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My great-grandfather was from the Philippines. His name was Prudencio, but he thought it was too strange of a name for the Americans to warm up to, so he told everyone to call him Leo. While I adore the name Leo and associate it with him, I can't help but wonder why he didn't just keep Prudencio. It WAS his name, and such a big part of who he was.

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So, I guess it kind of makes me sad when foreigners change their names to suit American taste. If I meet someone from another country, I try to pronounce their name the best I can. This country is a melting pot, and you're going to meet a lot of different people. Might as well get used to it. :)