The Bisayan Calendar

Our so-called local words for months and days which we claim to be our dialect like the words Enero, Pebrero, Marso, and so on, as well as the words Lunes, Martes, Miercules, and so on are not Bisayan words but inspired by the Spanish. Before the Spaniards arrived in 1521 we already had our own calendar. Here are the local words for the months and days:

 

Months:

 

January            —        Ulalong

February          —        Dagangcahoy

March  —        Daghangbuan

April    —        Quiling

May     —        Himbabuyan

June     —        Gobay

July                  —        Hidapdapon

August            —        Lubudlubod

September       —        Canggurulsol

October           —        Bagyobagyo

November       —        Panglot nga diutay

December        —        Panglot nga dacu

 

Days:

 

Monday           —        Tingbucad

Tuesday           —        Dumasun

Wednesday     —        Ducutducut

Thursday         —        Bailobailo

Friday  —        Danghus

Saturday          —        Hingot-hingot

Sunday            —        Liguidliguid

 

We have few books that contain or discuss about the Bisayan Calendar. Among them is the one written by Professor Lina Quimat, it is entitled "Glimpses in History of Early Cebu". Her book was published in 1980. The book author was a newspaperwoman. She finished her Teacher's Degree at the Cebu Normal College School and served as Secretary of the Pan Pacific Southeast Asia Women's Association Cebu Chapter in the late 1970's to early 1980's as President of the Cebu Historical Society.

attypauloaminal@yahoo.com.

Show comments