What’s in a name? A lot. Especially if you entered politics like the kids of Erap. It would still take so many years before we see all voters in this country, voting conscientiously for issues and character rather than name-recall and personality.
What’s in a name? For Shakespeare, insignificant it is, because “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
What’s in a name? I tell you, it’s truly both an honor and a nightmare. Once you become a “tambay” the name your peers gave you will stick forever. When you are a street “tambay,” a different name, a street name that sounds crazy, to you would be given. One that would hold fast to your identity from your adolescent period all the way to becoming a senior citizen.
You will pity your family name because most likely it’d be replaced by your street name. In Kirayan, the handsome name Nelson had been popularly replaced by Tibor which he gladly took, while Rodney Faulmitan, my elementary classmate with an undying smile on his face, is now famous here as Boy Lupok.
Just like our other playmate beautifully named by his mom as Danny who loved to make the highway his king-sized bed when he grew up. He would be unidentified in our barangay by any other name most especially when you will ask around there looking for Part Danny Lambat.
I grew up in the street for so many years too hopping from one variety store to another, surrounded by friends with amazing names like Ronie Baltik, Armin Levi’s, Damian Bax, Marsing Ko-ot, Titit Pal-ak and some others.
Who would ever think that the astounding Filipino-Italian name of Juan Robertini Fior could end up only from Zone One to Zone Three to the Land of the Yellow Army as Daday Tamulmol?
And you think I was spared? Due to comical legend of it, the why’s and wherefores of my street name can never see print. But I remember Titit Pal-ak and Alek Dolit first called me that. It was “Tatệ” at first, meaning “from the States,” but I was glad it reduced to Tatz.
Some names are given by some persons themselves for themselves perhaps to preempt the bad and to ensure the best. During his prime, when he ruled the boxing world while defying his government that loved to oppress, Muhammad Ali called himself “The Greatest.”
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). The elitist or members of the so-called high society often protect their names and avoid scandal like a plague so deadly. That was then because it seems that power and riches today are favored over the established name and good reputation and tradition of the family.
You may agree that the sweetest word to hear from anyone is when he or she calls you by your name even once. Some names are retained by your memory even if you did not do it unintentionally. They just stay there and refused to be evicted because your heart would keep them automatically.
One song I loved to hear during my stay in parsonage is “Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know.” I could still recall Pastor Aguilar’s baritone rendition of it under a full moon’s glow.
How sweet it is till now, to be sang by you and also from others to be heard, because it’s the only Name which will surely eternally live. And “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
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