Salaban, San Jose, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Salaban, San Jose, Batangas: Historical Data - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Salaban, San Jose, Batangas: Historical Data

Batangas History
4 Jan, 2018
Historical Data graphic
Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the barrio of Salaban in the Municipality of San Jose, 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 San Jose
Salaban School

HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE BARRIO (of Salaban)
Part One – History

1. Present official name of the barrio – Salaban

2. Popular name –
(a) Present – Salaban
(b) Past – Salaban
(c) Derivation and meaning of this name
It came from the word “Sa-La-Ban” which means roasting over the fire.
(d) Sitios
1. Luma
2. Bago

3. Date of establishment - As early as one century. [?]

4. Original families – About fifty (50) families.

5. List of Tenientes:

 1.  Jacobo Madlangbayan
 2.  Jose Quizon
 3.  Macario Magracia
 5.  Vicente Pino
 6.  Juan Pino 		 7.  Sofronio Morfe
 8.  Tranquilinio Andal
 9.  Francisco Benetiz [likely Benitez]
11. Vicente Madlangbayan
12. Marcelo Miral

6. Story of the barrio within its jurisdiction.

Salaban was planted to coffee trees. The transportation was very hard. People had to cross brooks to bring their products. This place is called “Luma.”

During the Spanish time, a bridge was constructed between Dagatan and Salaban, the boundary of Ibaan and San Jose. From that time, people passed the bridge in going to town for few roads were made. Since then, the place was called “Bago.”

7. No data on historical sites, structures, buildings, old ruins, & etc.

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

1. During the Spanish Occupation
During that time, [the] gathering of the people in honor of the town’s patron saint St. Joseph was the happiest day for them. They killed pigs and had parties.
2. During the American occupation in the year 1900-1901.
The Americans came and burned some of the houses in Salaban because of Pedro who became the spy of the Americans. This man was a murderer of a man in the barrio named Felix Ona. When the American soldiers passed, Pedro volunteered to the Americans to be their spy. They burned many houses. He told the Americans that these were the houses of the insurrectos.

9. a. Two lives were taken by the Japs, no properties and institutions were lost in 1941-1945. In 1896-1900, some houses were burned only.

b. Roads were cleared and the reconstruction of the bridge was made.

[p. 2]

PART TWO – FOLKLORE

10. Traditions, customs and practices.
a) Birth –
The “hilot is usually called first.
b) Baptism –
A first child of a new couple was baptized by asking from both parents the right man or woman to be the godfather or the godmother.
c) Courtship –
The parents of the young man were the ones to select the partner for their son. The son will have to abide by the parents’ choice. He visits the girl’s [home] once a month, then once a week, once every two days.
d) Marriage –

When a gentleman desired to marry a young woman, his parents and their son will serve the family. If the presents were accepted and the son is not rejected, that means that he is accepted. The man’s parents and the woman’s parents talk and arrange the marriage.

The marriage ceremony is simple. It is performed in a church by a priest. There are sponsors chosen by both parents. After the marriage ceremony, relatives and friends go with them, the bride and bridegroom, for a party. Usually, relatives give gifts or money to the couple before they leave the party. A man is chosen to break a pot in front of the stairs before the group with the couple departs, shouting and laughter are heard along the road.

e) Death and burial –

A person who is well-versed in prayers is called to assist a dying person. This person prays for the salvation of his soul.

After the death, his body is cleaned and jewels are removed before putting on his best clothes. His body is put in a coffin. In leaving the house, the dead person in a coffin is followed by a woman pouring water until the stairs and throws the dipper away.

f) Festival =
The “Flores de Mayo” is the only festival in this barrio.
g) Punishments –
1. Parents often whip or scold their sons or daughters for not obeying them.
2. Beating and pinching the ears are practiced.

[p. 3]

11. The Origin of Mushrooms

A long time ago, there were no mushrooms in the world, but the white umbrella-like fungi are said to have originated this way.

Many years ago, when the people were not so vain as they are now, the saints used to associate with the mortals. Among the saints who mingled with the people in the village was St. Ann. One day, St. Ann had many visitors. She was in a predicament for she had just a little piece of tapa and to feed them was a problem.

“Oh Lord! Help me out of my dilemma!” she prayed. A voice, faint but distinct, said, “Chop your tapa and then throw the seeds under the bamboo trees.”

St. Ann chopped the tapa and threw all the seeds under some bamboo trees. [In] An instant, millions [of] mushrooms sprung up.

This is how mushrooms originated.

Proverbs and Sayings –

Ang lapastangan sa magulang ay walang bait na tama.

1. Whoever maltreats his parents is devoid of reverence.

2. If you don’t trust in luck, you never can cross the sea, for a will that is strong is through hardship.

3. A girl that is sweet and pure, though she is poor, is worth to be loved.

4. Modesty is an emblem of virtue.

5. Although you are wealthy and well-dressed, if you have no manners, you are not worth a grain.

Related by:

Mr. Julian Ilagan

Members of the Committee:

Miss Dionisia Ilagan
Miss Martina Hernandez
Notes and references:
Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of the Barrio (of Salaban),” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
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