In Pre-Hispanic Philippines, the mahárlika was the common Tagalog term for freedmen, not for the royalty.[40] The maharlika were the largest sector of society, and included warriors, artisans, artists, and others.[41] Unlike the rulers, maharlika did not participate in politics.[42] In 1978, then-president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos supported a House Bill mandating the country's renaming to Mahárlika under military rule.[43] Marcos claimed that Mahárlika was the name of the guerilla force he allegedly led during World War II.