MUNICIPALITY OF PADRE BURGOS, QUEZON, Historical Data of Part 1
PART I
PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV
[Cover page]
GENERAL MEMORANDUM NO. 34
SERIES 1952
HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF
THE TOWN OF
PADRE BURGOS QUEZON
COMPILED BY:
PADRE BURGOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
1952 - 1953
SUBMITTED BY:
AGRIPINO M. DE [PAGE TORN]
Actg. Elem. School Principal
[Table of contents]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. Mrs. Adela D. Orda
3. Miss Ursula Alvarez
2. Mr. Dominador Gonzales
3. Mrs. Cresencia G. Manalo
2. Miss Virginia Morales
3. Miss Loreto C. Pasion
2. Mr. Aurelio Billanueva
2. Miss Adela Odoño
3. Miss Concepcion Etorma
4. Mrs. Rosalina McCaw
5. Miss Feliza Peras
6. Mr. Ariosto Pasion
7. Mrs. Natividad Ravanao
8. Mrs. Rosa Vargas
9. Mr. Juanito Ravanzo
2. Mr. Felimaon Avila
2. Mrs. Violeta Rios
3. Miss Esperanza Estrella
4. Miss Luisa Acesor
[Unreadable]
2. Mrs. Concepcion Villamor
3. Miss Luisa Martinez
2. Mrs. Consuelo D. Zoleta
3. Miss Ursula P. Agnes
[p. 1]
HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF
THE TOWN
Part One : History
A. Present official name of the town or city. PADRE BURGOS.
B. Former name or names and their meanings or derivation. LAWINGMANOK, then LAGUIMANOK.
Originally, this place was called LAWINGMANOK because of the geographical sketch of the seashore which resembles the shape of the tail feather of a rooster. This name had been known by the residents when the place was yet a barrio of the Municipality of Atimonan and even until it became an independent municipality in the year 1917.
Lawingmanok was pronounced by the Spaniards, who were not used to the native tongue, as LAGUIMANOK, so the place was later known as Laguimanok. This name became the official name of the town until the year 1926 when the municipal council passed a resolution changing the name to PADRE BURGOS, adopted from the name of our martyr Father Jose Apolonio Burgos.
The townspeople attributed in changing the name to the common belief that the reason why the residents were quarreling with each other was that the name of the place was the personification of the rooster, who always fight each other.
C. Date of establishment: 1917, with the name of LAGUIMANOK. 1926, name changed to PADRE BURGOS.
d. Names and social statuses of the founders:
|
Antonio Amandy Zacarias Altez Roperto Odnimer Mariano Aguilar Cayetano Alcantara Cayetano Bautista Felix Anduque William Brown Bernardino Borromeo Silvino Victor Inocencio Flores Pedro Pobeda Candido Villareal Cipriano Villareal Mauricio Flores Manuel Salazar Ubaldo Alcantara Luciano Bautista Felipe Amado Tomas Estrada Miguel Jaro Leon Bautista |
Filipino
"
English lumber merchant" " " " " Spaniard and Capitan del Puerto """ Filipino
"
" " " " " " " " " " |
E. Names of leading persons who held official positions in the community, with the dates of their terms if possible:
|
1. Inocencio Flores 2. Pedro Pobeda 3. Candido Villareal |
8. Luciano Bautista
10. Esteban Herrera
9. Felipe Amado |
[p. 2]
|
4. Cipriano Villareal 5. Mauricio Flores 6. Manuel Salazar 7. Ubaldo Alcantara |
11. Tomas Estrada 12. Miguel Jaro 13. Leon Bautista |
Note:
These delegates or "delegados" were "tenientes" of the different places and sitios in the community.
Spanish Time:
Fr. Braulio Pilas, Cura Parroco in Atimonan
Fr. Eriberto Pabeda and Fr. Juan Romero, Capillar
Maestro Municipal: Cesario Diaz, Mauricio Flores (Catholic Private Schools), Vicente Buendia
American Time:
1917
|
Miguel Jaro Luciano Bautista Benito Alcantara Segundo Cruz Anastacio Angeles |
President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Chief of Police |
| Councilors | |
|
Catalino Parrabia Domingo Villena Eugenio Villameter Leon Bautista |
Francisco Villena Ruperto Odnimer Felix Asucena |
1917-1918
|
Luciano Bautista Mateo Perez |
President Vice-President |
| Councilors were the same as above. | |
Note: All these government officials were appointed as it was the time this municipality was organized.
