(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, March 3, reiterated his desire for a change in the country’s name.
In a speech in Isabela, he said the country was, after all, named after Spain’s King Philip II who colonized the Philippines.
“No particular name yet but sure I would like to change the name of the Philippines..,” Duterte said.
In previous speeches, Duterte said he agreed with then-President Ferdinand Marcos the country’s name should be changed to Maharlika.
The term translates to “free” in English, according to historians.