IF humor and variety are indeed spices of life, this coastal barangay of Loon in western Bohol has plenty of them.

A day starts with a happy note in Napo, a close - knit community of some 500 households 90 percent of whom depend on the sea for living.

An outsider gets his first dose of humor from the names the locals call each other - Kajut, Okyat, Oning, Kawang, Bayong, Piyahay, Tudoy, Ebang, Likoy, Kitamput, Mika, Binyang, Iyok, Matsay, Bantung, Menoy, Minday. The list is endless; the amusement never finding its end.

Monickers range from the obvious (i.e. physical description of the person) to the most absurd, each never failing to elicit guffaws from a newcomer to the village.

Jojo Lugo, a local comedian and stage director explains that the names of the Napoanons either describe their individual personalities or are patterned after names of other persons, things… or birds! Two guys are called Tokmo, after a local bird, and Itik, the duck.

Lugo's dark - complexioned cousin Carlito and the latter's son Arvin are both called Pago (burnt). Others of similar skin tone are named Negro, Black - well and Aga, glamorized from the original 'agta' Bakat (bamboo crate) has bungkag og nawong. The name is a destruction of a face that 'only a mother could love'.

Others names describing the human face are Ti - aw (a person from the enchanted world), Palo (like palu - palo, a piece of wood used in washing clothes) and Plywood (after a brand of wood board). There are 'nosy' names, too - pilat (flat - nosed) and Airwolf, a monicker for a woman taken from a movie of the same title. Airwolf has similar nasal attributes as Pislat's.

Mata is the name given to big - eyed Violeto; Rowell is called Libat (cross - eyed); another is known as Pikot (with dropping eyelids); while Jofer, a chinky - eyed lad, is called Wakang, from Insik Hua Kang, a common Chinese appellation.

Zaldy, a reed - thin guy is called Tuskig (stiff). Ruben, with rounded hind part of the head, is Patok. A couple of boys with scars on their heads are called Pahak. Mestiza Neofita is called Ulo.

Lugo reveals that the names of a taga - Napo also describe their manners or habits. Esmeraldo is called Kidlat (lighting) because as a child, he always disappeared in a flash after every meal to evade errands. At an early age, Jose always urinated in bed, that is why he is called. Anso,after the stench of urine.

Philip is called Texas, not because he looks like a fighting cock with the same breed name, but because while a kid he was fond of chewing Texas bibble gum. Bornicol is Bernard, a seaman. His name is a corruption of Bornicol, a cough syrup popular in the sixties when Bernie was still in the grades.

Daya, Alan in real life, is named so because he looks similar to a female resident of a nearby barangay who is afflicted with Down's Syndrome.

A child is named Tong - its, after a card game her mother used to play with neighbors while she was still in her womb. Two pretty neighbors of hers are called the banana sisters as theirnames are Tundan and Sab - a. Their cousin Audrey Bylle is nicknamed Bukdat.

Anaw is named after someone with a perpetual runny nose. So far, the worst name a person got is Igit (moist fecal matter, yuck!) for a nauseating reason.

Castillian surnames

From these names, one wonders if there remain good-looking persons in this community of bronze - skinned exotic - looking women, brown - haired boys and muscular fishermen. On the contrary, Napo has produced beauty queens: a Miss Loon, a Miss University of Bohol, a Miss PMI, and countless beauty contest finalists. Behind the funny names are Castillian surnames like Dospueblos, Canillo, Sevilla, Miranda, Mendez, Mejorada, Mejares, Calatrava, Salomon.

The taga - Napo may have the funniest and most absurd nicknames in this part of the world, but names are just names, Lugo stresses. He reveals that Napoanons are by nature tamayan, jubitan, mabiaybiayon, hinawayon, or pintasero. This means they always have something bad, insulting or derogatory to say about anybody or anything no matter how good or beautiful a person or thing is.

But naming names in Napo does no harm; it is commonplace, a tradition even nurtured by the kind of respect every taga - Napo has for each other.

The statement that the word sweetest to a person's ear is his name still rings true in Napo even if that name happens to be Igit.

As explained further by Lugo, their practice of giving derogatory names to peers is mainly for ease in identifying them, with their penchant for the humorous generously thrown in.

Three fiestas in a year

Paradoxically, the people of Napo are deeply religious. The men are very demonstrative of their Catholic faith. Some women are novena leaders even outside of the community. Religious organizations, such as the Kapunungang Makigdaiton and Kapunongang Masalingtuoron, take lead roles in fiesta celebrations.

Two nuns and at least eight priests trace their roots in Napo which celebrates at least three fiestas in a year. The feast of Sto. Niño de los Pescadores, patron of the fishers, is held in late January or early February. It is highlighted by street dancing patterned after Cebu's Sinulog. Sto. Niño devotee Corazon Mejares, a speciallyabled court stenographer, initiated the festival dubbled 'Kasadyaan' because her physical condition makes it difficult for her to travel to Cebu. Napoanons working or residing in Manila or elsewhere always find time to come home to join the festivity.

September 8 is another big event the feast of the Birhen sa Kasilak, patroness of the town and the main reason why Loonanons from all parts of the world go home at least once a year, be they from the poblacion or the barrio.

May 25 is the local fiesta honoring the Holy Cross. It is the merriest event in Napo, when all the visitors are ushered into one place and served food. It is also the time when annual 'drama' is staged, traditional Filipino games are played, and other concerted activities culminate.

Cohesive community

Most houses in Napo are only a few feet from each other. Thers even share a common wall. This makes it easier to gather the residents for any collective activity and strengthens their unity.

Bonding is very strong here. The local basketball team, foe example, attributes its victory in tournaments to the village folk who in a jiffy organize themselves into hordes of rowdy cheerers that easily intimidate the players of the competing teams. Pilding maglagot, niwang ang magmug - ot!

The Future Pillars of Napo (FPN), a community organization that recently celebrated its silver anniversary, is a source of pride and a force to reckon with as regards initiating socio - cultural activities.

Founded by Jeremias Mejorada, FPN divides Napo into five districts, namely, Kabaybayunan, Wawog, Inang - angan, Tulay, ang Tubig - Loon for some friendly matches onstage or on the hard court.

With residents huddled in one cohesive community, any visitor will certainly relish with gusto the colorful cultural heritage of the Napoanons. Topping the list is of course the name - calling tradition. (Reigh P. Monreal)