Missionary Name for the Philippines
The Philippines was meant by God to be a missionary country. his is already seen in the name of our country. According to the Bible, “For as his name is so he” (1 Samuel 25:25).
Some modern nationalists object to the name “Philippines” because it was given by foreigners. There have been many attempts to change the name of our country, but they have not succeeded. Why? Because the destiny of the Philippines is found in her name.
Yes, the Philippines was named after the prince who later became King Philip II of Spain. He was the greatest missionary king of Europe at the time. He used the wealth of his empire to send the Gospel to many other countries through Catholic missionaries. When some advisers wanted him to abandon the Philippines because it was not making money for Spain, he answered: “If there were only one person there to keep the name of Jesus alive, I would send missionaries from Spain to spread the Gospel. Looking for mines of precious metals is not the only business of kings.”
Yes, also, the Philippines was named after a servant with a missionary heart. Because it is the Catholic custom to name children after saints, Philip II was really named after Philip the Evangelist, who was a servant of the first apostles. Philip was only one of the “seven” who waited on tables and served in the distribution of foods (Acts 6). But he also wanted a share in the distribution of the Good News, so the Holy Spirit led him witness to an Ethiopian royal official (Acts 8). Because of this one-to-one evangelism, the kingdom of Ethiopia in Southern Africa became Christian.
Whether a king or a servant, the name is the same, and so is the name of the Philippines. No other nation in the world has such a great missionary name.
Famous Firsts: First Around the World
The Victoria was the first ship to sail around the world. But who was the first man to go around the world? The three candidates for this honor are:
1. Enrique. The Filipino slave of Magellan, he was a Cebuano. Magellan bought him in the Malacca slave market. He was a good servant and became a Catholic. When Magellan went to the Philippines, Enrique acted as interpreter of the expedition. After Magellan died and his men went back to Spain, he remained in Cebu. Some historians say Enrique was the first man to go around the world because he came home when Magellan landed in the Philippines.
2. Ferdinand Magellan. The Portuguese explorer who planned and led the expedition that sailed around the world. Magellan was in the East before , as a Portuguese soldier in Malacca in 1505-1513. Because he was killed by Lapulapu in Mactan, he did not return to Spain with his men. But some historians say he was the first man around the world.
3. Sebastian de Elcano. The Spanish ship captain who brought the Victoria and her survivors back to Spain. He was on Magellan’s voyage from start to finish. Although he was one of the mutineers (rebels) at Port Julian, Magellan pardoned him. After Magellan and other leaders died, Elcano led the survivors back to Spain. The Spanish king gave him the honor which should have gone to Magellan. Elcano got an annual pension and a coat-of-arms with a picture of the globe saying “prime circumdediste me (first to sail around me).” So, some historians say he was the first man around the world.
