What's in a name?

MANILA, Philippines - Why don’t we, like other countries, change also the name of our country? These countries may have their own reasons why they changed the name of their country. Iran many years ago was called Persia, Thailand was Siam and not long ago Myanmar was Burma.

The name of our country, Philippines, was derived from the name of King Philip II of Spain. It was the Spaniards who called our country Filipinas as a tribute to their king.

I think we should be the one to make a name for our country. King Philip II is not an ideal one. There was a suspicion he had a part in the death of his son Don Carlos and his third wife Elizabeth.

When we decide to change the name of our country we can hold a nationwide contest involving all interested citizens.

I have three names to enter: First is Balangayland, derived from balangay, the name of the boat that transported our forefathers to this land; second is Luzvimin, representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; and third is Malanesia or Indolaya from Indonesia and Malaysia, where our forefathers came from.