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My Heart Belongs to Calabanga

Edgar J. Salomon

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Map of the Philippines

Contents

Brief HistoryCalabangaDemographic ProfilePictures

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Contents

Brief HistoryCalabangaDemographic ProfilePictures

The origin of the municipality is unfolded from the legends and fables of the old generation. In 1578 when the head Mission of Quipayo was established, Calabanga was only a visita or barrio. At that time, the place had vast forests and swamps and an abundance of wildlife such as monkeys, wild chickens, and forest lizard. Others say, it derived its name from the Bicol word “Calabangan”, the plural

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The origin of the municipality is unfolded from the legends and fables of the old generation. In 1578 when the head Mission of Quipayo was established, Calabanga was only a visita or barrio. At that time, the place had vast forests and swamps and an abundance of wildlife such as monkeys, wild chickens, and forest lizard. Others say, it derived its name from the Bicol word “Calabangan”, the plural

Calabanga is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is one of the biggest municipalities in terms of population and land area with an approximate 163.84 km². (16,384 hectares), which constitutes 3.1% of the province’s land

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Calabanga is a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is one of the biggest municipalities in terms of population and land area with an approximate 163.84 km². (16,384 hectares), which constitutes 3.1% of the province’s land

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Demographic Profile

The municipality of Calabanga is composed of 48 barangays, fourteen (14) of which are within the proposed urban area while the remaining 34 barangays belong to the rural areas. It has 11 coastal barangays. As of 2000 NCSO Survey, Calabanga has a

Bicol Region (Region V)

Camarines Sur

2nd district(Central Bay)

Founded 1756

Barangays 48

Area

163.84 km2 (63.26 sq mi)

Population (2007)

102, 126

Time Zone PST (UTC+8)

Zip Code : 4405

Dialing Code: 054

Income Class: 1st classmunicipality; partially urban

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Demographic Profile

The municipality of Calabanga is composed of 48 barangays, fourteen (14) of which are within the proposed urban area while the remaining 34 barangays belong to the rural areas. It has 11 coastal barangays. As of 2000 NCSO Survey, Calabanga has a

Topography and Slope

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Semana Santa Procession (Holy Week Procession)

Centro, Calabanga Centre

The topographic landscape of the municipality could be characterized as generally flat with a slope 0-3%, gently sloping (3-8%) towards the direction of the eastern portion and finally rolling up to higher steeps towards the direction of the southeastern part going to Mt. Isarog. The 0-3% slope is a broad area of flat to nearly level land which extends from Barangay Balongay along the Bicol River to Poblacion area and surrounding areas down to Barangay Manguiring. This is the dominant slope of the municipality.

Soil and Water Resources

There are six (6) soil types that could be found in the Municipality. These are the (1) Hydrosol which is dominant along the Bicol River covering parts of Barangays Balongay, San Bernardino and Punta Tarawal; (2) Balong Clay; (3) Pili Clay Loam; (4) Tigaon Clay which covers the poblacion; (5) Annan Clay Loam which could be found toward the direction of Tinambac and (6) Mountain Soil in the Mt. Isarog area.

The municipality of Calabanga is endowed with abundant natural resources. The major river systems, the Tigman, Hinaguianan and Inarihan rivers are presently utilized for irrigation purposes. They originate their main tributaries from Mt. Isarog and flow down in the northwestern direction ultimately discharging the flow to San Miguel Bay.

Land Area and its Uses

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The municipality has an approximately 163.84 km². (16,384 has.) land area which constitutes 3.1% of the province land areas. It is composed of 48 barangays, 14 of which are proposed within the urban area and the remaining 34 barangays are within the rural areas.

With its generally flat terrain, the dominant land use is agricultural. The built-up areas and major rivers have the smallest portion of the total area. Built-up areas are clustered within the urban barangays. The urban areas expand in an almost linear development or ribbon like development pattern.

Proposed land use as embodied in the Comprehensive Land use Plan has delineated the Residential, Commercial, institutional area within the Urban Land Use while the agricultural, Agro-industrial, Special use could be found in the General land use.

Social Services

The municipality enjoys the benefits of several support facilities and services to meet the social and economic needs of its populace as follows.

For education, the municipality has a high rate literacy which is attributed to the continuing efforts of the government to make education more accessible to the people. This is being maintained and improved through the 34 public elementary schools located in 32 places and 8 public secondary schools throughout the municipality aside from several private schools offering pre-school, grade school and high school. A college education and technical /vocational courses is being offered by two government-owned institutions the

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Calabanga Community College and The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (Calabanga Campus) and privately owned computer schools.

