The Problem: It's What The Country's Name Represents

The republic should honor one of its own. Yes, it's time to put the country's foreign name into the history books. 

When I think of my home country and its beautiful people-- intelligent, kind, jovial, deeply spiritual, I'm reminded that the nation's new name ought to be of the people and for the people. 

Whenever the existing country's name is mentioned, one's brain imagines a kingly foreigner standing over a vanquished people. 

Jose Rizal Online recognizes that the honorable and practical change to the country's name will awaken the fervor of the Filipino citizen by reflecting the true nature of the islands and its citizens.

It's awkward to hear a name that represents conquest and subjugation. For example, when The Best Fighter In The Universe defeats an opponent, the opponent's camp does not rename itself after Pacman The Conqueror. The identity of the vanquished remains intact, its essence whole, albeit roughed up, di ba? 

 

If his own country wants to pay tribute to King Philip II, we can applaud the effort. 

For now, the colonialists have left the islands. So the people are free to reclaim its true identity and march forward, with pride.