A MORPHO-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF SIOCON

BARANGAYS’ AND SITIOS’ NAMES

Jab’z Mussadin, BSED- English III

Jose Rizal Memorial State University- Siocon Campus

Introduction

Toponymy is defined as the study of the place name of a region or language or especially
the etymological study of them (Merriam-Webster.com.). It has been said that place names
include names of districts, villages, topographical features, settlements, streets and houses.
Names are an essential part of human existence since they are used to designate people places,
things, pets and houses and it seems a universa l practice (Crystal, 2003). The society determines
the types of names allotted to an entity (Anindo C., 2016).

Gerba T. (2014) explains that personal names are indicators of the patterns of society’s
social and cultural organizations and world view. They give important insights about
categorization of the new-born infant: sex, background, social group, and family or name giver.
Oromo Personal names serve as a communication tool and storehouse for the culture and history
of the Oromo society (Tesfaye, 2011). As personal names form a special group within the
vocabulary of a language, they obey most phonological, morphological, syntactic, orthographic
and semantic rules. So, naming is a specific linguistic act, intimately linked with values,
traditions, hopes, fears and events in people’s lives. Names reveal the many preferences of their
owners (or givers) in terms of real life objects, actions, features and beliefs (Rosenhouse, 2002).

Malenya (2011) sets out to establish that these personal names have both connotative and
denotative meaning. The author disputes the theories claiming that origins of names have very
limited value. The writer uses the semiotics theory of signs and sign systems that allow people to
predict, apprehend learn how meanings are developed.

Letsoela (2015) looks at place names as being full of cultural reasons that led to the
naming of bus stops. The discussion is clear and the writer indicates that for most of the names
the referent can be easily located by a fluent speaker of Sesotho. This may apply in some aspects
but mostly to a resident of the area. The writer uses a mode of categorizing names as experiential
and mythological which are new concepts that I found interesting. This study is beneficial to my
research on morpho-semantic analysis of place names especially since it has a kind of aspect to
it.

This aspect leads the researcher to conduct a morpho-semantic analysis of the names of
Barangays and Sitios in the municipality of Siocon province of Zamboanga del Norte. This
municipality is composed of 26 barangays with more than 2 sitios in each barangay in which the
names are very unique, hence, the study will be conducted.
Methodology

Data Collection

The researcher collected the data from the locals of the municipality of Siocon and also
referred the data collected to each of the barangay of the town. There are 26 barangays in this
town and each name would be analyzed as to personal names, descriptive, metaphorical,
experiential, and mythological only to those reachable places considering the security factor.

Data collection tools and Procedures

There will be no questionnaire needed since the study is purely word analysis on the
given names of the Barangays including the recognized and reachable Sitios. Qualitative
technique of research is applied and also an interview was conducted to the minorities who are
actually living in the place in a decade.

For the detailed analysis, the following categories were identified; descriptive,
metaphorical, experiential and mythological names (Letsoela M. P., 2015). These categories are
made on the basis of the meanings and or interpretation of the names. The categories are briefly
explained below:

Personal Names. In this category, the names are based on the influential person in the
place.

Descriptive. Names that appeared in this category carried the literal meaning. It was clear
to the hearer as to what he or she expects to see.

Metaphorical. Names under this category could be interpreted metaphorically. It can be

compared or related to something else, or even give another meanings.

Experiential. The names in this category are based on experiences or knowledge about
the origin of the place before it was given the name.

Mythological. This category includes the names which reflect to the society’s beliefs
system, usually in the supernatural.

Morphological. This category includes the words combination and its meaning.

Results and Discussion

This section discussed the findings related to the names of Barangay and Sitios of the
municipality of Siocon province of Zamboanga del Norte. The names were distributed along the
five (6) categories reflected on the table next page:
Table 1. Classification of Names of Barangays in the Municipality of Siocon (Personal
Name Category)
Category Names of Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Barangays
Personal S. Arabi The name derived He was an active leader and the
Name from the late Suhaile first muslim Vice-Mayor in the
Arabi who is a very Municipality of Siocon and
influential person in contributed many ordinance to
the place. the place including the
separation of the barangay
S.Arabi to barangay Bucana.
A.L. Micubo Sr. The name derived He was an Ex- Mayor in the
from the very Municipality of Siocon and
influential person owned most of the land in the
named Andres Lagbas place and donated some of his
Micubo Sr. shares to his colleague.
Mateo Francisco The name was from Tomboc family has the great
the grandfather of share of land that is why they
Tomboc family. named it to their grandfather,
Mateo Francisco.
D. Sailela The name derived He was a brave and an active
from the very leader in the place. He was the
influential person first settler owned most of the
named Datu Maulama land in the place.
Sailela
S. Cabral The name derived He was an active and brave
from the late Selvestre leader in the place. He owned
Cabral. He is a very and donated the lowland to his
influential person in colleagues and the place was
the place. named after him.
J. P. Brillantes The name derived He owned most of the land in
from the very the place and donated some of
influential person in his land to the government for
the place. them to use.

