MUNICIPALITY OF MACALELON, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 2

It is said that thunder is caused by the noise of God's carriage when He takes a ride in the sky and lightning is produced by the whip of the horse. According to an old man from this locality, when there is thunder, there are many kinds of animals coming out from under the ground. These animals, which he names "elementos," do not have eyes.

There was an instance when he experienced this once. One day, when he was still young, he went to his uncle's house. In the course of their conversation, he heard the noise of small pigs squealing. Then, he asked his uncle if they were pigs. His uncle said that they did not have [pigs]. So, they went down the house and searched the place where the sound came from. They found out that the sound came from under the ground. Upon digging the place, they saw three small pigs without eyes. His uncle said that lightning struck these animals, so they killed them by pouring vinegar on them.

When such animals came out from the ground, they crawled on trees or houses. As soon as the lightning occurred, it at once struck them. When this kind of animal happened to be in a house, sometimes the house was set on fire. This was the belief before, so that old folks used to pour vinegar around their houses.

Some people from our locality believe that it is bad to talk about witches on Mondays and Fridays because, although the person concerned does not hear what he is being talked about, he knows. It may also be said that when a person is attacked by high fever, there may be some evil spirits who would like to befriend the person. So, the old folks sometimes call for anyone who knows how to apply the "suob"; that is, burning a piece of "pilalumbre," with "banaog." As soon as the "pilalumbre" (tawas) is melted, the old man who does this interprets it as an animal which causes the fever. This is done thrice. Sometimes, the fever subsides. This ailment is what is called "anayo."

It is not good to transfer a pot of rice to another stove without fire once this pot is already on the stove. It is said that someone in the family will get sick.

It is not good to take a bath on the first Monday of August and September. People say that these days are bad days because a person who bathes on these days may at once get ill.

The birth of twins is believed to be caused by eating anything twin as twin bananas. There is also a belief that, when someone is sick in a house, and the patient keeps on moaning, the witch stays under or near the house.

Among the old folks, they always watch the new moon, especially during the months of the planting season. When they see that the arc of the moon faces down the earth, the farmers are happy for it is a sign of rainy days; but when the arc faces upward, it means a drought.

Caponizing [neutering] of pigs is usually done among old folks during the full moon. It has been their belief that this practice hastens the growth of the pig.

The appearance of a half-rainbow is a sign of bad weather. Children are forbidden by the old folks to point at the rainbow for it will lead to the cutting of their fingers. They believe also that when the rainbow appears, it drinks the water of the young coconuts.

The planting of corn and banana is also done during a full moon, with the belief that the banana will then bear long and big bunches and the ear of the corn will be big and full of grains.

Planters of camote observe the night before planting. The presence of very many stars the preceding night is a good day for planting camote as it will cause the plant to have many roots.

The beginning of the construction of a house and the transfer to the new house is also done during a full moon. It is believed that in doing this, the owner will enjoy a life of happiness and abundance. This belief is still very common among the inhabitants nowadays.

The beginning of harvesting palay is done during high tide for doing it will swell the harvest.

A would-be bride or groom should not travel for either will likely meet some accidents.

One should not sweep the floor or table at night for it brings ill luck.

One should not comb his hair at night for he will lose his mother.

When a cat wipes its face facing the door, its master will have visitors.

When the firewood cackles on the stove, somebody will be coming.

When a person catches the scent of a burning candle without the presence of a lighted one, a relative will die or has died.

When somebody plants a tree and immediately looks up after doing so, the young tree will grow tall.

When a child jumps high when the church bell rings at the Resurrection, he will grow tall.

It is an ill omen to cross the path of a black cat.

A gambler who sees a land lizard on his way to the games will surely lose.

Whenever one takes a step with his right foot first upon rising from bed, all his work throughout the day will go right.

When a key is turned inside the mouth of a newly articulating child he will pronounced the letter r easily.

When the first approach of a customer to a store early in the morning is on credit, there will be less cash sales for the day. More will be on credit.

When one has an important journey to make and he turns back to get something he forgets, it foretells unpleasant things to happen.

When a baby is born with birthmarks, he will bring good fortune to the family.

Seas were without end. Mountains were formed by the pile of sand, soil, and rocks made by strong and big waves. Earthquakes were produced by the shaking of the world when God got angry. Thunder occurred when God rolled big stones and rocks up in the sky. The abrupt changes of climates were bad omens. The first man and woman of the world came out from a bamboo tree cracked by a bird called woodpecker. Lightning was made by the sword of St. Michael.

1. A hawk was once flying over a rice field where there was a flock of mayas eating palay. The hawk said, "Mayas, you are one hundred in number." One of the mayas replied, "No. You are wrong. All of us plus one more of us plus one half more of our number are one hundred." How many mayas were eating palay in the ricefield?

SOLUTION

All of us Plus one more of us Plus ½ more of our number

66 1 33 100

2. There was a town fiesta. Pedro, the barber, packed up his equipment and started for that town. On the way to that town, he saw a river. The river was deep and wide. There was no boatman in that river. What was there was a magic tree. That tree would bend if the wild rooster at its top would crow. What did the barber do so that he could cross the river?

