8th Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

Rommel Jacinto Dantes Silverio is a male transsexual. He is a biological male who feels trapped in a male body. Being that, he sought gender re-assignment in Bangkok, Thailand. This procedure was successful –he now has a female body. Thereafter, in 2002, he filed a petition for the change of his first name (from Rommel to Mely) and his sex (male to female) in his birth certificate. He wanted to make these changes, among others, so that he can marry his American fiancé. The Manila Regional Trial  Court granted his petition stating that Silverio’s misfortune to be trapped in a man’s body is not his own doing and should be in any way taken against him. To grant the petition would bring the much-awaited happiness on the part of Silverio and his fiancé and the realization of their dreams. But this decision of the RTC was reversed by the Court of Appeals, and thus it was submitted before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled that the change of such entries finds no support in existing legislation. A change of name is a privilege and not a right. It may be allowed in cases where the name is ridiculous, tainted with dishonor, or difficult to pronounce or write; a nickname is habitually used; or if the change will avoid confusion. The petitioner’s basis of the change of his name is that he intends his first name compatible with the sex he thought he transformed himself thru surgery. The Court says that his true name does not prejudice him at all, and no law allows the change of entry in the birth certificate as to sex on the ground of sex reassignment. Thus, the Court denied the petition.

In the said case, we learn that a name is not just a name. It brings with it some serious legal and public policy consequences. Just like when one asks for an NBI clearance, instead of approaching the Releasing Window with a smile, he or she starts to frown as an NBI personnel tells him or her that he or she has just been HIT! It means he or she has a namesake and probably with a criminal record or he himself or she herself has a criminal record. So a name is important for any person.

In our Gospel (Luke 1: 57-66), the name-giving of the child is important to consider. It also shows how important to choose the name of the child. For others, they wanted to name the child Zechariah, but for both parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah wanted to name the child John. So people asked, “What then will this child be?” They could not understand the reason behind the parents’ decision as they were not privy to the instruction of the angel to Zechariah himself to name the child John. Why the name John? What is in the name? Well, the name of a child is like a title in a story which introduces his or her character, his or her being special and his or her mission in life. In the Talmud–Brachot 7b; Arizal – Sha’ar HaGilgulim 24b, it is said, “For at the beginning of life we give a name, and at the end of life a “good name” is all we take with us.” So if a child is important to both parents, they must give him a name that will have a positive effect to him or her. If ever the child is lost in the journey of life, his or her name may remind him or her of what he or she must become. For example, the name Jude or Judah or Judas comes from the same root as the word “thanks.” In reference to Judas Iscariot, he abandoned his mission in life to give thanks to God by betraying Jesus. He did not live up to the ideals connected to his name, thus his name even until now is tainted with bad reputation affecting also those who carry such a name. Thanks to Judas Thaddeus! Because he lived up to the ideals carried by his name, many people give thanks to God as they receive many miracles through his intercession. Going back to the Gospel, the name John means “God is gracious”. So in naming the child John, the parents expect that their son’s mission is to proclaim the graciousness of God to people. He has to prepare the way for the Lord by creating a welcoming heart among the people. People shall see the graciousness of God as John leads them to the direction towards Jesus. John shall live and die proclaiming that God is gracious.

To end, we have some names to consider implying one’s life mission. We have Joshua (Yehoshu’a) which means “Yahweh saves or God is salvation”. We also have Joseph (Ioseph or Yosef) which means “May God add or increase,” just like a good father who is blessed by God with long life and abundant posterity. The name Andrew means manly while James was derived from Iakobos or Jacob which means “he grasps the heel.” Nowadays, there are names given to children being the result of many combinations such as combining the names of the parents. Usually they produce good sounds once they are pronounced but they do not make any sense at all as they do not convey any meaning to one’s life. For example, if we try to create a name by combining the names of Peter and Malou , we get Petmalu! From the names of Jasmine and Louie, we have Jas-Lo! From the names of Catherine and Terry, we have Cathe-Ter! From the names of Segunda and Benedict, we have Seg-Ben! Well, it is up to the parents how they want to call their children and what names they want to give them. Hopefully, they are fully aware of this: “For at the beginning of life we give a name, and at the end of life a good name”. Amen.