How Barangay Beleng Got Its Name
In 1788, when the Philippines was under Spanish rule, the “Comidian,” a popular drama or stage show in this remote barrio of the municipality, was shown before the barrio people on the occasion of the celebration of the barrio fiesta which coincided with the “Santa Cruz de Mayo.” Although the drama used only the sword as weapon and the “kutibeng” for musical background, the show was so spectacular that people watched wholeheartedly and never left till morning.
The principal characters in the drama were Prince Pergenio and Princess Esmeralda. In real life, the man who acted as Prince Pergenio was Augusto Lozana, a young Spanish constable assigned by the Spanish General to keep peace and order in this barrio. He was a handsome and bohemian bachelor.
The woman who acted as Princess Esmeralda was Belen Mirasol, the only daughter of a poor Filipino couple in the barrio. She was beautiful, modest, and admired by the barrio people especially the single men and women. Because of her extraordinary beauty – like that of Venus – she was fondly called “Kabuntatala ed Letakan” or “Shining Star of the East” or “Morning Star of the East.”
One day while Belen was sitting on her haunches while washing clothes under the blooming madre de cacao tree on the bank of the Pantabuyan Creek, Augusto approached the surprised and blushing Belen, and began to reveal his growing love for her. He proposed that if Belen would reciprocate his ardent love, he would start performing the customs of the people on marriage. First, Augusto and Belen would exchange love letters. Second, they would carry on their heads twelve “bilaos” of lechon which would be eaten by six single men and six single women. Next, they would register in the “Presidencia” now Municipal Hall, then to the Church. Then, they would be united in the holy sacrament of matrimony, or marriage.
Because Belen, at 18, had never been in love, she could not help the throbbing of her heart and could not resist the love of Augusto, her first love. So this feeling was mutual. Augusto promised that he would respect her chastity so that she would be pure before the altar of Immaculada Concepcion.
The next day, one Sunday morning, the two lovers went to the Immaculada Concepcion Church in Barrio Basista in the nearby town of San Carlos. They lighted two candles on the altar and made their vows that only death could sever their bond.
The intimate relationship of the two lovers became well-known in the entire barrio. Upon learning of the relationship, Belen’s parents expressed their objections in no time. They did not want to have a Spanish son-in-law because they believed that the Spaniards were arrogant, domineering, and oppressive. Spaniards, on the other hand, considered the Filipinos as “indios” and treated them like slaves.
Likewise, upon knowing of the relationship, Augusto’s parents immediately expressed their opposition because they did not want to have a Filipina daughter-in-law. They considered Filipinos as ignorant, lowly, and mean. To ensure the amorous relationship between the two would not prosper, Augusto was immediately sent back to Spain against his will by his parents.
The sudden departure of Augusto to Spain without even bidding goodbye to Belen meant agonizing pain, bitterness, and traumatic experience to her. She was nostalgic and melancholic. The young men and women tried to cheer and solace her but they tried in vain. They could not make her happy or at least make her smile. Every night the young men tried to sing “kundiman” songs in a “harana” (serenade), but they could not convince her to come out from her bedroom. She was always lying on her bed, holding dearly the picture of Augusto while tears welled up in her eyes.
She had not eaten for a week. She had only drunk water. Her body was emaciated and weak. Belen’s parents became worried and brought her to a well-known doctor. To his surprise, the doctor found no illness, only lack of vitamins and other food nutrients.
Belen’s parents became more worried about their daughter’s declining health condition. They brought her to a well-known “herbolario” from Ilocos Sur. She was an old woman who was allegedly given a power to heal by the “Virgin Mary.” Upon looking at Belen, the old woman shook her head. She asked for a plate, a glass of water, and an egg. Then she made a sign of the cross on Belen’s forehead using the egg on her hand, she uttered the name of Belen Mirasol, broke the egg a little, dropped the egg yolk and albumen into the plate of water, read the figure formed by the egg in the water and said, “You are affected by love poison.”
The “herbolario” asked Belen’s parents to come with her outside the house to tell them what would happen to Belen. In the Ilocano language, she said, “Naliday ak a mangikuna nga haang nga mabayagen ket mai-benleng idiay sementerio.”
She told them that was what would happen to Augusto to fulfill their vow before the altar of Immaculada Concepcion.
