Bolaang Mongondow Folklore Behind the Origin of the Name Pinolosian Village

 This event clearly shocked people at that time. Thus, the place where Bangundali and Dongitan fought became famous. Since then, the elders have called it Pinolosian, which means the place of cleavage.

Pinolosian. The name of this village seems unfamiliar to readers. Never mind Pinolosian Village, even South Bolaang Mongondow Regency, where this village is located, perhaps readers don't know yet.

I have to admit that my area is not well known. When I was in Jogja, I often saw people confused when they heard the name Bolaang Mongondow (Raya). Their confusion was answered when I explained that Bolaang Mongondow is part of North Sulawesi Province. Generally, they will say: "Ooo, Manado...."

In fact, even though they are both in North Sulawesi, Manado is Manado, Bolaang Mongondow is Bolaang Mongondow. It is like two people under one roof. Living in the same house does not mean that all residents have the same characteristics.

Even though I know that people in Java generally don't really know my area, if asked I would still say, I come from Bolaang Mongondow, South Bolaang Mongondow Regency to be precise. This is not because of regional fanaticism, but rather an effort to socialize about my home region.

Likewise, in this article, I am also introducing Pinolosian Village, where I was born and raised. This village is not flashy on a national scale, but is very famous in Bolaang Mongondow.

Pinolosian Village is in Pinolosian District, South Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sulawesi Province. “Eh, Pinolosian District? "Does this mean village or sub-district?"

Yes, apart from being the name of the village, Pinolosian is also used as the identity of three sub-districts, namely Pinolosian, Central Pinolosian and East Pinolosian. Cool, right? Even cooler, it turns out there is a folk story behind the origin of the name Pinolosian, even though the story is a bit haunted.

As based on the Bolaang Mongondow Folklore compiled by Alma E. Almanar, in ancient times, when the Pinolosian area was still a very dense forest, there was a bogani (commander) from the Mongondow (inland) area named Bangundali or Gagundali. He chased a bogani from Bintauna (north coast) named Dongitan.

The two meet at the head of a river in the southern coastal area. The meeting resulted in a very violent fight. In the fight, Bangundali was superior, so he was able to decapitate and split Dongitan's head in two. The head was brought and stuck at the top of the Passi as a sign of victory.

This event clearly shocked people at that time. Thus, the place where Bangundali and Dongitan fought became famous. Since then, the elders have called it Pinolosian, which means the place of cleavage.

There is also another folk tale, still in the same source, told of two brothers, namely Hondong and Bangiloi, who felt hungry in the middle of hunting activities. The feeling of hunger was getting worse. When they arrived at an upstream river that looked suitable as a resting place, Hondong and Bangiloi chose to rest while eating a monkey they had caught.

The monkey was divided into two, including the monkey's head was also split into two parts. The place later became famous as a resting place. And, because it was at that place that Hondong and Bangiloi split the heads of monkeys in two, the place was known as Pinolosian.

Regarding these two folk tales, according to Nadjamuddin Tome, et al., in their research on Bolaang Mongondow Oral Literature (1984) stated that the informants completely believed the folk tales about Pinolosian that occurred, both in the place and the Bogani Mongondow (Bangundali) and Bogani Bintauna (Dongitan ).

Almost the majority of the population, when confirmed, described this as being the case. The second version is also believed by the informant to be what really happened, supported by the place, event, and so on. According to researchers, this story is a kind of history of the origins of Pinolosian Village. The river where the incident occurred also exists.

The Pinolosian River is currently better known as the Nunuk River (neighboring village). However, according to the words of the elders, the Nunuk River is actually the Pinolosian River, it's just that the current generation mostly calls it the Nunuk River.

Apart from that, the origin of the name Pinolosian which is used by the village government and is believed by some people, does not come from folklore, but from an incident in the past in the form of a major flood disaster that divided the area between Idugi Hamlet (current Nunuk Village) and the village Pinolosian. The river that divides is the inspiration for the name Pinolosian which means splitting.

However, this major flood event cannot completely be the basis for the origin of the name Pinolosian. Because, as explained by Bansawan Mokoagow, who is a historical witness, the major flood disaster that separated Pinolosian and Nunuk due to the overflowing Pinolosian River occurred around the time Abo Paka' was a Sanga in Pinolosian Village, around the 1950s. This means that before the major flood disaster occurred, Pinolosian Village already existed. 

This is also confirmed by Dutch archives, namely a report from W. Dunnebier in "De Zending in Bolaang Mongondow" in the Zielental van Bolaang Mongondow table, mid 1906. Dunnebier mentions the name Pinolosian as one of the villages in the Kotabunan District.

Apart from that, the name Pinolosian Village has also been mentioned in other Dutch archives. The report explained that in 1920 there were 678 residents in Pinolosian, one of whom was European and 677 were inlanders or indigenous people (Mededeelingen Opname No. 18, Verslag Eener Spoorwegverkenning in de Afdeeling Menado, Deel II, 1922, in Appendix table A.2. Plaatsgewijze Overzicht Der Bevolkingssterkte op 01 January 1920

In my opinion, the origin of the name Pinolosian is based on folklore that spread even before Pinolosian Village existed. So, people from the interior of Mongondow who come to the south coast to seek a living are already familiar with the existence of an area called Pinolosian. The area then developed into a residential area and finally became a village, namely Pinolosian Village