D. Riconalla The Name derived He was an active and brave

from the late Dionisio leader in the place.
Riconalla who is a
Very influential
person in the place.

Table 2. Classification of Names of Barangays in the Municipality of Siocon (Descriptive

Category)
 Category Names of Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Barangays
Descriptive
Bucana It’s an opening part of The place is near in the river
a river where the fresh and in the Siocon Sea.
salt water meets.
Malambuhangin The sands are too fine The place is near in the Siocon
that is why the people Sea where some of the settlers
in that place called it of Siocon used to swim and
Malambuhangin or relax.
dry sand.
Balagunan The named was There are many “Balagon” in
derived from a kind of the place that is use to tie or
Vine named bond something.
“Balagon”.
Lituban Derived from the There are many “litub” found
name of a shell “litub” in that place.
Latabon Derived from the Many “latab” can be found in
name of a bird that place before.
“latab”.
Poblacion It is the center of The place is evenly flat and
trade and the seat of paved and is the center of the
the local government trade.
of the municipality of
Siocon.

Table 3. Classification of Names of Barangays in the Municipality of Siocon (Metaphorical

Category)
Category Names of Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Barangays
Metaphorical Candiz The name derived
from the word
"KONDIS"
Siay Comes from the term From the mountain down to
Simiay which is a the plain land that was split
Kalibugan term. and made two rivers.
Manaol From the old folks It was named after the
referring to a bird delicious bird they found in
Mensol. the place before.

Table 4. Classification of Names of Barangays in the Municipality of Siocon (Experiential

Category)
Category Names of Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
 Barangays
Experiential Panubigan People used to get water from
the falls.
Tagaytay An expression of a It was an expression that later
son inviting his father used to name the Baragay.
to drink.

Table 5. Classification of Names of Barangays in the Municipality of Siocon (Mythological

Category)
Category Names of Barangays Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Mythological Sta. Maria Derived from the It was given the name Sta.
patron of the place. maria during the Spanish
occupation.
Malipot It is an old tribe It was created during the pre-
dialect myth in Spanish period and considered
Subanen or other as one of the oldest Barangays
Ancient Ethnic in the municipality.
Group
Pisawak Derived from the There were accordingly
Subanen word “PIS- strangers who happened to be
SAG-GAWAK” within the place for hunting
meaning bolo on the purposes. They accidentally
waist. met a wearing bolo on his
waist and was asked what he’s
bringing on his side and the
one answered, “Pis-sag-
gawak”.

Table 6. Classification of Names of Barangays in the Municipality of Siocon (Morphological

Category)
Category Names of Barangay Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Morphological Balagunan Balagun+ an Balagun comes from the
Tausug “Bagun” and –an
refers to Bisaya term
“Kuhaan” or what you can
get out of it.
Bucana Buca+na “Buca” or an opening of the
river where the boats used to
dock and rest. “Na” was just
an expression.
Malambuhangin Mala+m+buhangin “Mala” Tausug term
“Malaum” or deep, and
“Buhangin” means sands.
 Bulacan Bulac+an “Bulac” or “Bulak” which
means flower, “-an” was just
an expression added to the
term.
Tagaytay Tagay+tay “Tagay” is the root word
which means to drink, -tay
was a contraction of the word
“Tatay” or a father.

Table 7. Classification of Names of Sitios in the Municipality of Siocon (Personal Name

Category)
Category Names of Sitios Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Personal Barazon Named after the name of the
Name owner of the land.
Santos Julio Named after the first Santos was an influential
man who had the first person who has just helped the
step on the place. Sitio improved.
Calingao Name of the first
person in the place.

