The Original Names of the Philippines before Spanish Rule

Before the Spanish arrived, the archipelago known today as the Philippines was inhabited by various ethnic groups. They had their own local names and did not share a single common name. The Spanish later named the islands after King Philip II of Spain, and the country was known as Las Islas Filipinas. Subsequently, the United States renamed the country, 'The Philippines,' from 1898 to the present.

Origin of the Name

The Philippines is named after King Philip II of Spain, who ruled during the 16th century. This name came into existence when the country became a Spanish colony. In 1521, during the voyage of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan under the Spanish crown, the islands were first landed upon. Magellan named the islands after King Philip II, leading to their official designation as Las Islas Filipinas.

Early Indigenous Names

Before the Spanish colonial period, the islands had no single names and were known by various local names based on different ethnic groups. Some local names persisted, and a few earlier forms include:

Islas del Poniente (Islands of the West)

These names were used by Spanish officials, and the term "Las Felipinas" also indicated the region, particularly for Leyte and Samar and their nearby islands.

Indigenous Political Systems

The indigenous political systems in the Philippines before Spanish colonization were diverse. Unlike in medieval Europe, the political structures were more akin to ancient city-states or city-kingdoms. Each city-state had its own alliances and enemies based on ethnicity and language. Another common theme among these precolonial societies was the practice of seasonal raids known as 'magayaw,' which were recorded through tattoos and considered a means of gaining prestige and loot.

Major Thalassocracies

Several major thalassocracies existed, such as the Sultanate of Sulu, the Rajahnate of Butuan, the Rajahnate of Cebu, and the Rajahnate of Manila. These polities held significant coastal power but rarely extended inland due to the presence of other political entities.

Mythical Claims and Inaccuracies

Many maps and historical accounts often perpetuate grandiose myths about the political structure and territorial extent of these precolonial states. For instance, the Maguindanao Sultanate, often depicted as straddling much of Mindanao, was inaccurately portrayed in such maps. The true extent of their territory was limited to the floodplains of the Rio Grande de Mindanao river and did not extend far inland. Similarly, the Tondo "Empire" is often misrepresented as extending beyond its actual historical range, particularly into areas that are not ethnically Tagalog.

The history of the Philippines before Spanish rule is one of diverse, independent communities with intricate networks of alliances and enmities. It is a rich tapestry of local names and political structures that have been heavily influenced by foreign rule over the centuries.