Ala eh!

All about the Batangas Dialect

by KC Cayamanda, Batangas

20 September 2010

Batangas - I was born and

raised in Batangas, and
had no idea I had been
using a lot of words that
other Tagalog speakers
were not familiar with. In
my numerous
conversations with friends and colleagues, I would usually leave them stumped, if not shocked, by what I
say. Realization hit me in college. As we were about to cross a street, I told my classmates, Tara, liban na
tayo! They just stared at me, and I stared back, quite unaware that they did not understand what I had
said. In Batangas, liban means to cross the street; therefore, what I meant was Come on, lets cross the
street! They thought I was asking them to skip class. The language is properly known as Batangas
Tagalog, and Ala eh! is probably its most well-known expression sort of a registered trademark for
my province. Aside from balisong and kapeng barako, of course. If there is someone who speaks with a
very heavy accent and seems to start and end all sentences with eh, youd be right to conclude that he
or she is from Batangas.

Ive been working in Manila for the last six years and my friends said Ive shed my Batanguea accent
already, but there are still instances when conversations would come to a halt because Ive said
something they do not understand.

Friend: Saan ka pupunta?

KC: Akoy yayao na.
Friend: Ha? Anong sabi mo?

Here are some words that never fail to elicit laughter from friends, followed by a round of vocabulary
lessons:

hinaw - wash hands

makayat - messy
Kita na! - Lets go!
bulos - another round/helping of rice/viand
gabok - dust
guyam - ants
kahanggan - neighbor
maalwan - easy
 hawot - dried fish, commonly called tuyo
dine - here (dito)
naliyo - felt dizzy (nahilo)
barek - drink beer/alcohol
huntahan - conversation (kwentuhan)

For those who are pondering the meaning of yayao (pronounced as ya - ya - o) in the three-line
exchange, its to leave (aalis). Ive later found out that in Manila, yayao means (I or you) will die. I
could just imagine how freaky it was when I uttered that word in a very casual manner.

[Link]

Batangas
This article is about the province. For the city, see Batangas City.

For the bay, see Batangas Bay.

For the knife, see Balisong (knife).

Batangas is a province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in

the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces
of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south
is the island of Mindoro and to the west lies the South China Sea.

A view from the coast of

Batangas.

Batangas is one of the most

popular tourist destinations
near Metro Manila. The province has many beaches and is famous for excellent diving spots only a few
hours away from Manila. Some of the more notable ones are Anilao in the Municipality of Mabini,
Matabungkay and Punta Fuego in the Municipality of Nasugbu, the Municipality of Calatagan and Laiya
in the Municipality of San Juan.

Batangas is also the location of Taal Volcano, one of the Decade Volcanoes. The volcano has a water-
filled crater and sits on an island in the center of Taal Lake, which geologists believe is an ancient caldera.
The town of Taal is famous for its hand embroideries, knives, and sausages; and it reigns as one of the
two most culturally preserved sites of the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines.

Batangas is also generally accepted by linguists as the "Heart of the Tagalog Language".
Name

The first recorded name of the province was Kumintang. Later, the Spaniards went to settle the present
day Balayan, then the most progressive town of the Province. The name of the Province was changed
into Bonbon.

Some time later, the capital of the province was transferred to Taal, since being near the lake, it is an
easy commercial center. After the transfer, the leaders of the province decided to name the province
after its capital.

Still later, the Spaniards chose to transfer the capital for the third time, to its present seat in the town of
Batangan, later Batangas City. The province changed its name once more after the capital. In 1889,
Batangas City became the country's 8th city.

The term "batangan" refers to a type of raft people used to fish in the nearby Taal Lake. It was derived
from the word "batang," a native term for the numerous logs found in the Calumpang River, the body of
water that runs through the northeastern portion of the town and assumes the shape of a tuning fork.

The term "Batangueo" or "Batanguea" is generally an adjective that describes something or someone
from Batangas. However, in the recent revival of provincial identitity among the natives of Batangas,
these terms is more commonly being used nowadays to mean a native of the province. On the other
hand, the old term "Batangan" is being revived to describe something that is of Batangas flavor.

People and culture

Maria Kalaw Katigbak, a Filipino historian, called Batangueos the "Super-Tagalogs". This is because they
are a paramount example of what one can expect from this ethnolinguistic group. If you ask someone to
overact a Tagalog, they would imitate a Batangueo.

One particular custom in the Batangan culture is the so called "Matanda sa Dugo" (lit. "older by blood")
practice, wherein one gives respect not because of age but of consanguinity. During early times, large
families were very common. Thus, it was to be expected that one's uncle could be of the same age or
even younger than oneself. In this case, the older one would call the younger one by an honorary title
(such as "tiyo" or simply "kuya"). This often causes confusion among those from other provinces who are
not accustomed to such practices.

Large extended families tend to live together. It is common for a piece of land to remain undivided until
the family connection becomes too distant. Marriages between relatives of the fifth generation is still
frowned upon in the Batangan culture even if Philippine laws allow it.

Batangueos are very regionalistic. When one learns that a person in the room is also from Batangas,
expect them to be together until the end of the event. It is also expected that those in office would favor
their fellow Batangueos as far as the rules allow. This practice has been jokingly referred to as the
"Batangas Mafia".
Most Batangueos are either farmers or fishers who sell their own products in the market. Although
most of them have also finished a degree, many choose to put up their own small businesses instead of
pursuing a career in their field of study. This is perhaps due to the subconscious cultural belief that he
who has no land to cultivate or trade to make is a lazy person.

