Boston

Boston is a town in Davao Oriental in the Philippines.

This town received its name in a most interesting manner. An American seaman over 100 years ago disembarked one day from his merchant marine ship to a small fishing village in Davao Oriental. Seeing an old man walking with a cane, the seaman asked "what is this place called?". The seaman pointed at the sand below his feet.

The old man, however, thought the seaman was pointing at his cane. Responding with a smile, the old pinoy pounded the sand with his cane and pronounced loudly "Bahstaan!" which means "cane" in Davaoenu, the dialect in the area.

The seaman smiled and said "Boston? Wonderful!" Henceforth the village was always known as Boston.