The difference between "Filipino" and "Pilipino" mainly lies in historical, linguistic, and orthographic contexts:
- Pilipino was the earlier term used for the national language of the Philippines, derived from Tagalog. It originated during a time when the Philippine alphabet did not include the letters F and V, so these sounds were approximated with P or B. Pilipino was officially used under the 1940 Commonwealth Act and reflected a Tagalog-centric view of the national language
- Filipino is the modern, official term adopted in the 1987 Philippine Constitution to represent the national language. This term includes the letter F, reflecting the expanded Filipino alphabet that incorporates letters not native to Tagalog. Filipino is intended to be a more inclusive language, incorporating elements from various Philippine languages, Spanish, English, and others, symbolizing the multicultural heritage of the Philippines
- In terms of usage, Filipino is the official and preferred term today, used in government, education, and formal contexts to refer to both the language and the people of the Philippines (Filipino for males or inclusive, Filipina for females). Pilipino is still used occasionally, often nostalgically or historically, but is less common in contemporary formal use
- Linguistically, Filipino and Pilipino are essentially the same language, both based on Tagalog. The difference is mostly in name and orthography rather than in grammar or vocabulary. Filipino was meant to evolve into a fusion language incorporating other Philippine languages, but in practice, it remains very close to Tagalog
- The choice between "Filipino" and "Pilipino" also reflects cultural and political considerations regarding national identity and language standardization. The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) has at times shifted between endorsing the use of F or P, but the Constitution uses "Filipino" with an F, which is the current official standard
In summary:
Aspect| Pilipino| Filipino
---|---|---
Origin| Older term, Tagalog-based, no F/V| Modern official term, includes F/V
Alphabet| Based on older alphabet without F| Uses modern alphabet including F
Usage| Historical, nostalgic, less common| Official, formal, widely used
Language Base| Tagalog| Tagalog-based, intended inclusive
People Reference| Less formal| Official term for citizens
Thus, "Filipino" is the official and contemporary term for the national language and people, while "Pilipino" is an older form reflecting historical spelling and usage
