Tinurik, Tanauan, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Tinurik, Tanauan, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Tinurik, Tanauan, 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 Tinurik in the City of Tanauan, 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]

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO OF TINURIK
Part One: History

1. Present official name of the barrio: TINURIK.

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

a. Popular name of the barrio present and past: Tinurik.
b. Derivation and meaning of the name: No known derivation.

3. Date of establishment: Cannot be recalled.

4. Original families:

LlanesMercadoBalahadia
LumbanFloresMagpantay
BorjaKatigbakAlcantara
PiamonteMalabananPedraja
LlantoPrenda

5. List of tenientes from the earliest time to date:

Victoriano LlanesPolicarpio Balahadia
Magdaleno BalahadiaAniceto Garcia
Tomas PerezJoaquin de la Cueva
Paulino AlcantaraJuan Magsino
Rufino PedrajaFaustino Cabrera
Lucas PobleteEulogio Perez
Carlos Libang

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.: None.

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

a. During the Spanish occupation:

During the latter part of the Spanish regime, the people of this barrio were summoned to the poblacion. They were made to build their temporary homes within the poblacion, each row or group representing a barrio. This cruel practice of the Spaniards did not, however, last very long. They were finally returned to return to their homes in their respective barrios.

b. During the American occupation to World War II:

1. The rope making industry started and was developed by the barrio people as a means of their livelihood. This industry is now a flourishing one in the barrio.

2. The public school building was opened wherein free primary education was given free to school children.

3. The barrio road was constructed out of national funds.

c. During and after World War II:

During the early part of the Japanese occupation, a guerrilla organization was formed and many young men of the barrio joined. The deep ravine between this barrio and Bungcalot used to be the hideout of the guerrillas. There was an encounter between the guerrillas and the Japanese soldiers but with no casualty on both sites, however.

[p. 2]

9. a. Destruction of lives, properties and institutions during wars:

(1) 1896-1900: None.
(2) 1941-1945: The barrio suffered great destructions between 1941 and 1945. In 1944 alone, when the Japanese soldiers were already retreating, many civilians of this barrio were massacred. Ninety per cent of the homes of the natives were burned to ashes by the retreating Japanese soldiers. Work force animals such as carabaos, cows, and horses were taken by force from the owners. Other domestic animals like chickens, pigs, and goats were also confiscated by the Japanese for their consumption. The barrio people were zonified and many young and old men were subjected to severe torture.

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

(1) The reconstruction of all burned residential houses was effected by the people through war damage compensation of the War Damage Commission.

(2) A new Home Economics building was constructed out of national funds. The primary school building was repaired through the cooperation of the barrio people.

(3) Many families of the deceased veterans of World War II who hailed from this barrio are now the fortunate recipients of monthly pensions.

Part Two: FOLKWAYS

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

a. Birth:

Births are administered by the local midwife (hilot). A simple feast is always prepared by the father to honor the birth of the child and as a gesture of thanks to [the] Almighty for the mother’s safety and fast recovery.

b. Baptism:

After a child has been baptized by the priest and the godfather or the godmother rushes at once outside the church with the belief that the child will grow up active.

c. Courtship:

It is the custom that a lover, before entering the house of the girl, kisses the hands of the elders in the family. The elders will request him to sit down a little farther away from the girl. Just after the suitor is seated, the elders will likewise sit somewhere nearer to but not too far from the two young lovers and pretend to do something as mending torn clothes or reading any vernacular papers. This is done just to spy [on] everything that the lovers are doing. In this way, the lovers will have no chance to talk about love. Displeased, young man will then bid them goodnight.

d. Death:

When someone is dead, the members of the family are not allowed to sweep the floor. Just after the corpse has been carried away from the house for burial, the one left will get a pail of water and throw it to the ground as a sign of good omen. On the fourth day, the family will take a bath in the river with the belief that the sins of the dead will be forgiven. While grieving for the loss of the dear one, they are too careful not to let their tears drop on the dead, believing that by doing so, the soul of the dead will not suffer in another life.

[p. 3]

11. Beliefs and superstitions:

a. When an owl hoots in the daytime, the following day is good for planting.
b. If a sick person cleans his fingernails and teeth, they say that he is sure to have an early death.
c. When a young girl sings before the stove, she will marry an old widower.
d. When a comet appears in the sky, war or famine is coming.
e. It is bad to comb the hair when the sun is setting because the parents will die at once.
f. It is not good to take a bath during [a] new moon because one will always be dizzy.
g. When the fire makes a noise when someone is cooking, a visitor will come.
h. It is not good to sweep the house or surroundings before the fourth day of the death of a member of the family.

12. Popular songs, games and amusements:

a. Popular songs: kundimans, balitaw, danzas and sweet lullabies used to lull the babies to sleep.
b. Games and amusements: tubigan, luksong tinik luksong lubid, hari-harian, huwego de prenda, kulasisi ng hari, playing cards and cockfighting.

13. Puzzles and riddles:

a. Mayroon akong alipin, sunod ng sunod sa akin. (Anino)
b. Isang butil na palay, sikip sa loob ng bahay. (Ilawan)
c. Pag daan ni Negro, patay na lahat ang tao. (Gabi)
d. Lumalakad ay walang paa, umiiyak ay walang mata. (Pluma)
e. Dalawang tindahan, sabay buksan. (Mata)
f. Limang magkakapatid, iisa ang dibdib. (Kamay)
g. Munting bundok, hindi madampot. (Ipot)

14. Proverbs and sayings:

a. Ang lumakad ng matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.
b. Ang maniwala sa sabi-sabi, walang bait sa sarili.
c. Ang hipong tulog ay nadadala ng agos.
d. Magsisi man at sa huli ay walang mangyayari.
e. Magpakatalitalino ang matsin, ay nadadayaan din.
f. Pag alis ng pusa, maglalaro ang daga.
g. Ang bayaning masugatan, nag-iibayo ang tapang.

15. Methods of measuring time, special calendars:

a. Methods of measuring time:

(1) The different positions of the sun in the daytime and of the stars, moon, constellations and other heavenly bodies at night.
(2) The crowing of the clocks at night.
b. There was no special calendar used by the natives.

Part Three: OTHER INFORMATION

16. Information on books and documents treating of the Philippines and the names of their owners: None.

17. The names of Filipino authors born or residing in the barrio, the titles and subjects of their works, whether printed or in manuscript form, and the names of persons possessing these: None.

-o0o-

Notes and references:
Transcribed from “Report on the History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Tinurik,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
Next Post Previous Post