1919-1922 (elected)
|
Domingo Santos Florentino Amandy Gregorio Pinol Francisco Calucin Catalino Paraaba |
President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Chief of Police |
| Councilors | |
|
Lorenzo de Leon Eugenio Lustado Pio Eroles Placido Jordan |
Luis Erolin Emiterio Lagos Anacleto Leonida Leopoldo Odnimer |
1922-1925
|
Domingo Santos Isabelo Martinez Gregorio Penol Doroteo Supia Rafael Goco |
President Vice-President Secretary Chief of Police Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Longino Amado Felimon Saniel Lucio Binabay |
Felipe Altez Gorgonio Santos Leoncio Gulipardo |
1928-1931
|
Segundo Cruz Luis Erolin Isaac Samonte Cayetano Ingles |
President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer |
[p. 3]
|
Dominador Senerez Rafael Goco |
Chief of Police Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Gregorio Penol Isaac Lagos Domingo Castilla |
Gorgonio Santos Leopoldo Odnimer Placido Parreja |
1931-1933
|
Segundo Cruz Gregorio Penol Francisco Garcia Constancio Macatangay Felix Rosales Rafael Goco |
President Vice-President Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Crispolo Lasquety Fausto Paulo Juan Eroles |
Isaac Villafuerte Agripino Gunda Sabas Diocales |
1933-1937
|
Illuminado Marquez Catalino Parrabia Simeon Umali Emiliano Remegio Florencio Rosas Rafael Goco |
President Vice-President Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Jose Cayabat Mariano Aguilar Marcelo Habalo |
Jose Decena Delfin Jaro Felix Paulo |
1937-1940
|
Illuminado Marquez Marciano Par Simeon Umali Emiliano Remegio Florencio Rosas Rafael Goco |
President Vice-President Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Juan Decena Canuto Eroles Rufino Garcia |
Cesaria S. Santos Juan Garcia Natalio Ravanzo |
1940 - Japanese Time
|
Domingo Santos Marciano Par Simeon Umali Emiliano Remegio Domingo Tamesis Hugo O. Arellano |
Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Juan Pimintill [Pimentel?] Teodoro Aguilar Jesus Pobeda |
Francisco L. Arellano Antonio Quencena Segundo Cruz |
1946-1947 (After the Japanese Occupation)
|
Bienvenido Marquez Luis Erolin Dionisio Pasia Dominador Gonzales Francisco Villameter |
Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer |
[p. 4]
| Hugo O. Arellano | Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Juan Paulo Felipe Aguilar Pilar Pasia |
Angel Zoleta Honorato Cabela Lorenzo de Leon |
1947-1951
|
Bienvenido Marquez Longino Amado Dionisio Pasia Benito Niere Francisco Villameter Hugo O. Arellano |
Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer Justice of the Peace |
| Councilors | |
|
Isidro Laurio Pelagio Amandy Tomas Ponteveros |
Silvino Sayat Meliton Amador Severino Terrenueva |
1951 to the Present
|
Bienvenido Marquez Benito Aguilar Dionisio Pasia Benito Niere Francisco Villameter Hugo O. Arellano |
Mayor Vice-Mayor Secretary Chief of Police Treasurer Justice of the Peace |
F. Data on Historical Sites, Structures, Buildings, Old Ruins, etc.:
There was constructed, in Sitio Punta, a big sawmill by English lumber merchants with trade direct to England, Spain, and other European countries. A CASA (as they called it) or a big building to house the offices and some residences of some Englishmen was constructed in Sitio Bundok.
This place was a port of entry for big ships from Europe, China, and Japan and from Manila and Marinduque. Also, there was a lighthouse which was destroyed in 1915. It was the time the railroad reached this place.
G. Important facts, incidents, or events that took place:
a. During the Spanish time -
1884 - Some TULISANES, numbering about 30, besieged this place, killing an English merchant by the name of Mr. Orsan, a soldier, and a Filipino COMISSIONADO. The robbers hogtied the male residents and robbed their money, jewels, and clothing. Afterwards, the robbers sailed for San Juan de Bolbok, Batangas, where they were apprehended by the Guardia Civil.
1884-1896 - From time to time, the INSURRECTOS came to attack the Spanish soldiers. This was so because the place was the passage from the southern coastal towns to Tayabas, the capital of Tayabas Province. These Spanish soldiers were called CASADORES.
1898-1899 - This place was occupied by the KATIPUNEROS of the short-lived Philippine Republic.
b. During the American Occupation to World War II:
1900-1902 - American volunteer soldiers occupied this town.
