“There are those who argue the celebration should not be for the “Buwan ng Wika” or “National Language Month” since this country of 117 million people has, according to Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 186 languages”
Once more the Philippines is marking the “Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa,” (originally “Linggo ng Wika”) which then President Manuel L. Quezon, a Tagalog, so described in 1939, further renamed as Pilipino in 1959 by Education Secretary Jose E. Romero.
What used to be “Linggo ng Wika” all those years covered the whole month of August, via Proclamation 1041 in 1997 by then President Fidel V. Ramos, an Ilokano from Pangasinan who also spoke Pangasinense.
There are those who argue the celebration should not be for the “Buwan ng Wika” or “National Language Month” since this country of 117 million people has, according to Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 186 languages.
They include 184 living languages and two extinct languages, with 175 anong the living languages being indigenous and nine non-indigenous.
What the Tagalog speakers and writers are promoting is Tagalog, at the expense of other major languages which are spoken and written by millions north and south of the capital and have their own orthography, which are properly doors to their rich culture.
The 1987 Philippine Constitution designates Filipino as the national language. Article XIV, Section 6 states “the National language of the Philippines is Filipino.
As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages,” according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Section 7 declares “for purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English,” according to the Department of Education.
Sadly, there appears no earnest effort to incorporate some non-Tagalog words into the Filipino language, with the Tagalogs suggesting with their blindfold that Tagalog, their native language, is the country’s wikang pambansa, excluding Bisaya, Bikolnon, Hiligaynon, Waray, Ybanag, Pangasinense, and Ilokano, among other major languages.
As it appears, August is becoming a month-long celebration dedicated to promoting Tagalog and not the Filipino language and other indigenous languages.
Its significance lies in raising awareness about the importance of language in preserving national identity, fostering cultural heritage, and promoting unity among Filipinos.
But some sectors are alienating the non-Tagalogs in the mistaken conviction that Tagalog, which is merely the basis for the national language, is in fact the national language.
Easier said than done.
But there has been no dramatic efforts to incorporate into the Filipino language words from other major languages which appropriately boasts a rich tapestry of regional languages and dialects.
We understand the primary goal of “Buwan ng Wika” is to highlight the beauty and significance of the Filipino language as the country’s national language, with language being a crucial part of a nation’s identity.
Celebrating “Buwan ng Wika” which – here we endorse the submission that it should be retitled “Buwan ng mga Wika” — helps Filipinos connect with their roots and understand their cultural heritage.
Those who push for the “many languages” have muscle in their mission and vision because acknowledging the other major languages is also a recognition and promotion of the importance of other indigenous languages spoken in this multi-ethnic and multi-lingual nation.
Instead of promoting and encouraging unity, some are slamming shut the door on non-Tagalogs whose culture and legacy are equally as rich as the Tagalogs’ but their non-inclusion in what is being pushed forward as the national language will also put them down the path of extinction.
Suddenly we hear the echoes excerpted from the poetry of a man several years ago, the man who was obviously addressing Jose Rizal, and we quote: “Napia ta mango ta nikami ngamin. Maayong buntag sa inyo nga tanan. Naimbag a bigatyo amin Appo.
“Luzviminda Mercado vda. De Aurora, Tahan Na sa Pagluha.
“Pepe, mariing sinabi mo bago ka pumanaw: ang di marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa malansang isda.
“Ngunit ano ba, Pepe, ang kanilang sariling wika, nina Macabanto Mastura ng Maguindanao, Dayangdayang Laklakko ng Ifugao, o ni Alicia Gracia de Perio ng Bolinao?”
