MUNICIPALITY OF GENERAL LUNA, Historical Data of Part 3

3. Dreaming of loose teeth will mean the death of a relative.

4. If the flesh of a deceased [man] does not stiffen, somebody in the family will soon die.

5. If a young man dies, it will soon be followed by a young woman and vice-versa.

6. When somebody dies, friends and relatives of the deceased visit the dead. They give alms and others do the household work. During the night, there is a "bankayan." Young people play "frendahan" and old folks play "tres siete." Some will tell humorous stories to keep the folks happy and awake.

Every member of the family attends the burial. As soon as the dead is brought down the house, the windows and doors are closed. The person inside the house, if there be any, is not allowed to peep through the windows or door because if he does so, he may die soon. The people joining the cortege carry lighted candles. Just before the coffin is lowered to the grave, the people throw the candles and pieces of soil into the grave.

A cross marks the grave. Flowering plants are also planted on the grave. If the plants live, it is a sign that the deceased is happy in the other world.

1. When a member of the family celebrates a birthday, friends and relatives are invited. A birthday celebration feast among barrio folks is called "tubungan." They make a crown of flowers, which is placed on the head of the celebrant. They sing songs greeting the person who celebrates the birthday. After this, they pray, asking for more and happy years for the celebrant.

2. Christmas is the happiest Christian festival among the Filipinos. The godchildren kiss the hands of the godparents, who give them gifts or "aguinaldo" in the form of money, jewelry, dresses, or eats. In the barrios, people celebrate Christmas, too. They prepare suman, kalamay, and palitaw. It is the godchildren who give their godparents Christmas gifts. They also have some sort of drinks as tuba and wine.

3. In most of the barrios, the feast of San Isidro is annually celebrated. San Isidro is the patron saint of the

farmers. People believe that this celebration in his honor insures an abundant harvest.

When a child cries loudly during baptism, it is a sign that he will have a long life.

While during the baptism of a child, the light of the candle is put out, the child will have a short life.

6. Creation. It is believed among the people that land, the sun, moon, rivers, caves, mountains, seas, lakes, and plants were created by God Almighty. The first woman on earth came from the ribs of Adam, the first man.

7. Cooking. If the fire hisses while cookng, a visitor is coming.

8. Crossing a River. While crossing a river or creek, one must say "tabi po," or else the evil spirits may be stepped upon. The children should not say anything on whatever they see while they are taking a bath because if they do so, they may have fever after bathing or they may get "anayo."

9. Death and Burial. When one is dead, tears must not be allowed to fall on the dead person's body or else he will have difficulty in reaching heaven. The mat on which a dead person laid must not be rolled, or else another will follow.

One must not try to overtake a funeral if one is late, or else one will soon die.

One must not take along a rope during a funeral, or else someone will die soon.

When one dies in a house, the floor must not be swept, or else one will die.

10. Eating. If a spoon drops to the floor while eating, a female visitor will arrive; if a fork drops, a male visitor will soon come.

If one happens to bite his tongue while eating, someone is conversing about him.

11. Eclipse. When there is an eclipse of the sun, it is believed that a huge dragon is trying to swallow the sun.

12. Earthquakes. It is believed that a certain man, Bernardo Carpio, is holding the earth. If he gets tired, he changes the position of his hands, thus causing earthquakes.

13. Harvesting. Harvesting rice must begin during a full moon or a new moon. Palay must be brought while the sun is setting, and at the same time, the moon is shining. There must be no sweeping of the floor of the house nor its surroundings so that the rice will not be easily consumed.

14. Hunting. If a wild pig is caught with a net and hunting dogs, all persons who happen to witness the pig's slaughter, whether they participated in the hunt or not, are entitled to a share of the meat. Pregnant women get two shares; one for herself, and the other for her unborn baby. If one follows the custom, there is a probably that the next hunt will be amply rewarded.

15. Marriage. In entering the church, the groom must enter first. In entering the house, the groom and the bride must go at the same time so that they will have equal rights. During the marriage ceremony, the bride must step on the groom's foot if she wants to dominate her husband, and the groom will do likewise if he wants to dominate his wife.

16. Moon. If the moon, at its first quarter, faces towards the sea, there will be plenty of fish caught.

17. Planting.

a. It is good to plant rice during a full moon so that the grains will be full.

b. Coconut. Planters must begin planting during a full moon by setting three coconuts while in the sitting position so that the trees will not grow very tall.

c. Banana. Suckers of bananas must be pulled by the planter and planted while one is still full after a meal and in a sitting position, so that the fruits will be big and full.

d. Camote. Camotes must be planted during low tide. A little amount of sugar must be included with the cuttings so that the camote will be sweet.

e. Corn. Corn must not be planted during the first, second, and last quarter of the moon. There must be no laughing during planting so that good ears of corn will be harvested.

18. Pregnancy. She [the pregnant woman] must not sit on the stairs or by the doors with her legs loosely stretched, or else she will have difficulty in her delivery.

The husband must neither nail the floor, dig holes in the ground, nor clean coconut shells for household utensils, or else his wife will have difficulty in her delivery.

19. Rain. Rains are tears of God falling from Heaven to redeem our sins.

20. Sickness. It is believed that the cause of frequent illness in the family is that the stairways are facing the west.

Sudden illness such as fainting is caused by a bad wind called "balis."

"Buga," "bulong," "oracion," having hearling power. "Balis" is cured by means of "bulong."

