Now I go to names. A few weeks ago I was with a couple of friends, and in the enjoyment of these hours I spent with them, the topic went to names. The existing ‘h’ , in particular , was the fascination we conversed about. In our exchange, we felt like philosophers trying to analyze the origins of the silent ‘h’: Why is it there? Who thought of putting an ‘h’ in names? Who invented the trend of the famous ‘h’?
As we tried to analyze the roots of the letter, which found itself in many IDs of Filipino citizens, we then began the search of other fascinations in the Filipino name. As we scrolled the list of ‘h’ names such as Mhela, Vhong, Jhun, and Bheng; we found ourselves digging deeper into the common ground of names that had the equivalent value as the ‘h’. And there, as we searched, we remembered ‘lyn’ . The famous last syllable in female names that has become a companion of many 2 syllables like Junalyn, Jennelyn, Manilyn and Decelyn.
Although we have our share of Jims and Johns in the Philippines, the names of bells such as Kleng, Klang Klang, Ding Dong and BingBong, tend to have a stronger ring to people who do not come from the Philippines. An American once asked if the Filipinos take the Senator Joker seriously, I told him that we never laughed when he talked. Another asked if the name of President Noynoy was common. "It’s as common as Jayjay, Tintin and Bong-bong. The repeated syllable is very common in my country,” I said.
And as I wish to someday meet the Filipino Chinese, Edgar Allan Pe, I also wonder who Jonathan Livinston Sy is. Pinoys like to work on themes when it comes to names. My sister’s friend, Harmony, has sisters named Melody and Symphony. Then there is the ‘Kano’ family. The oldest is Ameri, next is Mexi, the third Child is Ilo, fourth is Chaba, and the youngest is Mag. I guess when parents are thinking of basing their children’s names on themes, it would be better to be the older one than the youngest. Freddie Webb, an actor who turned Senator at one point, has a grandson named Spider, and I’m not sure if a younger one will simply be called Cob.
Aside from themes, we also have the mix of names. The present Vice President is named Jejomar, and this comes from Jesus, Joseph and Mary. A former senator is Heherson. His name simply means ‘his and her son’. Although they are not a mix of words or names, my favorite combination comes from the Racela brothers. The professional basketball player, Olsen Racela, was named Olsen because he was born on ‘All Saint’s Day’. His brother is Nash because he was born on National Heroes’ Day, and the youngest is named Wally, for, well…walang okasyon (sometimes I wonder how true this story is,though).
Other names are pretty simple, and is usually American in influence. So if maybe in another country you meet someone with an American name like Henry or Jane, and with a last name that is Spanish in nature like de la Cruz, more or less you have just met a Filipino. So aside from the usual blend of themes and stories underlying a Filipino name, this mix of an American first name with a Spanish last name given to a person of Asian descent, maybe and most probably, is an individual from the Philippines. But if you meet someone named Jun-jun, Rhodette or Luzviminda (Luzon, Vizayas and Mindanao), there is no doubt that you have just met a true blue Pinoy.
