Names of places, as a matter of tradition, consensus, by virtue of law, or honoring somebody, can be changed overnight. In fact, many of the towns that now comprise the five provinces of Davao region were, over a period of time, known by their old names. The change in place-name is more often due to changes in the socio-political landscape.
For instance, American Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison, on Feb. 23, 1921, issued Exec. Order No. 8, creating the municipal district of Saug with five barrios (villages) under it. Twenty-seven years later, President Elpidio Quirino issued Exec. Order No. 156 on July 9, 1948 creating Saug as a regular town with New Leyte as its new name. Curiously, in another order, No. 173, was issued on Sept. 13, 1948, the town’s name was reverted to its old appellation.
But the change of name did not stop there. On June 20, 1957, through the initiative of the migrants, the town, under Republic Act (RA) 1675, was renamed Asuncion, after Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion (Our Lady of the Assumption), now a town of Davao del Norte.
Mabini, a municipality of Compostela Valley, on the other hand, was originally known as Cuambog, named after a tree species. Under Exec. Order 596, a fiat signed by President Quirino on May 23, 1953, it was created into a town and given the name Doña Alicia, after the President’s wife, who was killed by the Japanese during the liberation of Manila. Later, on June 12, 1954, it was rechristened as Mabini under RA 1007, signed by President Ramon Magsaysay.
Originally known as Kialeg, then a barrio of the municipality of Bansalan, in Davao del Sur, Magsaysay was given its present named under RA 2106, which took effect on April 3, 1959. Eight years later, by virtue of RA 4976, the erstwhile rustic village was elevated to full-fledged town on June 17, 1967, bringing with it several communities from its mother municipality.
Natives used to call the place Cabinuangan in tribute to the binuang tree (Octomeles sumatrana) that grew abundantly on ranges that straddle the area. When the new settlers, mainly families of migrant loggers, started opening a settlement in the area, they pushed for its creation into a town. It was under RA 4756, approved on June 18, 1966, that it eventually became a municipality and was renamed New Bataan, presumably with the Bataan Death March as inspiration.
When it was created as a town under Presidential Decree 1247 on Nov. 25, 1977, Maragusan, a former barangay of Mabini, Compostela Valley Province, was called San Mariano, after Don Mariano Marcos, the father of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was later reverted to its old name under RA 6678, effective Oct. 12, 1988, due to political reasons.
Laak, when it was created as a town of the province of Davao del Norte on April 4, 1979, by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 23, it, bore the name San Vicente, after Davao governor Vicente Duterte, the father of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. When the province was divided into two under RA 8470 on Jan. 30, 1998, the town was placed under the new province of Compostela Valley, this time carrying its old name Laak, which is after a small, thornless bamboo (Bambusa philippinensis Gamble) endemic to Davao region.
But there are more. Gov. Generoso, named after a prewar Davao leader, was erstwhile known as Sigaboy. Tagum City used to be called Magugpo by its original settlers. Sawata, a former rebel hotbed, is now the town of San Isidro, Davao del Norte. The defunct town of Kaputian, now part of the Island Garden City of Samal, was known in Spanish times as Cervera.
Carmen, Davao del Norte, before its creation as a town, was known to everyone as Ising, which is now the name of a barangay under it. Malalag, Davao del Sur, was known in missionary accounts as Mercedes, while Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, was known in Spanish times as Trinidad. The old town of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, on the other hand, was known to the Bagobo settlers as Labo, meaning ‘marsh.’ Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental, was known to the Tagacaulo tribe as Talagutong. Lupon, Davao Oriental, in ancient times, was called Sumlug.
Moreover, Boston, Davao Oriental, was erstwhile known as Dakung Banua prior to its creation as municipality during the early American occupation. Before it became Montevista, it was known as Camanga. Davao City, as a town, was formerly known as Nueva Bergara, while the undivided district of Davao was called Nueva Guipuzcoa.
In Congress, there is a move to change the name of the province of Compostela Valley to Davao de Oro, obviously due to the presence of gold rush in 10 of its 11 municipalities. This piece of legislation was first filed in 2001 but after five congresses it did not prosper. The National Historical Commission frowns on moves to change names because it distorts history.
In 2002, the local government of Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province, wrote the Commission, then an institute, to return the town’s spelling to Moncayo, but it was turned down because the request, even if granted, does not in any way alter the history of the town.
Changing historical names is serious business. RA 1059, signed on June 12, 1954, expressly cites the prohibitions, as follows:
“The naming of sitios, barrios, municipalities, cities, provinces, streets, highways, avenues, bridges, and other public thoroughfares, parks, plazas, public schools, public buildings, piers, government crafts and vessels, and other public institutions and places after living persons is hereby prohibited, except when it is a condition in a donation in favor of the government. Any ordinance or resolution adopted contrary to the provisions of this Act shall be null and void.”