1902 - American soldiers were relieved by the
[p. 5]
Philippine Constabulary soldiers.
c. During and after World War II:
1941, 24 December, the residents of the town proper evacuated to the barrios as a result of the news that the invading Japanese soldiers were soon due from the south, that is, from Siain, Atimonan. The following day, the Jap soldiers arrived but did not stay. It was only months after when a platoon of Japanese soldiers came to supervise the local government and to direct the construction of military roads and bridges and foxholes through forced labor on the Filipino civilians.
The SAKDALISTAS, a political and subversive organization even long before the Japanese invasion, played a great role in the activities of the Jap armies and the local government as well. They served as spies and were instrumental in the torture and death of some of our leading men. Because of them, Mr. Juan Pimentel, the first vote and actual municipal councilor of that time, Mr. Benigno Zara, an ex-USAFFE [soldier] Mr. Jose Cortes, Candido Habacon, and Mr. Tan Eng, a prominent Chinese businessman, were garrisoned and tortured while Mr. Domingo Santos, the veteran politician and actual Municipal Mayor, and Chief of Police Mr. Emiliano Remigio were tortured to death by the combined wrath of the SAKDALISTAS and the Japs.
1942-1944 - Our brave Filipinos formed and organized resistance and guerrilla warfare under the unit of the HUNTERS GUERRILLAS. A camp was built in the barrio of Marao and guerrillas from Atimonan, Unisan, Panaon, and Agdangan came for instruction. Some of the officers were Major Eliseo and Captains Jaime Utalia, Galang, and Felipe Villena. These men were responsible for the restoration of the peace and order in this place and the return of the former Commonwealth Government. But still the people of Padre Burgos should not forget Capt. Ricardo Nieva who was the first to come to organize the Hunters Guerrillas in this place.
An incident happened to the guerrillas when, on Feb. 9, 1944, Japanese soldiers from the south caught by surprise some of the guerrillas who were stationed as guards at the railroad station, caught Eduardo Villanueva who was slain before the Jap soldiers left that same day. Panic reigned in the locality for the Japs discovered that there was, for sure, guerrillas in this place, good that no bad acts gained in the minds of the enemy.
H. Destruction of lives and properties during the Jap occupation was very small as compared to other places where the mass massacre of civilians was made by the Japanese Imperial Forces. Considered among the properties damaged were some school properties such as books, tools, utensils, and some records; while animals, rice, root crops, and other articles of prime necessities were confiscated from the civilians.
Lives - Those killed by the Japs and Makapilis were
[p. 6]
Domingo Santos, Ricardo Santos, Emiliano Remigio, Francisco Abrasaldo, Vicente Prieto, Simoen Flores, and Eduardo Villanueva.
Makapilis who were killed by the guerrillas were: Andres Rustia, Maximo dela Cruz, Leon Pader and Vidal Oriel and some others who were from some other places.
Rehabilitation -
Repair of roads and bridges were made during liberation.
Construction of five drilled water pumps was made.
Repair of government buildings was also effected.
During and after the Japanese occupation, the people were told to cultivate and raise animals for food. After the war, many of the residents who went to the barrios to cultivate returned to their homes. Others remained in the lands they cultivated.
PART II - FOLKWAYS
I. Traditions, customs, and practices in domestic and social life: birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burials, festivals, punishments, etc.:
Birth - During the Spanish time, there was an ordinance requiring frequent mothers to go to town where they should have their delivery. There, they were attended to by unlicensed midwives who were usually old, experienced women called HILOT. A pregnant woman had to prepare many things such as eggs, chickens, dresses, and blankets.
During the labor period of the mother, her kin and neighbors flocked to her house to wait for the happy arrival of the child. In this instance, the father or parents of the expectant mother, acting as hosts, served them food, cigarettes, and buyo.
Baptism - There were two kinds of baptism practiced long ago and even nowadays. The preliminary baptism called BUHOS TUBIG and the secondary or final called BINYAGAN. The former was performed by the hilot or any experienced old man. BUHOS TUBIG was performed usually when the newly-born baby was not in good hope to survive or when the parents were not yet ready to have the BINYAGAN for some other reasons. In both BUHOS TUBIG and BINYAGAN, usually there was a kin wherein the kin, friends, and neighbors were invited. Chickens, a pig or a cow were slaughtered for the purpose. The godfather or godmother, before leaving, gave gifts to the baby in money or in kind. This was called PAKIMKIM. The Binyagan was performed by the parish priest at the church.
Courtship - The old folks (although very few of them now) still practice the customs of their forefathers; that is, the young man had to work in the home of the bride for months and even years before he was accepted by the girl or the parents. This was called PAGSISILBI. During this time, the young man had to behave himself well and win the appreciation of the young woman and the parents, otherwise he would
[p. 7]
not succeed. He should get fuel, fetch water, and pound the rice. A good suitor finished all these obligations before the parents awoke in the morning.