Batangueos are known to be very hospitable to outsiders. Visitors will be fed more than what the
hosts usually eat. These folks greatly appreciate it if they see that you are trying to be one of them.

Batangueos are heavy drinkers. Men, and sometimes women, could spend long hours of drinking
sessions as if there were no work the next day. This is especially true if you visit the far-flung barangays.
Aside from drinking too much liquor, Batangueos like sweet food. Perhaps this is because there has
never been a shortage of sugar in the province due to the presence of the Central Azucarera Don Pedro,
the current largest producer of sugar in the whole archipelago.

And if they like their liquors strong and their foods sweet, Batangueos also like their coffee strong. In
the barrios, people would drink brewed coffee, which the locals call kapeng barako, translated as
the stud's coffee. During the early 1900s, Batangas was the largest producer of coffee in the whole of
Asia. At present, steps are being taken to reclaim this position, especially in the city of Lipa.

Language

Batangueos, being mainly descendants of the ancient Tagalogs, speak a dialect of the language with a
very strong accent. Indeed, one can easily recognize a Batangueo the moment he opens his mouth.

Though generally intelligible to speakers of other dialects, such as the Manila and Tayabas dialects, the
vocabulary of the Batangan dialect is more closely related to the ancient Tagalog. Rarely do Batangueos
use Taglish, which is the custom in Manila. In fact, when you ask someone from the Komisyon sa Wikang
Filipino to describe the Tagalog spoken in Batangas, it will easily be labelled "makaluma" (old
style).
Batangueos are also known for their unique affectation of often placing the particles "eh" or "ga"
(equivalent of particle "ba" in Tagalog), usually as a marker of stress on the sentence, at the end of their
spoken sentences or speech; for example: "Ay, oo, eh!" ("Aye, yes, indeed!"). Some even prolong the
particle "eh" into "ala eh", though it has no meaning in itself.

Grammar

The most recognisable difference is the use of the passive past tense (in Standard Filipino) in place of the
present progressive. In Manila, this is done by inserting the infix -um- after the first syllable then by
repeating the first syllable.

Example 1:

root word: kain (to eat)

ka-in (syllabication)

k-um-a-ka-in (eating)

Example 2:

root word: tawag (to call)

ta-wag (syllabication)

t-um-a-ta-wag (calling)

In the Batangan dialect however, this form is done by attaching the prefix na- to the word.

Example 1:

root word: kain (to eat)

ka-in (syllabication)

nakain (eating)

Example 2:

root word: tawag (to call)

ta-wag (syllabication)

natawag (calling)

This conjugation of the verb becomes funny because as mentioned above, Manileos would hear it as
the passive past tense. When someone asks "Nasaan si Pedro?" ("Where is Pedro?"), one might
answer "Nakain ng isda," which in Batangan translates as "He's eating fish." However, to those unfamiliar
with this kind of usage, the statement would mean "He was eaten by a fish." (Just imagine how big the
fish must be.)

Also, stand alone verbs ending in -an bencomes -si, especially in the command form. However, when
another word is put after it, Batangueos would revert to the use of the -an form.

Example 1:

Person A: May kumakatok sa pinto. (Someone is knocking at the door.)

Person B: Aba'y, buksi! (Then open it!)

However:

Person A: May kumakatok sa pinto.

Person B: Aba'y, buksan mo!

One could also notice the use of the absolute degree of an adjective, something that is not heard
anywhere else. It is roughtly the equivalent to the use of "issimo" or "issima" in the Spanish and Italian
languages, something absent in the other dialects. This is done by putting pagka- in front of the word.

Example 1:

Pagkaganda pala ng anak ng mag-asawang are ah!

The child of this couple is indeed beautiful!

Example 2:

Pagkatagal mo ba.

You move so slow.

Another noticeable characteristic of the Batangan dialect is the use of the dual number for pronouns.
Although this hasn't completely disappeared in some other areas, this form is almost never used in the
Manila dialect.

Example 1:

(Batangan Tagalog) Kita na! (Let's go!)

(Manila Tagalog) Tayo na!

Example 2:

(Batangan Tagalog) Buksan mo nga ang telebisyon nata. (Please open our TV.)

(Manila Tagalog) Buksan mo nga ang telebisyon natin.

This grammar structure is a remnant of the ancient Tagalog grammar that persisted with very little
change in the province for centuries.

Also, intonations more often than not tend to rise, especially to express extreme emotions.

Phonology

Another noticeable trait is the usage of the closed syllable, a practice that has completely disappeared in
the Manila dialect. The town of Tanauan is actually pronounced [tan-'a-wan] whereas it would be
pronounced as [ta-'na-wan] by other Tagalogs. This is also true with words like "matamis", pronounced
"matam-is".

Also, as mentioned above, the dialect spoken in Batangas is more closely related to the ancient Tagalog.
Thus the merger of the phonemes [e] and [i] and the phonemes [o] and [u] are prevalent. Also absent in
other dialects is the use of the 'shcwa' sound. This is simply because the Batangas dialect is spoken faster
compared to other dialects.

The use of the sounds [ei] and [ow] is prevalent. However, unlike its English counterpart, this diphthong
is sounded mainly on the first vowel and very rapidly only on the second. This is very similar to the [e] in
the Spanish word "educacin" and the first [o] in the Italian word "Antonio".

Vocabulary

Locative adjectives are ire or are (this) and rine or dine (here).