ANSWER: The barber took his mirror and flashed it at the wild rooster. It crowed and the magic tree bent instantly. He crossed the river with the help of the magic tree.

3. Maria was a beautiful girl. Many young men tried to court her. Maria was a very wise girl and she would say to anyone who loved her this test. "I have five paddies or rice fields. Dig three dikes and leave three paddies of the same form and size. If you can do this, I will be your wife." Pedro was able to do it. How? See the sketch below; how he removed the three dikes and left three paddies without demolishing the five paddies of the ricefields.

4. Pedro was going to town. He had 3 young sugarcane with him. He met three robbers. The robbers said, "This is your end Pedro. Give us 2 sugarcane each. Do not cut the sugarcane you have. Just give us 2 sugarcane each." What did Pedro do to please the robbers?

Pedro crossed the 3 sugarcane he had as shown in the sketch below. He told the robbers to hold two sugarcane each without much ado. Pedro was able to run away from the robbers because of this trick.

5. In a ranch, there are men and cattle. The ranch was well-fenced. Pedro and Juan were out of the fence. Juan told Pedro to count the feet of both men and cattle in the ranch. Pedro told Juan that he counted 56 feet. Then Juan told Pedro to count the heads of all men and cattle in the ranch. Pedro counted 21 heads. The question now is, how many men and cattle were there in the ranch?

7 x4 28 28 56

of them are cattle (feet per cattle) feet for cattle feet per men feet Pedro counted

14 x2 28 7 14 21

are men (feet per men) feet for men heads of cattle heads of men heads Pedro counted

1. When the king was about to die

2. Walking here and there

3. If you are a girl of knowledge

4. What is it that stands without

5. A big tree has twelve branches

6. When he sits down, he is tall

7. Sky above, sky above

8. A bamboo turned into water

9. Holes here and there

10. What is it that has four posts

11. Dressing well those who have

12. In the middle of the sea

13. A big guava has seven holes.

14. A hanging heart

15. A small man

1. Nasa ilalim pa ng kanyang ina Kinain na ng kanyang ama. (Simbahan, pare, at ostia)	16. Una siyang sumigaw Bago siya magnakaw (Lamok)
2. Itinapon ang itinanim Pinagtamnan ang kinain. (Manok)	11. Sa daan na nagsaksakan Sa bahay nagbunutan. (Amursiko)
3. Gintong binalot sa pilak, Pilak na binalot sa balat. (Itlog)	12. Naibigan pa ang basag, Kaysa buo't walang lamat. (Kamatsili)
4. Nang maglihi'y namatay Nang manganak ay nabuhay (Sinigwilas)	13. Dahong pinagbungahan, Bungang pinagdahonan. (Pinya)
5. Maitim na parang tinta Pumuti'y di kinula. (Uban)	14. Nang hawak ay patay, Nang ihagis ay nabuhay. (Trumpo)
6. May dila walang labi May paa walang daliri. (Kayuran)	15. Nanganak ang birhen Nangalat ang lampin. (Puso ng Saging)
7. Bumubuka'y walang bibig Ngumingiti ng tahimik. (Bulaklak)	16. Tai ng daga sa ludlod Bumaha ma'y di maanod. (Bato)
8. Puno'y layu-layo Dulo'y tagpu-tagpo. (Bahay)	17. Uka na ang tiyan, Malakas pang sumigaw. (Kampana o Batingaw)
9. Ako'y nagtanim ng isip Sa ilalim ng tubig Bunga'y matutulis Daho'y makikitid. (Palay)	18. Lahat ako'y minamahal Mang-aawit ang aking tatay Suot ko'y putian Puso ko'y dilaw. (Itlog)

19. Kung araw yumaon ka Kung gabi, halika. (Panara ng Bintana)	28. Takbo ng takbo, Hindi nagbabago. (Makina)
20. Pagsipot sa maliwanag, Kulubot na ang balat. (Ampalaya)	29. Tangan mo ang buntot ko, At sisisid ako. (Lumbong may Tangkay)
21. Duwag ako sa isa, Matapang ako sa dalawa. (Tulay na Kawayan)	30. Isang panyong parisukat, Pagbuka'y nakaka-usap. (Liham)
22. Bugtong kong pag, Turan mong ong. (Pagong)	31. Nasa likod ang tiyan (Binti)
23. Kung taib ay hanggang binti, Kung hibas ay hanggang pigi. (Sasa)	32. Ako ang nagbuka Ikaw ang nakakita. (Bibig)
24. Supot ni Hudas, Puno ng Perlas. (Ngipin)	33. Nagtago si Pedro, Labas din ang ulo. (Pako)
25. Santong buhay, Inaanay. (Bulutungin)	34. Pinagpalo, pinagpatay, Siyang pinagkatiwalaan. (Tali ng Kalabaw)
26. Munting uling Pabitin-bitin Hirap kunin Sarap kanin. (Pili)	35. Mabilog at matabang bata, Namatay pagtanda, Nagsasauli sa bata. (Buwan)
27. Bakas ko noong isang taon, Bakas ko hanggang ngayon. (Takam sa katawan ng niyog sa pag-akyat)	36. Namaril si pusong, Pinunta'y sakong Tinamasa'y ilong. (Utot)

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