Historians to hold conference on Philippines’ name, day of independence

After a congressman filed a bill seeking to rename the Philippines, the Philippine Historical Association said that the theme of its Independence Day Colloquium this year will be "Controversial Issues: On the Birth and Name of the Nation."

Speakers at the conference include:

• PHA president Dr. Emmanuel Calairo, whose talk is titled "Paglilinaw sa ilang tala sa araw ng kalayaan noong ika-12 ng Hunyo 1898";
• Prof. Xiao Chua, whose topic is "The Myth of the First Eight Provinces (or why we don't need a ninth ray) and other issues on the Sun of the flag and the name of the Nation"; and 
• PHA past president Dr. Milagros Guerrero, who will argue that the Cry of the Revolution in 1896 is the real birthday of the Nation and who will also talk about the current relevance of the issue.

The conference will be held on Saturday, June 24, at the Gateway Gallery in Gateway Mall in Cubao.

On June 7, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano filed a measure seeking the creation of a “Geographic Renaming Commission” to look into changing the name of the Philippines.

Under House Bill 5867, the commission would be composed of individuals from the the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), who would “study the possibility and the feasibility” of renaming the country that would “appropriately address and define us as a people and nation.” — BM/KVD, GMA News

The Philippine Historical Association's Independence Day Colloquium with the theme "Controversial Issues: On the Birth and Name of the Nation" will be held on Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gateway Gallery of Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

There is no registration fee, but organizers ask guests to donate old history books for the Gateway Gallery's reading corner.