Bansag

Giving an alias/title (bansag in bikol) to a person is an old practice in Albay. In Bacacay alone, there are many clans that are famous because of their bansag. Among them is the Bermundo clan whose bansag is 'Lago'. My mother belongs to this clan. 'Lago' is a term referring to a soon-to-rot coconut. They say that 'pakulaw' (malunggay with coconut milk) would taste bitter if the coconut used is “lago”. Bermundo also bears other bansag(s) such as “hugot” (monitor lizard) and agama (small crab). Fortunately, my mother eventually lost her bansag when she acquired my father's family name Baliza. They say that Baliza never had any bansag.

It’s funny how Bacacayanos address their fellows by their bansag. A mother asking her son to buy 'asin' (salt) for example would say, “Nonoy, bakal daw ki asin duman ka Mantika. Mantika (cooking oil) is the common bansag for Bellen clan. Also, a father asking his son to barrow their neighbor’s 'asadol' (hoe) would say, “Nonoy, sublia daw muna ka odo so asadol. Odo (stool) is another Bacacaynon bansag, although i dont exactly know from which clan it actually originated. Other famous bansag(s) in Bacacay include pusiw (a bird), aswang (monster), kuyog, lapit (penis), biriran (star fruit), bagol (coconut shell), tarok (farm), kobra (snake), ubod and a lot more.

Today, Bacacayanos have however come to realize that such aliases are embarrassing and even offensive. I remember my cousin, who belongs to lago clan complainingly asked “nata man daw panu ta nagtugot so mga ninuno tang bansagan ki lago!!!” (why did our ancestors let others call them lago) True, he really felt humiliated being called 'lago'.
How about you? What is your bansag?