MUNICIPALITY OF GUMACA, Quezon, Historical Data of Part 6

gagawin.

Noong unang panahon, sa isang malayong bayan ay may naninirahang isang taong masipag at matalino. Bawa't oras para sa kanya ay mahalaga, at ni ayaw niyang mag-aksaya kahit kakaunting panahon.

Matalino palibhasa ay napalaki niya ang kanyang lupain, gayon di ang mga papasok niya. Hindi naman natagalan at mayaman na siya. Ang kayamanan niya ay itinago sa isang lihim na lugal sa kanyang bahay. Sa takot na matuklasan ito, dinala-dala niya [ito] sa bukid na kaniyang sinasaka. Ayaw niyang malaman ang kanyang kayamanan, kaya't naging maramot siya. Kahit mabulok ang prutas niya ay ayaw pa ring ipamigay. Hindi niya naaalaala na bukas-makalawa ay maaaring tumanda siya at hindi na makagawa. Ayaw rin niyang mag-asawa. Nanghihinayang siya sa pagkaing kakaiinin niya at sa takot pating baka matuklasan ang taguan ng kanyang kayamanan.

Lumipas pa ang maraming buwan at mga taon. Sa paglipas ng mga ito ay lalo lamang umuunlad ang kayamanan niya. Bumibigat ito ng bumibigat at mahirap nang dala-dalahin kung siya'y pumupunta sa bukid. Minabutin niyang ilipat ang bahay niya sa bukid. Kinasundo niya ang mga kapitbahay sa bukid, at buong-puso naman silang nagsitulong sa paglilipat ng bahay niya. Subali't sa hirap at pagod na dinanas nila sa pagbubuhat ng bahay ay hindi man lamang sila nagtamo kahit anong gantimpala. Napakaramot niya upang magbigay ng kahit kaunting halaga. At napakabait naman ng mga kapitbahay niya.

Sa bukid naman ay hindi siya mapagkatulog. Natatakot siyang baka may masamang-loob na makaka-isip magnakaw ng kuwalta niya. Bawa't kaluskos ay kinatatakutan niya. Nang hindi na siya makatagal ay tinawag na naman niya ang mga kapit-

bahay niya sa bukid at nagpatulong na naman siya sa paglilipat ng bahay sa bayan.

"Bagong Hayop ang itinawag sa kaniya ng mga tao noon. Sa hinaba-haba ng panahon ay naging Bagong na lamang ang tawag sa kanya. Nguni't may mga batang hindi maimik ang "ba," kaya't sa halip na Bagong ay "Pagong" ang sinasambit. Ang ilang matatanda ay natuwa na rin sa salitang "Pagong," kaya't hanggang ngayon ay PAGONG ang itinatawag sa kaniya.

The virgin forests in the surrounding vicinity of this town were made into farms about one hundred years ago. My mother, who is now eighty-three years old, still remembers her grandfather Sixto, who opened the forests in a barrio now called Manlayaan. There is a spot almost surrounded by a winding river with a brook running across it known today as Bendita. This name, as you know, came from the church for obvious reasons. This farm, through hard work, turned out to be one of the biggest coconut farms in this barrio.

The nearness of this barrio to the town made my grandfather go to the farm in the morning and come back in the afternoon. According to this old man, he always left the farm at sunset and, as he walked to town, there was always a short man carrying a branch of a tree (just as big as those that are cut for firewood) with so many small twigs on one end. If he walked slowly, the short man also walked slowly; if he walked fast, this strange man also walked fast. Then, when he arrived just at the outskirts of the town now called Tejero, the strange man disappeared. My grandfather was not afraid for he knew very well how to say the right prayers whenever he saw such strange persons.

Passers-by who happened to pass by the place near the brook that ran across the trail sometimes saw a coffin with lighted candles on four corners. On cloudy and rainy days, even a funeral carriage (kalanda) with a coffin in it could be seen just under the big pilinut tree. This made the passers-by afraid but they had to take no other course for, at that time, there was but one trail leading to town.

In the same brook near the pilinut tree, there was a spring where people god their drinking water. One day, as my mother and her cousin Baldo were fetching water, they chanced to see a white turtle. Upon arriving home, they related it to their uncle who at one told them to hurry back to get it. But, upon their arrival at the spring, it was no longer there. According to the uncle, the white turtle was rare, and if a man who went to the cockpit possessed a white turtle, he would always be very lucky.

Because of the above occurrences and happenings, especially the appearance of a coffin, the people decided to call the priest to bless the spot with Holy Water, for they believed that someone might have died there and wanted to receive the last blessing. This was done and after the first blessing, the people again asked the priest to bless it for the second time. From that time, no more strang things appeared at the spot but this place bears the name "Bendita" until today.

