Santa Clara, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data Part II - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Santa Clara, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data Part II - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Santa Clara, Batangas (Town), Batangas: Historical Data Part II

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

PART II

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV | PART V

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The Barrio Lieutenant or the Pangulo is appointed by the Mayor with the recommendation of the Councilor in charge of the barrio. He exercises executive powers. Minor judicial cases which used to be referred to him are now handled by a “checkpoint” which was established at a strategic point in the community.

F. Social –

The people are not behind in social activities. Aside from some traditional social affairs like weddings, baptismal and birthday parties, the younger population enjoys social gatherings on special occasions like Christmas and New Year. Ballroom dancing is customary.

9. DESTRUCTION OF LIVES, PROPERTIES AND INSTUTITIONS

1896 – 1940

1. Lives lost – a. Caused by the first American bombardment – None
b. Caused by an epidemic of cholera, about 100 persons
2. Properties lost – Caused by typhoons and floods approximately ₱5,000.00
3. Institutions lost – One room schoolhouse made of nipa and bamboo – ₱100. This was destroyed by the typhoon.
Two-room schoolhouse made of nipa ang bamboo – ₱200

1941 – 1945

1. Lives lost – Killed by the Japanese – 10
2. Properties lost
December 24, 1941 – a. Bombing of the pier and the rest house – about ₱5,200.00
b. Burning of about 300 houses amounting to approximately ₱50,000.00
Sept. 1944 – Burning of houses about 120 in number amounting to ₱30,000.00
3. Institutions lost – A four-room schoolhouse made of wood and galvanized iron was made into barracks at the outbreak of World War II.

[p. 10]

This was burned by the military authorities when Japanese ships were sighted approaching Batangas Bay in 1941. This loss was estimated at ₱1,000.

REPORT ON MEASURES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS TOWARD REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II

When the Philippines was declared liberated on July 5, 1945, the barrio of Sta. Clara was on the road to normalcy and order.

1945 – Reestablishment of a school building in the present site to bring back the children to school. It was made of bamboo, sawali and nipa (kamalig) costing the barrio people ₱500.00.

1946 – Construction of a private commercial building (Nacoco) under the management of Mr. Kalaw amounting to ₱50,000.00. It made three direct exportations of copra to other countries like England and the United States from 1946 to 1948, employing a hundred laborers in the barrio with compensations.

1947 – Construction of the present school building by the Parent-Teacher Association amounting to ₱12,000.00.

1948 – 1. Construction of the barrio Home Economics building by the National Government amounting to ₱4,000.00.

2. Construction of the barrio Industrial Arts Building by the National Government amounting to ₱5,000.00.

3. Construction of the public toilet in the central part of the barrio by the National Government costing ₱1,500.00.

1949 – Reconstruction of the pier and comfort room by the National Government amounting to ₱5,000.00.

1950 – 1. Reconstruction of the road south of the barrio by the Provincial Government amounting to ₱1,000.00.

2. Installation of three water pumps in the barrio by the Municipal Government costing about ₱300.00.

1952 – Construction of the two school toilets, one for the boys amounting to ₱1,390.00 from the Sweeps-

[p. 11]

stakes Fund allotted for the Province, and one for girls amounting to ₱1,500.00 from the Municipal Fund.

1945 – 1953 – Construction of about 500 private houses in the barrio amounting to about ₱250,000.00.

PROPOSED MEASURES

1. A measure for the construction of the pier and warehouse by the National Government costing ₱45,000.00
2. A measure to convert the Bonifacio Drive into a boulevard.
3. A measure for the reconstruction of a better barrio school building by the National Government.

FOLKWAYS IN THE BARRIO OF STA. CLARA

1. Traditions, customs and practices in domestic life and social life, birth, baptism, courtship, marriage, death, burial, visits, festivals, punishments, etc.

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

3. Popular songs; games and amusements

4. Puzzles and riddles

5. Proverbs and sayings

6. Methods of measuring time; special calendar

7. Other folktales

MGA KAUGALIAN AT KARANIWANG GAWAIN SA KABUHAYAN NG TAO SA STA. CLARA, BATANGAS, BATANGAS

I. Birth – Panganganak

1. The helper of an expectant mother during delivery is an old unlicensed midwife without knowledge of the art except through experience, instead

[p. 12]

of a registered nurse or a graduate, licensed midwife.

Ang katulong ng isang manganganak ay isang “matandang hilot” na hindi sanay, sa halip na tunay na nars o nag-aral at may lisensiyang hilot.

