There has been uninhibited talk in some coffee shops and elsewhere regarding the prospect of changing the name of the Philippines to anything that, so the argument goes, does not remind the 106 million Filipinos of a colonial past.
Colonial as defined by them to be uncultured, unsettled, primitive and unsophisticated, among negative frames that needlessly indicate being submissive, deferential, acquiescent, compliant, accommodating, obedient, dutiful, duteous, biddable, yielding, meek, docile, ductile, pliant, passive, unassertive, spiritless, subdued, humble, timid, mild, lamblike.
Historically, the eventually identified 7,107 islands or parts thereof have had numerous names, including but not limited to, Mai-i, Lim-kia-tung, Luconia, Las islas de San Lazaro, Las islas de Poniente, Ilhas do oritente, ilhas Lucoes, ilhas de Liquios Celebes, Caesaria Caroli, Tendaya, Las islas Filipinas, Maniolas, Basroussai, Ophir and Perla del mar de Oriente.
There have been, over the years, proposed names for this Land of the Morning: Haring Bayang Katagalugan, Kapatiran, Luzviminda, Republica Rizalina, and then and again Maharlika.
What urgency is there that politicians from the clear-cut political divide must propose a name change, as though a change in name would allow a material, if meaningful, metamorphosis for this multi-ethnic, multilingual nation that continues to be hobbled by more important problems that should be addressed now for the benefit of the ordinary Juan and Juanita and the well-heeled John and Janette.
Arguments, however, phrased, that the name Philippines breathes with colonialism, no longer wash, given the record of other countries who, by accident of chronology, were discovered by explorers and after whom they were named.
What’s wrong with that anyway?
Would it make the Philippines a better God-fearing country with consequential values for nation-building and a better life for the now and forthconming generations if there would be a name change?
Name change for the Philippines, whatever the arguments are, given the enormous problems that continue to pester the Filipinos every day, is no crash project.