Agoncillians Traditions

 Traditons of Agoncillo Batangas

SUBLI

It's not hard to see that the Subli, a ceremonial worship dance popular in Batangas and other parts of Luzon, originated in Alitagtag and Bauan, Batangas. After all, the prayer that runs throughout the hours-long ritual recounts a miracle story involving Alitagtag (then part of Bauan Sur) and its Patron Saint, The Holy Cross. While there aren't enough records to show how the age-old practice spread beyond Alitagtag and into adjacent towns, there's no doubting that Subli is still alive and authentic, particularly in Agoncillo. Unlike the celebratory Subli, which is normally displayed as highlight performances in cultural gatherings, the Agoncillians somehow remained loyal to the core of what could be regarded a community, music-driven prayer and dance.

The first section of the ceremony is similar to the Alitagtag version in that it begins with the beating of the kalatong, an ancient wooden percussion instrument played with two sticks. An hour-long prayer led by a vocalist and backed by a chorus of other members would then take place in front of an altar. This prayer narrates the narrative of a miraculous, water-spouting wood that can only be moved by believers singing and dancing around it. It has been said that this wood was carved into a saint and placed on an altar where dancers and singers pray. 

The following section is where the Agoncillian version becomes distinctive.The chant-like prayers are now accompanied by a lively string section and danced to by male-female partners dressed in Sunday attire. The excellent playing of wooden castanets is also a characteristic feature of this subli. The dance may last for hours, with the women maintaining their elegant movement and the males continuing with their more lively dances accompanied by the continuous rhythmic playing of the castanets. Subli, despite the distractions of today's contemporary lifestyle, remains true and purposeful to the Agoncillians. The practice remains a part of their daily life, demonstrating the people's strong admiration and respect for religion and culture.

PANGINGISDA

Pangingisda (Net Fishing), an age-old skill, is still used in Agoncillo, Batangas today. It is a deep-sea fishing approach that requires a large number of strong-armed individuals to efficiently haul in tons of catch from Taal Lake. Around 5:00 a.m., 15-20 mangingisda (net fishers) board a diesel-powered boat going toward the middle of Taal Lake. They then spread out the hundreds-of-meter-long fish net as the boat moved away from the area where fish began to amass and settle in the nylon trap. The fishermen then draw in the hundreds-of-meter-long line towards the boat in a rhythmical manner. On a good day, net fishers could catch half a ton of tawilis and other fish from Taal's fresh waters.

The day's earnings would be divided evenly between the financier (boat and net owner) and the mangingisda. Because of the rich harvests, the Local Government Unit, in collaboration with the Fishermen's Organization, intends to preserve and bottle tawilis and bangus for local and national distribution.

https://www.agoncillo.gov.ph/about/traditions