Pre-Colonial Philippines: Bicolano

Pre-Colonial Philippines: Bicolano 

The term "Bicol" could have been derived from "Bico," the name of a river which drains in San Miguel Bay.   Possible origins also include the bikul or bikal bamboo tree which line rivulets, and the ancient native word bikod meaning "twisted" or "bent".  The region, administratively known as Region V, is located on the southeastern end of Luzon; it is surrounded by the Visayan Sea in the south, the Pacific Ocean I the east, Lamon Bay in the north, and Sibugan Sea and Quezon province in the west.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND CUSTOMS

Naming children according to their attributes of the conditions marking their birth was a regional custom.  The solemnity of Bicol death rites, however, ahs never been determined by class even if these have tended to be more elaborate for higher ranking individuals.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Bicol religiosity is deeply rooted.  Sometimes Christian faith is expressed through indigenous forms, and indigenous beliefs may assume a Christian face.  Some beliefs and customs related to farming the life cycle, talismans, and divination survive in the consciousness of the contemporary Bicol, even the educated.

The prehispanic beliefs in the hierarchy of super naturals ranging from bad to good s to a limited extend preserved.  The common expression "Tabi po, maki-agi po" (Excuse me please, I would like to pass by) acknowledges the invisible world.  The Christian God and heavenly host have replaced the supreme god Gugurang and the minor deities, each of whom had a special function.  But the darker side inhabited by witches and monsters seem to live on I the minds of some Bicol Christians.  So does ancestor worship in some areas; a postharvest thanksgiving ritual, sagurang, is retained by Bicol farmers by way of offering food to the spirits of their ancestors.

(Top Bicolano Superstitions)

Bicol has a dazzling array of ingenious beliefs and traditions alongside its colorful and brilliant history. Below is the list of some Bicolano unique features which you may have heard of or you have seen being practiced right now in your town especially by the elders as sighted by Danilo Borjal(1967) in his essay Bikol Superstitions. See if you are still bound by them!
Magarao- If a child strikes an elder, his hand will shrivel up.
Minalabac- If a child answers back his parents; he will be unable to speak unless the spirit that punished him forgives him for the misdeed.
San Miguel Bay- It is bad to point at scenic spots when riding on a boat because the spirits of that place may get mad and drown the passengers (if the boat is small and everyone points at things naturally, there will be excitement and thus much movement on the part of the passengers which might cause the boat to capsize.
Naga- If a child goes near the side of the river, the spirits, may push him into the water to drown him; Cutting fingernails at night will bring you bad luck; Whistling at night will cause the death of one member of the family; Before you throw rocks at night, you must say “Tabi po” lest you hit or offend a spirit.
Goa- If a farmer sharpens his bolo at night, he will find his palay eaten by rats in the morning.
Pili- If the skull of some dead relative is placed in a box near the door and a stick is placed on top of the box, the stick will move by itself and whip anyone who has the intention of robbing the house.
Daet- If you make fun of the skull, the spirit of it will find the way to frighten you.
Camarines Norte- If the skull is burries separately from the body, the corresponding soul will not have tranquility.
Sipocot- On the wife’s death anniversary, the husband drinks wine from her skull.
Buhi- Before cutting a tree, you should have first your axe lean on the trunk overnight. If you find the axe on the same position as before, the spirits want the tree cut, but if you find the axe has been moved, the spirits forbid the cutting of the tree.
Polangui- If you are lost in the forest, you invert your clothes and you will find your way out.

Marriage Superstitions
Pili-before entering the house of the couple, they must first take a teaspoon of sugar so that their love for each other will remain.
-If you are being wed to your wife-to-be, you must step on her wedding gown in order to make sure that you will have complete authority over your bride.
Minalabac- after the wedding ceremonies, the one who steps out of the church first will very likely to dominate the other.
Iriga- whenever a woman is still eating, do not pile the dishes because that woman will have more than one husband.
Goa- when a snake comes to you after your marriage, you will be lucky.

Health Superstitions
Camarines Norte- to kiss the feet of the baby will result in the baby’s habit to answering back the parents when he grows up.
Goa-before placing the dead man into the sepulcher, people believe if theytouch the corpse, they will be immune to physical sickness.
Labo, Camarines Norte- one who has played with spirits will remain feeble-minded or a lunatic forever.
Naga City- to sleep with your hair wet will result o insanity.
Camaligan- cure your wounds so that the food you have eaten will not pass through them.

