Isinulat ito ni Antonio de Morga sa kanyang Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, literally Events in the Philippine Islands, 1609. Isa sa pinakamahalagang panulat tungkol sa kasaysayan ng pananakop ng mga Kastila sa ating bansa.
Sa pagsasalarawan niya stungkol sa kasuotan ng mga katutubo ng Luzon, ito ang sinabi:
"Nagsusuot din sila ng kapirasong may kulay na tela na nakabalot sa paligid ng baywang, at pinapadaan sa pagitan ng dalawang hita, para matakpan ang pribadong mga bahagi, hanggang umabot ito pababa sa mga hita; bahag ang tawag dito. Naglalakad sila ng nakayapak, walang takip ang mga paa, at sa ulo na walang takip, binabalutan nila ng makitid na tela, na tinatawag na potong".
{In describing what were worn by the natives of Luzon before the coming of the Spaniards, Morga wrote:
“ They also wore a strip of colored cloth wrapped about the waist, and passed between the legs, so that it covered the privy parts, reaching half-way down the thigh; these are called bahaques. (bahags) They go with legs bare, feet unshod, and the head uncovered, wrapping a narrow cloth, called potong”.}
'To crown', 'Para Koronahan"
Hinangaan ni Dr. José Rizal ang mga isinulat ni Morga at ini-annotate niya ito, para mabigyan ng higit na paliwanag ang mga naisulat na. Natapos ito ng dakilang bayani natin a Paris noong 1890. Ipinaliwanag ni Rizal kung ano yung "potong". ("Putong" na ang ginamit niya sa pagsusulat).
Rizal wrote:
“They wrapped it in different ways, now in the Moro style, like a turban without the top part, now twisted and turned in the manner of the crown of a hat. Those who esteemed themselves valiant let the ends of the cloth, elaborately embroidered, fall down the back to the buttocks.
In the color of the cloth, they showed their chieftaincy, and the device of their undertakings and prowess. No one was allowed to use the red potong until he had killed at least one man. And in order to wear them edged with certain edgings, which were regarded as a crown, they must have killed seven men” (Colin). Even now any Indio is seen to wear the balindang in the manner of the putong. Putong signifies in Tagál, “to crown” or “to wrap anything around the head.”—Rizal.
In Marinduque, where the historic putong (or tubong) has evolved into the practice of performing a happy song-and-dance ritual for a celebrant, an honoree, a special guest, or a family member as a form of thanksgiving.Everyone wishes them the best now and in the days to come.
Te meaning of the Tagalog word has remained the same - four centuries after Morga wrote it. But it has now evolved into a new form, in celebration of the past, present and future.