After almost a week, at six o’clock in the morning on Saturday on the month of May, the day and time when they made their love vow, Belen passed away. In the delirium of death, she uttered…”Nanay, Tatay, sinamalan yo ak,” which means, “Mother, Father, you poisoned me.”
The ancient tradition in the barrio is to let the remains of the dead lie in state of only 24 hours before interment because embalming was not yet a part of their culture. At 12:00 o’clock midnight, during the vigil, the Kapitan Heneral, who was the father of Augusto arrived in a horse-drawn carriage. He brought with him the letter of Augusto to his beloved Belen. He was surprised to see, however, that Belen joined her Creator, and the barrio people were having a wake.
Belen's family was placated and the animosity subsided when they read the contents of Augusto’s farewell letter, saying:
Dearest Love, Belen,
I could no longer endure the sorrow, pain, agony, and bitterness, so I ended my life by drinking poison to fulfill our vow that “Only death can serve us apart.” Wherever my soul will be destined, I’ll be waiting for you. Farewell, my dearest Belen.
Love, Augusto Lozano
The next day, Sunday, was the interment of Belen at the Roman Catholic Cemetery. The funeral procession was accompanied by a cumparza or string band, and all the barrio people, especially the young men and women, were in black clothes, mourning, or in the Pangasinan language, “mabeleng.”
On the third day, after the interment of Belen, the Pista del Barrio with the Santa Cruz de Mayo was held and the Alcalde Mayor was invited. He was surprised with what he saw. Instead of merrymaking and revelry, the barrio people were all “mabeleng” and all attired in black clothes. Before long, the Teniente del Barrio related to the Alcalde Mayor what happened to Belen that made the people sad.
In response, the Alcalde Mayor told the barrio people: "It will be written in the municipal record that from this day forward, this barrio will be called Beleng.”
Perhaps, the Alcalde Mayor added the letter G to Belen to perpetuate her memory and that the word “Beleng” denotes the sorrow of the barrio people caused by the untimely death of the beautiful young lady named Belen.
Source: 2019 Brgy. Beleng Fiesta Souvenir Program
In 1788, when the Philippines was under Spanish rule, the “Comidian,” a popular drama or stage show in this remote barrio of the municipality, was shown before the barrio people on the occasion of the celebration of the barrio fiesta which coincided with the “Santa Cruz de Mayo.” Although the drama used only the sword as weapon and the “kutibeng” for musical background, the show was so spectacular that people watched wholeheartedly and never left till morning.
The principal characters in the drama were Prince Pergenio and Princess Esmeralda. In real life, the man who acted as Prince Pergenio was Augusto Lozana, a young Spanish constable assigned by the Spanish General to keep peace and order in this barrio. He was a handsome and bohemian bachelor.
The woman who acted as Princess Esmeralda was Belen Mirasol, the only daughter of a poor Filipino couple in the barrio. She was beautiful, modest, and admired by the barrio people especially the single men and women. Because of her extraordinary beauty – like that of Venus – she was fondly called “Kabuntatala ed Letakan” or “Shining Star of the East” or “Morning Star of the East.”
One day while Belen was sitting on her haunches while washing clothes under the blooming madre de cacao tree on the bank of the Pantabuyan Creek, Augusto approached the surprised and blushing Belen, and began to reveal his growing love for her. He proposed that if Belen would reciprocate his ardent love, he would start performing the customs of the people on marriage. First, Augusto and Belen would exchange love letters. Second, they would carry on their heads twelve “bilaos” of lechon which would be eaten by six single men and six single women. Next, they would register in the “Presidencia” now Municipal Hall, then to the Church. Then, they would be united in the holy sacrament of matrimony, or marriage.
Because Belen, at 18, had never been in love, she could not help the throbbing of her heart and could not resist the love of Augusto, her first love. So this feeling was mutual. Augusto promised that he would respect her chastity so that she would be pure before the altar of Immaculada Concepcion.
The next day, one Sunday morning, the two lovers went to the Immaculada Concepcion Church in Barrio Basista in the nearby town of San Carlos. They lighted two candles on the altar and made their vows that only death could sever their bond.
