MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Americans are called Americans, regardless of gender. Similarly, Germans, Chinese, Japanese, French are called what they are, male or female.

But citizens of the Philippines who are male are called Filipinos, and those who are female, Filipinas.

That’s going to change soon.

Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed a bill that would change the way Philippine citizens are referred to.  And it will be gender-neutral.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Family Relations and Gender Equality is proposing that citizens of the Philippines, regardless of gender,  be called Filipinish.

Sort of like the English. Or Swedish. Or Irish.