[Ilonggo Notes] Ilonggo place names as a window to the past

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Names of places reflect their past histories, significant events, notable personages, unique physical and geographic characteristics, or even linguistic or pronunciation quirks. Formally, the naming of a public place is a prerogative of victors and the powers that be at a particular period in history, and may remain by force of habit, even if the original reasons for the name have long been gone.

The younger generation may no longer recall the original reasons for specific place names, (i.e., the numerous coconut trees (“Kalubihan”) have all been cut down a generation ago, but the name remains.

Unique physical characteristics of the land and bodies of water, its vegetation, are a common source for place names. “Iloilo” comes from “Ilong-ilong,” or a nose-like shape, while “Tabucan” and “Tabuk suba” connote a river crossing of some kind; “across the stream,” as it were. “Ogtong,” the old name of Oton, refers to a school of fish, or a reef.

In the past places after the bridges connecting “La Punta” to Salog/Jaro and Molo/Parian to Mandurriao were both called “Tabucan,” though today, it is only the Mandurriao/Molo part that retains the name. Barangays in the city are named Estanzuela (“ranch”), “Bakhaw /Bakhawan” (mangroves) “Paho” (mango tree) “Sambag” (Tamarind), “Calahunan” (box-like areas, from “kahon” or rice paddies that are rectangular; “Nabitasan” (from nabitas, or something pulled away); and “Dasok” (dense, compressed).

Barangay Danao (flooded area) still occurs in the city despite the construction of canals and drainage, in particular when there is a confluence of high tide and heavy rains. “Baluarte” (fort) is a place in Molo where a fort was located during the spanish era, and “La Granja” in La Paz is where a demonstration farm was located.

Mandurriao’s name origin is said to be from the native word for “suliao” (pottery shop) or from “Manonoliao” (potter). Interestingly, pottery is still being made in Hibao-an, a barangay at the border of Mandurriao and San Miguel Town. “Fundidor” (Foundry/blacksmithing) in Molo, was a place where artisans did metal works — plows, farm implements, and church bells.

Towns outside of Iloilo are also commonly named by locals after plants/trees, according to Fr. Juan Fernandez, OSA in his 1920s Monografias de los Pueblos de Panay (English translation, Espinosa, 2006). These include Tigbauan (from Tigbao, a type of reed); Miag-ao Alimodian, Pototan are also named after plants found in the area. Guimbal is named after a drum; Igbaras, after sand-gathering (“baras”). Ma-asin (Salty) is so named because of a brook not far from the plaza that had salty water.

The late historian and former vice-governor of Iloilo, Demy Sonza, wrote extensively on place names in Western Visayas, as a reflection of both history and legend. He has an engaging series of write-ups, still viewable on his Facebook page.

Devotion to saints in Catholicism is common, reflected in place and street names; in Molo alone, streets are named San Jose, San Mauricio, San Juan, San Antonio, San Pedro, San Marcos. The oldest street in the city is named after a saint: Santo Rosario.

They can also be named after national heroes or prominent residents — politicians, celebrities, judges. Thus there are Arguelles, Arroyo, Aldeguer, Avanceña, J.M. Basa, Blanco, Benedicto, Caram, De La Rama, Delgado, Figueroa, Guanco, Infante, Iznart, Jalandoni, Javellana, Lacson, Ledesma, Lopez, Locsin, Loney, Mapa, Muzones, Pison, Valeria, Ybiernas, or national heroes such as Lopez Jaena, Luna, Rizal, Mabini, del Pilar, Bonifacio and the priestly triumvirate — Gomez, Burgos, Zamora.

Some places were named after towns in Spain, in particular when the governor or the head of the municipio requested it — it reminded them of their own hometowns in Spain — i.e., La Villa de Arevalo, Leon, or Buenavista.

“Mabini” (hero) refers to Apolinario Mabini, a National hero considered the brains of the revolution against Spain. He is portrayed sitting, a reflection of his physical condition. Rumors of his paralysis as due to syphilis have been debunked; yet even now Mabini’s name is sullied with this, and “red light” districts have been named after Mabini.

