By Johanne Margarette R. Macob
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Aug. 5 (PNA) — Senator Pia Cayetano, chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Culture, underscored the importance of promoting the national language, Filipino, when she addressed the three-day national congress for the “Buwan ng Wika” (National Language Month) which started today at the Sison Auditorium here.
The national congress on Aug. 5 to 7 organized by the Komisyon sa Wikang Pilipino (KWP) chaired by Virgilio Almario, focuses on language planning in relation to the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MT-BMLE) and the K to 12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Hawak ninyo ang kaalaman at kakayahan ng pagsulong ng wikang Filipino (You hold the knowledge and skills for the advancement of our Filipino language),” Cayetano told the delegates from all over the country in a speech read for her by Noel De Guia.
On the ofher hand, Dr. Prospero De Vera, University of the Philippines (UP) Vice President for Public Affairs, said promotion of the national langauge shall be hand in hand with the promotion of regional languages or dialects.
“Ang gustong mangyari dito ay magkaroon ng konsensus sa pagtutulak ng Wikang Pambansa at kailangan makita iyong pagbuo at pag-unlad sa Wikang Pambansa na nakabatay sa wika ng mga rehiyon, (What they intend to do here is to come up with a consensus in pushing for the development of the National Language based on the dialects of different regions),” he said.
He called on local governments, among other stakeholders, to take part in this advocacy.
For one, he hailed the role of the provincial government in promoting its regional language, the Pangasinan or Pangasinense, through various activities like the development of a provincial hymn.
De Vera also noted that there are various issues with regards to the national language like the tensions around the use of colloquial terms; and the technology of communication, which shall be of help in the development of national language and not otherwise.
He also noted that schools shall not allow the use of TagLish (Tagalog and English) and other mixed use of languages.
“Kailangan maging bihasa sa lahat ng ito, hindi pinaghahalo (It is important that one need to master all these languages and not mixing them),” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Amado Espino Jr. thanked the KWF for choosing the province as the event’s venue.
He vowed that the province of Pangasinan is supporting the development and promotion of regional languages, citing each province’s distinct cultural identity as manifested in their respective languages, among others.
He cited that KWF has recognized Pangasinan as the first province to have developed its own language (Pangasinan) orthography.
The province is also set to put up the Pangasinan Studies Center, with the help of UP, soon.
The Congress was participated in by representatives from private and government organizations including educators, members of the media, and linguistic researchers
Topics being discussed in the three-day activity included “Ang Ortograpiyang Pambansa Bilang Norms,” “Ang Filipino sa K-12 (Pagtulay mula mother tongues),” “Ang Filipino Bilang Wikang Panturo,” “Ang Filipino Bilang Wikang Opisyal,” “Adyenda sa Pangangalaga sa mga Wikang Katutubo,” “Adyenda sa Araling Pangkultura,” “Adyenda sa Pagsasalin,” and “Ang Gramatikang Filipino.”
In 2012, the province also hosted the international conference on K to 12, also at the Sison Auditorium. (PNA)