1 Before Spain, Your Ancestors Were Never Called “Filipino” 2 ​ 3 ​ 4

5 ​ 6 ​ 7 ​ 8 ​ 9 ​ 10 You’ve said the word Filipino your entire life. On immigration forms. At school. When someone abroad asks where you’re from. 11 ​ 12 But nobody ever told you where that word actually came from. 13 ​ 14 And when you find out — everything changes. 15 ​ 16 Because the word Filipino was not created by your ancestors. It was created by the people who colonized them. When Spain first used the word Filipino in 1543 — it referred to Spanish settlers born in the Philippines. Not to the people already living here. Your ancestors were called something else entirely. 17 ​ 18 So what were they called? 19 ​ 20 Before Spain arrived — your ancestors had names that were specific, proud, and entirely their own. Taga-Maynila. Bisaya. Tausug. Maguindanao. Maranao. Each name was a declaration of identity that predated any colonial label by thousands of years. 21 ​ 22 And the rest of the world knew those names. 23 ​ 24 China documented Filipino kingdoms by name in official Imperial records for over 1,000 years before Spain arrived. In 972 CE Chinese records describe the prosperous kingdom of Ma-i. In 1001 CE the kingdom of Butuan sent a formal diplomatic mission to the Ming Dynasty court — a kingdom so wealthy that even servants wore gold. In 1417 Filipino envoys walked through the gates of the Ming Imperial palace wearing gold so elaborate that Chinese officials assumed they were receiving foreign royalty. 25 ​ 26 In 900 CE — 621 years before Spain arrived — the Laguna Copper Plate was written in Old Malay with Sanskrit and Arabic loanwords. It is the oldest written document ever found in the Philippines. And it proves that your ancestors were already connected to India, the Arab world, and the entire ancient trading network of Southeast Asia centuries before any European explorer knew these islands existed. 27 ​ 28 And there were Filipinos who Spain never conquered. The Tausug of Sulu fought Spain for over 200 years. The Sultanate of Maguindanao said no — with cannons and armies. The Igorot of the Cordillera kept their identity completely intact while the lowlands were being colonized. Some Filipinos never needed to reclaim their identity because they never gave it up. 29 ​ 30 This is the history of your name. And every Filipino deserves to know it. 31 ​ 32 ​ 33 ​ 34 ​ 35 ​ 36 ​ 37 ​ Post settings Labels No matching suggestions Published on 8/4/26 3:37 PM