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 Just how important to you is your name?
Do you value your name? Think of how it would be like to have no name. Worst still, you carry a name that your neighbors, or people on the street ascribed to you (without asking your consent) calling you names or aliases such as: “bata”, “boy”, “amang”, tanda” “manong” “totoy,” and even “hoy!” While some of these names may sound endearing, it is not a name you would want to grow up with, right?
Time was, when there were still few people living on earth, every person was given just one name. For instance, if you were named “Miguel”, “Flores”, or “Argallon”, etc. then this name will be unique to you, this will become your personal identity for the rest of your life.
Thus, if you only carry one name, you will be careful about it, you wouldn’t want it tarnished.
It is not surprising then, that even famous biblical personalities like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (who was later re-named ‘Israel’), David, Solomon, etc. were known only for their single names. Until the time of Jesus Christ, people were either identified through their parents (particularly their father’s name, e.g. ‘James son of Joseph’, thus, the common Hebrew suffix ‘bar’ for son); or by the place from where they came from (e.g. Judas Iscariot [‘Iscariot’ means ‘a man of Keriot’ a city of Moab], or Mary Magdalene also called ‘Mary of Magdala’ (a town).
This was also true in our country before the Spaniards came and colonized the archipelago, the natives then had only one name like Datu Lapu-lapu, Rajahs (Datus) Humabon, Sikatuna, Sulayman, Lakandula, etc. all royalty names, very famous and exalted during their time. (Hence, if you are carrying these names today, you should be proud of it, for it shows your royal parentage).
It was only later, of what was started as a governor decree (Claveria Decree of 1849) to systematically enforce taxes on the natives, that most Filipino names ended up bastardized by the Spanish authorities. Today, we still find funny and oddly sounding surnames: Batungbakal, Cuno, Cubeta, Makahiya, Putot, Mosquito, etc.
Even the name ‘Philippines’ was considered derogatory, as it was derived from an infamous Spanish king named Philip II of Spain. A known philanderer, and a bow-legged king, who died of venereal disease (syphilis).
Thus we’re doubly humiliated through our names and until now we are carrying some of its stigma in history. Hence, even in our present Congress, a bill seeking to change the name of the Philippines does not die down. But to no avail of course, because once a name was given – it becomes not only part of your history but also your unique identity and character.
No wonder therefore, when God uttered and declared the Third Commandment, He underscores the importance of reverencing His name and with immediate consequence and finality.
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The Pencil Story
How real is God to you?