Sotto: Proposals to change country’s name divisive

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday said suggestions to change the name of the country will be divisive and will run contrary to the goal of uniting the country.

“May mga nagpo-propose ng charter change, dapat character change eh.  May mga nagpo-propose na palitan ‘yong pangalan ng bansa, lahat ng itong mga proposal na ito ay divisive eh,” the Senate President told reporters in an ambush interview.

“Magkakaroon ng dibisyon lagi ang opinyon ng tao pagdating sa mga ganyan eh samantalang ang kailangan natin ay pagkaka-isa,” he added.

Recently, President Rodrigo Duterte said he agrees with the proposal of late President Ferdinand Marcos to change the name of the country to Maharlika as “Philippines” has an attachment to its Spanish colonial past.

Philippines was derived from the name of King Philip II of Spain, who funded the exploration of navigator Ferdinand Magellan.

“Wala na tayong magawa. Philippines. Philippines because it was discovered by (Ferdinand) Magellan using the money of King Philip. Kaya pagdating ng ulol ginawang Philippines. Pero okay na ‘yan, balang araw palitan natin,” Duterte said.

“Actually, tama si (Ferdinand) Marcos. Panahon ni Marcos, tama talaga si Marcos. Gusto niya palitan (ng) Maharlika… the Republic of Maharlika. Gusto niya palitan it means… more of concept of serenity and peace,” he added.  /muf

READ: Duterte agrees with Marcos’ idea of renaming ‘Philippines’ to ‘Maharlika’