Table 8. Classification of Names of Sitios in the Municipality of Siocon (Descriptive

Category)
Category Names of Sitios Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Descriptive Marang-Marang Derive from the Marang fruit is abundant in this
Tausug fruit place
“Marang”
Balok-balok Derived from Abundant in this place and it is
Kalibogan “Herbal used to cure fever and over
Tree” fatigue
Langgal Named after the first big
mosque in Barangay Sta.
Maria
Pantalan Bisaya term of “Port” It was named Pantalan because
of the port that the Sitio has.
Piyapi Derived from the Piyapi leaves was used to make
Piyapi leaves nipa
Balas The place is full sands

Kayatian Derived from the Many “Yati” trees were found

name of a tree “yati”. in that place.
Kamanse Derived from the It was the big tree of kamanse
plant name used as lard mark of that place.
 “Kamanse”
Balubuan Derived from the There are many malubo trees in
Malubo tree found as the place before.
land mark before in
the place.
Baluno Derived from the Baluno tree was the land mark
name of a tree of the place before.
“Baluno”
Cuyan Subanen Term Forest
“Kakahuyan”
Macopa Macopa or a mountain Macopa was abundant in this
apple. place
Santolan Comes from the Used as the landmark
“Santol” fruit.
Busay “Busay” or falls Used as the landmark

Table 9. Classification of Names of Sitios in the Municipality of Siocon (Metaphorical

Category)
Category Names of Sitios Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Metaphorical Bisong Bisong is a bisaya Bisong was one of their
term referring to colloquial expressions which
private part of a girl means “gitago”
of woman but this not
actually the meaning
of Sitio named Bisong
Gulangan Derived from the It was only meant a river but
Subanen term “Sapa” there is no actually river found
(Catching river or in the place.
river)
Back road Which means “Likod Old term is “Lumok”
na Daan”
Carcar The place was actually full of
joys and celebrations and was
called “carcar”

Table 10. Classification of Names of Sitios in the Municipality of Siocon (Experiential

Category)
Category Names of Sitios Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Experiential Lucsaron An Act of moving No vehicles before so people
from top to down of from the mountain would walk
the mountain in order to reach the town
Laklakan Derived from the People living in this place were
tagalog term “Laklak” usually drinking “tuba” or
 which means to drink. coconut wine

Malusok It is a Subanen term There was once a small way

which means that is very difficult to pass.
“difficult to pass”
Tabuk It’s a Bisaya term It was named “Tabuk” because
of its narrow over where the
residence used to cross.
Spillway River bridge People used to cross the river

Table 11. Classification of Names of Sitios in the Municipality of Siocon (Mythological

Category)
Category Names of Sitios Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Mythological Busikong Named after an People believed that there is a
ancient tree. fairy on a tree that causes the
illness of every child in the
place.
Canatuan Comes from the Because of its distance going
Subanen term to town and it was not that
“Conotuan” which accessible, everyone was
means far advised to perform rituals
before passing.

Table 12. Classification of Names of Sitios in the Municipality of Siocon (Morphological

Category)
Category Names of Sitios Meaning/Derivation Motivation for meaning.
Morphological Dulungin Dulu + ngin “Dulu” in Tausug “Ampan”
the term means big, and
“Ngin” from the word
“Buhangin” or sand.
Pangatangan Panga+ tangan “Panga” means “Sanga” in
Tausug which means a
branch, while “Tangan” is a
Malaysian term “hands”.
There was a river that splits
the river and the sea.
Laklakan Laklak+kan “Laklak” is a Tagalog term
which means to drink, -an is a
suffix added to the root,
laklak to emphasize the place
of drinking
Canatuan Cana or Cono + tuan Two terms were connected
based on the its distance
which are very far.
 Santolan Santol+an Santol is a fruit in which the
suffix –an was added to
emphasize the place that is
full of santol fruits.
Kayatian Ka+yati+an Yati is the root word reffering
to a tree in which prefix –ka
and suffix an was added to
emphasize the place that is
full of yati tree.
Balubuan Balubu+an Balubo is the root word
which is a balubo tree, -an
was a suffix added to the root
word to emphasize that many
Balubu trees are found in the
place

Conclusion

Names of places are very significant to directly locate its destination. The study is
classified into five (6) categories namely: personal names indicating a person name that used to
call a certain location, descriptive regarding to a name of something you expect to see in the
place, metaphorical indicating a name that relates to something else, experiential indicating a
name that relates to a knowledge or experience, mythological indicating to some beliefs of the
first occupants of the place that they used to name it, and morphological indicating the words
combination that forms another meaningful word. The morpho-semantic analysis of Siocon’s
Barangays and Sitios names are based on the given names of certain places according to the
information gathered from the locals that mostly the given names of the Barangays and Sitios are
descriptive and personal names. Descriptive in nature in the sense that something names become
its landmark and personal names in nature since the names are of the brave and active leaders
before it was given an official name, however, only few are morphologically categorized because
of its qualification. Hence, the result of the study will serve as reference material to other future
researchers.
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