Filipinas or Pilipinas?

As the month of June was about to end, a new issue arouse in the country leaving this question unanswered, “Is it going to be ‘Filipinas’ or ‘Pilipinas’?”

Before we answer that let’s first discuss how this question came up to the news. According to the recent update, a resolution was moved that instead of using the ‘Pilipinas’, it will be revolted to the name ‘Filipinas’ as the official name of the country. The aim is to promote the country’s official and modern name that would definitely mirror the country’s history and development along with this month’s ‘Buwan ng Wika.’

Furthermore, they intend to scrap first the name ‘Philippines’ since it showed that the Americans’ rule was still retained in the minds of the Pinoys and also the name ‘Pilipinas’ since this name was just used as a substitute to the original ‘Filipinas’  because letter ‘F’ was not existing in the past abakada. Though everything that is spelled in ‘P’ is not required to be changed into ‘F’ such as ‘Pinas’ to ‘Finas’ and ‘Pinoy’ to ‘Finoy’, still it would affect a lot of sectors in the whole country.

For us students, we can never imagine how enormous the impact will be to our simple lives. Can you ever imagine, watching Ms. Universe Pageant, and then the candidate would say “I am Ms… 26…. Representing ‘Filipinas’!” Well, it’s a bit awkward. Even that idea would make us laugh. But it’s not a joke. Although it may appear to be one, the point is it’s hard to change a habit or a custom. That’s why, if we are to ask that question, is it Filipinas or Pilipinas, the common answer would probably: a.)‘Filipinas’ nalang para maiba, or b.) ‘Pilipinas’ nalang kasi nakasanayan na, or c) ambot oy, pakialam ko dyan.

Whatever will be our answer, their decision to change the spelling was already fixed. Although the changes will be a processed, it will surely come to pass. And soon, it will just be normal to use the new name.

No matter what name will be used, may it be ‘Finas’ or ‘Pinas’, we will still be the people that the world had known -  the people who faced fear from death march, the people who fought through swords of in waters, and the people who died for their own country to be free.

MC Fajardo

Posted in: current events, editorial