While attending a state event in Maguindanao , Rodrigo Duterte the President of Philippines expressed his desire to change the name of Philippines to Maharlika. The name ‘Maharlika’ in Malay stands for Nobility, Peace and Serenity. Philippines received its name when it became a Spanish Colony in the distant past. In 1521, Philippines came under Spain’s control and received its current name from the Monarch of Spain – King Philip.
Then in 1898 it became an American Territory when it lost in the Spanish-American war of the said year. Philippines became a free nation only a year before 1947. Ever since then, the nation wanted to shed its colonial name given by others.
Maharlika was the name of the class of elite warriors. Though Rodrigo Duterte has only wished it changes, we may never know what fate/fortune has in stores for the nation.