Would you change your name?
By The Parodist | August 31, 2007
If you aren’t on Facebook then you wouldn’t be able to relate that much when I say I posted a question on the My Question app on my profile, which asks, If you were able to change your name, what will it be? I found it an interesting topic and I reckon it’s a good way of getting to know people better. That’s why I’m quite grateful to those who stopped by and left answers.
I’m posting them here so that the rest of you can see for yourself and perhaps you’d be able to get a glimpse of who these individuals are, judging by their answers.
Karla Maquiling said, “Stella or Helena, which are the two nicknames I’ve used in the past. Stella, especially, is so easy to pronounce and sounds very sexy (I know, so porn star!). I like the shortened Lena, as it just rolls off your tongue. :p”
Rico Mossesgeld said, “My new name will definitely have an easier-to-spell last name!”
Armand B. Frasco said, “Julian.”
Aileen Apolo said, “Charlene or Patricia.”
Ajay Jorge said, “Aga. mwehehe.”
Manuel Viloria said, “Rico. (Kidding!) I’d probably go for Rafael.”
Jerome Dela Cruz said, “Tough question sasha. i like my name lol.. but i like the idea of being original far too many jeromes and dela cruz’s out there. how about polo sevastian jerome legazpi ? lol”
Jonas Diego said, “Rajah Francisco.”
And, finally, Lauren Dado said, “I can’t imagine being called anything but Lauren. :)”
Fascinating discovery, yeah? I happen to think that their choices say a little something about themselves, don’t you agree? I know that some answered in jest and some in truth but I consider all of them significant. Names are one of the best indicators of an individual’s personality. I’m no expert but I have observed and collated theories on people and their personalities with the simple use of their names. For example, most of the people I’ve met whose names start with the letter L is like X or with the letter R is like Y. Know what I mean?
The question may help us voice out a hidden frustration or insecurity, inner turmoil, or simply, the need to reinvent oneself in a radical way. Why radical? Because changing our name can mean changing who we are, that’s something big, innit? Anyway, it’s somewhat like a fantasy since we all know that chances of it ever happening is slim to none but there’s no harm in thinking it, right?
So, let me throw this question to the rest of you. If you were able to change your name, what will it be? Or, opportunity or none, would you change your name in the first place?
No related posts.
Topics: Blogs & Blogging, Gallyvanting Episodes, Philosophy & Paradox, Questions, The Rambler |
August 31st, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Come to think of it, no. Our names are a big part of who we are, which is why so many of us are willing to take drastic steps to protect.
Unless of course, your name is Gaylord Focker.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Hi, i’m chika bugtas senior broadcast communication at UPd. i saw the link to your blog at yugatech. i’m doing a study about philippine podcasting. if you have time po, may i ask you to answer the ff questions po, kahit in bullet points lang po. you can email the answers at chikasci_bugtas@yahoo.com.ph
thank you so much for you time. god bless!
Name: (PODCAST LISTENER)
Age:
Degree:
Occupation:
Website:
1. Who introduced you to podcasting? How did you discover podcasting?
2. What are your favorite podcasts? Why? (Describe these podcasts)
3. What are your least favorite podcasts? Why? (Describe these podcasts)
4. How often do you listen to or download podcast sites?
5. How are you able to access podcasts?
6. Are you planning to put up your own podcast site? Why yes? Why not?
7. In what ways do you think can podcasting benefit the Filipino society?
8. Are there negative effects of podcasting to Filipinos? If yes, what are those?
9. Are you aware of any issues being thrown at podcasting? What are those? (Ex. Podcasting will kill radio broadcasting)
10. What’s your personal assessment on the status of podcasting in the Philippines?
11. Do you think podcasting will click in the Philippines? Why?
September 1st, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I’m quite happy with my name, thank you.:-)
September 2nd, 2007 at 1:44 am
“Ulan na nakakapawi ng uhaw sa gitnang tag-araw”
Thirst quenching midsummer rain.
That would be my new name.
From what I’ve heard about Native American practices, it seems that their names and/or family names draws from their traits, their background, or whatever event or significant object was a portent of their arrival to this world.
And I think that’s beautiful.
Enough of these borrowed foreign names; half baked “Americanized” sounding names but are actually exclusively Filipino because what the parents did was combine their first two syllables ie. Arnel, Rodel, Rommel, Efren, etc..
September 2nd, 2007 at 1:48 am
…and then there’s Rinaldi.
I’m a dude, and my Filipino parents named me after an Italian last name? Ew.
But nooo… Filipinos fawn over this name. OooOOh, so exotic, they say. So foreign. And of course, foreign=good.
When will we love what’s ours?
In fact, on a more serious note, I’ll change my name to something that harks back to our Spanish Colonial history - I don’t tend to view this as particularly the highlight of Philippine history, but it certainly is irrevocably a part of OUR history and our identity.
I’ll have to go with Fernando.
From my Dad’s Mother’s maiden name.
The one grandparent I never got to meet; she died before I was born.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I would get everybody who calls me Elber to switch to Luis.
September 3rd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Noooopeeee….it was a name given to me by my Mom and Dad…and as a respect to my parents I will keep the name they have chosen for me….every name has a meaning
September 8th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Rico: Yes, that name would somehow push a person to change their name. Gah. But women go through it all the time, er, with their last names at least. And there’s also the “AKA” bit on certain occasions, right?
Don’t worry it’ll happen soon. 
Eugene: Good on ‘ya, mate!
Rinaldi: Oh, I prefer the Spanish sounding names actually. So, I guess you’d want to change your name if you could, huh?
Luis: Feeling a little frustrated, Luis? Hehe.
Lina: Good to know of the things people would do as form of respect to their parents. I guess Rico’s example is applicable to this.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I have to add:
It sounded like I was badmouthing those with the uniquely Filipino names of combining the parents’ first syllables.
I’m not. In fact, I like them because they are uniquely Filipino. If anything we should celebrate this as a strictly a Filipino thing; therefore a part of our modern culture! It’s just weird though how some Filipinos think this is something that is done in imitation of Americans or some other western entity.
–
As for myself, yes, I definitely would change my name. Not legally mind you, but only if ever on the far and away chance that I become some kind of famous personality. Hah! Just to make things easier… far too many mistakes with my current one.
To what other form - that is the question. It’s tempting to go hardcore Tagalog (where I hail from) and go with Malakas, Mataginting, Malib… err.. Masigla. But that would just risk too much mockery; you know how we are with “mabantot” names.
That said, yes, I’ll dig up some of my ancestors’s names and use those instead.
September 15th, 2007 at 4:14 am
Never had an inkling.
Not sure I’d mind any sort of name. I reckon you need to define ‘mabantot’ since it can be subjective. Though I’d drop the ‘h’ in some just to lose the tackiness. Heehee.
September 16th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Yes dearest, I suppose it’s true: “Mabantot” is subjective. So I guess it depends on the person. From what I remember though from my Elementary school days, kids made fun of the names that were overtly ‘native’. Saying, “Ay, ang bantot namang pangalan yun!”