In the olden days, the early inhabitants of this town did not have permanent homes. They just made a little clearing, built small nipa huts, and when they got tired of this place, they found another spot to make a new home.

Among these people who came to this town was a group that selected the site near the river, just along the railroad where the present Quezon East High School is situated.

One of the couples, Angge and Angko, had a fair daughter named Delia. Delia was beautiful, modest, and very attractive.

One afternoon, as Delia came from the caingin carrying some camotes wrapped in anahaw leaf, she met a young man who seemed to be a stranger to her. He accosted her, mentioning her name, Delia. She was surprised that such a man would address her by her name. They walked together until finally, they came to Delia's home.

From that time, Delia and the strange man became friends. Every afternoon, when the sun began to lower, they met near the river. They were so happy until their intimacy ripened into love.

But one day, another group of settlers came to the place. Among them was the family of Indo. He had a son named Elyo. Elyo was handsome, strong, brave, and gallant.

One morning, Elyo saw Delia carrying a bamboo with water from the spring. She was singing gaily and Elyo was attracted to her sweet voice, and when their eyes met, they smiled at one another. Elyo helped Delia to carry the water. From that time, he became a frequent visitor to Delia's family. He helped the family in any way he could, which made the parents of Delia look upon him with great admiration. Delia, in turn, admired and loved him until the two families came to have an understanding and decided to have the two joined in wedlock.

A week after Elyo and Delia were married, the fairy lover came to pay her a visit. They went to the same spot where they spent the happy bygone days.

"Delia, now that you did not keep your promise, you had been very unfaithful to me, I swear to be always with you until my end comes. Do you see that little coral island just at the mouth of this river? That's my home. I am Bonaeg, the son of the King in the south. I am under the spell of a wicked fairy and, to break this spell, I must be loved by a faithful woman. I'm just beginning to be released from the thousands of hardships I encountered under this spell, [but] you disappoint me by being unfaithful. O faithless woman! So, for not keeping your promise, I'll punish you. Every year, so long as you can see the coral island, you and your kinsmen will have to give away one of you, that is, one of you will meet a misfortune and die there. This river will be the tool to my black desire. Don't cry, your tears are useless but listen carefully, for I have another one to break your heart and here it is — from generation to generation of your kinsmen, there's sure to be one intelligent and because of this, he will become wise and become a titled or professional man. I'll get him, as for example, the first man to finish medicine, priesthood, engineering, etc. These are what I swear to a woman like you and as long as these are not yet carried out, although you are dead, you will never rest in peace."

Tears rolled down Delia's cheeks so that she did not notice the parting of the man she was talking with.

Years rolled by and Delia had her children, with sons and daughter. Her grandchildren were countless and, with the coming of the new settlers, the town grew bigger with improved homes, living conditions, and other things.

Every year from that time, there was always one life lost by drowning or lost at sea during a storm.

The first blow that came to the life of Delia was when her sons were drowned and their lifeless bodies were found just near the spot that marked the meeting place when they were still lovers.

All that the fairy lover swore he would do came to be true. For in Gumaca, the first doctor served the people for a short time and he died. The first engineer, the first priest, the first nurse, they were all short-lived.

But, after the last offering, little by little, the coral island could no longer be seen by human eyes in the far distance until it really disappeared.

How the disappointments of Delia, she had one consolation in life and that was if the coral island was no longer seen, the town would prosper and the power of the spell of the oath would be broken.

For many years, we have not seen the coral island and we can prove and see that Gumaca is progressing in all lines. Economic, social, financing, etc. We can also see the sons of Gumaca holding high positions in our government. Perhaps, the spell or enchantment was broken.

There is a flourishing barrio in this town known as Camohaguin. Not far from the village is a spot called Pinaglapatan. This place is well-known as a haunted spot for, according to the barrio folks, during a bright moonlit [night], one could hear string instruments being played, the pounding of "malagkit" rice to be made into "pinipig" and, during cloudy days, they could smell the odor similar to that of a goat.

There are many stories told by the barrio folks. One of them ran like this. In the old days, every Sunday early in the morning, it was the custom among the barrio people to come to town hiking, passing along the trail that led to town. Once, a couple who was walking passed by the haunted spot [and] saw a buri bag standing and, by the light glimmer of the moon which was beginning to descend, discerned that silver coins were in it. They did not mind for fear of the place. But as soon as they were several meters away, they decided to go back to get the bag; but to their disappointment, they found the bag and the contents were stones instead of what they were sure to be really silver money. Thus, they came to the belief that the place was really a haunted place.