For those who will pursue colleges courses not offered in the municipality of Calabanga, one has to go to colleges and universities in Naga City or in Metro Manila. The health and medical services of the municipality is provided by three (3) physicians, 5 nurses, 18 midwives and 1 dentist from the government sector aside from private medical and dental practitioners.

Health facilities available are 15 private clinics (Medical & Dental), 3 Main and Rural Health Centers and 5 Pharmacies.

The number of health personnel is sufficient and beyond standard as to the ratio to the population, however, facilities and equipments are lacking which are compounded with the dilapidated main health center.

With the social welfare services devolved to the LGU as mandated under RA 7160, which is the Local Government Code of 1991, the municipality of Calabanga have assumed the responsibility of implementing the various programs such as the Child and Youth Welfare, Family and Community Organizing, Women’s Welfare, Elderly and Disabled persons. Other services include family life education and counseling, Aid to individuals in Crisis Situation and emergency assistance which have the most number of clienteles.

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The municipality was able to establish and maintain 62-Day Care Centers located at 48 barangays.

For protective services, Barangay Tanod and Lupon Tagapamayapa were organized in every barangay and afforded appropriate training to help in keeping and maintaining peace and order and in setting disputes within and among barangay residents.

For sports and recreation, the municipality has a covered court at the poblacion area wherein the municipal-wide annual competitions for various sports activities such as basketball, volleyball and other sports are held. However, almost all barangays have multi-purpose play areas which are usually being utilized by the residents especially the youth, as volleyball and basketball courts. There is also a municipal park at the center of the poblacion area where people could spend their time and relax.

Calabanga has a quite a number of tourism potentials and attractions. Famous among the scenic beauties are the group of small islets/islands of Kawit, Tanglad, and Cabgan which is a few minutes from the shore. These islands are frequently visited by excursionists particularly during summer but these places need more development. Other places that invite picnickers to its cool and clear water are Tigman, Hinaguianan and Inarihan rivers and private commercial resorts. Historical sites worthy to see is the “Ladrillo” or a brick old church and ruins of Quipayo built sometime in

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1578, more than four (4) centuries ago, being the seat of the Catholic mission. Another is the “HINULID”, Santo Entiero shrine at Sta. Salud which is an object of Friday devotion and pilgrimage. Thousands of devotees not only from Calabanga but other parts of Bicol Region and the country flock to the shrine during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Economic Services

Calabanga is blessed with rich natural resources. It has big uplands and vast fishing grounds. Agricultural areas are the most extensive areas covering more than half of the total land area in this municipality. It is the dominant land use. Land devoted to crop production is approximately 7,609.79 has. Which include rice, corn and coconut as the major crops and other crops such as abaca, coffee, vegetables, rootcrops and fruit trees.

Side by side with agriculture, fishing and livestock raising constitutes major economic activities. The fish grounds of San Miguel Bay as well as the Bikol River are the rich sources of plentiful fish, shellfish, oysters, capiz shells, prawns, shrimps and other marine species providing various livelihood industries such as fish processing, fish paste and bagoong making and other marine by-product. These marine by-products as well as shrimps, prawn, mudcrabs are supplied to the city of Naga, other neighboring provinces as well as in Manila. Other water sources include Inarihan, Tigman and Hinaguinan river aside from the fishponds for the brackish and freshwater species.

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Livestock raising is a thriving industry in the municipality, an inventory of livestock and poultry farms shows that there are 5 commercial piggery and 3 commercial poultry farms operating in the municipality aside from the backyard animal

Next to agriculture and fishing, commerce, trade and industry are important and significant aspects in the economy of the municipality. Commercial and industrial activities are more concentrated in the urban areas that include among others wholesale and retail trade, minor service centers, transport business, community and personal services, drugstores, agri-supplies, gasoline stations while industrial activities include rice milling, fish processing, bamboo craft, furniture making, garments, metal crafts, ice plant, welding and auto repair shops as well as other small enterprises. Nipa shingle production is also one industry predominant at western barangays where nipa swamps could be found. The products are sold not only within the municipality but to nearby towns and Naga City.

The presence of a new Calabanga Public Market which started operation last 1998 finally resolved the demands for a bigger marketing center, while Cooperatives throughout the municipality are gradually developing its enterprises.