Vocabulary is also divergent. Funnily enough, the Batangueo dialect has more translations for the word
'slip', depending on how the person falls. He may either be nadulas (simply slipped), nagtingkuro (lost
his balance), or worse, nagsungaba (fall on his face.)

People from Manila are also often confused why a student comes home when it's not yet time, when the
teachers earlier announced that they would have to go to school. The student will just answer, "May
pasok, pero walang klase." This simply means that they would have to go to school and have their
attendance checked but there is really no class to attend.

To the confusion of other Tagalog speakers, the Batangueos also use the phrase, "Hindi po ako
nagyayabang!" to mean "I am not telling a lie!", whereas Manileos would simply say "Hindi po ako
nagsisinungaling!". For them, the former statement means, "I am not boasting!"

A panday is a handyman in Batangas whereas it means a smith in Manila. An apaw is mute (pipi in
Manila). La-ang is equivalent to lamang (only) in Manila. And when they don't believe you, they would
exclaim "anlaa!"'

(for more of the Batangas vocabulary you could refer to [Link]

Respectful language

Though it has largely disappeared in the Manila usage, the Batanguos still use the plural forms of the
pronouns to show politeness. Normally, this is used to show respect to one who has authority either by
age or by position. Batangueos have a choice to either use to second-person plural or third-person
plural to show this respect.

Example 1:

Case: Someone is knocking at the door and you want to know who the person is.

[Manila Tagalog] Sino iyan? (Who is that?)

[Batangan Tagalog] Sino sila? (Who are they?)

Example 2:
Case: You pass an older person who is a family friend.

[Manila Tagalog] Kumusta na po? (wherein the particle po is the signifier of respect)

[Batangan Tagalog] Kumusta na po kayo? or Kumusta na po sila? (wherein kayo and sila are the second
and third person personal pronouns, respectively)

But the use of the plural form is not limited to those of lower ranks. Those of authority is also expected
to use this pluralisatrion, this time by using the first person plural "tayo", which functions like the "royal
we".

This usage is very common for government officials or those who hold an important position over a
certain territory like a priest or a bishop.

And of course, one cannot belittle the use of "po" and "opo" to show respect. However, the Batangueos
tend to replace this with "ho" and "oho", a typical morphophonemic change. Nevertheless, Batangueos
also understand and appreciate if you use the "po" and "opo" variant of the other Tagalog regions.

Languages other than Tagalog

Although much can be said about the way a Batangueo speaks his Tagalog, the high literacy rate of the
locals means English is also widely spoken in the province. Spanish is also understood up to some extent.
In fact, some towns like Nasugbu and Lemery still have a significant minority of Spanish
speakers. Visayan is also spoken by a significant minority due to the infulx of migration from the
Southern Philippines.

Examples of Batangan vocabulary

Abuhan -- Wood Stove

Ala (or Ala eh) --then... (as in conclusion )

Algagahumat-- unnecessary stuffs (collections, etc)

Anlaa! -- An expression of disbelief

Anlarakas -- extra stuff; unnecessary stuff

Apanas -- Small red ants

Apaw -- (accent on the first syllable) full; ex. apaw na baso (filled glass)

Apaw -- (accent on the second syllable) mute

Apuyan -- Matches
Ardaba -- Padlock

Are -- This

Asbag -- Egoistic

Asbar -- To be hit by parents

Aspike -- To be hit relentlessly by parents

Away -- A fight

Babag -- Fight

Bagting -- String used for marking

Bagul -- penny

Bahaw -- Rice that has already gone cold

Bakas -- Share in food or property

Baksa -- A small scarf used by scouts

Balagbag -- In the most awkward position

Balagwit -- To carry something very heavy using bamboo sticks put above the shoulders

Balisbisan -- House perimeter

Baliw -- Fierce (as in a fierce dog); note that this word means "insane" in Manila

Banas -- Humid weather

Banaw -- Batangas shandy made by mixing wine and local lemons

Bang-aw -- Mad dog or fool person

Baraka -- Market day, generally Saturday

Barako -- Brave

Barik -- To drink liquior

Barog -- To wrestle

Basaysay -- House
Bastag -- One of the two numbers one must bet for jueteng

Baysanan -- A wedding ceremony

Bihasa -- Expert

Biling -- Directionally confused

Biloy -- Dimples

Binit -- Slingshot

Bugok -- Rotten eggs

Bulak or Sulak -- To boil

Bukana -- Entry; ex. bukana ng (mouth of the cave)

Bulanglang -- A way of cooking meat using the water from the rice wash

Buntal -- Moderate hitting by parents

Burbur -- Something eaten with the lihiya ricecake

Busa -- A local sweets, rice pops

Busilig -- Eyes

Dag-im -- Cumulus clouds, dark sky

Dagok -- To hit from behind (especially the back)

Damusak -- Mess up real bad

Dawit -- Finger wrestling using the middle finger

Dine (or rine) -- Here

Dito -- another word for dine, which also means here

Dukwang -- To peep outside the window with almost half of your body

Dumalaga -- A chicken which is soon to be a mother hen

Gahol -- Lack of time

Gawa (ng) -- Because; note that this means "made of" in Manila meaning

Giliran -- A dipper for bathroom use

Gugo -- Shampoo; generally refers to something made from coconut bark used for washing ones hair
during early times.

Gulok -- Filipino katana

Guyam -- Small ant

Ga -- A question particle, equivalent of ba in Manila or baga in other dialects

Ganire -- Like this!

