RA 9048 (effective April 22, 2001)

While more popularly known as the Clerical Error Law, it also allows you to change your first name at the civil registrar without need of a judicial order. No courts, judges or lawyers. Just you, some fees, legwork, and time.

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Learn how you can change your name by watching this 60-second video🔗.

Transgender People

It's currently improbable without a change in the law or a challenge of the Silverio ruling. In 2002, Mely Silverio, a trans woman, petitioned to change her first name and gender marker. While she was initially successful and her petition granted by the trail court, but the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a petition for review of the lower court's decision. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled that you can't change your name or gender marker on the basis of sex reassignment or equity. You can read about her case here: G.R. No. 174689 - Silverio vs Republic - October 19, 2007🔗

But before the Silverio case, RA 9048, and RA 10172 (approved August 15, 2012), trans women like Geraldine Roman🔗 and Wesy Quisumbing🔗 were able to change their first names and gender markers following gender confirmation surgery in ~1994 and between 1996 & 2002, respectively. Wesy Quisumbing even got married🔗 to a man in Cebu (on or before 2002).

Intersex People

You might be able to through the courts. Jeff Cagandahan, an intersex person with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), was able to change his first name from "Jennifer" to "Jeff", change his gender marker from "female" to "male", and even got married to a woman. You can read about his case at the Supreme Court E-Library here: G.R. No. 166676 - Republic vs Cagandahan - September 12, 2008🔗. But laws are finicky things so, more specifically, if you have CAH and self-identify as a gender other than that assigned to you at birth, you can. But if you have a different intersex condition, it's up to the courts.