Barangay Haligue Silangan

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Thursday, 08 February 2024 - 1:40:00 PM

 HISTORY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF HALIGUE SILANGAN

     The present official name of the place is Haligue Silangan. Formerly, it was only Haligue. The fact that it was too wide it was divided into two barrios, namely: Haligue Silangan and Haligue Kanluran. It was divided in the year 1938. It was named Haligue because of the Mt. called "Tallim". The old ancestors believed that the mountain was held by the giant rock from the foot to top which resembles a post. The giant rock can be seen in the number of miles away. People believed that the mountain was inhabited by the fairies and giant that could be seen in the procession during Good-Friday.

     Number of sitios or villages composed Haligue Silangan. There are three of them, namely: Maysahing, Mabayabas and Binutbot. Mabayabas is located in the eastern part of the barrio. It was called mabayabas because during the early days the sitio was scarcely populated yet there were guava trees.

     Before in the village of Maysahing, there was a big tree called Maysahing, a tree used for medicine from which the name of the sitio was originated.

     The village of Binutbot got its name from certain incident made by wild animals. During these early days the place was dense forest. Clearing of said forest was done by kaingin system which up to this time it is still being practiced. People went to work with their food wrapped in banana leaves. They used to hang them on branches of trees that were easy to reach. Without knowing the monkey opened and scrutinized their food. Since then, the people associated the word "Binutbot" when they refer to that place.

     Upon the establishment ofthe barrio in 1938, there was only one pangulo by the name of Dionisio Espeleta. After rendering efficient services for eight years, he died and was replaced by Anacleto Alcantra who hold the position up to the present. Each village of the barrio was each councillario. Alfonso Vera is for Mabayabas, Sessinando for Maysahing and Julio Marasigan for Binutbot.

     During the early days, there were many cavesas. When the barrio was subdivided the cavesas were Ignacio and Ebora and Fausto Ramirez. The pangulo were Marcelino Alcantara, Eugenio Balmes, Pablo Agtay, Sabas Gutierrez, Margarito Balmes, Jose Catapang and Simeon Aguado. They were incharged of the barrio for five years.

     There were few incidents that took place in the barrio. During World War, the mountain houses are burned by the American troops. The barrio was never destroyed, it was occupied by guerilla troops especially Binutbot. Shortly after the 1949 election, when the liberals came again into power, there arose political misunderstanding between the leaders of each candidates. Rebel forces under Francisco Medrano ran the Mt. Talim, east of Haligue Silangan. These forces were against Quirino's Administration. This political turmoil lasted for a number of months which was later subdued by the government troops. Towns of amnesty terminated the uprising.

     There were many traditions, customs and practices among the people of the barrio. In christening for the newly born child the people used leaves of coconut trees blessed by the priest. If the woman is going to give birth to a child the old folks frighten the anitos.
During the courtship, the man may not have any chance of talking with the woman. He only renders services to the parents of the lady for a number of days. Eventually, the parents of the lady send for the parents of the man and they talk over the matter themselves. When they came into agreement they prepare for the wedding. If they disagree it appears that nothing takes place.