Tulo, Taal, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Tulo, Taal, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Tulo, Taal, Batangas: Historical Data

Historical Data graphic
Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Tulo in the Municipality of Taal, 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.

[p. 1]

Division of Batangas
District of Taal
Tulo School

REPORT ON THE HISTORY
AND
CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO (TULO)

I

1. Present official name of the barrio – Tulo.

2. Popular name of the barrio, present and past; derivation and meanings of these names. Names of sitios included within the territorial jurisdiction of the barrio.

Tulo has been the popular name of the barrio since it was established. According to the oldest man of the barrio, this was how the barrio got its name.

Far from this original place which is called Tulo was a big stone which was the source of the dripping water drops. The stone was on an elevated place. Drops of water continued to fall. Hence, the name was derived from our dialect word “tulo.” However, that very place was not inhabited by people for it was far from the pathways leading to the town and neighboring barrios. The people moved from that place to the places nearer the roads called this Tulo because the stone was within the jurisdiction of Tulo.

Sukol, in the northernmost part of the barrio, is its sitio.

3. Date of establishment

When it was exactly established, nobody knows. The oldest man of the barrio said that according to the stories he heard from his grandfathers, the name existed long before the Spanish came.

4. Original families

The original families of the barrio were the couples Dionisia Yuson and Florencio Alvarez and Ramon Holgado and Antonia Catapang, who were followed by other families from neighboring barrios and the town.

5. List of tenientes from [the] earliest time to date.

 1.  Carlos Layola 7.  Juan Dimailig
 2.  Pedro Catapang 8.  Simeon Bereña
 3.  Martin Holgado 9.  Gregorio Castillo
 4.  Ciriaco Dimailig10. Juan Dimailig
 5.  Fermin Mendoza11. Jovenceslao Maullon
 6.  Ciriaco Dimailig

[p. 2]

6. Story of old barrios or sitios within the jurisdiction that are now depopulated or extinct.

None.

7. Data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, etc.

No data could be gathered regarding this.

8. Important facts, incidents, or events that took place.

(1) During the Spanish Occupation

The people suffered much from the cruelty of the Spaniards. There were cabezas who enforced taxes in the barrio. Houses were all transferred along the road by the order of the Spanish officials. There were many insurrectos from the barrio that time who fought against the Spaniards.

Captain Crisanto Catapang headed the barrio against the Spaniards. Some of his followers were Cabeza Agido Cabrera, Dalmacio Maristela, Jose Catapang, Melanio Catapang, Daniel Montenegro, Filemon Cuento, and Melecio Catapang. Some of these are living veterans in the barrio.

Famine occurred during the time. In one of the portions of the place, the people hardly survived. The experienced to eat the inner part of banana plants so much so that the people called it until now Buñgo.

Many people moved from this place when the Spaniards occupied it. Then, a system of schooling was carried on especially with those who were left. Arithmetic, Reading, and Spanish were taught.

(b) During the American Occupation to World War II

When the Americans came, the same brave man Captain Catapang, together with his followers, fought against the Americans. The Americans punished those who did not surrender their arms. However, Captain Catapang and his men did not experience this.

During this time, the people lived by planting sugarcane, rice and corn. The occupation of the women was weaving.

(c) During and after World War II

Again, the people suffered much when the Second World War broke out. They experienced much hardships, especially when it came to food, clothing, and shelter. They were forced to evacuate to the mountain for fear of the Japanese.

9. a. Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during wars, especially in 1896-1900 and 1941-1945.

[p. 3]

In February, 1945, the Japanese burned down 19 houses in the barrio. The fire was an extension from the neighboring barrio, Luntal.

Animals were taken from the people, plants and other properties were destroyed.

No inhabitants of the place were put to death but some of the evacuees were killed and they were burned.

Mr. Jesus Catapang, a native of Tulo, fought and died in Bataan. He was the veteran of Tulo.

(b) Measures and accomplishments toward rehabilitation and reconstruction following World War II.

None.

II

10. Traditions, customs, and practices in domestic and social life:

(a) Birth:

When a child is born, it has been the practice of each head of the family to shoot 2 bullets when the child is a girl and 3 when a boy. This is a way to announce the birth.

The killing of chickens is a main feature of the event. It is customary for the visiting relatives to bring with them [some] sorts of gifts. These are especially food, cigarettes, or anything that may be of the family’s immediate needs for the occasion.

(b) Baptism:

When a child is baptized, there is no baptismal party. The sponsor’s gift is either money, clothes or jewels.

As soon as a godmother or godfather comes home from the church, he tosses coins before entering the house. This is called “pahinaw.” The onlookers get their shares by picking up the coins.

