1. BOAT-MAKING.
River-dwelling Kapampangans descended from
sea-faring Austronesians, and indeed the large adze that H. Otley Beyer found
in Candaba in the 1930s proves our ancestors were already carving boats out of
tree trunks as early as 3000 B.C. (same time the Egyptians were building the
great pyramids). Ancient Kapampangans called these adzes "daras" and
sometimes "ipan alti" (lightning tooth) because they looked like
large incisors.
2. SHIP-BUILDING.
The Spaniards put this Kapampangan skill
to good use by taking farmers off farmlands and forcing them to build galleons
in the Cavite shipyards. It resulted in famine and led to the Kapampangan Revolt
of 1660. The old Kapampangan word for ship is "daung" (“dauit,” on
the other hand, means “to build a ship”). Part of the Guagua-Pasak River is
called Dalan Bapor because ships regularly picked up cargo from a cannery in
Guagua. In Pampanga River, ships picked up passengers from towns like Mexico
and Apalit (one-way ticket to Manila cost P2.50 in 1880).
3. TOBACCO.
Kapampangans once cultivated tobacco,
particularly in Magalang. The seat of the Tobacco Monopoly in Central Luzon was
Gapan, which was once part of Pampanga. The ancient Kapampangan word
“makipanungi” referred to someone who worked for pay by stringing up tobacco
leaves.
4. WEAVING.
Our ancestors wove their own clothes from
“bulac” (cotton), which they separated into “puyud” (a bundle of cotton prior
to spinning), using “cabid” (a measure of cotton). The old Kapampangan verb for
spinning cotton is “sulad,” which is why we have the word “sinulad” (thread).
5. DYEING.
Ancient Kapampangans dyed their everyday clothes
blue (white was for special occasions), using extract from the indigo bush
called “tayum” (the place Tayuman in Tondo was named after this Kapampangan
word). To prevent dyed clothes from fading during laundry, they put “balatung”
(mongo seeds) in the water. To remove stains, they cut “balimbing” (or
“ternate,” star fruit) and rubbed it on stained clothes.
6. WINE-MAKING.
Our ancestors took advantage of the nipa
palms lining the rivers by extracting juice and turning it into “tuba.” Wine
harvesters were called “manuba.” When fermented, this wine became the fragrant
vinegar called “aslam sasa.”
7. POTTERY.
Our rich vocabulary of pottery words indicates
the level of sophistication that the industry has reached, most likely since
prehistoric times. Kapampangans are able to differentiate a “banga” (water pot)
from “kuran” (rice pot) and “balanga” (viand pot). The industry started in the
Sto. Tomas-Apalit area, and it’s still there. Pottery was such an important
business that at least two capital towns in the ancient Kapampangan Region had names
pertaining to pottery: Balanga in Bataan and Iba in Zambales (“iba” in
Kapampangan means earthen pot). A barrio in Mabalacat also used to be called
Iba.
Sources:
Originally published by Robby P. Tantingco in his FB Notes page.
Originally published by Robby P. Tantingco in his FB Notes page.
Ship-building: Filipinas Heritage, vol. 3
Negrito outrigger: www.eastbound88.com
Early Phil. ship: www.aenet.org
I spent a few summers with relatives in Tinajero, Bacolor, a fishing village along the nipa- and mangrove-lined banks of the big river that flows to Manila Bay. I remember my granduncles drinking what they called "balasubas" with their dinner.
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