Name Game

 It sends a shock among Filipinos to see beautiful faces on Mexican telenovelas whose names are somewhat taken from their distant pre-Hispanic era. Names like Pedro, Juan, Jose, Antonia, or Fernanda oftentimes become a source of humor and ridicule among us. And we ask, “How could these beautiful people be named such?”

 

There goes a generalization that says that ones name is the sweetest music or melody to ones ear. Call me in my name properly and I will treat you well. However, mispronounce my name or say it with an apparent disrespect, expect a bang from me (he-he)! Forgive me, but at times our names being the “sweetest melody” is not always the case. How would you feel if you bear a name like Hudas, Hestas, or Barabbas? Just like what a parent from “kyusi” named his children. Of course, these kids bear also the stigma of the infamity of the trio.

 

Going back to the Mexican, guys, there can be no sense of wonder with their Hispanic names. Like the Philippines, Mexico was once a colony of Spain (15-18^th century), being the crown colony those times. All right, the Philippines was colonized by the Spaniards for more than three hundred years but we have been colonized too and neocolonized by the American until now. And Filipinos seem to love everything that is American including names. Thus, our name lists which were bombarded then with Juan`s, Jose`s and Maria`s are now packed with John, Joseph, and Mary. Most of the time these are being combined with one or two names. Hence, there goes Peter Paul, John Paul, or Mary Claire. Parents of these children are seemingly unmindful of the psychologists` warning that a kilometric name makes a child impatient especially when he is still learning to write it. My classmate tells me, in a ten-minute quiz, while everybody in the class is submitting their papers, he is still writing his three-tiered name.

 

Examining closely where do most of us take a name is quite fascinating. Oftentimes, parents combine the first or last syllables of their respective names. Hence, Reynaldo and Amanda`s child is likely be named Reyman. Parents also resurrect the names of their parents and grandparents. Oftentimes, with the third, the fourth, or the fifth after the surname as if they are part of a big royal family. Other parents, however, searched out for unique names or just invent their own so as to make a distinct identity for their children. Some just imitate the names of their favorite actors, soap opera character, or a superhero, or from the world or community’s who’s who. Meanwhile, sentimental few got the inkling of giving names to their children the virtues of Faith, Hope, Love, or Charity. This is of course in an obvious attempt that their children may exude virtues as their name suggest. People who claimed their selves to be culturally aware and nationalists like the names Diwata, Aya, Dalisay, or Liwayway. These names appear so ancient and outmoded to most Filipinos today. I asked myself why do Filipinos despised names like Juan or Filipe and glorify its American equivalent of John and Philip?  Or why ridicule Juan Panday and salute John Smith? Or laugh at Rogelio Dagdag and swoon to Roger Moore?

 

There is nothing wrong on our efforts to beautify the names of every generation. Nor it is a sin to stereotype names in favor of euphemism. However, for a heterogeneous country like ours, the names of the people are quite important in seeking for a common national identity. Our names should correspond to our nationality. We must be identified, through our names in the community of nations as Filipinos not a nation of varied nationality# Rodel  Cuyco(Written on August 2000).