San Francisco, Lipa City, Batangas: Historical Data

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of San Francisco in the City of Lipa, Batangas, the original scanned documents at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections not having OCR or optical character recognition properties. This transcription has been edited for grammar, spelling and punctuation where possible. The original pagination is provided for citation purposes.

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I HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO SAN FRANCISCO
Part I: History

The present official name of the barrio is San Francisco. With regards to [the] popular name of this barrio present and past, the name remained the same. Barandal is a sitio at the southeastern part of the barrio.

San Francisco was established during the Spanish regime according to information from the old living folks, but the exact date of its establishment is unknown.

Original families are unknown. The present inhabitants are immigrants from the town of Rosario, Batangas, Bauan, S. Jose and Cuenca. According to these people, when they came to settle here, they found no houses and this place was covered with cogon grass and thick forest. During that time, the land was owned by prominent men of Lipa.

With regards to the tenientes from the earliest time to date, the following could be remembered:

During the Spanish occupation, this place became the hiding place of the revolutionists, but no encounter took place.

During the American occupation, the people lived peacefully and contented with their lives.

When the Japanese invaded our islands, the people suffered great hardships. They had to follow two kinds of government, [a] government run by [the] Philippine (government) guerrillas and [a] government run by the Japanese Imperial Army. A camp of the guerrillas was established in this place. These guerrillas needed the support of the people on everything.

In the latter part of the year 1944 and in the early part of the year 1945, when the Japanese Army was already killing the men and women they saw and met, all the people evacuated to a safer place. They returned to their homes when the place was

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already cleared and the American soldiers were roaming here and there.

In 1951, another incident took place. Mr. Gregorio Hernandez, the barrio lieutenant, was killed by an unknown person. Fearing that everything will get worse, the people of the barrio left their homes again. The school was closed and the farms were neglected. The people returned to their homes when they knew they were already safe.

Not so many lives were lost during the wars in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945.

As regards rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II, no measures and accomplishments can be reported. School buildings, roads, [and] water supply water supply were totally neglected by the government. The present school building, which is about to answer the call of destruction, was taken from the surplus and constructed by the Parents Teachers Association. Roads are first narrow trails covered with thick bushes and vines. Sources of water supply are shallow uncovered wells found on the banks of circles.

PART TWO – FOLKWAYS

This [is] identical with that of S. Celestino as this barrio is in the Cuatro Santos group.

-SUPPLEMENT TO THE REPORT-

1.  Ang dalagang nagpopormal       sa kanyang kalagayan       hindi pagpapahamakan       nino mang walang pitagan.	When a maiden is formal in her manner of being even the most daring man will have to respect her.
2.  Kung ang tikling at labuyo       sakdal nang ilap magtago       sa marunong magpaanyo       nahuhuli rin sa silo.	The heron and the wild chicken though very elusive birds can by the expert trapper be caught with facility.
3.  Mayaman ka ma't marikit       mabuti sa pananamit       kung walang sariling bait       walang halagang gahanip.	Though you be rich and handsome And well-dressed besides If yoiu have no proper judgment You are worth nothing.
4.  Maginoo man kung turan       at walang magandang asal       kaparang tae ng bakal       maginoo sa Don lamang.	Although they may call you sir If your manners are improper You are as the dress on iron A Don only in name.
5.  Ang tao'y bago mangusap       tingnan ang likod at harap       at baka kadingat-dingat       siya'y masama sa lahat.	Man, before he speaks Should look behind him and before Else, he might all of a sudden Find himself by everybody disliked.
6.  Magdalita ka nga niyog       huag magpapakatayog       kung ang uan ay umok-ok       mauubos pati ubod.	Be more patient coconut Do not grow so tall Should the worm attack your insides It will consume even your marrow.
7.  Kung ano ang kulay ng langit       Siya rin ang kulay ng tubig.	As the color of the sky So will be the color of the sea.

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8.  Ang pag-ibig sa kaaway       siyang katapangang tunay.	He who of the enemy knows how to beware is the truly brave man.
9.  Ang marahang pangungusap       sa puso'y nakakalunas.	(As the mouth speaks) a soft speech (So does the heart feel) comforts the heart.
10. Ang maliit ay tambalan       ang malaki ay kikilan       ang maikli ay dugtungan       ang mahaba ay putulan.	To the small, add; to the big, cut; to the short, lengthen; to the long, shorten.
11. Kung ano ang bukang bibig       Siyang laman ng dibdib.	As the mouth speaks so does the heart feel.
12. Bago gawin o sabihin       maki-pitong iisipin.	Before doing it or saying it think it over sevent times.
13. Hanggang maikli ang kumot       mag-aral kang mamaluktot.	Since the blanket is short learn to keep huddled.
14. Kaya ang sabi ko sa sino ma't alin       na may karunungan; itago, ilihim       at kung nakatagpo ng matalim-talim       para kang nahulog sa balong malalim,	That is why I say to one and all Who pretends to wisdom; hide it and keep it secret Because if you come across one a little sharper You will feel like having fallen into a deep well.
15. Walang mayama't ginhawa       na di nanghihingi sa iba.	There is no rich nor contented man Who will never have need of another.

Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of the Barrio San Francisco” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.