National language: Catalyst of unity

MANILA, Philippines - The adoption of the mother or native tongue (the language of the locality or region in which one is born and raised, or that which is spoken in the home) in kindergarten and in the first three years of elementary education does not and should not in any way repeal the national policy of developing a national language.

The mother tongue could, in fact, facilitate the development and propagation of a national language, which has been a continuing policy and aspiration of our government.

President Manuel Quezon was one of the original champions of developing a national language, instrumental in the introduction into the 1935 Constitution of the provision that “Congress shall take steps toward the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages.”

An astute lawyer and statesman, Quezon was aware of the definition of “nation” as a “large body of people united by common descent, history, culture of language, inhabiting a particular state or territory.” Thus, lacking one of the essential components of nationhood – such as a common language – people will not really be a nation. They will not realize the unity needed to attain the common aspirations of people for progress civilization and modernization.

While president of the Commonwealth from 1935 to 1944, Quezon was dismayed to realize that Filipinos from different regions, provinces and localities had to speak in a foreign tongue, like English or Spanish, to understand each other. He forthwith established the Institute of National Language that recommended Tagalog as the basis for a national language.

In 1937, Quezon issued a proclamation declaring the adoption of a national language after two years. The Institute then started working on a grammar guide and dictionary of the national language, but the work was interrupted by the outbreak of Second World War.

During the Japanese occupation, the Philippine government under President Jose Laurel went further by explicitly recognizing Tagalog as the national language pursuant to the 1943 Constitution.

On March 26, 1946, with the reestablishment of the Commonwealth, President Sergio Osmeña issued Proclamation No. 35, designating March 27 to April 2 of each year as National Language Week. The observance ended on the birthday of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar, known as the “Prince of Tagalog Literature” and author of the Tagalog epic, Florante at Laura.

President Ramon Magsaysay changed the period for the observance of National Language Week. In Proclamation No. 35, issued on Sept. 23, 1955, he decreed that the week shall be observed from Aug. 13 to 19, ending on the birth anniversary of President Quezon, who had come to be known as the Father of our National Language.

One of the reasons for the change is that the dates covered by the Osmeña proclamation came at the end of the school year. President Corazon Aquino reiterated the Magsaysay proclamation. To further strengthen previous proclamations, President Fidel Ramos issued Proclamation No. 1041 on Jan. 15, 1997, which declared the whole month of August as National Language Month.

The 1973 Constitution, which supplanted the 1935 Constitution during President Marcos’ martial law regime, continued the government policy of propagating a national language, but with a difference. Sec. 3 (2) of Article XV simply stated: “The National Assembly shall take steps towards the development and formal adaptation of a common national language to be known as Filipino. (3) Until otherwise provided by law, English and Pilipino shall be the official languages.”

The 1987 Constitution adopted during the term of President Corazon Aquino further changed the wordings of the provision. Section 6, Article IV, of the charter merely declares: “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.”

As a member of the opposition in the Batasang Pambansa (National Assembly) convened under the 1973 Constitution, I filed a bill, Batas Pambansa Blg. 6543, to implement the national language provision of the 1973 Charter. The bill called for the establishment of a National Language Commission composed of representatives from various regions and disciplines to gundertake, coordinate and promote researches for the development, propagation and preservation of Filipino and other languages.”

But the passage of the bill was interrupted by the 1986 EDSA revolution that overthrew the Marcos regime. Fortunately, my brother, Rep. Jaime Lopez, was elected one of Manila’s representatives to the First Congress installed under the 1987 Constitution approved during the administration of President Corazon Aquino. He continued my crusade.

Jaime’s bill, which sought the creation of a Commission on the Filipino Language, became Republic Act No. 7104, approved on Aug. 14, 1991. It sought to give life to Section 6 the 1987 Constitution.

The new Constitution further provides: “Subject to provision of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.” (Sec. 7)

The Constitution also adds: “For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English. Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis.”

RA 7104 declares: “Pursuant to the mandate of the Constitution, it is herby declared to be a policy of the Government to ensure and promote the evolution, development and further enrichment of Filipino as the national language of the Philippines, on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages. To this end, the Government shall take the necessary steps to carry out the said policy.”

RA 7104 establishes the policy of the state to develop and propagate a national language to serve as catalyst and strengthener of the nation through greater cohesion and unity of purpose and ideals.

It is evident that nations with national languages like the United States, England, France, Germany and Russia have become strong and economically successful. Nations with different tongues have adopted common languages like Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia), Malaysia (Bahasa Malaysia) and China (Mandarin), and thus entered the status of “emerging” or “newly industrialized” countries.

The adoption of the mother tongue in the first years of schooling would indeed be an effective step in developing the ability of our children to understand lessons being taught in school. It will also be an effective bridge toward acquiring the ability to understand and speak the national language and English.

However, the national language should be developed and promoted to unite the nation in pursuit of the national interest, and also to preserve and enrich our culture and historical roots.

The author was a member of the Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986 and mayor of Manila from 1986 to 1992.