Burial Superstitions

Cabusao- if a dead person’s coffin is too big for him, it is believed that one member of the family will die next.
Magarao-when the coffin carrying the dead person near the cemetery, the coffinbecomes heavier, that means that spirits are riding on the coffin.

Amulets Superstitions
Tinambac- the clothe used in lowering the “angel” during the allelujah rites isgood to be worn by a pregnant mother for she will suffer less painduring her labor.
Buhi- the cut umbilical cord of a newly-born baby is wrapped and hung at the door or at the window to lengthen the life of a baby.

HOLY WEEK – TRADITIONS IN BICOL

2007 Holy Week Procession – Bacacay Albay, Philippines

     

HOLIDAY- TRADITIONS IN BICOL

Long before Christmas trees and Santa Claus became a part of our holiday celebrations, the Pastores Bicol was the Bicolanos’ beautiful commemoration of Christmas.  The Pastores is a musical re-enactment of the age-old nativity story. Colorful costumes are worn by singers, in honor of the biblical shepherds who sang the first Christmas carols. The performance is done with an entourage of traditional musikeros, lots of dancing to the tune of Pastores a Belen, and a generous dose of Christmas cheer. It is caroling, Bicol style.

Taken from the Spanish word, Pastoras which means shepherdess, it applies to both male and female. These are small groups from four to twelve girls with an occasional male or two. All-male groups can be found in Tabaco Albay. In Camarines Sur, these “dancing girls of Christmas” dressed in colorful festive costumes, appear on Christmas Day up to the Epiphany – 13 days of house to house singing and dancing – commemorative of shepherds proclaiming glad tidings. It is the followup to Kagharong, the reenactment of Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary’s plight as they looked for a place to stay in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.

Pastoras was once part of Pasko. The songs and dances are preserved and inherited by the family and relatives of the parabalo or trainer. Girls were usually selected for their good looks, voice and talent or being marhay mag compass. In those days, it was an honor to be visited by the Pastoras because they usually go to the prominent members of the community. 
It’s been two years since the last Pastores in Calabanga Camarines Sur took place. This may be due to the expenses’ inability to catch up with the returns. In Legazpi City, however, the Pastores Bicol Festival is held on December 18.

“TRIVIAS”

TRIVIA: The Oldest Tree in Bicol

OLDEST AND LARGEST TREE IN BICOL
This Red Lauan (Shorea negrosensis) “Mother Tree” is considered as the oldest and largest tree in the Bicol region. It has a height of 27 meters with a diameter (at breast height) of 220 centimeters. The tree is estimated to be 440 years old, some DENR Bicol foresters say. It is located within the Bicol National Park at Sitio Nalisan, Barangay Tuaca in Basud,Camarines Norte, more than two kilometers away from the Maharlika Highway.(ASA, DENR/PIA Sorsogon)).

TRIVIA ABOUT FOOD

TRIVIA: Do you know that taro leaves are waterproof? An alternative to cleaning the leaves is to wipe them carefully with a paper towel to get rid of the dirt. Another tip is to peel off a part of the fibrous stem to avoid an itchy episode with your tastebuds.

TRIVIA: The Golden Kuhol were treated as pests during the early 80's to 90's by farmers but today they put the 'gold' in kuhol for the extra income these edible snails provide its cultivators.

Kuhol, also known as escargot or brown snails, is rich in protein and energy-giving fat while the shell contains calcium, phosphorous, vitamins, and minerals which can be recycled as animal feed. Farmers no longer see the golden kuhol as a threat to their fields but as an opportunity to improve their livelihood.

TRIVIA: Bicol express was invented by Cely Kalaw, a native of Laguna and an owner of a restaurant in Malate, Manila. Kalaw's family moved to Naga when she was three years old where. When she grew up and returned to Manila, she invented the dish that became known as Bicol Express, named after the train that travels from Paco Station to Bicolandia and now a mainstay in Bicolano cuisine. (Source: wikepedia.org)

REFERENCES:

http://litera1no4.tripod.com/bicolano_frame.html

http://www.bicolknown.com/apps/blog/show/1651709-how-bicolano-are-you-

http://pinaywifespeaks.com/philippines/holy-week-traditions-in-bicol/

 http://bicolhomepage.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/pastores-a-uniquely-bicolano-christmas-tradition-by-sam-milano/

http://pia-sorsogon.blogspot.com/2010/06/trivia-oldest-tree-in-bicol.html

http://pia-sorsogon.blogspot.com/2010/06/trivia-oldest-tree-in-bicol.html

http://choosephils.com/read_post.php?cat=food&id=7