Gawi -- Manner

Gay-on -- Like that! ex. Gay-ong gawi po lamang. (In that manner, please.)

Habi -- get out of the way

Hantik -- A big ant

Halika -- to come

Hawot (in full: tuyong hawot) -- Dried fish

Hiyip -- A tube used to blow soots out of an old earthen stove

Hikap -- Vagabond

Huho -- to pour turning the container upside-down

Humba -- Left over from a festivity

Huli -- Senile

Hunta -- A small talk with someone

Imis -- To clean

Ineng -- A sweet pet name for a young girl

Ipud-ipod -- To move
Ire -- This

Kahanggan -- Neighborhood, neighbors

Kalis -- Limbs, reach

Kalamaghati -- Coconut jam

Kalamunding -- Calamansi

Kalpe -- Wallet

Kampag -- Awkward, slow

Kaputa -- a celebration or event that is half-done

Karibok -- Minor mayhem

Kasaw -- Scrambled eggs

Kasilyas -- Toilet

Kawa -- A big cauldron

Kibal -- String beans

Kitse or Tapon -- Cork

Kuloong -- Deep well

Kutal -- A very heavily soiled piece of cloth

La-ang -- Only (equivalent of lamang in Manila)

Lakit -- dark sky

Lamira -- Mess up something, like food

Lako -- To peddle

Libag -- Body dirt

Liban -- To cross the street

Liban -- Absent
Lintik -- Lightning, but has become a curse word

Lipana -- Prevalent

Lipol -- To annihilate

Liting -- A string

Lublob -- To soak in water

Luklok -- To sit

Maas -- Stupid

Malimit -- Often

Mamitig -- To have cramps

Mamulong -- Part of courtship when a man formally asks a woman's parents for permission to marry

Mangimay -- To lose sensation (like the feeling when anaesthesia is applied)

Manlilipa -- Red ants with really nasty bites

Manggagaltang-- Arboreal red ant

Maunti -- Small

Minandal -- Afternoon snack

Mura -- To be scolded; also interpreted as cheap price

Nagawi -- To be accidentally somewhere, ex. Bakit ka ga nagawi rine? (What brought you here?)

Nuno -- Ancestors; also a mythical being believed to reside in anthills

Pagakpak -- Motorbike

Pagka -- If (kapag in Manila)

Panday -- Handyman

Patak -- fall (papatak - will fall)

Patikar -- To run

Patuto -- Lot/land boundary

Perper -- Cut firewood into pieces

Pihol -- To turn

Pilansik or Tilamsik -- To squirt

Pirme -- Always

Pulangga -- A kind of bird

Pusit -- A small bird; usually hummingbirds

Salta -- To climb, to arrive

Salikungkung-- A simple kite

Samlang -- One who works or eats unneatly

Sibi -- A temporary table set for festivities

Simbar -- To target from a birds eye view

Sinturis or Sintunis -- A citrus fruit

Sipit -- Tongs

Sipol -- To whistle

Sumba -- Something put into the back of a kite for it to fly higher/hum like a plane

Sungaba -- Fall flat on the face

Sutil -- Stubborn

Sya na! -- Enough! or Alright!

Taking -- A young boy

Tagay -- A young girl

Talsik -- To be thrown
Tangwa -- The edge, especially where someone or something can fall

Tari' -- A wedge attached to the claws of a cock for the cockfight

Tiping -- A kind of bread

Tubog -- A stream

Tukil -- Bamboo node cut for utility

Tuklong -- A chapel

Tulad' -- To copy, as in homework

Tulyase or Talyase -- Something like a kawa but of bigger scale

Turok/Turol -- Male erection

Tubal -- Dirty clothes

Ulbo -- Pig pen made of square bamboo pile

Umay -- To get sick of a particular food or activity

Umis -- Smile

Usngal -- Misplaced tooth

Utoy -- A pet name for a young boy

Uyayi -- Lullaby, also a suspended cradle

Wari -- To ones understanding

Yabang -- To tell a lie

Mythology and literature

According to scholars, the mythology of Batangas is closely related to the mythology of the Oaxacan
Tribe of Mexico. A clear proof is the presence of stories "Why the Firefly is Noisy" and "The Race of the
Carabao and the Tortoise", which both have counterparts in Mexico.

Ancient Batangueos, like the rest of the Tagalog Tribe, worshiped the supreme creator known
as Bathala. Lesser gods like Mayari, the goddess of the Moon, and her brother Apolake, god of the sun,
were also present. And although people would not easily connect it with mythology, the Northeast
Monsoon is still called Amihan, while the Southwest Monsoon is called Habagat.

In the field of literature, Padre Vicente Garcia came to be known when he wrote an essay to defend Jos
Rizal's Noli Me Tangere.

In 2004, the Province of Batangas gave Domingo Landicho (familiarly called Inggo be Batangueos) the
Dangal ng Batangas Award for being the "Peoples' Poet". He, together with Ambassador Lauro Baja,
former Executive Secretary Renato de Villa, Current Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Supreme
Court Justice Renato Corona, and Transport Secretary Leandro Mendoza, received the award in a
ceremony which highlighted the celebration of the 423rd anniversary of the founding of the province.

Music

See Filipino folk music for full discussion.

Musicologists identified Batangas as the origin of the kumintang, an ancient war song which later
evolved into kundiman. From the ancient kumintang, another vocal music emerged, known as the awit.
The huluna, a psalm-like lullaby, is also famous in some towns, especially Bauan. And during the Lenten
Season, the Christian passion-narrative, called Pasyon by the natives, is expected in every corner of the
province.

