Meaning of the name PILIPINO
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27562)
Philippines
September 1, 2012 6:41pm CST
The popular proper noun is Filipino, the name used in the international news. It is the name of the people from the Philippines, just like the Chinese from China and the Americans from USA, the British from England, or the Thai from Thailand.
The Tagalog (official language of the Philippines, for there are a hundred or so dialects all over the islands) word however is PILIPINO. I would have liked it if the international reports use Pilipino, for I do not know how it became Filipino, perhaps from the Philippines, the Ph of which is pronounced as f.
So much so about that, the language and the name evolve anyway, most often, as coined after game changing event. That is why, the Filipinos simply address themselves as Pinoy, probably referring to a Filipino migrant worker who set out into the world when he was just a boy. And three years ago, the President of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, fondly nicknamed Noynoy, candidly requested that he be called simply as P-Noy, instead of Prez Noynoy Oh well, suits him, I think.
What I didn't know is that the word PILIPINO, perhaps by Divine Providence, for we are a nation devout, etymologically means PILI (chosen) and PINO (fine).
2 people like this
5 responses
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
2 Sep 12
All I know is that the Filipino was born simply because we were called "fine people" but if you ask me, I got no clue on who we really are. We seemed to be no different from other Asian people, the difference is that we are more westernized and only Asian country that speaks fluent english. I think am Lost into defining what is really meant for being a Filipino, but thanks for sharing your insight.
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
5 Sep 12
Mga kadugo, nasa puso yan. (Patriotism in in the heart.)
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
2 Sep 12
Hi,
If we look at the history of this Republic, it can not be denied that we are an unnamed group of islands before the Europeans accidentally landed here. When the Spaniards came, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, in a blood compact with Rajah Humabon, named the archipelago Islas del Filipinas after King Philip of Spain (1527-1598).
The small-minded Humabon, not able to foresee the consequences of his act, brought forth great suffering upon the future generations, me included, by putting the people under Spanish colony. Pillage, exploitation, stealing, slavery, racism and all forms of degradation was imposed by the King and His minions upon the "indolent Indios" of the islands for almost three hundred years. Had Lapu-lapu gathered enough courage to stop Ferdinand Magellan's successors. had the leaders of yesterday founded a nation with a real identity, then we would have been a great nation by now.
Had they developed more patriotic sons and daughters, free from foreign domination, had they forged more weapons of war other that the spears and cudgels of Lapulapu to repel the invaders, had they believed in the courage, determination and raw talents of the Indios, then, we would stand proud and powerful among the nations of the world.
It took Andres Bonifacio and other heroes to bring their bolos against the muskets of King Philip and finally liberated this Republic from the yoke of bondage, but then, the damage has been done.
We are, and shall always be, Filipinos, the subjects of that pillaging king of Spain a long time ago. His legacy still lives among the "indolent Indios" until now.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
2 Sep 12
Sigh, but the history of our country was meant to be. The only consolation I receive is the acknowledgment Queen Sofia has given and shows it annually, as she comes to visit how we are. The Americans, their vested interest never admitted, recognizes what a formidable nation we are, amidst the most tremendous adversities, and of course, the world now knows what pliant a people we are, now that we are manning not only industrial, maritime, technological, medical, or whatever institution there is, but also the executive posts, the ones where the buck stops. Our people had been tested by fire, and see the color of our skin, wow, that is a glowing golden brown.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
2 Sep 12
We never really had a successful revolution, it was temporary victory until the Americans then turned their backs on us.then it was later after world war II when we gained our Filipino language. still don't know were our true meaning lies, but maybe our bayanihan these days would define most of us as selfless and happy resilient people
1 person likes this
@fantasticbabe (981)
• Philippines
2 Sep 12
That a good meaning for the term Pilipino. Those word are really very meaningful land I know a lot of Filipinos are proud of it. Especially those who are dignified and know how to actually applied it in their everyday life, the way they socialized with their fellow citizen and other nationality. By being choose and fine that also connotates a lot of meaning such as being responsible, dedicated and loyal to the country, product and languages. The love of the county should be in calculated in the mind of every Filipino.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
2 Sep 12
I have traveled through the countryside, and there I saw a people serene. The simple folks are happy, and they have no issues with anyone. I watched the farmer walk his carabao through the ricefields, and it was a hard work, but he did it so smoothly. The simple folks are fine, too. The Filipino is a chosen people, so we did set out into the world, to show humankind how to live. (The bad reports do not count. Those were sensationalized.)
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
2 Sep 12
Filipino came from the Spanish word of our country which is Islas del Filipinas. Get it, Filipinas, Filipino. Our country is never named The Philippines until the Americans gave us that name. Pilipino is just localized version of the Term "Filipino" as we dont have the letter F in the abakada alphabet. so yeah the term Filipino came first before Pilipino.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
2 Sep 12
what do you mean copy, typed all of that. this is not wikipedia reference. This is my own knowledge.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
2 Sep 12
I meant, I understand the message you sent and I acknowledge it. :)
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
2 Sep 12
there are several and numerous definitions given towards it ,i believe it has a ancient mexican origin too
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
5 Sep 12
Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade? You bet, that is why Mexico is claiming Manny Pacquiao is theirs, ha ha.
