17.MAGALANG TOPONYMS SERIES 2: STA CRUZ

Alasas plant

In this another toponym series, i will show another set of toponyms of places located in barrio Sta Cruz. This barrio is considered one of the large barrios of Magalang. It was seperated from nearby barrio San Pedro in 1887 and has its first barrio's cabeza de barangay, Alberto Mañago. Sta Cruz is one of the barrios composing the poblacion or town proper of Magalang. It was bounded by barrios San Vicente on southeast, Camias on southwest, San Francisco in west, San Pedro I in northwest and San Nicolas I on north. Majority of lands located in this barrio was owned by Don Ladislao Dayrit y Canlas; a former presidente municipal of Magalang; and later one of the delegates of Malolos Congress during revolution. His grandson, Benedicto T. Dayrit served as mayor of Magalang in late fifties. He was dubbed as one of the best mayors of Magalang in his time. Unfortunately, he was assassinated by alleged Huks during a dance ball of Mountain Side Club he attended; held in Plaza de la Libertad in December 28, 1963. 

Here are the toponyms or place names together with their origins and meanings; that are located in barrio Sta Cruz:

Alasas- this is the old name of barrio Sta Cruz. It was derived from a small tree with its small leaves has good for scrubbing utensils and wood products. It is closely related to the pakiling whom has also scrubbing properties but with wide leaves. It is also related to large baliti tree.  Its scientific name is Ficus ulmifolia. 

Bornal- a sitio located within the old heliograph tower in Sta Cruz. It was derived from Kapampangan word imburnal, means smoke outlets for cabiaoan; an early carabao-driven sugar mill. The tower itself was mistakenly identified an old sugar mill; but it was structure built by Spanish army whom served as their heliograph tower. This structure helped them to track down the insurgents in Mt. Arayat.

Caputut- it is derived from Kapampangan word putut which means cut or to cut. It describes the road network or a waterway have been cut or been continued the half of the road or sindu de ing caputut a dalan. 

Mabuco- a sitio located near the town proper along Gueco St. It was derived from the word Filipino word, buko means coconut; mabuco means full of coconuts or Cocos nucifera whom describing the place itself until the present. Another term is derived from Kapampangan word, bucu which means, a node of cane or bamboo; in this case, a place where sugarcane or bamboo was planted. 

Salincuan- a sitio located near Paranum bridge; its name was derived from the Kapampangan word, salingco, which means, to turn at an alley or side street. Lungub ka king kantu papuntang Paitan which this place has been known for. 

Sulput- a sitio going to the nearby barrio Camias. It was derived from type of burry love grass, also known as amorseco. Its scientific name is Chrysopogon aciculatus. 

Photo Credit: 

Ficus ulmifolia; http://phytoimages.siu.edu/imgs/benctan/r/Moraceae_Ficus_ulmifolia_32041.html; retrieved: December 3, 2016

Sources: 

Bartolo, Louie Aldrin L. and Dizon, Lino L., The Magalang Book: The Historical Life and Culture of a Kapampangan Town (1605-2015); Manila; National Commission for Culture and the Arts; 2016 pages 123, 127, 130, and 136. 

Dizon , Lino L., Alaya; Kapampangan Research Journal No. 5 (November-December, 2008); Angeles City; Juan D. Nepomuceno Center of Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, 2008 page 151.