Debates may also be done while singing. While those from the province of Bulacan are known for
their Balagatasan, Batangueos are famous for the duplo (a sung debate where each lines of the verse
must be octosyllabic) and the karagatan (a sung dabate where each lines of the verse must be
dodecasyllabic.) The latter got its name (literally "ocean") from its opening lines -- the karagatan always
opens with some verses that allude to the depth of the sea and comparing it to the difficulty of joining
the debate.

Batangas is also the origin of the Balitao (although Cebuanos may argue). Aside from being a form of
vocal music, it is also a form of dance music. The Balitao, together with the Subli, is the most famous
form of dance native to Batangas.

In the field of serious music, no one can underestimate the contribution of Batangas. Batangas is the
birthplace of the famous Filipino soprano Conching Rosal, dubbed as the First Lady of the Philippine
operatic stage. Lorenzo Ilustre, a local composer, also became famous for his wide array of religious and
liturgical music.

Maestro of Philippine Music Ryan Cayabyab is also a Batangueo, whose mother Celerina Pujante was a
sought-after operatic soprano in the 1950's, about the same time as Rosal. Ogie Alcasid, known to fans
as Mr. Composer, also hails from this province.

The Batanguea
The Batanguea is the subject of numerous traditional songs from Batangas. Perhaps the most famous of
all is Princesa ng Kumintang, which tells about the pursuit of a very beautiful woman. The singer sings:

Kay ganda mo hirang, Princesa ng Kumintang!

(How lovely art thou, my Dear, Princess of the Kumintang!)

Sa ala-ala ko ay di ka mapaparam.

(In my memory, thou canst never be effaced.)

Sa kalungkutan ko'y tanglaw ka ng aking buhay,

(To my sorrow, thou art the guiding life of life,)

Ang iyong pagsinta'y langit ko, Princesa ng Kumintang!

(Thine love is my heaven, Princess of the Kumintang!)

Another song, the Mutyang Batangas, says that she is a pearl who is as beautiful as the rose and whose
love is pure. However, she hates a lazy man who always gambles and drinks, because this would mean
that she will be a battered wife. In the second part of the song, the singer says that you cannot easily
fool her. She may appear dainty but she's fearless if she needs to protect her purity. The lyrics go like
this:

Ang Mutyang Batangas, sing-ganda ng Rosas

(The Pearl of Batangas, as lovely as the Rose)

Pag-ibig sa puso niya ay wagas

(The love of her heart is pure.)

Then the lady replies what she hates from a man:

Ayaw na ayaw ko sa lalaking tamad, sugarol at lasinggero at nambubugbog

(Oh! Indeed I detest a man who is lazy, a gambler, a drunkard and a batterer)

Pagdating sa kanila, pabalibaligtad, ang pobreng asawa ang siyang binababag

(When he comes home, he justs lies on the floor, and the poor wife is battered)

Then the singer sings of her virtues again saying:

Ngunit ang mga Mutyang Taga-Batangas, di maloloko ng ganyan

(However, the Pearl from Batangas is not easiliy fooled)

Mahinhin ngunit Ay! Matapang sa pagtatanggol sa karangalan.

(She is dainty but she is also fearless in defending her honor.)

On the other hand, the song simply entitled Batanguea says that should a man want to find happiness,
he would simply has to choose a Batanguea for a wife. This is because she is always dainty and would
be with you no matter how hard life becomes. The song goes on to say that her smiles would bring you
hope, she's a beautiful pearl, who loves purely. She is likened to a bright star, even though her heart is
breaking. However, the common warning is that you must be careful not to make a fool of her or you'll
end up with trouble.

Batanguea, Mutyang Marilag, sa pagsuyo ang puso'y tapat

(Batanguea, a beautiful pearl, her heart is true for the one she loves)

Katulad niya'y talang nagniningning, kahit na ang puso ay naninimdim

(She is like a star shining brightly even though her heart is breaking)

Lagi nang may panghalina sa pagsinta

(Always has she a charm for lovers)

Kung ang hanap mo ay ligaya umibig na sa Babaeng Batanguea

(If it is bliss that you are searching for, go on be a lover to the Batanguea)

Ngunit huwag kang magkakasala, magsalawahan at mapapahamak ka

(However, don't you dare sin against her, be an adulterer and you will soon be in trouble)

May taglay na hinhin sa twina at matiisin kahit na nagdurusa

(Forever is she sweet-mannered and she'll not complain even if she's having pain in her heart)

May ngiti ng sigla at pag-asa, yan ang dalagang Batanguea

(A smile and hope she'll have forever, that is the Batanguea maiden)

During the ancient times, a form of government called gynecocracy was believed to be prevalent in
Batangas. Women had equal rights to succession should there be no male to lead the clan. This practice
is clearly seen until now, wherein strong family clans tend to be more matriarchal in character.

Today, the wife of the town or city mayor is called the "mayora". And whenever the mayor is not around,
the mayora is often expected to do his duties.

Architecture and sculpture

Along with Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Batangas has the best preserved colonial architecture in the country.
This is very evident when one visits the municipality of Taal.

Though not as popular as the carving industry of Laguna, Batangas is still famous for its sculpture and
engraved furniture. Often, altar tables coming from Batangas were called the friars' choice because of
their delicate beauty.

