IS IT TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO ATE MONANG?
Atimonan’s origin may not be what we’ve been told. In the world wide web and in references available to the public, it has always been said that the toponym or name of the place originated from Simeona or Ate Monang Mangava (Mangaba in other sources). But really?
From the book of Jesus C. Olega, “Kasaysayan ng Atimonan” published in 1938, three possible origins were mentioned: Ate Monang, Atin Muna, and Atimon. It has been carried by the writers of the Historical Data of Atimonan in the 1950s, and other sources until 2022. Ate Monang is said to be the founder of the town.
How this was possible has not been elaborated except that she founded the place, she is most respected, and his brother Francisco was the first appointed Capitan.
Atimonan Origin
Atin Muna, according to the book, sprung from prioritizing one’s own community which was said to be common in the old times. Atimon (sometimes antimon) on the other hand, was said to be a plant that abound near the river where the settlement began. Olega readily dismissed the latter, as no one knew in his time about the plant, although Antimon was said to be engraved in the bell of the Roman Catholic Church.
Atimon plant is not extinct, according to history researcher Vladimir Agcaoili Nieto of Konseho ng Herencia ng Lucena.
During the NHCP’s LGU Training-Workshop on History and Heritage in Naga City, his companion and protégé Simon Romuel Legion Uy showed me a photograph of atimon plant. Nieto believes that this is the best answer to the puzzle.
One of the scholars who focused on toponymy is NHCP’s Ian Christopher B. Alfonso. In his paper “The State of Toponymic Heritage” published in the book “Pamanang Lokal”in 2017, he cited the following statements: “Most Filipinos grew in folkloric explanations on the origins and meanings of place names…like a Spanish asking the name of the place but jotted down the incorrect answer of the local informant. This is how most of ‘local history’ in the past was written. Example of which is the 1953 Historical Data Papers (HDP) ---the most used ‘local history’ materials in the National Library of the Philippines--- making the word “historical” a misnomer. “
Going back to the question on the origin of Atimonan, my leaning is on the word atimon as most places have been named from plants rather than particular persons, at least during those times. Atimon-an in Tagalog means a place where atimons abound. Remember, it had been said that Atimonan became a town in “1608,” and naming the place after Simeona might be a far cry from today’s trend of naming places after politicians.
Cultural Mapping
As I was writing this column, I asked my very reliable history researcher friend Pepe Alas to check on the correct foundation of Atimonan as I was also doubting it as Feb 4, 1608. One of his claims to fame is the finding of La Laguna Province’s foundation. Lo and behold! He gave me these answers on Atimonan’s provenance:
“According to Fr. Felix de Huerta (1855), Atimonan was established in 1637. Vladimir is correct, that this Tayabense town was named after a plant. It is actually derived from “atimon”, a type of melon that is cultivated in tropical countries (Merrill, Elmer Drew, “An Enumeration of Philippine Flowering Plants”. Manila: Philippines Bureau of Science, vols. 3-4, 1923, p. 583.).
Atimonan, therefore, is a place where there used to be plenty of atimon. Remember that it was then customary in the East Indies to name places after plants (Peet, Stephen (ed.). The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal. Chamberlain, Alexander. “Place-Names Derived from Plant-Names.” Illinois: Stanford University Library, vol. 25, 1903, p. 108.).”
It is a good thing that the Municipality of Atimonan is doing its cultural mapping this month. Maybe they too, will find out the real date of Atimonan’s Foundation and that Ate Monang’s story is not history.