Infrastructure Facilities

Calabanga is endowed with abundant water resources. At present, the main source of local water district for potable water supply is from Balombon spring. Its

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capacity is 10 lps which is able to serve 18 barangays. The areas being served are San Antonio poblacion, Del Carmen, Sta Isabel, San Miguel, San Vicente, Sta. Salud, San Lucas, San Pablo, San Francisco, Sta Cruz Poblacion, Paolbo, Manguiring, Balombon, San Roque, San Isidro, Pagatpat, Sabang and Salvacion Baybay. Most of these are in the poblacion areas and the rest are the barangays traversed by the source from Balombon.

For barangays not reach by the services of the Local Water District (Level III), the sources are shallow wells, deep wells and water peddlers. These serve the daily needs of the household for potable water supply.

All the barangays of the municipality are link by road system. The municipality is easily accessible from the City of Naga, the province’s prime city. Most of the total road networks need improvements and rehabilitation to provide greater access to far- flung barangay residents and facilitate hauling and marketing of farm produce to the poblacion/ marketing centers. For inter-barangay linkages, tricycles abound that could bring one to various barangay From Metro Manila, Calabanga is very much accessible via Naga City. First, by a 45-minute plane flight to Pili airport and a car/jeep ride of some 40 minutes to Calabanga. Another choice is a 7–10 hours aircon bus trip direct to Calabanga being provided by three (3) bus lines. The Philippine National Railways (PNR) also provide trips from Manila to Bicol and vice- versa having a station at Naga City, then it takes some 20–30 minutes ride from Naga City to Calabanga. The power supply in the municipality of Calabanga is

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provided by the NAPOCOR through the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II (CASURECO II). At present, all the 48 barangays of the municipality are already served with electricity, however, several sitios of far-flung barangays are still longing for the extension of power lines to their places.The modern technology on Communications and information has far reached the municipality of Calabanga and has provided the constituents with better access to communication. Calabanga is being served by private telephone companies, the L.M. United Telephone Company (UNITEL) and the BAYANTEL Company which provides individual connections for those at the urban and outlaying barangays. These companies provide local and long distance calls to Metro Manila or any point in the country or any other place where the system can reach. Year 2002, the cellular mobile phone services within the municipality was improved and expanded through the installation of telecommunication facilities such as the cell site by two private telecommunication companies.

The Bureau of Telecommunications, a government operated agency having a Telecom Office stationed in the municipality is providing telegraphic services to the residents of Calabanga while Postal services is provided mainly by the Philippine postal corporation.

Naga City TV relay stations as well as the cable TV stations are tuned-in in the municipality while a local cable TV station and a private; local community television station and a newly opened radio station are

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based in the municipality. Radio broadcasts from several radio stations in Canaman, Naga City and Legaspi are received regularly. Local as well as national newspapers and magazines are available regularly from newsstands and newsboys from Naga City.

Education

The literacy rate in the municipality is high at 98.5%. The NSO survey in year 2000 for household population, 5 years old and over in terms of educational attainment, reflects the following; of the total population, 29,555 are in the elementary grade; 15,037 are in high school; only 2,623 or 0.045% of the population has no grade completed. 4, 446 are college under graduates with 1,057 degree holders and 201 with post baccalaureate degrees.

There are 38 public elementary schools in the entire municipality; eight high schools; one vocational and some five private schools that offer pre-school, grade school and high school. College education is being offered by two government- owned institutions, the Calabanga Community College and the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (formerly : CSSAC - Calabanga Campus and privately owned computer Schools, one of which offer a multi- grade schooling from elementary to college levels (Malayan Computer College).(edited last Dec.3,2009 by Gilbert Caganda).

Agriculture

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Coconut

Rice

Abaca

Corn

Sugarcane

Charcoal ("Oring")

Firewood ("Sungo")

Most people are farmers and fishermen.

Barangay

A barangay (Filipino: baranggay, [baɾaŋˈɡaj]) is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward. In colloquial usage, the term often refers to an inner city neighbourhood, a suburb or a suburban neighborhood. The word barangay originated from balanghai---a kind of boat used by a group of Austronesians that sailed and migrated to the Philippine archipelago. Municipalities and cities are composed of barangays, and they may be further subdivided into smaller areas called purók (English: zone), and sitio, which is a territorial enclave inside a barangay, especially in rural areas. In writing, barangay is sometimes abbreviated to "Brgy." or "Bgy.".

