Did you know? Planting beliefs in Tarlac

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    In the book Philippine Food & Life, the author Gilda Cordero-Fernando illustrated the planting rituals of Tarlac. The settlesrs were hardy, industrious and determined. "No awan anus, awan lamot." No patience, no food they said. Most of the farmers and the women wove clothes and mats and the succeeding generations continued to do the work begun by the first immigrants and retained the old customs and traditions.

    They had many planting beliefs such as:

  •  The best time to plant is when the moon is bright and the sky is full of stars.
  • Frequent lightning and thunder in May and June presage poor grain in the coming rice and corn harvest, but this can be avoided if it rains immediately before or after All Saints' Day (November 1st).  
  • Sour things should not be eaten when planting palay seedlings or the carabaos will break into the seedbeds.
  • Budding fruits should not be pointed at pregnant women, or they will rot.  
  • Plant root crops or fruit trees with a full stomach so that the yield will be plentiful. 
  •  
  • When planting coconuts, one must carry as many children on one's back as possible so that the nuts will be plentiful.
  • Kamote, sweet potato,  should be planted with no clothes on (naked?) so that the tubers will grow as big as one's arms and legs.  
  • Whoever plants corn, especially a person with missing teeth, should refrain from laughing or the cob will have missing kernels. 
  • When the cow sneezes frequently, rain is believed forthcoming.  If it is not, the farmers go on a procession called libot. It consists of making a round of ricefields with lighted candles, carrying the patron saint.  
  • A novena is made to the Virgin of Manaoag in Pangasinan, a cararag or petition for rain and protection for the crops.  

    These small independent farmers, mostly in the northern towns and barrios, are the backbone of Tarlac. These beliefs may sound a little silly, but they helped shape the province of Tarlac to be a predominantly agricultural economy. It is among the biggest producers of rice and sugarcane with its principal crops being rice, sugarcane, coconut, and corn.

 Sources:

     https://filipinawomensnetwork.org/epahayagan/tarlacs-planting-beliefs

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