why are are Filipino names often words?

Question

I hope that makes sense and isn’t offensive or anything, I’m genuinely curious because I’ve tried googling it and haven’t found a lot. I’ve met a couple people recently where they have one or two first names and will have an additional either first or middle name(?) such as Salvacion, which sounds like the English word ‘salvation’. I assume this is a biblical thing, but the names sound more Spanish. I don’t know a lot about Filipino or Spanish culture nor their histories (religious or otherwise), could someone explain?

In: 2

Answer 1

You are right about the Spanish. The Philippines were a Spanish colony from 1565 to 1898. And a lot of Spanish Catholic missionaries were serving the colony. So you expect to find a lot of Spanish and other Catholic influences there including in things like names.