Balagasan

Balagasan one of the barangay of Municipality of Boac, province of Marinduque, Philippines. It is 8.15 kilometers away from the town proper. Balagasan was surrounded by mountain and river. The name Balagasan came from the word “Balagas”, which mean a kind of soil with plenty of bolder and easily eroded. When American’s soldier came, the name Balagas was added by a syllable “san”. From that time the name Balagasan was coined.Over century’s different customs, practices and beliefs have been added to their life, creating a unique cultural tradition in every barangay in the province.

Land, Climate and Tourist Spot

Balagasan has a rugged, mountainous landscape and it is frequently used for agricultural purposes. The other side of the Balagasan land was the long river of Boac (Boac River), wherein aquaculture activities cultivated.It has a total land area of 310.4761 sq. km. It will take you to the town proper with a distance of 8.15 km. within 30 mins Depending on the type of vehicle you are riding off.The climate is tropical, with a lowland temperature of 27’C (80’F). Temperature may vary between day and night while, the high and low altitudes than between seasons. It receives rain, like other areas in the Philippines that receives more than 1,780mm (70in) of rain a year. Sometimes typhoon also occurs that causes damage in the agricultural farming.One of the tourist spot in the province was situated at Balagasan. It is the “Talamban Cave”, it is lying at the Talamban range mountain. The front view of the cave is like an entrance door of the church, it was made a white big stones. Many antiques like figurine, plate and others was found inside the cave. It was believe that this cave was the home of early ancestors of Barangay for hiding Spaniard soldiers.

People and Demography

The major dialects use in everyday life was Tagalog. While, English language uses at the social gatherings and other major activities.Religiously, 92% of the population is Roman Catholic, 7% is Iglesia ni Kristo and the remaining 1% was Born Again. Through these, churches for every religions was established and buildThe population of the Balagasan is decreasing slowly because of the family planning method. In 2008 census, the population is 911 while the number of households is 195, and the number of families is 229. There are five major “purok” in Balagasan purok I-V. In purok I, the total household is 33, purok II is 31, purok III is 42, purok IV is 42 and purok V is 47 as of September 2008.

Traditions, Customs, Practices and Beliefs

1. Celebration of Santa Cruzan during May
2. Bayanihan
3. Putungan
4. Dulot sa Pag-Ibigan
5. Padasalan
6. Paninilbihan sa Pag-ibigan
7. Tisod hagdan sa Pag-Ibigan
8. Kasalan
9. Black Rosary
10. Bible Sharing
11. Station of the Cruz during Holy Week
12. Pabulingan during Holy week
13. Kissing the hands of Elders
14. Reunion of family a year
15. Sayawan
16. Hermanahan ng Brgy. Fiesta
17. Turnuhan
18. Kamkam sa pag tanim ng Palay
19. Picnic
20. The use of “po” and “opo” at the elders
21. New year celebration
22. Christmas, and etc.

Beliefs

1. When a glass is broken, it is a sign of bad luck or omen.
2. It is not good to comb one’s hair at night lest the mother/father will have short life.
3. When someone dies, the immediate members of the family forbidden to take bath and pick fruits and vegetables for at least 9 consecutive day death in the family.
4. It is not good to sweep after sunset and at the night. Cause good luck will be away.
5. Wearing dresses with polka dots during New Year is a sign of easy to earn money in the year to come and prosperity occur.
6. When a dog moans or seems to cry at night somebody in the neighborhood will soon die.
7. To meet or see black cat and a giant lizard in one’s trip is a bad omen.
8. Death will come when someone in the family circle dreams of teeth was being pulled out or when he sees fresh meat in his dreams and anyone sees fresh blood without anybody has cut-off.
9. A pregnant women of the husband should not wind a towel around him on his neck, because the wife will encounter difficulties in giving a birth.