OpinionDuterte’s proposal to change the Philippines’ name highlights the vexed history of place nomenclature

Philip Bowring says history complicates the choice of place names while sensitivities to certain designations seem to vary with political expediency

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President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested the Philippines change its name to Maharlika. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:32am, 17 Feb 2019Updated: 11:36am, 18 Feb 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte has suggested that the Philippines change its name. That is not quite as outrageous as many of the president’s other remarks. Indeed, it has often been said that the name, derived from the Spanish king who conquered the islands, undermines the country’s identity and helps perpetuate attitudes born of over 400 years of Spanish and then American rule. It raises wider issues, too, of how far names reflect power, not people.

The Philippines faces the problem of a suitable alternative. Some have suggested “Maharlika”, which roughly means “noble”. But that is also the lowest of the six ranks of the Philippines’ Order of Sikatuna, which is conferred on people who have rendered service to the country in the field of diplomacy. The order is itself named after the ruler of Bohol island who was a collaborator in the Spanish takeover.

History can be awkward. Perhaps a pan-Malay word reflecting the nation’s island identity would be more appropriate than Maharlika, or one related to its pre-Hispanic excellence in sailing and boat-building.

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Malaysia to weigh Singapore’s water project plan, Anwar says ‘no longer contentious’ issue

The two countries have disagreed over water supply for decades, such as the perceived low prices charged by Malaysia’s Johor

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The border crossing connecting Singapore to the Malaysian southern city of Johor Bahru. The state of Johor supplies untreated water to Singapore daily. Photo: AFP

Joseph Sipalan

Published: 7:40pm, 4 Dec 2025Updated: 1:58pm, 5 Dec 2025

Malaysia said on Thursday that it would consider a proposal by Singapore to jointly develop water infrastructure in southern Johor, signalling the intention of both sides to move beyond decades of rancour over the vital resource.

The two countries have for years disagreed over various issues related to water supply, ranging from prices to the interpretation of the 1962 water agreement signed by them. Malaysia has argued that Johor’s water is sold too cheaply to Singapore.

With Johor experiencing a water crisis, which experts attribute to climate change, rampant pollution, river dredging and resource-guzzling data centres in the state, the two countries look set to step up cooperation to improve the supply of the resource.

Any major disruption in water supply in Johor will not only affect its 1.7 million households but also the 6 million people living in Singapore.

The city state sources about 40 per cent of its water from Johor, according to United Nations data.

“Yes, treated water from Singapore originates from Johor, but the requirements in Johor are also huge,” Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday at a joint press conference in Singapore alongside his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong.