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“Surname Boncato Meaning”
Boncato
This surname was changed to sound and look more European
Western, colonized, “civilized”
A quick online search, and everyone says its “bonne” as in good, and “gato” as cat —Italian, but Italian? How?
This interpretation feels off
Traditional names locate families to the land, position and their craft
But —good cat? Ha!
Is that all anyone can come up with to align with western proximity?
So I propose a new meaning to Boncato
Now —say it looser, say it freer
Let your mouth and jaw, your tongue be rhythmic, feel your resonators open up
Bon,
Bohn, BAHNG
Cato,
Cah, KAH —TOH!
bahng-KAH-TOH!
Bangka-tO
Bangka is a boat, vessel, carrier
While -to (like ito) is showing or pointing to a specific area, place, thing
This boat is a carrier through water
A surname that carries bodies, spirit, resources, a water people, navigators
Bangkato
A new name as a possibility from the environment of central-northern Luzon and beyond
An island, with humidity, coastal jungles, and a way of life
How many other names changed?
Can you feel and hear yours?