19.MAGALANG TOPONYMS SERIES 3: SAN ILDEFONSO

Mt. Arayat facing at sitio Balitucan

Barrio San Ildefonso is the largest barrio of Magalang. San Ildefonso was one of the original barrios of Magalang since its town proper was still located in San Bartolome or presently known as balen melacuan. When Magalang was transferred to the present site in 1863, San Ildefonso remained as one of the barrios of present Magalang. Some of its territory was seceded to the newly created town of Concepcion. According to some Spanish documents, San Ildefonso was sometimes mentioned as San Yldefonso or San Hildefonso.  However, due to large land area, in 1876, the Spanish government created the barrio San Fulgencio and they carved out from sitios previously belonged to San Ildefonso; Balitucan, Balud and Turu, however, the order was never materialized. San Ildefonso was one of the transient points of Spanish army and Filipino revolutionaries fighting in Camansi in Mt. Arayat during revolution. It also become one of the Huk strongholds during the war and post war periods. San Ildefonso once again turned into insurgency hotbed when the resurgent Huks led by Commanders Alibasbas and Sumulong and their men holed up in San Ildefonso. There are popular stories claimed that Commander Alibasbas was killed and decapitated in sitio Cabayung Sarul Malati. To contain the ongoing insurgency, the Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed troops led by lieutenant and West Point alumnus Fidel V. Ramos. They setup their base at Balitucan Elemenrary School campus. At present, San Ildefonso was one of the important agricultural centers in Magalang. Its land was devoted to cultivation of rice, sugarcane and corn. Some small scale industries was established in this barrio. The patron saint of the barrio is St. Ildefonsus of Toledo; and the feast day is January 23. Due to large territory, San Ildefonso was divided into several large sitios or hamlets and the following names and their origins are mentioned below:

Balibago- this large sitio of San Ildefonso was derived from the Malabago or Balibago tree. This tree was useful in medicine and other handicrafts. The scientific name of this tree is, Hibiscus tliaceus. 

Balitucan- the largest sitio of San Ildefonso. The place name was derived from the word, Bilitug, which means toasted rice or corn kernels. Ibilitug, and Bilitugan means to toast. Bilitugan on the other hand which is means, carajay or toasting pan. 

Balud- this place name was derived from the term Balud, as half-breed Sambal and Negrito; mountain people. This sitio was sometimes called as Balud Maisac. Another possible origin is derived from the word, Balut which is a kind of grass with tangled roots.  

Cabayung Sarul (Malati and Maragul) this term was derived from Kapampangan term, Sarul, which means plow and it with the help of Cabayu; (horses) to plow the land. 

Culcul- another place name of sitio Mapiña, derived from the word, culcul, which means, a hole in a ground, not deep, but like those on the road that is not smooth or plain, level or even. Culculculcul, the place or the road that has many holes or pock-marked with holes. 

Malabug- this term was derived from the Kapampangan word, labug which means, turbid, obscure and muddy. 

Malatumbaga- this place name was derived from the tree specie, Malatumbaga. The wood of this tree is used to make finest furniture and stone houses. The scientific name of this tree is Aglaia harmsiana. Another term is tumbaga which means, a metal similar to copper but harder. This sitio was separated from San Ildefonso in 1969; and it was known today as barrio Escaler. 

Mapiña- or Mapinia, this place name was deived from the term, pinac, which means, marshland, pond or small lake. Pinac, mapipinac, mepinac means marshy but without grass.  

Pasiro- this term was derived from the Kapampangan term, sirul which means, to strike the head with bare knuckles. another term is the corrupt word for sarul, a Kapampangan word for plow. 

Pitabacan- this place name was derived from the Kapampangan term, Tabac which means a bolo or a long knife, pitabacan means a thing slashed with a sweep of bolo or a long knife. This term describing this place at that time was devoted to sugarcane. When they harvest, they will struck the cane using tabac. 

Sua- this place name was derived from a kind of citrus fruit known in Filipino as Lucban or Suha. Pomelo is the general name of this citrus fruit and its scientific name is Citrus hysteria. 

Timbol- this street was located in Balitucan. It was derived from the former land owner of sitio Balitucan. Don Isidoro Timbol. His landholdings was later sold to Don Tomas Dizon, and his grandchildren are the present landowners of Balitucan.

Turu- the place name was derived from the Spanish word toro which means a male cow or bull. Another term is derived from Tiruan and Pepaintuturauan, which means, a direction pointer made of boulder like a weather vane's arrow is pointing. This sitio was separated from San Ildefonso in 1963, and it was named Turu. 

Photo credit: 

Mt. Arayat facing Balitucan; https://mw2.google.com/mw panoramio/photos/medium/15608551.jpg; retrieved: December 17, 2016

References:

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L., The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015), Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts, pages 123, 126, 127, 128, 130 and 131; 2016