Mahabang Dahilig, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data Part II - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Mahabang Dahilig, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data Part II - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Mahabang Dahilig, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data Part II

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

PART II

PART I | PART II | PART III

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handaan at kung ano pagpapasimulang na magiging baga ang mag-asawa. Karaniwang ang magulang ng babae ay nagmumungkahi sa magulang ng lalaki na bigyan ang magkakasal ng kapirasong lupa, mag-inang baka at mga kagamitan sa pagbubukid na kadalasan nama’y sinasang-ayunan ng magulang ng lalaki. Ito ang tinatawag na “bilang.”

Courtship – In the phase of the social life there is the so-called pagpapakilala. A young man could not go directly to the woman he loves until after he has made known his noble intention to the parents of the lady. He goes to the woman’s place, bringing with him some firewood, water and the like. When he reaches the house, he kneels to the lady’s parents and waits for the blessings of said parents. If he is not blessed by them, he stops going there because he is not welcomed as a suitor. But if he is awarded or anticipated in his behalf, he is allowed to serve for [a] number of months or years. He stays in the lady’s house [and] helps [with] whatever work the family performs. This is the so-called “pangangasawa.” As soon as the lady’s parents have verified the sincerity of the man, they send for the man’s parents and talk over for the wedding. This is called “bulungan.” During this bulungan, the wedding as to how and when will be settled. A “bilang” in the form of money or a parcel of land is given to the newly-weds.

d. Pagkakasal – Sa pagdating ng bagong kasal sa bahay ng babae ay pinakakain sila ng “kalamay” upang sila ay magkaroon na malamig na kalooban sa bawa’t isa at magkasundo ng mahusay, maging mapayapa ang kanilang pamumuhay. Karaniwan na rin ay masasaksihan na magbabasag ng palyok upang matingnan kung magkakaroon ng mga supling ang mag-asawa. Kasabihan ay kung ilang piraso ang pagkabasag ng palyok ay siyang dami ng magiging anak ng bagong kasal. Sa paglipat ng bagong kasal sa bahay ng lalake ay sino mang ka-anak ng lalake ay nagdadala ng ano mang kagamitan sa pamamahay ng babae sa paniniwala nilang ang gawaing iyon makakapagpawili sa babae sa kanyang magiging bianan.

Marriage – Upon reaching the woman’s house, the newly married are given “kalamay” so that they will have a happy and peaceful life in the future. It is common to see that a pot is broken to see if the couple will have many children, that is the number of pieces the pot breaks, the number of children they are going to have. As the couple leaves the

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lady's house, the man’s relative (one) steals any utensil from the woman’s kitchen with the belief that the bride will always want to stay in the man’s house.

e. Pagkamatay – Ang malapit na kamag-anak ng isang namatay ay hindi makapagluto ng sariwang gulay lalong-lalo na yaong mga gumagapang na gulayin. Ito ay sinusunod hanggang sa ika-siyam na araw mula ng pagkamatay. Sa loob ng siyam na araw, ang mga tumitira sa bahay ng kinamatayan ay hindi nagwawalis ng sahig at looban. Ang mga platong ginagamit sa pagkain ay hindi pinagpapatong sa kanilang pag-iimis.

The relatives of the deceased are not allowed to cook fresh vegetables especially those vine plants as squash, beans and others until the ninth day from death. Within nine days, the persons left by the deceased are prohibited to sweep in and out of the house. Within the same length of time, the plates used are not piled on top of the other.

f. Pistahan – Kung may salo-salo sa isang bahay, ang mga ka-anak ng may salosalo ay tumitigil roon sa buong maghapon. Ang mga dumalo sa kasayahan ay ang kadalasang suot ay ang kanilang pinakabagong kasuotan. Karaniwang hindi nawawala ang mga inuming alak o ponche. Ang mga babae ay pinaiinum nang kahit ng kaunti sa paniniwalang pinatatamis daw ng timtim ng dalaga.

If there is a feast in one’s house, all the relatives of the host go to the house and often stay there the whole day. The people concerned or those who attend wear their newest attire for display. Drinks served are also offered to women for the belief that women’s tastes make the liquor sweeter.

11. Myths, legends, beliefs, interpretations, origin of the world, land, mountains, caves, seas, lakes, eclipses, earthquakes, thunder, lightning, thunder, clouds, rain, storms, rivers, plants, trees, animals, sun, moon, stars, wind, changes of climates, other natural phenomena, first man and woman, birth of twins or more, sickness, magic, etc.

Mga alamat, pamahiin, paniniwala sa:

1. Pinagmulan ng daigdig – Origin of the world.

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Ang mga taga Mahabang Dahilig ay naniniwala na ang pinagmulan ng daigdig na ito ay ang pagkakalikha dito ng Diyos.

