Duterte plans to change Philippine name to Maharlika

February 11, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte is mulling to change the name of the Philippines to "Maharlika."

In a speech in Buluan, Maguindanao where he distributed certificates of land ownership on Monday, Duterte said he supports the position before of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to name the country as the "Republic of Maharlika."

"Actually, Marcos was right. During Marcos' time...he wanted to change the name (of the Philippines). The Republic of Maharlika because Maharlika is a Malay word and it means more of a concept of serenity and peace," he said.

He slammed on how the country got its Philippine name.

"Philippines because it was discovered by (Ferdinand) Magellan using the money of King Philip. That's why when the fool came here, he made it Philippines," Duterte said, adding that he would push for the change of the country's name.

During that time, it just happened the natives here could not do anything, he said.

The Philippines had been under the colony of the Spaniards for many years. Celerina Monte/DMS