"A group of linguistics experts is up in arms against proposals to go back to using "Filipinas" to refer to the country" http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/anc/07/04/13/language-experts-oppose-filipinas-move
One reason for not going back to the Spanish name which has been widely voiced is what happens when you type "Filipinas" into Google...
Google would inevitably change it's algorithm, these search results only happen as a result of the of the code that is in place at this point in time it does not mean that it cannot be changed, however you are probably right some choices in search terms would not be quickly changed and as a result would be embarrassing to the country. But as a people they may well be more comfortable with one of the older names, many countries have made this change in recent decades, not our place to decide. I will read the article properly when I get home, not home yet
Even now I have to think my way through the spelling of Philippines. I can never guarantee myself that I will spell it correctly at any one time.
The R.P cannot change its history or being named after Philip of Spain by a quick name change to Maharlika or otherwise. I think the Government here should prioritise other priorities! Just because they didnt have the letter "F" in their alphabet before the Yanks arrived is neither here nor there! IMO.
If I recall correctly the Maharlika idea was one of Marco's. Maharlika is commonly supposed, falsely, to be a class of nobles. It feel apart when it was pointed out that Maharlika derived from 'big *****'. I doubt the new suggestion is actually very serious.