The barrio folks of Mahabang Dahilig believe that God created the world.

2. Araw, buwan, bituin – Kapag ang kulay ng araw sa oras ng paglubog ay tulad sa dugo ay may kapanganibang naghihintay sa mga tao.

While the sun sets and its color resembles the color of blood, some calamity will befall the people.

Kung sa mga unang gabi ang pagsikat ng buan ay timbang, kaunti lamang ang iuulan, ngunit kung ito ay nakatagilid sa alin mang gawi, nagpapakilalang masagana ang ulan.

If during the first few evenings when the moon begins to rise, it has the shape of a comb and balance, it shows there is little rain, whereas if its position is that it is bent on either side, there will be an abundance of rain.

Kung ang pagkakita natin dito sa lupa ang buwan at ang isang tanging bituin ay magkatabi ay nangangahulugang mayroong dalaga’t binatang magtatanan.

When the afternoon star is near the moon as seen on earth, a young man and woman will elope.

Kapag ang buwan ay naliligid ng bahaghari kung gabi ito ay pangitain ng tag-ulan.

If a rainbow is seen around the moon at night, it shows the coming of the rainy days.

Kapag ang buwan ay mapula, ang kulay nito’y nangangahulugan ng pagkamatay ng maraming tao.

If the moon is of deep red at night, it is a sign of pestilence.

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3. Mga hayop – Animals

a. Kapag ang pusa ay ikinikiskis ang kanyang mga paa sa mukha ay sinasabing siya ay naghilamos at ito’y palatandaan na may panauhing darating.

If a cat washes his face (brushing his paws against his face), a visitor is coming.

b. Kapag ang aso sa gabi ay tumahol ng kakaiba, nangangahulugang mayroong namatay sa pook na kinaroroonan ng aso.

If a dog howls differently with a frightful sound, somebody in there will die.

c. Kapag ang baka o baboy ay lagging bumabahin o umuubo, ito ay nangangahulugang malapit na ang tag-ulan.

When a cow or pig sneezes, it is a sign of [the] coming of rainy days.

4. Halaman, punong-kahoy ulan, hangin, bagyo, alapaap. Plants, trees, rain, winds, storms, clouds.

a. Kapag ang mga dahon ng halaman at punong kahoy ay tikan at nakayuko sa pababa, ito ay nagsasabing may darating na bagyo o malakas na hangin.

If the leaves of plants and trees are closed and turned upside down to the ground, it shows the coming of a storm or typhoon.

b. Kapag ang alapaap ay salungat sa hihip ng hangin, nangangahulugang may bagyong darating.

When clouds travel against the flow of [the] wind, it shows the coming of a typhoon.

c. Ang ulan sa kaarawan ng patay ay sinasabing luha ng mga kaluluwa ng mga patay.

Rain during All Saints’ Day is believed to [be] the tears of the deceased.

5. Kidlat, kulog – Thunder, lightning.

Ang mga tao ay naniniwala na ang kulog

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ay nagbubuhat sa isang puting baboy na gumugulong sa lupa at kapag ito’y nasagi sa puno ng kahoy ang malakas na tunog ay nadidinig.

The people believe that the thunder is caused by a white pig rolling on the ground and when it strikes a tree trunk, the loud noise of the thunder is heard.

6. Iklipsi, lindol – Eclipses, earthquake

a. Kapag ang isang tao ay nalugmok dahil sa lindol, ang taong ito ay nagkaroon ng sakit na pagkahimatay.

When a person stumbles due to an earthquake, this person becomes sick with unconsciousness.

b. Kapag ang lindol ay nangyari sa tag-araw, ang paniwala ng tao, ito ay panahon ng pagkatuyo.

When the earthquake occurs during the dry season, the people believe that is a sign of dryness.

c. Ang paniwala ng taga Mahabang Dahilig ang iklipsi ay nangyayari dahil sa paglalaban ng buwan at araw. Kung minsan, ang buwan ay nalulunok ng araw. Kung minsan naman, ang araw ang lulunin ng buwan at pagkatapos ay iluluwa. Kapag ang buwan ang siyang nanalo, ang manganganak ay maghihirap.

The barrio folks believe that an eclipse happens when the sun swallows the moon or vice-versa. Then, when it becomes dark, they say that it is the moon which is able to swallow the sun. Another beliefs is that when an eclipse occurs, the expectant mothers will have a hard time in their delivery.

7. Panganganak ng kambal o higit pa – Birth of twins or more.

Ang kambal ay lumalabas kapag ang ina ay kumakain ng kambal na saging o anumang uri ng kambal na bungang-kahoy sa panahon ng kanyang paglilihi.

Twins appear when the mother eats twin bananas or any kind of twin fruits when she was conceiving.

PART I | PART II | PART III

Notes and references:
Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of the Barrio of Mahabang Dahilig,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
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