Editing Parañaque (section)

==Etymology==
Several '''[[myth]]s''' are speculated as to how Parañaque derived its name. 

* One narrative holds that long ago, a [[banyan|''balete'']] (banyan) tree that looked like a majestic ship stood at the mouth of what is now called the [[Parañaque River]]. It earned the [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] name ''Palanyag'', taken from the term "''palayag''", which means “point of navigation”.<ref name=Etymology>{{cite web |author1=Baybay, D. F. |author2=Marquez-De Guzman, A. |title=Palanyag to Parañaque: A History |url=http://paranaque.gov.ph/history/ |publisher=City of Parañaque |year=2001 |access-date=April 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426215523/http://paranaque.gov.ph/history/ |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Another folktale says that before the Spaniards having arrived at the shore, there were [[natives]] who lived close to Manila Bay, and their occupation was fishing (''pangingisdâ''). Their neighbours to the east in present-day [[Muntinlupa]] were farmers and called "''tagá-palayán''" ("of the [[Paddy field|rice paddies]]"). One day, the fishermen and rice farmers held a feast, and were drunk from ''[[tubâ]]'' (coconut toddy). One farmer suggested they name the whole place "''Palayán''" as a sign of cooperation and goodwill between them. A fisherman protested, saying they should name it "''Palalayag''" instead. As a compromise, they agreed to [[Portmanteau|merge]] the two words and came up with "''Palalanyag''". Another drunken guest shouted, “''Mabuhay ang Palanyag at ang mga tagá-Palanyag!”'' ("Long live ''Palanyag'' and those of ''Palanyag''!") The rest liked this word better, and the place was called "''Palanyag''".<ref name=Etymology/>

* A third myth suggests that Spanish soldiers in a horse-drawn carriage asked to be taken to a certain place. When they arrived, one of the soldiers ordered, "''¡Para aquí!"'' (“You stop here!”), which the coachman did not understand. The soldier repeated it and later, the coachman left the carriage and told others “These Spaniards are repeatedly saying "''para aniya ake''” to the laughter of the crowd. The story spread, and the term "''Para Aniya Ake''" stuck.<ref name=Etymology/>

* Another speculation, however contested, is that Parañaque is a ''[[portmanteau]]'' of the words ''"Parang"'' ([[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] for ''grassland'') and ''"aqui"'' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for ''here''), for its inland areas occupied by present-day ''San Antonio Valley'',<ref>{{Citation|title=Parañaque's 2nd District: A hub of history, culture, and warm community {{!}} Manila Standard | date=September 25, 2024 |url=https://manilastandard.net/?p=314502218 |language=en}}</ref> ''[[Upper Bicutan#History|Bicutan]]'' and ''Barangay BF Homes'' (<small>28-39m. above sea level</small>).<ref>{{Citation|title=B. F. Homes topographic map {{!}} topographic-map.com |url=https://en-ph.topographic-map.com/map-n21tp/B-F-Homes/ |language=en}}</ref>

===Historical account===
<blockquote>"''On the coast near Manila are Laguo (i.e. [[Ermita|Lagyo]]), [[Malate, Manila|Malahat]], [[Don Galo|Longalo]], '''Palañac''', [[Bacoor|Vakol]], [[Kawit|Minacaya]], and [[Kawit|Cavite]]. All these villages are in the neighborhood of Cavite, and belong to His Majesty, to whom they pay tribute.''"

– Miguel de Loarca, ''Relación de Yslas Filipinas'' (1582)<ref name="BRV5">{{cite book |last=Blair |first=Emma |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16501/16501-h/16501-h.htm#d0e420 |title=The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 Vol. 5 |publisher=Arthur H. Clark Company |year=1906 |page=83 |access-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924201757/http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16501/16501-h/16501-h.htm#d0e420 |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>Historically speaking, the earliest Spanish records (de Loarca's ''Relación'' etc.) listed the settlement as "''Palañac''", which indicates that by at least the late 16th century, the place's name was something akin to "''Palanyag''".