“Hilda” Marcos and name variations in birth records

This week on July 2 in 1929, Imelda Romualdez was born in San Miguel, Manila. While everyone knows that Imelda would later become the longest-serving first lady of the Philippines, not very many Filipinos are aware of the fact that she was she was erroneously listed as “Hilda Romualdez y Trinidad” with the civil registrar’s office of Manila.

The spelling of names has changed significantly over time due to various factors. In earlier periods, there were no standardized spelling rules, leading to variations influenced by regional dialects, personal preferences, and the phonetic nature of language. As languages evolved, so did spelling conventions, often reflecting shifts in pronunciation and usage. This is why Filipino family names often appear differently in records from the Spanish to early American periods. For example, Cortez could also be spelled as Cortes or Cortis; Ybañez as Ibañez, Ybañes, Ibañes, or Ibañis; and given names like Ysabel as Isabel or Sabel, Santiago as Tiago or Teago, and Hermenegildo as Brigildo or Brigido.

When doing genealogy, it is essential to use the standard spelling passed down through generations. Researchers must double and triple-check primary sources such as birth and baptismal records due to historical spelling inconsistencies. Early records were often handwritten and transcribed by individuals with varying literacy levels and spelling conventions, leading to discrepancies. Meticulous examination of these documents ensures accuracy in genealogical information, where a single letter difference can cause significant misunderstandings.

Spelling changes over time can obscure meanings and origins of words, making it essential to verify primary sources. This is crucial in historical and genealogical research for correct identification of individuals and understanding context. Misinterpretations due to spelling variations can lead to incorrect conclusions, affecting the authenticity of historical narratives and personal ancestries.

Human error has always made record-keeping challenging. Before the automation of government processes, people simply wrote basic information when registering births, often resulting in misspelled or incorrect names, even for prominent individuals.

Glaring examples, aside from Imelda’s given name, are former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s last name, transcribed as “Duarte” in the birth index of Hilongos, Leyte; and the Marcos family’s Claveria surname, spelled invariably as “Tabuebue” or “Tabucbuc” in many records, but printed in official documents as “Tabuebue”. Although “Duterte” and “Duarte” are somewhat phonetically similar, it is possible the clerk who registered the future president’s last name thought that his surname was “Duarte” as this is a common last name in Hilongos and there were no other Dutertes there except for their small family. As for the Marcos family’s Tabuebue surname, some Ilokano researchers say it is Tabucbuc and not Tabuebue as the latter is not common in Ilocos. But given that some printed official records have indicated the latter, it could really have been simply a confusion of the letters ‘c’ and ‘e’.

As we have all witnessed recently, birth records are not always reliable for a variety of reasons. There are many instances when the names that appear on the record may be misspelled or even transcribed erroneously. Or, as in the case of the embattled mayor of Bamban, records could also be faked or nefariously inserted among the authentic ones, if indeed this was the case with Mayor Guo’s birth certificate.

Thus, the fluid nature of spelling throughout history underscores the importance of careful scrutiny of primary sources. Double- and triple-checking documents like birth and baptismal records helps ensure that the information is accurately represented, preserving the integrity of historical research and personal histories. This diligence is crucial in maintaining a clear understanding of our past and the linguistic journey that has shaped modern spelling conventions. The slightest unchecked misspelled or mistranscribed names could have resulted in a President Rodrigo Roa Duarte, First Lady Hilda Romualdez Marcos, or President Ferdinand R. Tabucbuc, Jr.!