Is Filipino still the national language?
August 27, 2001 | 12:00am
"Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda." – Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Rizal’s words seem to be a thing of the past – an old, dilapidated cliché. Nobody would like to remember what our forefathers, leaders, and concerned citizens did to uphold the dignity in having a national language, which we can call our very own – not borrowed or inherited from a colonial master. It is something that even the most powerful nations on earth cannot take away from us.
It is 2001, and perhaps it is time to refresh Filipinos with a historical overview of our national language.
Nationalist statesman Lope K. Santos first addressed the First Independent Congress in February 1930 by expounding on "the vernacular as a factor in national solidarity and independence."
Two years later, Rep. Manuel V. Gallego authored Bill No. 588 that provided for the use of the vernacular as the medium of instruction in all public elementary and secondary schools.
In 1934 and 1935, the national language issue was discussed during the Constitutional Convention. As a result of the discussion, the Constitution mandated in Section 3, Article XIII that "the National Assembly shall take steps toward the development and adoption of a common language based on one of the existing native languages."
On Nov. 13, 1937, the First National Assembly approved a law creating the National Language Institute to make a study and survey each of the existing native dialects, with a view to choosing one that will be used as a basis for the national language. The Institute selected Tagalog in view that it is widely spoken and the most understood in all the regions of the country. Thus, on Dec. 31, 1937, President Quezon proclaimed the language based on Tagalog as our national language. For this reason, Quezon was called the Father of our National Language.
On June 19, 1938, the National Assembly created the Institute of National Language. It was given the task of preparing a dictionary and grammar to be published not later than two years after the President’s proclamation of the national language. Within the time limit given, the Institute prepared and submitted to the President a Tagalog-English vocabulary and a grammar entitled Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa.
Beginning school year 1940-41, the teaching of the national language was set in the fourth year of all high schools, and the second year of all normal schools in both public and private schools in the Philippines. Commonwealth Act. No. 570 was promulgated on July 4, 1946 when the United States granted Philippine independence. The act provided for the use of the national language as one of the official languages of the Philippines, with the concession to permit Spanish and English in government offices.
The evolution of the national language has not remained uneventful. From 1935 onwards, we have seen this language develop, first as a barely disguised Tagalog under the title of national language. The great debate on the national language would first evolve from the use of letters p and f.
In 1959, the Department of Education called the Tagalog-based national language Pilipino. Eleven years later, the Board of National Education ordered a gradual shift to Pilipino as medium of instruction in the elementary level starting with Grade 1 in the school year 1974-1975, later progressing into higher grades. It was also in 1973 when the Board of National Education introduced a bilingual approach to teaching. This bilingual approach serves to promote the intellectualization of the national language – that is, to use as medium of intellectual exchanges in the academe, government offices as well as in other disciplines in the process of acquiring knowledge about the world which could be expressed by the said language.
In 1973, the Constitution states that the National Assembly should endeavor towards developing and formally adopting a common national language to be called Filipino. Meanwhile, Pilipino and English remained the official languages.
The 1987 Constitution, however, later stated that "the national language of the Philippines is Filipino."
The Commission on Wikang Pambansa was established on Aug. 14, 1991, by virtue of RA 7104 with the objective to propagate, develop and preserve for the enrichment of Philippine languages, with other foreign languages such as English to be used for diplomacy and business.
During the time of President Fidel Ramos, Armand Fabellla was appointed Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports. He gave priority to English by directing school administrators and teachers to lengthen the period devoted to English, Math, Science and Health subjects. Time spent for English and Math were increased by 33 percent. From 40 minutes, the period was lengthened to an hour. When asked why, Fabella said, "English is a skill we need if we are to compete. I am talking of English as a prerequisite for employment and a must for social mobility."
It is 2001, more than 70 years since Lope K. Santos made the first step towards the nationalization of Philippine language. Currently, all national examinations are written in English – from National Entrance Achievement Test (NEAT) to professional examinations. Everything from business transactions and legal contracts are written in English.
If nothing will be done to recognize the importance of having and actually using a national language, the threatened distinctive national quality will become a sad thing of the past.
And with present day communication facilities like the Internet, you’ll find a lot of official sites in various languages – English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, German, French, and Italian to name a few. Filipino, unlike many other Asian languages, is not on the list.
In the case of printed materials in the country, three publishers were inquired on the figures of their publications for the year 2000. Anvil Publishing Inc., has 37 books in English and only seven in Filipino. Bookmark Inc. has 33 books in English and only seven in Filipino. Solidaridad has one book in English and none in Filipino. If this is the trend of our publications, where are we going?
Should we look back and re-instill in our minds the famous words of Rizal or ignore them and smell like rotten fish? Is the National Language Month still worth celebrating? The only right time to ask these questions is now. (NCCA Features)
Angelina de la Torre is a librarian from the Asian Library of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. She is in-charge of the Archives and the memorabilia of the late President Ramon Magsaysay.