The intimate relationship of the two lovers became well-known in the entire barrio. Upon learning of the relationship, Belen’s parents expressed their objections in no time. They did not want to have a Spanish son-in-law because they believed that the Spaniards were arrogant, domineering, and oppressive. Spaniards, on the other hand, considered the Filipinos as “indios” and treated them like slaves.
Likewise, upon knowing of the relationship, Augusto’s parents immediately expressed their opposition because they did not want to have a Filipina daughter-in-law. They considered Filipinos as ignorant, lowly, and mean. To ensure the amorous relationship between the two would not prosper, Augusto was immediately sent back to Spain against his will by his parents.
The sudden departure of Augusto to Spain without even bidding goodbye to Belen meant agonizing pain, bitterness, and traumatic experience to her. She was nostalgic and melancholic. The young men and women tried to cheer and solace her but they tried in vain. They could not make her happy or at least make her smile. Every night the young men tried to sing “kundiman” songs in a “harana” (serenade), but they could not convince her to come out from her bedroom. She was always lying on her bed, holding dearly the picture of Augusto while tears welled up in her eyes.
She had not eaten for a week. She had only drunk water. Her body was emaciated and weak. Belen’s parents became worried and brought her to a well-known doctor. To his surprise, the doctor found no illness, only lack of vitamins and other food nutrients.
Belen’s parents became more worried about their daughter’s declining health condition. They brought her to a well-known “herbolario” from Ilocos Sur. She was an old woman who was allegedly given a power to heal by the “Virgin Mary.” Upon looking at Belen, the old woman shook her head. She asked for a plate, a glass of water, and an egg. Then she made a sign of the cross on Belen’s forehead using the egg on her hand, she uttered the name of Belen Mirasol, broke the egg a little, dropped the egg yolk and albumen into the plate of water, read the figure formed by the egg in the water and said, “You are affected by love poison.”
The “herbolario” asked Belen’s parents to come with her outside the house to tell them what would happen to Belen. In the Ilocano language, she said, “Naliday ak a mangikuna nga haang nga mabayagen ket mai-benleng idiay sementerio.”
She told them that was what would happen to Augusto to fulfill their vow before the altar of Immaculada Concepcion.
After almost a week, at six o’clock in the morning on Saturday on the month of May, the day and time when they made their love vow, Belen passed away. In the delirium of death, she uttered…”Nanay, Tatay, sinamalan yo ak,” which means, “Mother, Father, you poisoned me.”
The ancient tradition in the barrio is to let the remains of the dead lie in state of only 24 hours before interment because embalming was not yet a part of their culture. At 12:00 o’clock midnight, during the vigil, the Kapitan Heneral, who was the father of Augusto arrived in a horse-drawn carriage. He brought with him the letter of Augusto to his beloved Belen. He was surprised to see, however, that Belen joined her Creator, and the barrio people were having a wake.
Belen's family was placated and the animosity subsided when they read the contents of Augusto’s farewell letter, saying:
Dearest Love, Belen,
I could no longer endure the sorrow, pain, agony, and bitterness, so I ended my life by drinking poison to fulfill our vow that “Only death can serve us apart.” Wherever my soul will be destined, I’ll be waiting for you. Farewell, my dearest Belen.
Love, Augusto Lozano
The next day, Sunday, was the interment of Belen at the Roman Catholic Cemetery. The funeral procession was accompanied by a cumparza or string band, and all the barrio people, especially the young men and women, were in black clothes, mourning, or in the Pangasinan language, “mabeleng.”
On the third day, after the interment of Belen, the Pista del Barrio with the Santa Cruz de Mayo was held and the Alcalde Mayor was invited. He was surprised with what he saw. Instead of merrymaking and revelry, the barrio people were all “mabeleng” and all attired in black clothes. Before long, the Teniente del Barrio related to the Alcalde Mayor what happened to Belen that made the people sad.
In response, the Alcalde Mayor told the barrio people: "It will be written in the municipal record that from this day forward, this barrio will be called Beleng.”
Perhaps, the Alcalde Mayor added the letter G to Belen to perpetuate her memory and that the word “Beleng” denotes the sorrow of the barrio people caused by the untimely death of the beautiful young lady named Belen.
Source: 2019 Brgy. Beleng Fiesta Souvenir Program
No comments:
Post a Comment