Anything Under the Sun
Origins of place names (5)
After legend of a snake
Two towns in Negros Occidental were named after a legend of one snake. When Mt. Kanlaon erupted, a large snake came out of its crater and swam down the river to the sea. Near the river mouth, the snake blocked (nagbalabag) the flow of the water. However, another story states that in the port of Binalbagan, there were many ironsmiths who were hammering (balbag) the iron into the ship's parts. These are stories about the origin of Binalbagan.
The same snake simply passed (ligaran) a place called Talisay – from talisay trees. So, the name of the place was changed to Hinigaran.
However, another story says that when the new settlers from Panay arrived at the place, they occupied the shores (higad sang baybay). So, they were called taga-higad or hinigaran.
After a disease
a story runs in Negros Occidental that once a flood occurred in a place and caused an epidemic of a disease called hima – the swelling of the flesh between the toes of the feet.
It was cured by the babaylan (pagan priest-doctor). The two words were joined to make the name of the town – Himamaylan.