I am a fourth generation Mindanaoan. I was born in the Municipality of President Roxas, which was then the northern border of Old Kidapawan. I have taken it into my work to dig in the history of the municipality and uncover its organic toponym. (READ: President Roxas: A toponymic look into Old Kidapawan’s northern border)
As of 2017, the main focus of research was the connotative and denotative aspects of the toponym. Connotation is the indirect meaning of the toponym. On the other hand, the denotative is the literal meaning of the toponym. You may read the initial discussion here: President Roxas: A toponymic look into Old Kidapawan’s northern border.
As of 2020, the research rippled to the “settler identity” in the overarching Mindanaoan narrative of the toponym, which you may read here: A toponym’s “settler identity” in the Mindanaoan narrative.
As of 2021, the research evolved to semantics, which is a branch of linguistics concerned with meaning. President Roxas is already an icon, with a namesake and respect to the highest elected official of the country. For purposes of research and other possibilities, the initial toponym iteration, with future affirmation, is “Nueva Karaya.” Nueva, which means “new” is Español, is connotative of the place’s association with time and historicity. On the other hand, “Karaya” is a semantic evolution of the term “Karay-a,” who are one of the peoples who preserved ancient Filipino customs in the hinterlands of Panay Island. Continuing research: A toponym’s “settler identity” in the Mindanaoan narrative.
Vincent Carlo Duran Cuzon 