Our country is named after King Philip II of Spain. Have we ever asked what kind of a man Philip II was, or why we were named after him? History records that Philip was only one-fourth Spaniard, his father Charles V was Hapsburg, and did not even speak a word in Spanish when he became king. Philip, according to some historians, was “a monster of bigotry, ambition, lust, and cruelty.” His own official court historian described him as a man whose “smile and dagger were very close.” He was the son of first cousins. His grandmother Juana died of insanity. Today she is known in Spain as “Juana la loca.” His policy of auto-da-fe, after being sworn in asking, burned and killed thousands of Muslims in Spain; Protestants in Europe, then in Spain, were beheaded as heretics. For looting Rome he was excommunicated by the Pope Catholic. Philip died of what historians euphemistically described as a very communicable social disease (syphilis), an ailment that affected his mind. Before his death, thousands of insects festered his body, which was covered with ulcers dripping with pus and reeking of unbearable smell. His name is better forgotten. He leaves an unpleasant memory, yet we continue to honor him by identifying ourselves as Filipinos, the descendants of Felipe.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:55:27 +0000
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