TO:	Solicitor General Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Director-General, NISA
SUBJECT:	Amendment of LOI No. 270

It has been determined that there are many applicants for naturalization by decree under Letter of Instructions No. 270, who sincerely desire to change their names into Filipino names to erase signs of their former alien nationalities and to further show the sincerity of their intentions to become Filipinos.  Since the procedure prescribed under existing law and rules regarding change of name is complicated and expensive, such that it does facilitate the assimilation or integration of these naturalized Filipinos into the national fabric as intended by LOI 270, they should be given the opportunity to change their foreign given or first names into "Filipino" means in the same proceedings being conducted under LOI 270. Accordingly, LOI No. 270 is amended further by adding a new paragraph thereto, to be known as paragraph 4-A, which shall read as follows:

"4-A. That the Committee shall also submit its recommendations as to who among the aforesaid applicants found to be eligible and qualified for naturalization by decree, may be allowed, in the same decree, to change their given or first names from foreign to Filipino, as may have been requested by them; Provided, however, That the Committee shall verify that the change of name is not intended for illegal, fraudulent or capricious reasons, nor to avoid criminal, civil, tax or other proper liability, and that the State or any individual will not be unduly prejudiced  thereby.

"The option to adopt Filipino given names shall be extended to the wives and minor children of applicants if they so desire."

The Special Committee on Naturalization shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this amended section.

Done in the City of Manila, this 9th day of July, in the year of Our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy-five.