Anything under the Sun
Origins of place names (1)
This column will start a series of toponyms (place names) in West Visayas.
After marine creatures:
There are many towns in West Visayas named after marine creatures abundant in the place. In Iloilo, there is Batad – named after a sea shell batad and Oton (originally Ogtong) – after kugtong (a grouper). However, some say the town is named after udtong adlaw (noon).
In Negros Occidental, there is Sagay City – named after another sea shell sigay (cowry).
In Aklan, there is Malay – after a fresh water slow moving fish malay. In Capiz is Ivisan – after ibis, a small fish which when dried is called baringon.
After shrubs:
In Iloilo there are two towns named after shrubs, Banate – from bulubanate and Miagao – from miagos, a herbal plant.
Towns named after pangdan plant are Pandan (Antique) and Pulupandan – pulo sang pangdan (Negros Occidental).
After tubers:
There are towns in West Visayas named after tubers. In Iloilo is Badiangan from badiang. Dingle which came from a kind of clay, was originally Ba-ong from ba-ong – another tuber.
In Capiz, the original name of Pan-ay was Bamban from banban – still another tuber.