During the Spanish regime, the small town of Gumaca was often visited by the Moros, whose mission was to plunder the town [and] to take with them women, children, whom they made as slaves.

Because of this, the people made forts in every corner of the town so to guard it from the Moro invaders. One of these forts still stands situated at the mouth of the river and overlooking the beautiful Lamon Bay and evergreen island of Alabat. There still stands the old Spanish cannon used by the old folks to frighten the Moro invaders. According to the old folks, a guard was stationed in Silangan village (now called Quezon), and when a lighted torch was seen by those who were at the fort of San Diego, the cannon was fired to announce to the inhabitants that Moro invaders were coming. The people of the town began to flee to the mountains and forest for safety. In this moment, [when] everybody was at a loss what to do, the patron saint, San Diego, appeared standing in the fort brandishing his sword which flickered in the bright sunlight. The Moros, thinking that it was their enemy, lost courage to approach nearer for their fear of what they saw before their eyes instead of a town, they saw only a big rock, so they retreated. Thus, Gumaca was saved by San Diego. The stone fort known as Castillo still stands and is one of the attractions in this town which is often visited by tourists who wonder at its durability and beauty.

The man was sick. His fever rose so high that he was in a delirium. All the herbolarios were called but nobody could diagnose his sickness. He was brought to the town by the barrio folks.

He laid on the mat spread on the floor, his wife attended to him for he could not be left alone. In his delirium, he always shouted, "There she is, there she is!" The wife could not understand what he meant. Again, he shouted, "There she is, there she is; wait for me, wait for me!" All the people in the house did not know what to do. At night, they all laid awake waiting, waiting for whoever might come to visit the patient, but they saw nobody. At last, the old folks learned of the condition of the sick man [and] suggested to call a "herbolario" who was well known by the name "Encanto." This man was said to be an expert of such a kind of sickness.

It took several days for the hired men to find the man called Encanto for he lived in a nearby town. As soon as he arrived, he said he would talk with the fairy who made the man sick. He prepared live charcoal and spread over it dry leaves and twigs which came from the river in the barrio where the sick man always took a bath. According to this "herbolario," he had talked with a beautiful woman with curly hair. Afterwards, the sick man gradually got well day by day.

Now, the people of the barrio began talking about the incident, and the sick man told how he came to be a friend of a fairy. This was his story: It was Good Friday, and he happened to lie in a river. It was noon, and without due notice, he beheld before him a beautiful woman who invited him to go with her to the cave. Inside the cave were different kinds of food, and among them was the "black rice." He was warned not to eat it but, because of his liking for that kind of rice, he wanted to taste it, but instead, he began to eat the plateful of black rice. When he went out of the cave, he felt he was sick. The beautiful woman, according to him, did not want her to part from him, so that

when he bought turn [this line makes no sense], she followed him. That's why he always shouted, "There she is, wait for me!" From that time, he became a good friend of the fairy. He was helped by them in whatever he did, clearing the caingin, the fairies helped him during moonlit nights, and people in this barrio wondered at him having the cleanest caingin, with an abundance of vegetation.

Once, there lived a couple who was very industrious. They lived in a town, but had a farm not far from it. In their caingin, they had many plants. On one end, [they had] a nipa hut where they kept their harvests.

One day, the husband got sick and he could not go to the barrio. The wife, too, got sick, and both of them could not attend to their caingin.

This couple had a son and daughter, Felisa and Magno. One day, the Mother said, "Felisa and Magno, go to the barrio and visit our caingin. You may also gather vegetables and corn."

"Yes, Mother," answered the two children.

Each carried a basket to fill with whatever they could pick in the farm.

The two children gladly went to the barrio, stopping here and there whenever they saw guavas and pilinuts.

When the two children reached the farm, they were overjoyed at seeing the corn just ready to be harvested. At their delight, they walked to and fro shouting. It also happened that some crows were perching on the coconut trees growing along the caingin. They said, "Uwak! Uwak! Uwak!" The two children took fancy in imitating the crows. They said, "Uwak! Uwak! Uwak! Don't get our corn! Don't get our corn!" They did this until they got tired of shouting.

The children, upon arriving in the town, gladly told their mother about the corn.

They said, "Mother, Mother, there's plenty of corn!"

On the next day, the mother went to the barrio without the children, for they were in school. To her disappointment, she found all her corn destroyed. She did not know what happened. She went to her neighbor, who told her what she

witnessed as the children imitated the crows. "Perhaps," said she, "the crows got angry and they got their other companions to eat all the corn."

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