According to Milagros Covvarubias-Jamir, another Filipino scholar, the furniture that came from Batangas
during colonial times was comparable to the beautiful furniture from China. The build of the furniture
was so exquisite, nails or glue were never used. Still, the Batangueos knew how to maximize the use of
hardwoods. As a result, furniture made about a hundred years ago are still found in many old churches
and houses even today.

Museums and tourist information

Apolinario Shrine *

Marcela Agoncillo Historical

Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas Landmark, Taal, Batanags

Miguel Malvar Hospital *

Leon Apacible Historical Landmark

Sto. Tomas, Batangas Taal, Batangas

Museo ng Batangas at Aklatang Panlalawigan

Dr. Jose P. Laurel Library,

Batangas City Tanauan, Batangas

Batangas Tourism Office

Batangas Museum and Provincial Library Bldg.,

Batangas City 4200, Tel. No.: (63-43) 723-0130

Office of the Governor

2nd Floor, Provincial Capitol Bldg., Batangas City 4200

Tel. No.: (63-43) 723-1905, Fax (63-43) 723-1338

Products
The world
famous balisong from batangas.

More than any other product,

Batangas is known for its fan
knife, called balisong by the
natives. This industry has
become so famous that
according to urban legend,
every Batangueo carrys
a balisong everywhere he goes.
This is also the reason why most
Filipinos would warn you never
to mess with a Batangueo.

Pineapples are also common in

the province. Aside from the
fruit, the leaves are an industry of their own. In the municipality of Taal, pineapple leaves are processed
into a kind of cloth known as the gusi. This is further processed to become the Barong Tagalog, the
National Male Costume of the Philippines. In fact, the Barong Tagalogs that were used by the heads of
states in the last APEC Summit in 1995 were from Batangas. Princess Diana was also known to posses a
scarf made of gusi.

Batangas is also known for its livestock industry. Cattle from Batangas is widely sought throughout the
country. In fact, the term "Bakang Batangas" (Batangas cow) is actually synonymous with the country's
best species of cattle. Indeed, the cattle industry in Batangas is so famous that every Saturday is an
auction day in the municipalities of San Juan and Bauan.

Being near the sea, it is to be expected that fishing plays a very important part of the Batangan economy.
Although the tuna industry in the country is mainly centred in General Santos City, Batangas is also
known for the smaller species of the said fish. The locals even have their own names for the said fish.
Some of them include the tambakol (bigeye tuna), tulingan (Pacific bluefin tuna), and other species also
called bonito (but actually the Gymnosarda unicolor). There is also an important industry for the tanigue.

Taal Lake is home to tawilis, a species of freshwater sardine that is endemic to the lake. It also provides
farmed Chanos chanos or bangus. There is also a good volume of tilapia. It is ecologically important to
note that neither bangus nor tilapia are native to the lake. Thus they are considered invasive species.
As mentioned, Batangueos are indeed fond of drinking. This is of no surprise as the province lies on
what is called the "coconut belt" with an abundance of the raw material for the local
liquors lambanog (with 90% proof) and tuba (made of 5.68% alcohol and 13% sugar).

Sugar is also a major industry. After the Hacienda Luisita, the country's former largest sugar producer,
was broken up for land reform, the municipality of Nasugbu has become the home of the current largest
sugar producing company, the Central Azucarera Don Pedro. This also means that Batangas is home to a
bustling industry for sweets. Rice cakes are also common.

Although Batangas has already lost its distinction as Asia's largest producer of coffee, this industry is still
thriving, especially with the boost of coffee shops all over the country.

Blankets and mosquito nets are also widely available in the province.

The capital, Batangas City, hosts the second most important international seaport in Luzon. Second only
to the Manila International Port, Batangas International Port is a primary entry point of goods not only
coming from the southern part of the country but from everywhere in the world.

Geography

Political

Together with the provinces in the Island of Panay, Ilocos Sur and Pampanga, Batangas was one of the
earliest encomiendas made by the Spaniards who settled in the country. It was headed by Martin de
Goiti and has since become one of the most important centres of the Philippines. Batangas first came to
be known as Bonbon. It was named after the mystical and fascinating Taal Lake, which was also originally
called Bonbon. Some of the earliest settlements in Batangas were established at the vicinity of Taal Lake.
In 1534, Batangas became the one of the first organized provinces in Luzon. Balayan was the capital of
the province for 135 years from 1597-1732. In 1732, it was moved to Taal, then the most flourishing and
progressive town in the province.

In 1889, what was then the Town of Batangas became the Philippine's 8th city, thus making it one of the
oldest cities on the islands.

Batangas is also known as the "Cradle of Noble Heroes", giving homage not only to the revolutionary
heroes it produced but the statesmen the came to lead the country. Among the luminaries of Batangas
politics are Jose Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Apolinario Mabini, Miguel Malvar, Felipe Agoncillo and
Don Apolinario Apacible.