21. Storm. A violent storm is a sign that God is enraged with sinful people.

22. Stars. When there are plenty of stars at night, it is the best time to plant mongo [mung beans].

23. Trees. There is a way of telling whether it is safe to cut down a tree or not. A bolo is struck against the tree's trunk and left overnight. If it is still intact the following morning, it is a good sign and the tree may be cut down. If, however, the bolo is found on the ground, it is a bad sign, for the evil spirits living in the tree do not allow the tree to be cut.

24. Transfer of Residence. The transfer of residence must be done during a full moon. Water must be the first thing to be brought to the newly-built house, then fire must be built in the stove.

25. Thunder and Lightning. It is believed that cats and dogs are quarreling in the sky when there is thunder. Lightning is caused by puppies colliding with the trees. During a thunderstorm, garlic soaked in vinegar must be put on posts so that lightning will not strike the house.

26. Witchcraft. The "manananggal" is a kind of witch, commonly a woman that flies at night. The lower half of the body is severed and left in the house, while the upper part of the body flies at night and preys on dead persons. The witch or "aswang" must not be talked about during Tuesdays or Fridays because the witch will learn what is said about him or her. A sick person in the house must be watched well, or else the witch will trouble her.

27. Miscellaneous Beliefs and Superstitions.

a. One must not sweep during the night because good luck will be driven away.

b. One should not pay debts at night because this will curtail the family's income.

c. The windows should be opened at sunrise to let good luck enter the house.

d. A dead's spirit will visit the relatives on the third night from the day he died.

e. One must not sew during sunset or else one will have poor eyesight at an early age.

III. Proverbs and Sayings

1. Ang lumakad ng matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.	1. One who walks fast will have a deep thorn.
2. Hanggang may baga ay may sugba.	2. Roast while the charcoal is glowing.
3. Ang tulin ng bangka ay di sa kahoy galing kung di sa piloto at sa bilis ng hanging.	3. The speed of a boat comes not from the wood but from the pilot and the speed of the wind.
4. Kung ano ang puno ay siyang bunga.	4. What the parent is, so is the offspring.
5. Ang itinatamis ng bunga ay sa lupa nanggaling.	5. The sweetness of the fruit comes from the soil.
6. Kung talagang tubo, matamis hanggang dulo.	6. If it's real sugarcane, it is sweet till the end.
7. Hampas sa kalabaw, sa kabayo ang latay.	7. Whip to the carabao, pain to the horse.
8. Ang taong tinatamad, katuwiran ang hinahanap.	8. A lazy person seeks for a reason.
9. Ang may sinuksok ay may titingalain.	9. One who hides something can look up to something.
10. Ang mabigat ang kamay, magaan ang tiyan; ang magaan ang kamay, mabigat ang tiyan.	10. A person with light hands has a heavy stomach; a person with heavy hands has a light stomach.

11. Ang taong maagap ay daig ang taong masikap.	11. An early man defeats a busy man.
12. Ang humihip sa lusong, sa mukha ang tapon.	12. If one blows against a mortar, it will blow against oneself.
13. Kung ano ang tugtog ay siyang sayaw.	13. Dance with the music.
14. Ang mga salita at pangungusap ay mainam, subali't ang pagsasagawa at katuparan ay lalo't higit na mainam.	14. Words and talk are good, but deeds and actions are better.
15. Pag may ininanim ay may aanihin.	15. If you have planted, you will harvest.
16. Magpakahaba-haba man ng prosisyon, sa simbahan din ang urong.	16. No matter how long the procession is, to the church it will return.
17. Masarap ang matuwa kung walang masisirang gawa, nguni't kung may masisira, ulol ang ka-halimbawa.	17. It is good to be happy if there is no work destroyed, but if there is, one is a fool.
18. Mag-amos nang mag-amos, sa langit maghilamos.	18. Make sins and clean them in Heaven.
19. Gumagapang ang kalabasa, subali't naiiwan ang bunga.	19. While the squash plant creeps, the fruit is left behind.
20. Kung tutuong santo, dapat nagmimilagro.	20. A true saint shows mystery.
21. Huwag bilangin ang sisiw hanggang ang itlog ay mapisa ng inahin.	21. Don't count the chicks until the eggs are hatched.
22. Madali ang maging tao, subali't mahirap ang magpakatao.	22. It is easy to become a man, but it is hard to be manly.
23. Ang karangalan ay mabuti kaysa kayamanan.	23. Honor is better than wealthy.
24. Ang tapat na kaibigan ay makikilala sa bigat ng pangangailangan.	24. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

The popular songs of the people are the old kundimans which are sung by the males while they serenade at night, the awit or corridos which are sung with swaying and with a glass of tuba on the head, accompanied by a guitar. This is sung and danced during parties, especially during birthday celebrations or wedding feasts.

The games which are popular among the people are indoor baseball and volleyball. During Sundays, teams from different barrios meet in a certain barrio. In the poblacion, younger boys play basketball and volleyball.

There are different amusements of the people. In the town, some well-off residents indulge in cockfighting, mahjong, and tres siete. Those who are more economical just play dama, while others who are spendthrifts indulge in drinking tuba, which often causes unwholesome incidents. Others who were more thoughtful go hunting in the nearby forest where there is an abundance of birds and wild animals. Some go fishing in rivers and creeks where fish is always abundant.

10. Baboy ko sa pulo, balahibo'y pako. (nangka)

In the barrios, the methods of measuring time are by two kinds of birds, the "kalo" and "tikling." It is said that when these birds make noise in the morning, it is six o'clock; in the latter part of the morning, it is ten o'clock; at midday, it is twelve o'clock; and in the late afternoon, it is four o'clock. They also tell the time by the position of the sun. Some people tell the sun by the shadow of trees and buildings.

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