Consult public on plan

Despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s support to the plan to rename the Philippines to “Maharlika,” the proposal will have to undergo a nationwide consultation, a Cebu official said Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said she likes the word “Maharlika” but she cannot decide if that will be a good decision. She said majority of Filipinos will have to approve the change in the country’s name.

“Personally, I can’t decide but I like the word ‘Maharlika.’ But to change the country’s name, it’s difficult because we have been known as the Philippines for so many years,” Magpale said in Cebuano.

The proposal to change the country’s name started in the time of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. It was a favorite word of Marcos who called highways and some structures “Maharlika” or noble.

Former senator Eddie Ilarde proposed through Parliamentary Bill 195 that the name of the Philippines be changed to “Maharlika” in support of Marcos, who then was accused of using that name to fake his World War II military records, claiming he led a guerrilla force called Ang Mga Maharlika in fighting the Japanese forces.

In Maguindanao last Monday, Feb. 11, President Duterte said the late dictator was right in his plan to rename the country to “Maharlika,” citing the colonial origin of the name Philippines.

The Philippine name was originally based on the old Spanish title of the country “Las Islas Filipinas” given by Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez de Villalobos as a tribute to King Philip II of Spain.

Malacañang officials, however, said Duterte merely floated the idea but never said he was for renaming the country immediately.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the renaming requires an act of Congress and must undergo a nationwide referendum.