Municipality

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Municipality are divided into income classes according to their average annual income during the last three calendar years:

Class Average income

First PHP 50 million or moreSecond PHP 40 million or more but less than PHP 50 millionThird PHP 50 million or more but less than PHP 40 millionFourth PHP 20 million or more but less than PHP 50 millionFifth PHP 10 million or more but less than PHP 20 millionSixth PHP below PHP 10 million

Old Calabanga Church

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New Calabanga Church

PARROQUIA DE LA INMACULADA CONCEPCION - Quipayo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, Philippines

One of the oldest church in Bicolandia, founded in 1578 by the Franciscan Friars Pablo de Jesus and Bartolome Ruiz. This church is was the head of the first missions of some towns such as the chapels of Ligmanan (Libmanan), Bangon (Siruma), Calabangan (Calabanga)

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and Bombon until these chapels became independent in 1586, 1687 and 1749 respectively. From 1902 up to the present, Quipayo have been the Parochial Barrio of the Town of Calabanga.

From the original wood and nipa, the present church of stone and bricks was erected under the supervision of Fray Francisco Gaviria in 1616. The front portion of the church was destroyed by strong rain in 1949. Patron saint of this church is the Immaculate Concepcion and in 1659, San Roque became the Minor Saint.

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Inside Calabanga Church

Province

The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well asindependent cities, are autonomous from any provincial government. Each province is administered by an electedgovernor who oversees various local government entities.

The provinces are grouped into 17 regions based on geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics. Fourteen of these regions are designated with numbers corresponding to their geographic location in order from north to south. The National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao do not have numerical designations.

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Each province is a member of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, an organization which aims to address issues affecting provincial and metropolitan government administrations.[1]

Barangays

Calabanga is politically subdivided into 48 barangays.

Bagobon

Balatasan

Balombon

Balongay

Belen

Bigaas

Binanuaanan Grande

Binanuaanan Pequeño

Binaliw

Bonot-Santa Rosa

Burabod

Cabanbanan

Cagsao

Camuning

Comaguingking

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Del Carmen (Pob.)

Dominorog

Fabrica

Harubay

La Purisima (Quipayo)

Lugsad

Manguiring

Pagatpat (San Jose)

Paolbo

Pinada

Punta Tarawal

Quinale

San Lucas

San Miguel (Pob.)

San Pablo (Pob.)

San Roque

San Vicente (Pob.)

Santa Cruz (Poblacion)

Santa Cruz (Quipayo)

Santa Isabel (Pob.)

Santa Salud (Pob.)

Santo Domingo

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Santo Niño (Quipayo)

Siba-o

Sibobo

Sogod

Sabang

Salvacion-Baybay

San Antonio Poblacion

San Antonio (Quipayo)

San Bernardino

San Francisco (Pob.)

Tomagodtod

Calabanga Town Fiesta

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Sunrise in Sabanga, Calabanga, Cam. Sur

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Fisherman’s morning catch Sabanga, Calabanga

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Balonggay, Calabanga, Cam. Sur

