Language body wants ‘Pilipinas’ changed to ‘Filipinas’

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said yesterday changing Pilipinas to “Filipinas,” as adopted by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), would be an interesting discussion.

In a resolution dated April 12, which also went viral, the KWF decided to revive the use of “Filipinas” instead of  “Pilipinas” to promote the official and modern name of the country.

The commission said Filipinos could be more united with a better sense of history.

“Let us see what the various sectors’ reaction will be,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB.

Valte said there is no letter “f” in the Filipino alphabet before and so Pilipinas was used.

Now that “f” is back, the commission deemed it fit to make use of “Filipinas” in seals, letterheads, notepads and other materials.

Valte said the issue has yet to be discussed with President Aquino.

The name of the Philippines is short for The Philippine Islands, derived from King Philip II of Spain in the 16th century.

“Filipinas” used to be the official name of the archipelago but it changed in the course of history.

The name Philippines was officially adopted during the American period.