Introduction

Introduction

Toponym is a taxonomic study of place-names, based on etymological, historical and geographical information. A place-name is a word or words used to indicate, denote, or identify a geographic locality such as town, river, or mountain. Moreover, it is the most direct link between a language and its territory, current or ancestral.

Boac is the first-class municipality and the capital of the province of Marinduque, it is the third largest among the six municipalities, consisting of 61 Barangays. The Barangay names in Boac are commonly inspired by plants, trees, woods, fruits, and objects that are abundant in the barangays within the said municipality. Given that Boac is a wide municipality, it is comprised of many interiors and far- flung areas, and some of these areas were not only named after its abundant resources, but were uniquely based from interesting stories and mysteries. Canat and Hinapulan are two of the farthest locations in Boac and were named after the discovery of giant footprints on its rocks situated in the respective barangays. Unlike any other barangays, what sets apart the story behind the names of barangays Canat and Hinapulan is the deviation of the usual process and classification of naming places in Boac (i.e. based from the names of plants, trees, woods, fruits, and objects).

In light of this background, the study aims to determine why Canat and Hinapulan were named after these footprints, in addition to this, the researchers also aim to analyze and interpret the beliefs that the residents from the respective barangays have on how this giant footprint were formed, and determine the significance of the footprint on their cultural, historical and social beliefs.

1. Why do these footprints named after Canat and Hinapulan?

2. What are beliefs that Canat and Hinapulan Resident have, on how these footprints were formed?

3. What is the significance of the footprint in terms of the following?

3.1 Cultural Beliefs

3.2 Historical Beliefs

3.3 Social Beliefs