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Dominorog Elementary School

Dominorog Calabanga Cam. Sur

G. Dumalasa Elementary School

Bonot Sta. Rosa Calabanga Cam. Sur

Fabrica Elementary School Fabrica Calabanga Cam. Sur

Harubay Elementary School Harubay Calabanga Cam. Sur

Hinaguianan Elementary School

Manguiring Calabanga Cam. Sur

Ilihan Elementary School Tomagodtod Calabanga Cam. Sur

Lope Guisic Elementary School

Sto. Domingo Calabanga, Cam. Sur

Lugsad Elementary School Lugsad Calabanga Cam. Sur

Manguiring Elementary School

Manguiring Calabanga Cam. Sur

Pagatpat Elementary School Pagatpat Calabanga Cam. Sur

Paolbo-Belen Elementary School

Paolbo Calabanga Cam.Sur

Pinada Elementary School Pinada Calabanga Cam. Sur

Punta Tarawal Elementary School

Punta Tarawal Calabanga Cam. Sur

Quinale Elem. School Quinale Calabanga Cam.Sur

Name of School Address

Calabanga Central Division Pilot School

San Francisco Calabanga Cam. Sur

Calabanga West Central School

San Francisco Calabanga Cam. Sur

Balatasan Elementary School Balatasan Calabanga Cam. Sur

Balombon Elementary School Balombon Calabanga Cam. Sur

Balongay Elementary School Balongay Calabanga Cam. Sur

Binaliw Elementary School Binaliw Calabanga Cam. Sur

Binanuaanan Grande Elementary School

Binanuaanan Grande Calabanga Cam. Sur

Binanuanan Pequeño Elementary School

Binanuaanan Pequeño Calabanga Cam. Sur

Burabod Elementary School Burabod, Calabanga Cam. Sur

Cagsao Elementary School Cagsao Calabanga Cam. Sur

Camuning Elementary School Camuning, Calabanga Cam. Sur

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Central Bicol State University of Agriculture Laboratory High School Calabanga Campus

Sta. Cruz Poblacion Calabanga Camarines Sur

West Coast High School Dominorog Calabanga Camarines Sur

Nuestra Seniora De La Salud Family Rural School

Sta Salud Calabanga Camarines Sur

Dominican School of CalabangaSan Francisco Calabanga Camarines Sur

Inarihan SDA Multi-Grade School Paolbo Calabanga Camarines Sur

Our Lady of La Porteria Academy San Antonio Calabanga Camarines Sur

Hansel and Gretel Learning School San Isidro Calabanga Camarines Sur

Central Bicol State University of Agriculture

Sta. Cruz Calabanga Camarines Sur

WorldTech Research Institute San Antonio Calabanga Camarines Sur

Calabanga Community collegeSta. Cruz Poblacion, calabanga Camarines Sur

Penitencia sa Sabang, Calabanga

Self -Inflicted Punishment as a penance for past

sins

Traditional Bicol Cuisine

Quite distinct from the local cuisine found in other parts of the country, Bicol is famous for its spicy, coconut

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cream-based dishes. Local folks here even eat raw "sili" (peppers) dipped in salt to go with their rice. By itself, it is a meal. Just watch them pop the "sili" into their mouths without touching their lips and following it up with rice scooped with their hands. 

Pinangat looks truly "local" served this way. Wrapped and cooked in coconut cream, they come either meatless or with chunks of either fish or pork.

 "Laing" and "Pinangat" can only be Bicol as Bicol could be. Both use homegrown ingredients like taro leaves, and of course the "sili" and coconut cream. Back in Manila, the laing --- taro leaves stewed in coconut

cream --- is a regular vegetable dish in many Filipino restaurant.

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Ginataang Laing (Taro Leaves with lot and lots of Chilli and Coconut Milk)

Bicol express is said to have been derived from a popular Bicolano dish called Gulay na Lada (gulay

means vegetables in Tagalog and Lada means Indonesian/Malay), only it was made popular and

known for as Bicol Express. It is made from pork belly strips, garlic, onions, ginger coconut cream (as with all Bicolano dishes) turmeric, bagoong (shrimp paste) and

a lot of green finger chili. It’s a simple dish that just involves sautéing all the ingredients together until

cooked.

Bicol express is now a common dish served in almost every Filipino household brave enough to take the heat.

Mano Po

When children or young people greet or say goodbye to their elders they typically do so by taking the right

hand of the elder with their right hand and touch the back the elder's hand lightly on their forehead. This act is called Mano Po. It is a way to give respect to elders and I've also understood it to be a way of accepting a

blessing from the elder. Mano is spanish for 'hand' while the word Po is often used at the end of a sentence when addressing elders or superiors.

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The Monkey and The Turtle

Two friends, the Monkey and the Turtle, found an uprooted banana tree along the side of the road. They decided to split the tree in half and replant the halves thinking that the trees would grow and bear fruit. They could enjoy an abundance of bananas whenever they

liked!

The monkey quickly selected the top half of tree- he would get the ripe bananas already growing and it would grow quickly since it already had big green

leaves growing. The turtle was left with the bottom part of the tree- an ugly brown stump with all the roots

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sticking out. The two friends planted their halves of the uprooted tree and waited for them to grow.

Naturally, the monkey’s tree died. It had shriveled up and the green leaves had since turned brown and fallen off. The turtle’s tree had grown and flourished. Not only did the turtle’s tree grown big green leaves it also grew

bananas!

Of course, the turtle couldn’t climb his tree so he asked his monkey friend to climb the tree. It the monkey would bring down the bananas they could eat them together. The monkey climbed the tree and began

eating all the bananas. He was so greedy he did not give a single banana to the turtle.