Marriage -
Marriage is not agreed [upon] only by the bride and the groom. It is a dual agreement of the parents of both parties. A good day in a month of the year is selected for the wedding, as a bad date will prove fatal to the faith of the couple in the future. The face of the moon with relation to the name of the day is to be considered in this regard.
The marriage ceremony is performed in the barrio or in the town either by the Roman Catholic priest or the Justice of the Peace. But most often, the marriage ceremony is performed by the latter. Both sets of parents of the bride and the bridegroom prepare food for the visitors. On the occasion, pigs, cows, and carabaos are slaughtered; chickens are dressed. There is dancing and, before the close of the merry day, AWITAN is done. The bride, holding a cup of wine, sings a ballad as she offers the cup of wine to the parents of the bridegroom, then to the sponsors of the marriage vows, and to all the kin. Each of them give gifts in money or in kind, such as jewels, cows and carabaos or a piece of land, etc. for the newlyweds.
Then the feast is ended by taking the bride to the house of the bridegroom, leaving the latter at the house of the former. Three days later, the bridegroom shall follow to begin their first union in life. This is called DAPITAN.
Death
When one dies, the sad news is relayed to all relatives and kin of the deceased no matter how far they may be. They shall all come if possible to attend the day following the day of death. At night, the friends and neighbors of the bereaved family attend to the house where the remains lay in state. This is called BANGKAYAN. During the sojourn that the remains lay in state, it should not be left that all are asleep. [The previous statement seems to mean that "corpse should not be left unattended."] Someone must be awake to guard the corpse.
Burial
When one dies, a coffin is prepared which will contain the remains for burial. It is taken to the church for the last repose, but most burials go direct to the cemetery. As the corpse is being taken down the house, no one is permitted to peep through the window for doing so [means someone] will soon die. Do not sweep the house the day the corpse is taken for burial, and do not eat "babi" [gabi], a kind of watery plant producing a root crop, the sap of which is itchy, otherwise another member of the family will die. Pregnant women must not go with the funeral and enter the cemetery. Doing so will affect her child and cause a bad effect on her delivery.
Before the corpse is lowered to the grave, the coffin is opened for the children of the deceased to kiss the hand, in cases when the deceased is an old man or woman, and for the parents of the deceased to give their last benediction in case the deceased is a child.
[p. 8]
The sons and daughters of the deceased are passed over the corpse so the spirit shall not come to visit them.
Visits
The practice of visits to neighbors and friends are the same as of today. Drinks and other sorts of eats are offered to the visitors.
When someone is sick, friends and relatives visit the patient, bringing appropriate food and fruits.
But a visit of another kind may be mentioned, that of the spirit of the dead. It is a common belief that the spirit of the dead comes to visit the family, especially when the deceased passed away without having said his last antemortem. This is within nine days from the death and in order that the spirit may rest in peace, and the bereaved family has a nightly prayer for such number of days.
Festivals
Yearly, the town fiesta is observed as of today. STA. CRUZ DE MAYO is observed every month of May each year with nice preparations and celebration. A queen, Sta. Elena, and many other sub-queens and maids are chosen from among the beauties of the locality (sometimes an imported beauty is had [invited]) for the grand ceremony. The Sta. Cruz de Mayo is a sort of novena to the Holy Cross and this is done nightly until the novena is finished. A novena is for nine successive days and the Sta. Cruz de Mayo may be for one, two or three novenas.
Punishments
Punishments long ago were given for the crimes committed [the previous seem to mean "acts considered crime"] as of today, but the verdict was not written. It was but a pronouncement by the Cura or Kapitan or the Casadores, as the case could be. Common among the punishments were whipping, kneeling on mongo grains, trying the culprit on the ants' nest, putting a hot iron on the palm for theft, squatting on the wind, and stretching the arms to the side for a certain length of time. Also, cleaning the church and the patio was a punishment for heavy offenses. The hands and feet of the criminal were fastened to the holes between two big pieces of lumber, and he had to remain until further released by the proper authority. Sometimes, the punishment lasted for days, weeks, and even months.
J. Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, and superstitions:
Intepretations. When the cat cleans her face with her paws and at the same time facing the door, very soon visitors will arrive. The same thing when the outer part of the pot or frying pan gets flames while cooking something. The presence of a white butterfly in the home foretells good luck is coming, while that of a black butterfly has the contrary or sometimes a relative or member of the family has died.
