There’s this Woman Named Circumcision..hehehe

Yes..that is the title of the assigned text we have to read for History. Naming. How surnames started in the Philippines. Thanks, (or does he deserve that?) to Narciso Claveria, we all have these sari-sari surnames in the country - from the social sounding Spanish adaptations to the funny native surnames.

The article also talked about how Filipinos are fond of deriving names from occasions, saints, or feasts..

So, yes, thus became a reason for this woman’s name: Circumcision. How would that have made her feel?

Anyway, reading through the artice made me remember of my childhood. How I usually, and unnecessarily fuss about my name. For some reasons I cannot display it here (I cannot even display my profile..hehehe), so I’ll just say something about it.

It all started when I took notice on the name of my mother(which I’m afraid I also cannot mention), and the names of her friends. The next time, I thought of the names of my teachers, adult neighbors–all their names were fit for them– Belen, Minda, Cecil, Malou, Anita, Nora, and many others. I kept on saying to myself that their names are so like their ages. I’m sorry but it was my young, naive, immature mind thinking. Yes, how weird that was for me at that time. Their names are so adult-sounding. I did not have any playmate who was named Nora or Malou. Our names were kiddish, just as we were.

I imagined myself adult once. I did not see the full details of my adult self, save the fact that I were taller and…well, taller is all I can remember. I tried calling that adult me with my name. Yikes! I found it awkward! I wondered, maybe mama and papa had a mistake on my name. Did they not think whether that name would still fit me if I ever grow up? I was thinking I should have an adult-sounding name too when I am older.

So I was thinking then, did these people change their names to sound that way? Did they do something else to make their names fit for their ages? Should I change my name then? How? Where do I go? How do I let everyone know? What name would I apply to myself then? Oh noes..WHAT NAME?

Now, almost 10 years or more has gone, and I still have this name. I am almost an adult, yet my name still fits me. Atleast I think so. It is amazing…what was I thinking at that time? Changing my name? Oh no no no…

What a crazy little mind I had…

I do not really love my name, atleast not all of it. I love one of my names, which is as well my nick name, and I could not afford not to include it whenever I have to write my full name somewhere. Others do not care to write their second names, but I, even how hurried I am at the moment, will never want to miss that second name. Good thing I was, for the whole 4 years of high school, the class secretary. That way, I wouldn’t have to correct anyone for writing my name incompletely. Anyhow, sometimes, people are just too tired (or lazy) when it would be their turn to list down names, and if I see my name incomplete, oh no! I will readily get a pen and fill it with the missing favorite name of mine!

The thing is, I dislike my first name. Not that it is common, I just hate how it sounds. It is not me…

But, when the two is paired up and pronounced as one, this time I really have to thank my mother for giving me this name.

See how weird and funny our minds could be when we are young, and how particular we are with our names?

I realized that my parents did not have a mistake. They were just in their right minds naming me this way. Atleast my name do not sound old-like! Hehehe..

I also thought, if I had a kid, why would I name her with those names? Oh no..I will name her the best name I could think of.

Well the best name for me since high school, which I used to apply when I have to give sentence examples, is Julia.

What’s with that name?! I just really love it..I do not even know why.

8/24/05-22:31