When the monkey climbed down from the tree he couldn’t find the turtle anywhere. His belly was so full from eating the bananas that he sat down to rest on half a coconut shell. When the monkey’s tail slipped

into the hole of the coconut the turtle who was hiding in the shell bit the monkey’s tail with all his might!

The monkey caught the turtle and threatened to roast him and to cut him into many pieces. The turtle just laughed at these suggestions. Finally the monkey threatened to throw him into the river. The turtle

adamantly begged the monkey not to saying that of all things in life drowning was what he feared the most.

The monkey immediately dragged the turtle to the river’s edge and pushed him in. The turtle disappeared into the deep dark water. The monkey was so proud of

himself! Just as he turned to walk away the turtle

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appeared on the surface of the water. He was leisurely swimming along laughing at the greedy monkey.

Filipino Mythological Creatures

Filipino myths are a powerhouse of creatures. Some of the popular Filipino legends include stories about

creatures like the Aswang, Kapre, Tikbalang and Sirena.

Aswang are probably the most recognized or most well known of the filipino mythical creatures. Aswang are

something like witches. They are typically considered to be female and are often the reason behind unfortunate occurances like sickness, death or things as simple as

strange noises. Next up is the Kapre which according to folklore is a tree demon that resembles a hairy giant smoking a big tobacco pipe. Kapres are not harmful

creatures but they are fond of playing pranks on people.

A Tikbalang is the Filipino version of a centaur - a giant creature that is part horse and part man. They usually

live in remote areas or under bridges and on top of trees. The Tikbalang like to scare travelers and get them lost. It is also capable of turning into a human

being or becoming invisible.

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The mermaid, an almost universally recognized creature, is called Sirena in Filipino legend. The Sirena has the head and torso of a human but the lower body

of a fish. Sirenas hypnotize men, usually fisherman, with their beautiful voices, and cause them to cause

accidents at sea or drown.

Harana"

In some rural areas(although this is fast becoming a vanishing custom),the practice involves a night

serenade called Harana where the boy serenades the girl he is courting with love songs.the young man also serves the girls family by performing daily choer such

as chopping wood,mending the fence,etc.These actions originated in the past when boys were too shy to court the girls directly and parents arranged the marriages of

their children.Engagement and marriage are two events where the provinces in the Philippines differ in

their rituals and practices.a bride is not supposed to try her wedding gown before the wedding as this could

bring bad luck.

It customary for the groom to shoulder the entire wedding expenses including the bridal gown.while this

may no longer be practice in the cities where the engaged couple divides the expences,the tradition is still alive in the rural areas.In Quezon province,the

grooms relative bring the wedding dress to the brides house on the eve of the wedding.In certain parts of

Camarines Sur,the bride stays with her godmother the night before the wedding,as the godmother is usually

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assigned to dress up the bride.At the wedding ceremony,if one of the lighted candles goes out,the

belief is either the bride or groom will die soon so great care is taken to make sure the candles remain lit.After the wedding ceremony,whoever stands up first will rule the household.Tice is usually thrown at a newly married

couple when they step outside the church,since rice symbolizes prosperity.Modern couples however have

substituted the rice grains for paper bits or small sampaguita buds,the national flower.Lately,some more

shrewd newly weds have also tried to revive the provincial custom of having sponsors and relatives pin money to their wedding clothes as they dance at the

reception.

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Tinikling Dance

The tinikling dance is one of the most popular and well-known of traditional Philippine dances.[1] The tinikling

is a pre-Spanish dance from thePhilippines that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination

with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. The name is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number ofrail species; the term tinikling literally means

"tikling-like."[2]

Tinikling involves five steps; during the first four steps, the dancers dance opposite each other, and during the

last step, they start from the same side of the poles. The bamboo is also used as a percussive instrument as it is banged against the ground (or a piece of wood to

make it easier to hold) and each other in a pattern. The bamboo has to be closed hard enough to make a

sound, and the dancers must be quick enough to not get their foot (or feet) caught. As the dance continues, the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of the clashing bamboo and the quickness of feet demonstrated by the dancers thrilling and awing the crowd. In the United States, this dance had been altered into a four-beat rhythm to adjust to popular

music. In some cases, it has been used in conjunction with traditional Filipino martial arts to demonstrate

fleetness of foot and flow of movement.

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This Booklet is made up from several articles from the internet sources plus some of my own photographs.

EdgarJ.Salomon

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