In the pre-Hispanic period, the Atis or the original settlers of Panay and the rest of the Western Visayas has no formal method of naming days, months, and years and only the seasons were given utmost importance and only in the colonial period where the calendar system is widely adapted for all purposes.
The Ilonggos has a name for each of the months of the calendar in Hiligaynon and were usually based on the event or phenomenon which usually occurs on that particular month.
Months
ULALONG is the first month of the year in Hiligaynon term for January and was so named probably because it was formerly the month for cotton spinning. The Hiligaynon term "ulalong" can also mean rough, botched, bungled, careless, coarse, not well done, and is applied to all kinds of work. For example, Ulalong (Inulalong) nga trabaho in English - rough or careless work or a task that has been badly performed or another term in Hiligaynon is patarasak.
DAGANGKAHOY is the Hiligaynon term for the month of February. The trees turn scarlet on this month. The fiesta of Candelaria or the Feast of Our Lady of Candles is in Dagangkahoy. The patroness of Western Visayas, our Lady of Candles fiesta is the most opulent religious pageantry in Western Visayas with the blessing of candles bought by many devotees and the procession of Nuestra Senora Candelaria and the chosen Fiesta Queen and Her Consort.
DAGANGBULAN is for the month of March. The moon turns scarlet on this month. The Paraw Regatta, generally regarded as the oldest traditional craft sailing competition in Asia among seafarers in colorfully painted sailboats called paraw in the strait between Guimaras and Iloilo City takes place in Dagangbulan. The Pintados de Passi festival of Passi City is held every second week of this month.
KILING is for the month of April. The ring attached to the traces and through which ring the rein or nose-rope is passed is called kilíng. It is also a steadying device put on a kite, so that it may fly straight and smooth. The Semana sang Iloilo (Week of Iloilo) is on the second week of Kilíng.
HIMABUYAN is the month of May. Himabúyan is the time when each day is bursting forth in full bloom (of mostly flowers and other plants) across much of the country. We might consider Himabúyan to be the opening of the growing season or an open door to a new growing period. Iloilo City celebrates its Heritage Month in Himabúyan. Various activities are lined up by the city government of Roxas City for its Charter Day celebration in this month. The Katagman Festival (of Oton) is on the first week of Himabúyan.
KABAY is the month of June. Typhoons sometimes leave hundreds of thousands homeless and cause a lot of damage in Kabáy. The Biraw-Paraw Festival (of Leganes) is on the last week of Kabáy. The Feast of St Anthony de Padua (in Toboso, Negros Occidental) is held in this month.
HIDAPDAPAN is July. It is a kind of tree with red flowers. Its wood is worthless even for fuel. The Iloilo City District of Molo Fiesta in honor of St. Anne is held in Hidapdápan.
LUBAD LUBAD is the month of August. It was removing of the string or rope that held them or that had been tied around them. Iloilo City culminates its charter day in Lubádlúbad.
KANGOROLSOL is for September. The Tumandok Festival is celebrated in kangorólsol. Talisay City, Negros Occidental celebrates Minuluan Festival in this month.
BAGYOBAGYO, the month of October. The Masskara Festival, the annual celebration in Bacolod City, is held in Bágyobágyo. Typhoons gave so much deluge in the country in this month.The Tigkaralag Festival (of Pavia) is held on the 30th day of Bágyobágyo.
PANGLOTDIOTAY, November. The annual fiesta of the district of Mandurriao, Iloilo City celebrated with a mass procession and carnival is in Pánglotdiótay.
PANGLOTDAKU is the month of December. The cold winds usually build up and blow into the country in Pánglotdakû. The coldest part of the day will be the early morning between 4 and 5 AM just before sunrise. It could get warmer around noon and the afternoon, but not by much as there is less humidity during this month. The Pantat Festival (of Zarraga) is on the third week of Pánglotdakû.
Days Of The Week
TIGBURUKAD (Monday) from the root word "bukad" - the start or opening of something like the blooming of flowers
DUMASUN (Tuesday) from the root word "dasun" - next or following after in chronological order
DUKOTDUKOT (Wednesday) from the root word "dukot" - something which sticks or adheres to
BAYLOBAYLO (Thursday) from the root word "baylo" - market day or barter day because during the old days the people used to barter (baylo) things or exchange things with the absence of money to trade on this day. this is also where the Huebesan (market day) probably originated; changing, transitioning or shifting
DANGHUS (Friday) from the root word "hangos" - exhaustion from heavy work, to wheeze, puff, gasp for breath, pant, breathe heavily or with difficulty.
HINGUTHINGOT (Saturday) from the root word "hingot" -
LIGIDLIGID (Sunday) from the root word "ligid" - To roll, whirl, revolve, turn over and over; to lie down (lazily, to rest); rolling, revolving.
Source:
Creatpler by Roger Rueda - http://rogerbrueda.blogspot.com/2011/10/names-of-months-in-hiligaynon.html
