What’s in a name? The Pinoy’s eccentricity in coining up names is a constant source of awe and fascination. Perhaps it is human nature to mark an eternal legacy such that Filipino parents tend to name their sons or daughters after them by attaching Jr. or Jra and automatically making them Sr. or Sra. A lot of friends I know have suffered so much about this merely because of discrepancies encountered at the statistical/registry office especially when the birth certificates are already required for official business like employment, enrolment or going abroad. The son who is a ‘junior’ automatically earns the nickname Jun or Jun-jun although until now I am innocent where ‘Nanie’ was taken from considering that I am a Jra. The easiest, and perhaps most religious way to name a new-born is just by looking at the calendar and taking the name of the Saint for that date. Thus, one of my closest college buddies, who was born on June 13 was named Antonia after San Antonio De Padua. Boys born on June 30 were named Nino after Sto. Nino, while others are Margarita, Francisco, Pedro, Pablo, Maria, etc. Thus, it is not also surprising that one’s birthday falls on the fiesta of the barangay. Now isn’t that wonderful that the entire community celebrates your big day? Pinoys are also named after typhoons, important events or unforgettable products like Marcia Lou, born during the height of the Martial Law, or Imelda named after the impeccable Imelda Marcos, or Prell, named after a popular shampoo in the 80s. Then of course there are people named after the places they have been born in or the places where their parents came from, thus we have Samley whose father is from Samar and whose mother is from Leyte; or Orleyne whose father came from Ormoc, Leyte and whose mother is from Negros. Thinking about it, I could have been named ‘Julhima’ for Julita, Leyte and Himamaylan, Negros, or my sister named ‘Negley’ for Negros where my father came from and Leyte where my mother was born. Pinoys also love nicknames that repeat themselves like Gigi, Yan-yan, Rik-rik, May-may, Tin-tin, Mimi, Yeye, Boy-boy, Lala, Vic-vic, Tetet, Bambam – and you please supply the rest. Another ‘patok’ way of coming up with names is combining the parents’ names, thus we have ‘Marlyn’ whose parents are Mario and Ailyn, Melason whose parents are Melay and Jason, Joedel whose father is Jose and whose mother is Delia, Benita, daughter of Bienvenido and Margarita. I know you have other names in mind, so go ahead and share them. Pinoys also love to brand people according to physical appearances, thus we have Boy Mata, the guy in the corner with the large eyes, Boy Ulo for the trike driver who has a big head, Boy Kalbo for the hairless dude in the street, and so on and so forth. For the women who have Ma. Before their names, they are usually nicknamed by combining Ma with the first syllable of their first name, thus Ma. Bella is ‘Mabel”, Ma. Lourdes is ‘Malou, Ma. Visitacion is Mabesse, Ma. Lina is ‘Malyn’. Again, I still keep wondering why I am Nanie when I could have been Maceci. :)) In my hometown, there is a term “kadundunan” whose English translation I don’t know. All I know is that there are families or clans who are identified with a certain ‘kadundunan’ like paksiw, kasagingan, kalamay. I am also ignorant how these clans came to have their kadundunan. So, what’s behind your name?
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 05:42:42 +0000
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