HISTORYA NIN BANUAAN

"The History of the Town of Irosin"

 By
Sabiniano Gacias and Elias Cuadro

 

BIKOL TEXT

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Prologo-Capitulo V

Prologue-Chapter V

Capitulo VI-IX

Chapter VI-IX

Capitulo X-XIV

Chapter X-XIV

Capitulo XV-XVII

Chapter XV-XVII

Capitulo XVIII-Epilogo

ChapterXVIII-Epilogue

CHAPTER XV

The Governador-Provincial’s Visit

 

183 – For every two years, there would be a visit,

by the Governador-Provincial to every town;

preparations would indeed be grandior,

at the announcement of his arrival.

 

184 – Whenever the Governor would now be in Bulan,

some would surmise he would pass by Juban;

the canopies would be in ready,

several Spaniards would be carried.

 

185 – There would be readied horses,

carrying the Teniente and the Cabo;

ready too, was the sitio where they would meet him,

for his companions would use the horses.

 

186 – The Guardia Civil would be at the forefront,

and they would be headed by the Alferez;

a truly cruel Spaniards,

whose uniform exuded power.

 

187 – The students would bring bandorillas,

with them were their teachers;

concerned teachers would now be pallid,

because of fear in their hearts.

 

188 – Funny when he would now arrive,

for great were the worries of the Cabezas;

in their left hands were the cudgels,

their bodies would tremble with fear.

 

189 – Especially when he would drop by the Capitan’s,

and by the Cabezas de Barangay’s;

those Real Haber would be paid at once,

within three hours, I would bet on that.

 

190 – The Capitan would order his Subalternos,

“go at once to Cabeza Pedro;

those who haven’t yet paid their taxes,

Cabeza Colas, Cabeza Damaso,”

 

191 – Upon learning about this, those Cabezas,

would at once go to see Panga;

“My ricefield, my abaca farm,

now, at once, I would pawn.”

 

192 – A few others would sell,

carabaos, horse, indeed anything;

just to be able to dodge payment,

of the Real Haber they have promised to pay.

 

193 – Now Panga was interested,

because he was moneyed and was a trader;

“If that would be your purpose,

go then to Ciriaco Cuadro.

 

194 – So that documents would be made,

and from danger you be freed;

I would offer to buy and if you wanted,

you’ll have more, with more to spend.

 

195 – At twelve noon, they would take a recess,

the Governador would take his lunch;

he would give an order, “Now or never,

this would be the inauguration of the Capitan.

 

196 – “Select now your candidates,

one, two, three, only a good man;

choose now a pious man,

to be certified by the Pastor.

 

197 – “And the second that would be done,

all the Cabezas, bring out the padron;

those with only a fifth,I would treat,

those with lower numbers, with us we would bring.

 

198 – To be able to serve our fatherland,

bring them to Mindanao if they are prepared;

to have them castigate  those Moors,

if they won’t surrender, then have them killed.”

 

199 – After this noise,

the Governador would proceed to other towns;

like Matnog or Bulusan,

and people would meet him again with canopies.

 

200 – Thus the newsletting would now be ended,

talking would now be calm;

retaliations would now pass from one to the next,

as for instance, if somebaody was hurt.

 

201 – One dumb Cuadrillero,

was kicked and slapped by the Governador;

his reason now dulled by his degradation,

to the civilians he would avenge himself.

 

202 – There were those caught doing nothing,

or for instance, game-a-playing;

without warning, he would kick, too,

to get even, this he would do.

 

203 – From here would now start a number of comments,

Fulano accordingly, was really smart;

fluent in Spanish, he spoke like a parrot,

and suited really were his words.

 

 204 – He who was a smart aide,

was indeed praised by his chief;

even when he spoke broken Spanish,

to their impression, he was already knowledgeable.

 

205 – If today you say it is truly ungrammatical,

like when one says “La bandala;”

they would say, he was good in Spanish,

and “La baguio” would be a loaded term.