2. The newly-born child’s cord is cut by a thin blade of bamboo, instead of a sterilized pair of scissors. The healing of the cord is hastened by putting fine ashes from the native stove or the scrapped powder from the outside of a coconut shell.

Ang bagong inianak na sanggol ay pinuputulan ng pusod sa pamamagitan ng manipis at matalas na balat ng kawayan sa halip na malinis at pinakuluang gunting. Nilalagyan ng gabok sa abuhan o pulbos na kinayod sa bao upang maputol at gumaling sa lalong madaling panahon.

3. The hands and feet of the newly-born child are bound by a band and its body wrapped in muslin.

Ang kamay at paa ng bagong anak ay ginagapos ng kapirasong damit at ang buong katawan ay binabalot ng malapad na lampin.

4. The baby is not given [a] sponge or tub bath until the cord falls off.

Hindi pinupunasan o pinapaliguan ang bata hanggang hindi napuputol ang pusod.

5. The baby is given bitter fruit juice for laxatives instead of castor oil.

Ang ipinupurga sa bagong anak ay mapait na katas ng bungang kahoy sa halip na aciete de castor.

II. Baptism – Pagbibinyag

1. The sponsor for the baby is at once decided and announced soon after birth, otherwise the would-be sponsor might reject the request.

Agad sinasabihan ang mag-aanak sa binyag sapagkat baka hindi paunlakan ang pakiusap.

2. The sponsor buys the dress for baptism.

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Ang mag-aanak sa binyag ang bibili ng bibinyagang isusuot sa pagbibinyag.

3. Usually, there is a party after the baptism. The sponsor gives the child a gift in the form of money.

Karaniwan ay may handaan pagkatapos ng binyag. Ang mag-aanak ay may pakimkim na salapi.

4. The sponsor blows at the face of the child during a certain part of the ceremony so that the child will resemble him.

Ang binibinyagan ay hinihipan sa mukha ng nag-aanak sa binyag upang tumulad sa kanya.

5. After the ceremony, the babies are rushed to the door.

Pagkatapos ng binyag ay nag-uunahan paglabas sa pinto ng simbahan.

III. Courship – Panliligaw

1. Sometimes, a young man who wants to court a young woman asks permission from the parents of the latter.

Manaka-naka ang isang binatang ibig manligaw ay nahingi ng pahintulot sa magulang ng dalaga.

2. A young man seldom invites a young woman to go to parties. If ever a young woman is invited, she is chaperoned.

Ang dalaga’y madalang anyayahan ng binata upang dumalo sa mga kasayahan. Kung magpaunlak ang dalaga ay sinasamahan ang dalaga ng isang matanda.

3. There is a certain time for courtship which is usually in the evening but not later than eight o’clock.

May panahon ang panliligaw, karaniwan ay sa gabi, datapwa’t hindi lalampas sa ika-walo.

IV. Marriage – Pagkakasal

1. Almost all the neighbors help in the preparation during the eve of the wedding party.

[p. 14]

Halos lahat ng kapitbahay ay tumutulong kung may handaan sa araw ng kasal.

2. The groom gives a certain dowry to the parents of the bride.

Ang ikakasal na lalaki ay nagbibigay ng “bilang” o bigay-kaya sa magulang ng ikakasal na babae.

3. After the party, the bride is brought to the house of the groom; the groom is left at the bride’s house during the first night.

Pagkatapos ng handaan, ang bagong kasal na babae ay ‘dinadapit’ o dinadala sa bahay ng lalake at ang lalake ay iniiwan sa bahay ng babae sa unang gabi ng kasal.

4. The newly-weds are given money publicly by the relatives of both.

Ang bagong kasal ay “sinasabugan” o binibigyan ng salapi ng kanilang kamag-anak sa harap ng maraming tao.

5. Before entering the house after the church rites, the couple is showered with rice and given sweetened desserts to make life sweet.

Bago pumanhik ng bahay pagkatapos ng kasal, ang ikinasal ay sinasabugan ng bigas at pinagpapagmatamis upang maging matamis ang samahan ng dalwa.

V. Deaths – Kamatayan Burial – Paglilibing

1. All night vigil over a dead person.

Pinagpupuyatan ang patay sa magdamag.

2. A fair or big celebration on the fourth or ninth day after death.

May kainan o malaking handaan sa ika-apat o ika-siyam na araw ng pagkamatay.

3. There are church rites before the burial.

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV | PART V

Bago ilibing ang patay ay idinadaan sa simbahan.
Notes and references:
Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of the Barrio, Santa Clara,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
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