When you feel your palms are itchy, you will be fortunate enough. So, business and transactions and gambling will bring good money.
When going to travel, journey, or voyage, postpone the trip if it happens that the rice which is being prepared for the meal before you start is half-cooked. Something will happen to you.
One should not leave the house at the instance
[p. 9]
All dreams will be interpreted to the contrary.
If you accidentally bite your tongue, somebody has mentioned you.
Beliefs. Eating twin banana fruits when conceiving will bring twin babies, so with twin papayas.
A pilgrimage to the Holy Virgin of Perpetual Help in Baclaran enhances the soul and all longings are granted.
A pilgrimage to the "Nuestra Sra. de la Paz" in Antipolo may bring children to a childless couple. Also may bring peace and a good voyage to travelers.
A man possessing the witchcraft of PARAYA may inflict harm or make other people sick as he desires.
Superstitions. Do not make the coffin more than enough for the deceased. It will mean that you are making room for another member of the family.
At the ninth day from the passing away of a person, a mass prayer attended by neighbors and friends (this is called SIYAMAN) is said for the eternal repose in peace of the soul of the departed, otherwise he will not have peace in the land of the hereafter. His sins will not be forgiven.
Origin of the world, land, sea, plants, trees, animals, sun, moon, stars, and the first man and woman, adopted from the knowledge [obtained] from the Bible.
Sickness. That an evil ghost called "Kamatayan" at the instance of Lucifer is responsible for any death and that if there is an epidemic of any kind, the "Salut" or "Kamatayan" has arrived to reap the lives of the people of a certain place.
K. Popular songs, games, and amusements:
Songs
ANG PUSA AT ANG DAGA
Mga maginoo, ako'y may salita,
Di naman maikli, di naman mahaba,
Noong unang panahon, ang pusa at daga;
Sila ay nagbabag, natalo ang pusa,
At nang mapatay na ang pusang matapang,
Kaya ko sinabi sa inyong lahat na
Huag ipaghambog.
MAY ISANG BULAKLAK
I
May isang bulaklak, may isang bulaklak
Na ibig lumitaw;
Sa balat ng mundo, ibig paibabaw.
Nalalanta ito, nalalanta ito
Sa patak ng ulan
At nananariwa;
Sa sikat ng araw.
[p. 10]
II
Irog ko'y kailan pa
Sa akin ay babalik
Ang hinahanap kong
Tunay na pag-ibig
Sa piling mo lang sinta ko
Napaparam ang lungkot
Ligaya ng buhay ko, magpahanggang langit.
Games
S h u n g k a
HOW TO PLAY
At the start of the game, each hole, excepting the two "savings holes," contains seven stones. Players A and B start at the same time. Both A and B grasp all the seven stones from hole No. 1 on their sides. Then, A and B drop one stone into each hole as No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and then B will grasp again all the stones from any hole they select on their sides, as for example. A grasps all the stones from No. 5 on his side while B grasps all the stones from hole No. 3 on his side. They then begin again dropping a stone into each hole of his side, never to omit dropping a stone into his savings hole and continue dropping one stone into into each hole opposite his side but omitting to drop stones into the savings hole of B. Likewise, Player B does the same as A. If Player A drops his last stone into an empty hole, then he stops playing, B to continue or vice-versa as the case may be. But if any of the players drops the last stone into a hole containing more than one stone, the minimum number being one, then he grasps again all the stones from that hole and continues playing until he arrives at an empty hole, so that Players A and B now play alternately until all the stones have been deposited into the two savings holes. The player who drops his last stone into an empty hole on his side while the opposite hole contains some stones gets all these stones, including the last stone he dropped and deposits them into his savings hole. When no more stones are left in the fourteen holes, A and B play again by placing seven stones into each hole on his side respectively, each player taking stones only from his savings hole. The player who is short of stones to fill up all his holes left vacant his holes into the following manner: from hole 7 down to hole 1, now, when all the stones have been gathered or placed upon their savings, the last to finish to move is given the opportunity to play first in the second game. They then begin to play again as before, but omitting to drop stones into the empty holes until a player deposits the greater number of stones in his savings and who is then declared the winner.
Amusements. Serenading the young ladies at night is one of the amusements, rather, a means of courtship by young men long ago and even nowadays. Young man with a pitty [petty?] string band or only a guitar plays music by the house of a young woman at night and sings songs of love. In some instances, the serenaders are invited upstairs in spite of the late hour of the night while some are just left to finish their mission without a reply and unmentioned.
Playing "checkers" or "dama" is one of the amusements. AWITAN was a sort of amusements, also Pasionan and Moro-Moro.
PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV