mag-aasawa, ay ang kanyang pakakasalan ay anak ng isang maralitang maglilinang. Ang ama ay natigilan at hindi makapagsalita nang mapakinggan ang sabi ng anak niyang dalaga. Iniisip na maigui ng capitan ang sinalita ng kanyang anak na dalaga.

Ang kanya namang anak ay naghihintday ng kapasiyahan ng kanyang ama. Ang kinahantunan ay isang araw ay ipinatawag ng capitan ang binata na gustong pakasalan ng kanyang anak. Pag dating ng binata ay ang capitan ay nagsalita, "Ikaw ang napili ng aking anak na dalaga na mapakasalan, nguni't bago ko ipakasal sa iyo ay gusto kong bigyan mo ako ng tatlong dahon na tumutubo sa tatlong klasing bulaklak."

Ang maralitang binata ay naglakbay at dinaanan ang mga kabundukan, ilog, at malaking gubat, nguni't sawi rin ang kanyang lakad at hindi niya natagpuan ang mga dahon na hinihingi ng capitan. Sa takot ng binata ay hindi na humarap sa capitan kaya't siya ay namatay. Ang Dios ay nagalit sa kanyang pagmamataas kaya't suya at binigyan ng katamtamang parusa.

Sa kapangyarihan ng Dios ay ang isang malaking buaya ay nagbalat-kayo at nag-anyong isang maganda at mayamang binata. Ang binatang ito ay napakayaman at makapangyarihan. Nang malaman ng capitan ito ay siya ay humingi ng malaking kayamanan sa binata. Ang hiningi ng capitan sa binata ay isalin ang kanyang kayamanan o kaharian sa kanya bago ipakasal ang kaniyang anak na dalaga. Sinabi pa ng capitan na siya ay matanda na at "pagkamatay ko, kayamanan mo at kayamanan ko ay mapapabigay sa inyong mag-asawa." "Hindi maaari yan," sagot ng binata. "Kung hindi ka papayag," sagot ng capitan, "ay hindi ko ipapakasal ang aking anak sa iyo."

"Hindi ko kailangan siya," sagot ng binatang pagalit. "Aking mga suldado," sabi ng capitan, "talian ang taong ito at itapon siya sa ilog!" Ang mga suldado ay sumunod na mahusay at itinapon ang binata sa ilog. Kinagabihan, ang ilog ay bumaha. Ang napakalaking buaya ay lumutang sa ilog at siniba ang mga suldadong nagtapon sa kanya sa ilog.

Natakot si Buhay sapagka't naalala niya na baka ang kanyang ama ang isunod kainin. Si Buhay ay nagdasal at humingi ng awa sa Dios. Pinakinggan ng Dios ang kay Buhay na karaingan at dalangin kaya't ang kanyang ama ay nakaligtas, nguni't ang buaya ay lumutang at nagsabi, "Mahal kong capitan, gusto ko laang ipaalaala sa iyo na hindi mo natutupad ang iyong pangako na ipakakasal ang iyong anak sa isang binata." Ang capitan ay hindi na nakasagot dahilan sa malaking takot. Ang ilog ay biglang lumaki ng lumaki at si Buhay ay siniba na ng buaya. Malaki ang katakutan ng mga tao sa bayan sa masamang pangyayaring ito. Ang lahat ay nalulungkot sa pagkawala ni Buhay.

Simula noon, ang Ilog Tampus, tuwing mahal na araw ay umuutang ng isang buhay. May masamang balak na dito ay may malulunod o masisiba ng buaya. Ang paniniwala ng mga tao ay ang buaya ay bumabalik upang kumain ng isang taong bayan at ipakilala ang kahalagahan at karangalan sa pagtupad ng ating mga pangako.

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