How Balete Got its Name: A Legend




A Baleten-on OFW based in Vancouver, Canada contacted me through Facebook with the report that the Philippine Consulate there was adamant despite her representation of using an incorrect way of spelling Balete. The DFA employee could not be faulted as she was just basing her action on the available databank entry. My kasimanwa was however worried as it will create discrepancies not only on her portfolio but on other Baleten-on overseas foreign workers and expatriates as well.

The Sangguniang Bayan therefore acted with haste when its attention was called on the matter. Readily and on a unanimous move, it adopted a resolution addressed to the National Historical Institute to inform the Department of Foreign Affairs of the correct way of spelling the name of our town. Copies of the resolution were also sent to the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver, Canada through proper channel. Then, specifically, it was resolved that such resolution shall also be uploaded in any Baleten-on sites in the web for the information of all.

This incident called to mind an old story I read about how Balete got its name. I can't precisely pinpoint where, my thought keep on picturing out a painting hanging on the wall of the Balete Rural Bank during my childhood days. But the story tells of some conquestadores conducting reconnaissance along the valleys and plains by the banks of the Jal-o during the early years of Spanish colonization. They chanced upon a village where outstanding number of ficus trees thrived. Thereupon, someone from the group approached some villagers standing or working under one of those huge trees and proceeded to inquire,?Cual es el nombre este sitio?

That baffled the villagers. Somebody however noted the inquirer's hand pointing to the tree behind them and so readily responded, assuming that they were being asked of the name of the tree: Balete. So it is told that from henceforth, that village by the Jal-o was named, Balete.

One would however wonder why the villagers answered in Tagalog when they were from this place. "Balete" is a Tagalog word and a variation of "Balite". The Aklanon equivalent would be "Nonok" to mean a singular ficus tree while "Kau-i", if it is referred to a forest or batch of ficus trees. More importantly, the name is not unique of Balete, Aklan as there are other municipalities and barangays in Luzon and Mindanao by that name.

So did I succeed in satisfying your curiosity? Questions lead to answers that raise more questions. But don't worry. That's what historicity is all about.

(Full text of the resolution can be downloaded in my Scribd account at this link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/48940840/Res-069-sb2013

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