Columnist’s note: I am honored to have as my guest columnist today one of the most important figures in the study and development of Filipino as the national language: Dr. Aurora E. Batnag.
She is well-respected in Filipino linguistic circles and writes on issues surrounding the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino in this “Buwan ng Wika.”ONLY in the Philippines! No other country in the world dedicates a whole month to celebrate languages.August is “Buwan ng Wika” in the country by virtue of Proclamation 1041, signed by then-president Fidel Ramos, in July 1997. The monthlong celebration of Filipino and other Philippine languages started in August 1998 and has continued since then.
At present, the board of commissioners is composed of Casanova, representing Tagalog; Benjamin Mendillo, representing Ilokano; and Carmelita Abdulrahman, representing Samar-Leyte. The three are full-time commissioners. Part-time commissioners are Hope Yu, Sebwano; Reggie O. Cruz, Kapampangan; Christian T. H. Aguado, Southern Cultural Communities; Melchor E. Orpilla, Pangasinan; Ruth M. Tindaan, Northern Cultural Communities; and Evelyn Oliquino, Bikol.
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English as the official language of the United StatesTHERE have been a number of recent events that should easily catch the attention of (socio)linguistics students. In the Philippines, as I have noted in my earlier columns, current changes in mother tongue education have definitely been in the discourses of language scholars and educators.
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Solidifying English as the language of education in the PhilippinesLast of two parts
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How P-pop sensation SB19 lives the Filipino languageAs we welcome Buwan ng Wika, there’s no better time to look at how language lives and evolves through art. And in pop music, no one carries that torch
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