The origin of Bolislis Name

 

When the Japanese invaded the Philippines during the second world war, our great grandfather was one of the prisoners of war, he was one of the laborers in making roads, and just a brief detail, my great grandfather belongs to “kankanaey” tribe of Kibungan, Benguet which makes me . And when the cholera epidemic outbreak happened, all the laborers died. Only our great grandfather survived in their group. Then he was given the name, BOLISLIS by the soldiers which was a locally coined word for “only survivor” back then. Our great grandfather was released as a prisoner of war, and he brought home the shovel he used. The name BOLISLIS was printed in it. Since then, he carried one name as BOLISLIS. And according to my relatives, that shovel was also buried with him when he died.