Rizal’s words seem to be a thing of the past – an old, dilapidated cliché. Nobody would like to remember what our forefathers, leaders, and concerned citizens did to uphold the dignity in having a national language, which we can call our very own – not borrowed or inherited from a colonial master. It is something that even the most powerful nations on earth cannot take away from us.
It is 2001, and perhaps it is time to refresh Filipinos with a historical overview of our national language.
Nationalist statesman Lope K. Santos first addressed the First Independent Congress in February 1930 by expounding on "the vernacular as a factor in national solidarity and independence."
Two years later, Rep. Manuel V. Gallego authored Bill No. 588 that provided for the use of the vernacular as the medium of instruction in all public elementary and secondary schools.
In 1934 and 1935, the national language issue was discussed during the Constitutional Convention. As a result of the discussion, the Constitution mandated in Section 3, Article XIII that "the National Assembly shall take steps toward the development and adoption of a common language based on one of the existing native languages."
On Nov. 13, 1937, the First National Assembly approved a law creating the National Language Institute to make a study and survey each of the existing native dialects, with a view to choosing one that will be used as a basis for the national language. The Institute selected Tagalog in view that it is widely spoken and the most understood in all the regions of the country. Thus, on Dec. 31, 1937, President Quezon proclaimed the language based on Tagalog as our national language. For this reason, Quezon was called the Father of our National Language.
On June 19, 1938, the National Assembly created the Institute of National Language. It was given the task of preparing a dictionary and grammar to be published not later than two years after the President’s proclamation of the national language. Within the time limit given, the Institute prepared and submitted to the President a Tagalog-English vocabulary and a grammar entitled Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa.
Beginning school year 1940-41, the teaching of the national language was set in the fourth year of all high schools, and the second year of all normal schools in both public and private schools in the Philippines. Commonwealth Act. No. 570 was promulgated on July 4, 1946 when the United States granted Philippine independence. The act provided for the use of the national language as one of the official languages of the Philippines, with the concession to permit Spanish and English in government offices.
The evolution of the national language has not remained uneventful. From 1935 onwards, we have seen this language develop, first as a barely disguised Tagalog under the title of national language. The great debate on the national language would first evolve from the use of letters p and f.
In 1959, the Department of Education called the Tagalog-based national language Pilipino. Eleven years later, the Board of National Education ordered a gradual shift to Pilipino as medium of instruction in the elementary level starting with Grade 1 in the school year 1974-1975, later progressing into higher grades. It was also in 1973 when the Board of National Education introduced a bilingual approach to teaching. This bilingual approach serves to promote the intellectualization of the national language – that is, to use as medium of intellectual exchanges in the academe, government offices as well as in other disciplines in the process of acquiring knowledge about the world which could be expressed by the said language.
In 1973, the Constitution states that the National Assembly should endeavor towards developing and formally adopting a common national language to be called Filipino. Meanwhile, Pilipino and English remained the official languages.
The 1987 Constitution, however, later stated that "the national language of the Philippines is Filipino."
The Commission on Wikang Pambansa was established on Aug. 14, 1991, by virtue of RA 7104 with the objective to propagate, develop and preserve for the enrichment of Philippine languages, with other foreign languages such as English to be used for diplomacy and business.
During the time of President Fidel Ramos, Armand Fabellla was appointed Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports. He gave priority to English by directing school administrators and teachers to lengthen the period devoted to English, Math, Science and Health subjects. Time spent for English and Math were increased by 33 percent. From 40 minutes, the period was lengthened to an hour. When asked why, Fabella said, "English is a skill we need if we are to compete. I am talking of English as a prerequisite for employment and a must for social mobility."
It is 2001, more than 70 years since Lope K. Santos made the first step towards the nationalization of Philippine language. Currently, all national examinations are written in English – from National Entrance Achievement Test (NEAT) to professional examinations. Everything from business transactions and legal contracts are written in English.
If nothing will be done to recognize the importance of having and actually using a national language, the threatened distinctive national quality will become a sad thing of the past.
And with present day communication facilities like the Internet, you’ll find a lot of official sites in various languages – English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, German, French, and Italian to name a few. Filipino, unlike many other Asian languages, is not on the list.
In the case of printed materials in the country, three publishers were inquired on the figures of their publications for the year 2000. Anvil Publishing Inc., has 37 books in English and only seven in Filipino. Bookmark Inc. has 33 books in English and only seven in Filipino. Solidaridad has one book in English and none in Filipino. If this is the trend of our publications, where are we going?
Should we look back and re-instill in our minds the famous words of Rizal or ignore them and smell like rotten fish? Is the National Language Month still worth celebrating? The only right time to ask these questions is now. (NCCA Features)
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