In Iloilo, up until the ’70s, Mabini street was known as the street where ladies of the night would stand and wait for customers; we’d snicker if someone said they were going to Mabini. Before World War 2, the famed “Folies Bergere” nightclub, with its exotic dancers, was also located in Mabini street. Up to the 90s, Mabini street in Ermita, Manila, also had girlie bars cheek-to-jowl, though that might no longer be the case. I wonder if such bar areas in other Philippine cities are also in a street named after Mabini, with all the innuendo about sex, syphilis and paralysis.

“Hispanization” of names to suit the conventional spanish way of spelling and nomenclature was quite common. To illustrate, “Yrong-Yrong” became “Ylong-Ylong”, then Ylo-ylo, and finally today’s Iloilo. “Molo”, it is said, is a chinese mispronunciation of “Moro”. The Parian (Chinese quarters) is touted to be the birthplace of Hiligaynon, according to Maza; many of the current Hiligaynon words in use owe their origin to Chinese mispronunciations of “r” in the native Kinaray-a.

Some places like streets and parks in Iloilo are relics of the American era. There’s Carpenter and Forbes bridges; and streets named Texas, Washington, and Scott. Then there is Sunburst park, named after an American military company that helped liberate the city from Japanese hands.

One name that’s quite eye-catching but head-scratching is “Esprutinkle” which I see in Antique. I asked around about this and was told, it doesn’t mean anything –it’s just a randomly made-up word which sounds like an infant babbling to itself.

Those Pinoy nicknames!

Filipinos have a way with nicknames, which are very commonly used throughout the islands. Nicknames are an informal, shorter and more easily recalled forms of address, since some full first names can be long and cumbersome. For example, my younger sister is Maria Consuela Martina, but everyone calls her “Tina.”

Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Martir Patricio Clito Ruiz y Picasso is simply known as Pablo Picasso. Cultures with major Catholic influence traditionally named children after Saints, according to the liturgical calendar. Thus girls born near to July 28, the feast of St. Anne, might be named Ana or Ana Maria.

Over two decades ago, Matthew Sutherland, a British journalist, wrote an entertaining piece on Filipino names. He described the “doorbell” names and nicknames, such as Bongbong, Tingting, Ding, DingDong, Kring-kring, Ping ping, Tong tong, etc.

Many Filipinos will add an additional “h” to the way they spell their names. Thus, you have “Behn,” and “Ishmael” as the late directors Behn Cervantes and Ishmael Bernal did, and you have “Bhing Bhing” or “Rhosie” which I suspect, may be a way to sound sophisticated. Other countries have taken note – Nury Vittachi, in the Jakarta Post (2015), calls the country, “land of fanciful monikers.”

Combinations of names are commonly used too. One Justice of the Supreme court, named Ameurfina, is a blend from America, Europe and Filipinas; Luzviminda is from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the three major island groups of the country; while we once had a vice president named Jejomar, from Jesus Mary and Joseph. One senator was even named Heherson.

Combinations of parent names are used; Jose and Maria will have Jomar or Marijo; Celia and Ponciano can name their child Celpon; God forbid though that Lucia and Fernando would name a son “Lucifer.”

Also quite common was calling people after their physical characteristics, pre-PC era. Thus, “kiwi” (crooked, lopsided), “buktot” (hunchback), “pirot” (eyes half shut), “putot” (short), “buang” (crazy), ati (dark skinned), “libat” (cross-eyed), “kalbo” (bald), “agi” (effeminate boy), “sungi” (hare lip), “kumpol” (maimed, crippled) “pango” (flat nose), “pi-ang” (limping) “pit-la” (stutterer) “palong” (prominent ears), or “putyong” (uncircumcised).

Politicians are not spared, one prominent Ilongga was nicknamed “Brenda” (Brain-damaged) and “Rita” (retarded). But naming instills a sense of pride and nationalism. Thus, there are names like Bituin, (Star) Diwata (Goddess), Bulawan (Gold), Bahandi (Treasure), Mutya (pearl, gem), Luwalhati, (glory, radiance) Luningning (Brilliance), Makisig (elegant, dashing), etc.

I suspect that Filipino ingenuity in names may be due to the varied cultural mix, and exposure to different languages — Spanish, English, Chinese, and our own native languages, and aiming to be distinctive, fanciful and unique. – Rappler.com