By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
Dajong: sa Kalipay ug Kasakit
In most old towns and barangays, there is what we call as the dajong. It is a community composed of people grouped together to help one another in times of merriment and grief. The members of the dajong activate themselves during wedding celebrations (kumbira), fiestas, and death of a family member. The dajong was a very good support system during those days. This community could be equivalent to the event coordinators and the service providers nowadays.
Dajong sa kalipay
Ang dajong sa kalipay para gyud na sa kumbira ug ubang malipayon nga mga kasaulogan. Sa among panahon, ang pamilya sa lalake, mao gyud ang mugasto sa kasal ug sa kumbira sa kasal. That was the reason that wedding ceremonies and celebrations entailed a lot of planning and preparation.
How did the dajong system work as a community? When there was an event, every member contributed the prescribed amount of money plus 1 ganta of rice. The members were also the ones who prepared the different utensils, tables, decorations, etc. for the wedding celebration Apil na ang: .kaldero, kaha, luwag, ug uban pa. The money that was contributed by every member was used to buy the: baboy ug panakot, aron idugang sa giandam sa mga tagungod nga pagakaslon. And there was always a representative from the family of each member who helped in the different assigned tasks. So we didn’t pay for any coordinator or service provider.
Days before the celebration, everything was prepared: gipilian na gyud ang bugas sa mga tipasi, ug gialigig na kini sa nigo aron walay mga bato-bato ug ginagmay nga itom-itom na masagol sa bugas. If there was a need to borrow plates, the dajong members did the borrowing and the returning of such materials. Pero ug magkulang gyud sa mga sangkap sa selebrasyon, mugamit kami sa bani sa saging isip among plato.
I know of one barangay before, who bought all the materials/equipment needed for any gathering thereby making it easy for everyone to prepare for the preparation and celebration itself.
Dajong sa kasakit
Ang dajong sa kasakit para sa namatyan. How does the community raise the money to pay for the expenses during the wake and the burial? Members had to pay a fixed amount every week in preparation for any eventuality. I am proud to say that the dajong in our barangay is already composed of many members. And this is the oldest among all the dajong in our town. This dajong has been increasing in its members because ang anak sa anka sa anak, mahimo man na miembro sa maong kapunongan. In fact, members of this dajong are residing in other places now like Balilihan, Catigbian, Albur, Sikatuna and Corella kay lagi mga anak man kining maong mga lungsod sa Baclayon.
Before, the dajong members were the ones assigned to prepare the coffin, the burial place, etc. when someone died. Unlike today, when funeral homes are ready for the purpose,
I hope to see our Campo Santo will be like the parks in Paco, Malate and Alabang. I’m mentioning this because their Campo Santo is just across the main doors of the church. Do you know that in our church in Baclayon, the Campo Santo is the plaza of the Baclayon Central Elementary School – just outside the patio? Bones of prominent people in that cemetery are deposited in the posts supporting the choir loft and inside the walls beside such posts. I’m just hoping the marble lapidas will be returned to itheir original place.