 

206 – It would be better to promote him,

he would do better as a Sargento;

for he understands the rights,

and he could face the cultured ones.

 

207 – Others would say this,

the amazing one was Tiyo Bernabe;

for the Governador spoke with him,

he was given a tap and was praised highly.

 

208 – Some would say he was favored,

for he was a good chef in all of Albay;

and so Don Juan recommended,

that Abeng be brought to Albay.

 

209 – Other cooks wondered aloud,

for an azafran as an ingredient;

added with   leaves,

and leaves of pepper, as ingredients.

 

210 – There was another parent,

who would smirk when he would narrate;

“My daughter, a young woman named Pilar,

would never be free during the ball.

 

211 – “For every sonata, she would be held,

for always, she would be asked for a dance;

when she came home, she brought something,

a face towel she could wipe herself with.

 

212 – It was given to her by the Governador,

and she was fed with ham;

there was a brew that they would drink,

and he would say “Te amo.”

 

213 – Let us go back to the Capitan,

he had his way in his domain;

“Send for the Principales here in the Tribunal,

for we have something to talk about.”

 

214 – When the subjects were now gathered,

there was a suggestion from the Capitan;

“Now that the busy days are over,

let us go to gabao.

 

215 – “You Teniente Mayor, order at once,

a Cuadrillero as an urgent wish;

Teniente Poro and Longinos,

with them, bring fishnets.

 

216 – “For we are to fish in the waters of Torsohan,

and send a notice to the Teniente of Gabao;

early morning tomorrow, we shall thus leave,

breakfast will be at the house of Batang’s Teniente.”

 

217 – When they reached Batang, breakfast was readied,

Teniente Tura butchered a fatted pig;

There was dinogo, sutanghon and others,

And they were served with chicken adobado.

 

218 – Teniente Tura in turn, even when he spent much,

he was filled with joy at that time;

at once they proceeded to Gabao,

and there were horses upon which they ride.

 

219 – The Teniente of Gabao with his Subalternos,

prepared the foods and everything else;

the fish-catchers then proceeded to the rivers,

and they brought with them four fishnets.

 

220 – After the Capitan had eaten his lunch,

with his companions, the other officials;

they proceeded to the river where fishes were caught,

to ease their tiredness.

 

221 – Haroan, casili, they caught,

quiquiro, magnagat, others were paya;

they were truly filled with joy,

they went home in the afternoon.

 

222 – This Capitan, Cleto Galarosa,

with Teniente Nicolas Españo;

happy were they when they went home,

for their bags were all filled.

 

223 – According now to the people of Gabao,

kind indeed was our Capitan;

with no abuses, everything was for God,

not like the one he succeeded.

 

224 – There was a Ginebra prepared for him,

yet he drank not, concentrating only on the food;

while his companions were now drunk,

the Capitan would just smile at the sight.

 

CAPITULO XVII

The First Census, Estimate of Land Area and Major Products

 

225 – Now therefore that the events are over,

of the town of Irosin, as narrated;

the inhabitants at present,

would now be more than twenty-thousand.

 

226 – The covered land area of this town,

by prudent estimate, one hundred hectares;

more or less, this we calculate,

this exculdes all the barrios.

 

227 – The products that offer a living,

abaca and coconut plantations, ricefields including;

in a word, they are vast indeed,

and statistics shows this.

 

228 – If we examine its lot,

a molehill was its roots;

now a high mountain, it has thus become,

with its own goods, favor of the town.

 

229 – Edifices became things of beauty,

adornment of the town, in olden times;

with the coming of the Japanese, they were felled,

by the fires and bombings for which they were fated.

 

230 – History will thus pause here,

if it was wanting and did not fare well;

aright ye, when ye could,

pity the one who wrote this poem.

 

231 – For this was indeed a blessing,

purposely designed by the loving God;

that history of ages past,

be thus written and read by all.

 

232 – For no one would take interest,

in original materials of a town;

but that this your poor brethen,

tried not to mind difficulties.

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