Why the Philippines can be renamed Maharlika

This is an initiative proposed by the former dictator Ferdinando Marcos in the attempt to give a nationalist stamp that could erase part of the Spanish colonial heritage, local media reported.

In a speech delivered during the distribution of land titles in the province of Maquindanao, at the southern tip of the archipelago and Muslim majority, the president again raised the idea.

"Let's change one day, Marcos was right to change the name to Maharlika, because it's a Malay word"said the president.

The Philippines received their name in the 16th century in honor of the King of Spain Felipe II.

Duterte is an open admirer of Marcos and stirrers the nationalist tradition against the influence of the United States, who also took control of the archipelago after the 1898 war against Spain.