Changing PH’s name to Maharlika not a done deal yet
By Genalyn Kabiling
Changing the country’s name to Maharlika is apparently not yet a done deal.
President Duterte is determined to rename the country someday to move away from its dark colonial past but has not yet made up his mind on a particular name.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(SIMEON CELI / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Gusto kong palitan balang-araw . No particular name yet but sure I would like to change the name of the Philippines because the Philippines is named after King Philip. Iyon ang ginawa nila — nila Magellan ,” he said during his visit to Basilan Sunday.
“Eh okay na, matagal nang panahon. Sabi nila what’s the name? Marami po ,” he said, citing the Malay roots of the nation.
He said many of the country’s descendants from the Malay race were “brutally converted” to Christianity during the Spanish regime. He then mentioned several Malay-based names of local tribes such as Maranao, Hilagaynon, Waray, and Sugbu.
The President earlier suggested renaming the country “Maharlika” as proposed by the late President Ferdinand Marcos to promote nationalism. Duterte earlier claimed the country was named after King Philip II of Spain whom he described as a despot ruler.
The President has sought to rename the country as he detested the oppressive 400-year colonial rule by Spain in the country. He said the public would also “feel sorry” for the country if they read up on the nation’s history.
“So tayo ang masakit, 400 years. Isipin mo ‘yang 400 years. That is eternity to me at ginawa, binaboy at finally na-convert into Christianity ,” he said.
“Go into history and you would really feel sorry for our country, sorry for ourselves,” he added.
The Palace earlier said the proposed renaming of the country to Maharlika could be implemented through a legislation that will be presented in a referendum.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President’s proposal on the country’s name change was “more of asserting our national identity.” “Royalty hindi ba, sa Filipino language, ‘maharlika’ means royalty,” he added.