Current officials

Governor: Vilma Santos

Vice Governor: Ricky Recto

 Board Members: Consuelo Malabanan; Benjamin Bausas; Sergio Atienza; Godofredo Berberabe
Jr.; Florencio de Loyola; Rodolfo Balba; Cecilio Hernandez; Jose Antonio "Mark" Leviste II;
Rowena Sombrano-Africa; Lianda Brucal-Bolilia

Cities and municipalities

Populatio
City/Municipali No. of Area
n
ty Barangays (km)
(2000)

20p
Agoncillo
x

20p
Alitagtag
x

20p
Balayan
x

20p
Balete
x

Batangas City

20p
Bauan 40
x

20p
Calaca
x

20p
Calatagan
x
20p
Cuenca
x

20p
Ibaan
x

20p
Laurel
x

20p
Lemery
x

20p
Lian
x

20p
Lipa City 72
x

20p
Lobo
x

20p
Mabini
x

20p
Malvar
x

20p Mataas Na
x Kahoy

347
20p 276.3
Nasugbu 42 96,113 persons
x 3 km
/ km

20p
Padre Garcia 18
x
20p
Rosario
x

20p
San Jose
x

20p
San Juan
x

20p
San Luis
x

20p
San Nicolas
x

20p
San Pascual
x

20p
Santa Teresita
x

20p
Santo Tomas
x

20p
Taal
x

20p
Talisay
x

20p
Tanauan City
x

20p
Taysan
x
 20p
Tingloy
x

20p
Tuy
x

Physical

Batangas is a combination of plains and mountains. Not to mention the wide shoreline, being at the
southwest of the Philippines' biggest island. It is fitting that the writers of yore called it the "land of the
rolling hills and wide shorelands".

One the most famous mountains in the country is the world's smallest volcano, Mt. Taal with an
elevation of 600 meters. It is at the centre of the Taal Lake, famous for its endemic fish, the tawilis.

Other important peaks are Mt. Makulot with an elevation of 609.6m, Mt. Talamitan with 700m, Mt. Pico
de Loro with 664m, Mt. Batulao with 811m, Mt. Manabo with 830m, and Mt. Daguldol with 672m. All of
these mountains are considered level 1 mountains, meaning one can easily climb them with little
training.

Batangas is also known for its many islands, which include the municipality of Tingloy, Fortune Island in
Nasugbu, and Sombrero Island in Mabini. And of course, Mt. Taal itself is an island.

Flora and fauna

Although attached to the big island of Luzon, Batangas boasts of many of its own unique flora and fauna.
The local tree malabayabas is endemic to the province alone while the endangered flying fox thrives
there without fear. Batangas is also home to the kabag, one of the world's smallest fruit bats.
In Nasugbu, wild deer still inhabit the remote areas of Barangay Looc.

Apart from these land mammals, marine wildlife seem to be the province's crowning glory. In fact, in the
second half of 2006, scientists from the United States discovered that the Sulu-Sulawesi Triangle has its
center at the Isla Verde Passage, a part of the province. According to this study made by the American
marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpentier, Batangas seas host more than half of the world's species of coral
reefs. It is also home to dolphins and occasionally the world's biggest fish, the whale
shark or butanding. San Juan has a resident sea turtle or pawikan population. Sea turtles were also
prevalent in Nasugbu during the 1970s. Due to overhunting, the provincial government passed a law
prohibiting the killing of this marine reptile.

History
Prehistoric Batangan

Long before the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines, large centers of population already thrived in
Batangas. Native settlements lined the Pansipit River, a major waterway. The province had been trading
with the Chinese since Yuan Dynasty until first phase of Ming Dynasty in the 13th and 15th centuries.
Inhabitants of the province were also trading with Japan and India.

The present Batangueos are descendants of the Bornean datus, Datu Dumangsil and Datu Balensusa,
who sailed from Borneo to Panay Island as far as Taal Lake. They organized the first Malay settlement at
the mouth of Taal River. They eventually set up their own settlement in the place and founded the town
of Taal in 1572. The towns of Balayan, Lipa, and Batangas were founded later.

Archeological findings show that even before the settlement of the Spaniards in the country,
the Tagalogs, especially the Batangueos, had a very high level of civilization. This was shown by some
jewelry, made from a chambered nautilus shell, where some tiny holes were drilled by some tube. The
way it was drilled shows that early Batangueos has an idea of what is beautiful.

Later, the prehistoric Batangueos was influenced by India as shown in some ancient potteries. In fact, a
Buddhist image was moulded in bas-relief on a clay pot from Calatagan. According to experts, the image
on the pot strongly resembles the iconographic portrayal of Buddha in Siam, India and Nepal. The pot
shows Buddha Amithaba in the tribhanga pose inside an oval nimbus. Scholars also noted that there is a
strong Mahayanic orientation in the image, since the Boddhisattva Avalokitesvara was also depicted.

In January 1941, 2 crude stone figures were found in Palapat, Calatagan. These were later donated to
the National Museum. Unfortunately, one of them was destroyed during World War II.

Eighteen years later, a grave was excavated in the nearby Punta Buaya. Once again, it showed that early
Batangueos had an appreciation of art, since pieces of brain coral were carved behind the heads of the
12 remains that were found. The site was named "Likha" (meaning "creature"). The remains were
accompanied by furniture that could be traced to as early as the 14th century. Potteries as well as
bracelets, stoneware and metal objects were also found in the area, suggesting that the people who
lived there had extensive contact with people from as far as China.

The presence of these objects suggested that prehistoric Batangaueos believed in the idea of life after
death, where the deceased person might need a plate or chalices for eating or drinking. This also
connected the Batangueos to other Asian cultures, where it was a custom to bury furniture with the
dead.

Like the nearby tribes, the early Batanueos were non-aggressive people. Partly because most of the
tribes in the immediate environs were related to them by blood. However, when they had no choice but
to take up arms, Batangans would use the bakyang (bows and arrows), the bangkaw (spears) and
the suwan (bolo).
Another proof of civilization from the Batangans was the presence of religion. Though it was highly
superstitious, such as the use of amuret (witchcraft), it showed a belief in higher beings and other things
unseen, and thus a strong connection between humans and nature.