The sponsor who takes the child with the sponsor to the church receives also a little amount of money from the sponsor.

(c) Marriage:

When the couple comes home from the church, rice is thrown before them as they come up the stairs. Before they leave for the bridegroom’s house, the form of giving them gifts is done. This is called “sabugan.” When they leave, the couple need not look back [at] the house of the bride.

[p. 4]

(d) Courtship:

During the courtship, the old folks pay particular attention to the actuations of the man. When a man’s love has been reciprocated, he renders good services to the lady’s family. Sometimes, it takes months or years to do this.

There still exists the courtship like the olden days when the parents of both parties decide the marriage of the man to the lady. This, however, is not very common now.

(e) Death:

It is a nice practice to see that when a person dies, he is highly honored. People of the place stay most of the time in the house of the dead rendering services to the bereaved family.

For [the] nine days mourning period, the family and the near relatives do not cook green leafy vegetables.

When parties are held on the 4th or 9th day, the plates are not piled unless they are cleaned.

(f) Burial:

When the dead person has many children, before he is buried or after the burial is done, these small children have to pass or step across the repose.

(g) Punishments:

The form of punishment administered to the offender is based upon the offense made.

11. (a) No legendary myths or tales could be gathered.

(b) Beliefs:

The people believe that the existence of everything came from God. They believe in the witches of the mountains, caves, the seas and the lakes. They, too, believe in the “taong lupa” or “nuno,” and “mangkukulam.”

(c) Interpretations:

When a kind of plant [called] “barras pari” bears flowers, someone in the family circle will soon get married.

The old folks say that the heavenly bodies are children of the land.

They say that earthquakes, strong winds, and storms are made possibly by an angry saint in heaven known as San Lorenzo.

[p. 5]

They say that lightning and thunder are boulders of rocks rolling in the heavens and made possible by Saint Barbara.

(d) Superstitions:

1. The crowing of the rooster at night simultaneously with the cackling of hens indicates the elopement of lovers.
2. Being visited by a female visitor when a head of the family is going to a cockpit for cockfighting is a bad omen.
3. Smelling the scent of a candle in the middle of the night tells a dead relative in [a] distant place.
4. When a star shines very close to the moon, someone will elope.
5. Sweeping or cleaning the house and yard while a dead person is in state brings bad omen as an early death of a member of the family will follow.
6. Marriage of two youngest lovers is not good.
7. When you are choked if you are eating or in a conversation means that somebody is speaking evil against you.
8. When the veil of a child being baptized falls, it is an indication of a misfortune for the child.

12. Popular songs, games and amusements.

(a) Songs:
Kundiman, lulay, and awit or “orihinal” can still be heard from old folks.
(b) Amusements:
Dances such as subli, pandanggo and regudon [rigodon].
(c) Games: Playing cards, pata, huego de prenda, cockfighting.

13. Puzzles and riddles:

Some examples of them are:
1. Ako’y may kaibigan, kasama ko saan man;
Mapatubig ay hindi nalulunod;
Mapaapoy ay hindi nasusunog. (anino)
2. Maputi-puti ay hindi naman papel
Maaskad-askad ay hindi naman kahil.
Mahanghang-hanghang ay hindi naman paminta,
Maturan mo lamang, ikaw ay propeta. (bawang)
3. Ako’y may isang kauwa-tuwang, laruan ng mga bata,
Katuwaan mo pa at gayakin,
Gapusin mo ng magaling
At kundi mo gagapusin ay di ka tutuwain. (trumpo)

[p. 6]

4. Yao’t dito, doo’y mula, laging ang ginagawa
Magtago at mamalaga sa matanda at sa bata.

14. Proverbs and sayings:

1. Ang iginaganda ng isang babai
Wala sa pigura’t nasasa linahi.
2. Ang marahang pangungusap
Sa puso’y nakakalunas.
3. Kung ibig mong gumaling,
Sa katawan mo manggagaling.
4. Ang puri at babai ay tulad sa itlog,
Huag di ito mapintig ay nagkakaliat.
5. Ang puri ng tao kung pahahalagahan
Ay paris ng tubig na nasa tapayan
Kamunting langis at ito’y mapatakan
Di na iinumin at pandidirihan.

15. Methods of measuring time, special calendars:

1. Position of the sun.
2. Crowing of the cocks.
3. Position of the shadow.
4. Position of the morning star.

16. Other folktales

None.

III
Other Information

17. Information on books and documents treating of the Philippines and the names of their owners.

None.

18. The names of Filipino authors born or residing in the community, the titles and subjects, whether printed or in manuscript form, and the names of persons possessing those.

fpv/

Notes and references:
Transcribed from “Report on the History and Cultural Life of the Barrio (Tulo),” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
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