Do we have to?

If this proposal is approved into law, motorcycle riders on expressway legal bikes may soon send text messages to their riding buddies that says “hey, I'm already here at Petron MHDPEx, where are you?” when meeting up at a gas station along NLEx when riding north. The House of Representatives has just approved a bill that will rename the North Luzon Expressway or NLEx to Marcelo H. del Pilar Expressway or MHDPEx. According to representatives Bayani Fernando of Marikina City and Joe Antonio Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan.

The chamber approved on third and final reading Rep. Fernando and Sy-Alvarado's House Bill No. 8958 that sought to commemorate Marcelo H. del Pilar, a writer and patriot, who, along with José Rizal and Graciano López Jaena, became known as the leaders of the Reform Movement in Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

"It will constantly remind us of the noble deeds of Marcelo H. del Pilar and inspire our people to emulate his example of selfless service to the nation, while his exceptional courage and leadership gave hope and helped unite the Filipino people at a critical time in our country’s history," said Rep. Sy-Alvarado in the explanatory note of the proposed law.

Do we have to?

When the news came in today, the proposal was met with flak among netizens. “Even if you change its name, the people will still call it as NLEX. Case in point: C5. It was never called by any driver or rider as Carlos P. Garcia Ave. or Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Ave.” said one netizen on his post. Another netizen pointed out, that NLEX as it is, is simpler to communicate when telling somebody his or her location, especially during an emergency, unlike saying the longer and more complicated MH del Pilar Expressway or MHDPEx

The Senate has yet to pass a counterpart measure to rename the thoroughfare that stretches from Balintawak in Quezon City to Mabalacat Pampanga.