By Dada Grifon
Official Logo of KWF Pilipinas to Filipinas?
A language body has recently proposed to change the country’s name Pilipinas toFilipinas.
Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) issued the Resolution 13-19, dated April 12, 2013 which recommends the use of Filipinas instead of Pilipinas.
Beyond the difference a letter would make, KWF believes that the switch of the country’s name is a matter of national identity and historical significance.
KWF Chairman and National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, the leading advocate of the change, says that the usage of Filipinas would promote the official and modern name of the country and could unite Filipinos with better sense of history.
A language body has recently proposed to change the country’s name Pilipinas toFilipinas.
Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) issued the Resolution 13-19, dated April 12, 2013 which recommends the use of Filipinas instead of Pilipinas.
Beyond the difference a letter would make, KWF believes that the switch of the country’s name is a matter of national identity and historical significance.
KWF Chairman and National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, the leading advocate of the change, says that the usage of Filipinas would promote the official and modern name of the country and could unite Filipinos with better sense of history.
“Ang panukala ko, panahon na para magkaroon tayo ng opisyal na pangalan para sa ating bansa’t republika, at tulad ng inumpisahan ng Diyaryong Filipino, dapat tayong kilalanin sa buong mundo bilang Filipinas,” he said.
“Higit nating maiintindihan ang ating kasaysayan mula sa watak- watak na pulo tungo sa isang pinag-isang kapuluan sa pamamagitan ng pangalang Filipinas,”Almario said.
The proposal to change the spelling of the country’s name has long been experimented since 1981 with a clear objective that was to use the original name of our country dating back from 16th century and preserve its historicity.
Once the resolution is approved, the formal name of our country would be Filipinas. The spelling of the country’s name marked in seals, letterheads, notepads and others would be changed as well.
Moreover, the institutions and other organizations with Pilipinas, like Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, among others would be requested to adjust the spelling to Filipinas.
“Ngunit huwag gawing sapilitan. Ang patuloy na paggamit ng ‘Pilipinas’sa mga naturang entidad ay palatandaan na naitatag ang mga ito sa panahong wala pang ‘F’ sa alpabetong Filipino,” he added.
Origin of country’s name
According to KWF, the country has been named in three different manners: Filipinas, Philippines, Pilipinas.
Even during the pre-colonial times, the country do not officially have a formal name. Research says that Ma-i seems to be the earliest name under which the Philippines was known to the Chinese traders.
According to Jose Rizal on Ptolemy’s map, which was made before the second century A.D., we were once called Tawalisi. In later editions, however, we also bear the names of Maniolas, Barusas or Baroussai and Puloan or Palawan and more.
After the archipelago’s discovery by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, it became popularly known as Las Islas de San Lázaro and later, Las islas de Poniente. According to Rodel Rodis, in 1543, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos who also led another expeditionformally named the archipelago as Las Islas Felipenas or simply Filipinas in honour of King Philip II.
Montero y Vidal says that the island first to receive the name Filipinas was Leyte, and this name was given in July or August of the year 1543 to include some of the smaller islands in the group. Our country was then recognized as Filipinas throughout the world for three centuries. This was also the name used when the nation proclaimed its independence in June 12, 1898.
The name Philippines on the other view was mainly from the Americans. It was the American translation of the name of our country since it was given in 1898.
According to the KWF, this name of our country should be the first to be abolished since it only reflects our being captivated still by American colonial mentality.
The name Pilipinas was used in 20th century after the Tagalog alphabet consisted of 20 letters without ‘F’ was formally implemented.
“Nakasanayan mula noon na ipalit ang titik ‘P’ kapag isinasalin ang mga hiram na salitang may titik ‘F.’ Ngunit nagbago ito nang magkaroon ng modernisadong alpabeto ang wikang pambansa noong 1987 na may 28 titik at isa sa walong dagdag na titik ang ‘F.’ Noon pa sanang 1987 ay naipanukala na ng Surian sa Wikang Pambansa ang paggamit ng orihinal na Filipinas,” he added.
(For more information, visit: http://www.kwf.gov.ph)
“Higit nating maiintindihan ang ating kasaysayan mula sa watak- watak na pulo tungo sa isang pinag-isang kapuluan sa pamamagitan ng pangalang Filipinas,”Almario said.
The proposal to change the spelling of the country’s name has long been experimented since 1981 with a clear objective that was to use the original name of our country dating back from 16th century and preserve its historicity.
Once the resolution is approved, the formal name of our country would be Filipinas. The spelling of the country’s name marked in seals, letterheads, notepads and others would be changed as well.
Moreover, the institutions and other organizations with Pilipinas, like Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, among others would be requested to adjust the spelling to Filipinas.
“Ngunit huwag gawing sapilitan. Ang patuloy na paggamit ng ‘Pilipinas’sa mga naturang entidad ay palatandaan na naitatag ang mga ito sa panahong wala pang ‘F’ sa alpabetong Filipino,” he added.
Origin of country’s name
According to KWF, the country has been named in three different manners: Filipinas, Philippines, Pilipinas.
Even during the pre-colonial times, the country do not officially have a formal name. Research says that Ma-i seems to be the earliest name under which the Philippines was known to the Chinese traders.
According to Jose Rizal on Ptolemy’s map, which was made before the second century A.D., we were once called Tawalisi. In later editions, however, we also bear the names of Maniolas, Barusas or Baroussai and Puloan or Palawan and more.
After the archipelago’s discovery by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, it became popularly known as Las Islas de San Lázaro and later, Las islas de Poniente. According to Rodel Rodis, in 1543, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos who also led another expeditionformally named the archipelago as Las Islas Felipenas or simply Filipinas in honour of King Philip II.
Montero y Vidal says that the island first to receive the name Filipinas was Leyte, and this name was given in July or August of the year 1543 to include some of the smaller islands in the group. Our country was then recognized as Filipinas throughout the world for three centuries. This was also the name used when the nation proclaimed its independence in June 12, 1898.
The name Philippines on the other view was mainly from the Americans. It was the American translation of the name of our country since it was given in 1898.
According to the KWF, this name of our country should be the first to be abolished since it only reflects our being captivated still by American colonial mentality.
The name Pilipinas was used in 20th century after the Tagalog alphabet consisted of 20 letters without ‘F’ was formally implemented.
“Nakasanayan mula noon na ipalit ang titik ‘P’ kapag isinasalin ang mga hiram na salitang may titik ‘F.’ Ngunit nagbago ito nang magkaroon ng modernisadong alpabeto ang wikang pambansa noong 1987 na may 28 titik at isa sa walong dagdag na titik ang ‘F.’ Noon pa sanang 1987 ay naipanukala na ng Surian sa Wikang Pambansa ang paggamit ng orihinal na Filipinas,” he added.
(For more information, visit: http://www.kwf.gov.ph)
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