Although it is widely accepted that the term Tagalog came from the word "taga-ilog" or river dwellers (in
reference to the Pasig River), Wang The-Ming points out in his writings that Batangas was the real center
of the Tagalog tribe, which he then identified as "Ma-yi". According Chinese annals, Ma-yi had its center
in the province and extends to as far
as Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Bataan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Nueva Ecija, some parts of Zambales,
and Tarlac. However, many historians interchangeably use the term Tagalog and Batangueo.

Henry Otley Beyer, an American archaeologist, also showed in his studies that early Batangueos had a
special affinity with jade. In fact, he named the Late Paleolithic Period of the Philippines as the "Batangas
Period" in recognition of the large quantities of jade found in the excavarted caves in the province.
According to Beyer, the jade-cult reached the Province as early as the year 800 BC and lasted until 200
BC.

Spanish colonization

In 1570, Spanish generals Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo explored the coast of Batangas on their
way to Manila and came upon a Malay settlement at the mouth of Pansipit River. In 1572, the town
of Taal was founded and its convent and stone church were constructed later.

Batangas was founded in 1581. Originally, it was composed of the present provinces of
Batangas, Mindoro, Marinduque, southeast Laguna and Camarines. After several devastating eruptions
of Taal Volcano, the old Taal town site was buried. The capital was eventually transferred to Batangas
(now a city) in 1754 where it has remained to date.

The first missionaries in the diocese were the Augustinians, and they remained until the revolution
against Spain. Among the first missionaries were eminent men like Alfonso de Albuquerque, Diego
Espinas, Juan de Montojo and others. The first centers of faith were established in Taal, then in Balayan,
Bauan, Lipa, Sala, Tanauan, all around the lake of Bombon (Taal). During the first ten years of their
mission, the whole region around the lake of Bombon was completely Christianized. It was done through
the preaching of men who had learned the first rudiments of the language of the people. At the same
time they started writing manuals of devotion in Tagalog. They also wrote the first Tagalog grammar that
served other missionaries who came.

The year of foundation of important parishes follows: in 1572 the Taal parish was founded by the
Augustinians; in 1581, the Batangas parish under Fray Diego Mexica; in 1596 Bauan parish by the
Augustinian missionaries; in 1605 Lipa parish, also under the Augustinians; in 1774 Balayan parish; 1852
Nasugbu parish; and 1868 Lemery parish.

Batangas was also among the first of the eight Philippine provinces to revolt against Spain and also one
of the provinces placed under Martial Law by Spanish Governor General Ramon Blanco on August
30, 1896. This event was given distinction when Marcela Agoncillo, also a native of the province, made
the Philippine flag. Indeed, the official Philippine flag has a sun with eight rays to represent these eight
provinces.

Another notable hero from this era is Apolinario Mabini, also known as the "sublime paralytic" and
"Brains of the Revolution".

American colonization

When the Americans forbade the Philippine flag from being flown anywhere in the country, Batangas
was one of the places where the revolutionaries chose to propagate their propaganda. Many
revolutionary artists performed their plays in Batangas. In an incident recorded by Amelia Bonifacio in
her diary, the performance of Tanikalang Ginto in the province led not only to the arrest of the company
but all of the audience. Later, the play was banned from being shown anywhere in the country.

General Miguel Malvar is recognized as the last Filipino general to surrender to US forces in
the Philippine-American War.

Post-American period

After the Philippines was freed from the US, statesmen from Batangas became famous in the
government. These include legislators Felipe Agoncillo, Galicano Apacible (who later became the
Secretary of Agriculture), Ramon Diokno, Apolinario Apacible, Espedito Leviste, Gregorio
Katigbak, Teodoro Kalaw, Claro M. Recto, and Jose Laurel.

When Quezon left the Philippines during the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese government in the
Philippines chose Batangueo Jose Laurel to be the de jure president of the Puppet Republic.

Aquino to Estrada

When Corazon Aquino took office as president in 1985, her vice-president was Batangueo Salvador
Laurel.

She also appointed Renato de Villa as the Chief of Constabulary and Director-General of the Integrated
National Police, and later the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was under his
leadership that the military remained loyal to Aquino despite the many coup d'etat attempts of Gregorio
Honasan. He was also one of the influences behind the second People Power uprising in 2001.

President Joseph Estrada also chose four Batangueos to be his closest advisers: Domingo Panganiban
(Department of Agriculture), Benjamin Diokno (Department of Budget and Management), Dong Apacible
(Legislative Liaison), Tony "Lepili" Leviste (Board of Investments Governor), and Ped Faytaren (Economic
Intelligence Chief). This is not to mention Dennis Hernandez, special assistant to Alfredo "Dirty Harry"
Lim of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
After Estrada was expelled from office, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced him and chose De Villa as her
Executive Secretary. He was replaced by Eduardo Ermita, another Batangueo, whom she first appointed
as Secretary of the Department of National Defense.

Three other Batangueos were in the original Arroyo cabinet, namely Noel Cabrera from the Office of
the Press Secretary, Renato Corona who was the Presidential Spokesman then later became a Supreme
Court Justice, and Hernando Perez who was the Secretary of the Department of Justice.

Leandro Mendoza, who was also chief of the Philippine National Police, was appointed Secretary of the
Department of Transportation and Communication upon his retirement, while Lauro Baja, former
Undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs was appointed the Philippine Envoy to the United
Nations.

External links

Batangas Now

Batangas Chamber

Government of Nasugbu

Batangas Wikimap

Hotels in Batangas

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