Philippine E-Journals

WHEN THE NAME “FILIPINAS” WAS FIRST APPLIED TO THE PHILIPPINES (A Historical, Geographic, and Linguistic Study)

Jaime C. De Veyra

Discipline: History

 

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION

“It is very difficult to determine exactly which was the Island of Tendaya, called by some the Philippine Islands ”

These are the words written by Rizal in one of his notes to Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinos, third edition, 1890, p. 256. The opinion is ingenious, and after a few observations regarding some contradictory statements made by the chroni­clers of the time, Rizal concluded: “It seems, however, that the Spaniards continued to apply this name to the southwestern part of Samar, calling the southeastern Ibabao or Zibabao, and the northern, Samar.” (Italics, mine).