Pook, Agoncillo, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Pook, Agoncillo, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Pook, Agoncillo, 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 Pook in the town of Agoncillo, 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.

[Cover page.]

COMPILATION
of
HISTORICAL DATA
for the
Barrio of Pook
Municipality of Agoncillo
Province of Batangas

[p. 1]

DIVISION OF BATANGAS
DISTRICT OF LEMERY
POOK SCHOOL

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO
PART I: HISTORY

A very long time ago, there was nobody living in this vicinity but a single family. They were always together all the time on the belief what we could hardly remember why.

One day, two persons passed by looking for their lost animal. Because of tiredness, the family requested them to rest with the members. They were asked why they were always together. The [answer] was that it would be better to be together whatever happened to them. As long as they were changing their opinions concerning their customs and traditions, the strangers asked the name of the place. They were showered by the name of “POOK” which according to them was named by them.

It could hardly be remembered by the people of long ago when this place was named Pook due to the lack of records of the events of the past and civilization was far behind.

The names of those people mentioned who constituted the said family were:

Bartolome Mendoza
Tomas Alilio
Bernardino Mendoza
-
-
-
Juana Alilio
Maria Mendoza
Josefa Alcazar

Since then, here is the succession of the barrio lieutenants up to the present:

1. Tomas Alilio
2. Bernardino Mendoza
3. Martin Sarmiento
4. Bartolome Mendoza
5. Ambrosio Ondo
6. Eusebio Alilio
7. Juan Mendoza I
8. Juan Mendoza II
9. Juan Mendoza III
10. Pedro Alcedo
11. Laureano Alilio
12. Juan Mercado
13. Demetrio Mendoza
14. Emeterio Sarmiento
15. Pio Aala
16. Modesto Alilio
17. Zacarias Mendoza
18. Marcelino Casalme

Due to the industry of the people living in this place, this became prosperous and the people lived happily.

When the Spaniards came and ruled the Philippines, the happiness existing among the people disappeared and their houses were burned. Majority were killed and tortured and among them was Nicolas Alcazar. The main cause of the maltreatment to the people was that they could hardly understand each other due to the different languages that they were using.

After many years, the Americans came for the purpose of liberating the Filipino people and to spread democracy in the Philippines, unlike the Spaniards who came here to conquer the Filipinos. The people recovered their losses and they lived happily up to the coming of the Japanese about ten years ago.

The people prospered and lived happily during the liberation and up to the present time.

[p. 2]

Traditions, Customs, and Practices in Domestic and Social Life:

Birth

Right after the birth of a female child, she will be put inside a case in order to be trained on cleanliness. After cutting the umbilical cord, it will be placed pointed to the face which by nature will create dimples on both sides.

Baptism

If a child is baptized together with all males, it is a belief that she will be courted by many. Aside, she or he would be brought first outside so as to be a man or woman of fortune.

Courtship

If a boy is courting a girl, he should not make an attempt to give any footwear in order not to be stepped on, but instead he should have made to give an umbrella.

Marriage

When the couple reaches the house of the girl, the parents will prepare such unusual food to be offered to the couple. While they are still on the first step of the ladder, there would be throwing of rice grains and breaking of pots so as to have plenty of children.

Death

Whenever there is a dead person in the family, they should not file plates which are used in eating so as to avoid succession of death.

Burial

Whenever the funeral starts, we must begin throwing water and vinegar followed by the sweeping of the floor. When the dead body is to be placed in the grave, we must pick a little amount of dust and throw it to the dead body which means to say that all misfortunes of the family be brought to the dead body.

Popular Songs

Itong batang ito’y taga-Binyang
Pamangkin ng pari kura sa Balayang
Kaya naparito’y nababalitaan
Sa ganda mo Neneng parang araw at buwan.

Ale, ale namamangka pasubukin yaring sanggol
Pagdating mo sa Malabon, ipagpalit mo ng bagoong.

Ale, ale namamangka, pasubukin mo yaring bata
Pagdating mo sa Maynila, ipagpalit mo ng manika.

Games and amusements

Subli – Native Dance
Riddles

a. Dalawang ibong marikit nagtitimbang ng siit. (hikaw)
b. Lumabas na si Rita, may sayang pula. (bulaklak ng saging)
c. Tungkod ni Adan, hindi mabilang. (ulan)
d. Tungkod ng kapitan, hindi mahawakan. (ahas)

[p. 3]

e. Lumalakad walang paa, lumuluha’y walang mata. (pen)
f. Hapula haputi eskuwelang munti. (itlong)
g. Isang prinsesa nakaupo sa tasa. (kasoy)
h. Siyang unang sumigaw, siya ang nagnakaw. (lamok)
i. Panganay na anak, sunod na ina, bunso ang ama. (Jesus, Maria y Jose)
j. Pito ang naghahanap, iisa ang nagkapalad. (Pagliligawan)
k. Pusong bibitinbitin, mahirap kunin, masarap kainin. (mangga)
l. May langit sa itaas, may langit sa ibaba, may tubig sa gitna. (niyog)
m. Nagsaing si katungtung, bumulak ay walang gatong. (sabon)
n. Nagsaing si kapirit, kinain pati anglit. (bayabas)
o. Bahay ni princesa, nabuksan ay hindi maisara. (itlog)

Salawikain (Proverbs and Sayings)

a. Walang matimtimang birhen sa matiyagang manalangin.
b. Walang sumisira sa bakal kundi ang kalawang.
c. Ang hindi lumilingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paruruonan.
d. Kung ang bahay may palasyo at ang tumataha’y kuwago ay mabuti pa ang kubo na ang tumataha’y tao.
e. Magpakapulapula ang saya ay maitim din ang kabila.
f. Ang hipong tulog ay madadala ng agos.
g. Maputi ma’t durog ay daig ang garingang subok.
h. Malaki’t mayabong ngunit walang kanlong.
i. Hubugin ang kahoy kapag bata pa.
j. Ang batong gugulong-gulong lumot na’y walang sumibol.

Methods of Measuring Time:

(1) Ang dahon ng elena ay palatandaan ng oras; kapag kuyon ang oras ay hapon.
(2) Bulaklak ng patula, kapag ikom na ay nangangahulugang hapon na.

Respectfully submitted:

(MRS.) AMPARO DE CHAVEZ

Notes and references:
Transcribed from “Compilation of Historical Data for the Barrio of Pook, Muncipality of Agoncillo, Province of Batangas,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
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