cultivating a culture of research by Jean Makisig

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Buwan ng Wika 2018: Cultivating a culture of research July 31, 2018 KWF Share Twitter Google Plus MANILA, July 31 -- For the longest time, the education system in the Philippines has seemed reluctant to impose Filipino as medium of instruction in classrooms. It is evident from the so-called “English Only Policy” in some elementary schools, to the then near termination of Filipino courses from the curriculum of higher education, if not for the protests that prevented it. With such challenges, the Commission on Philippine Language or Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) has been moving nonstop to secure the national language a comfortable spot in the academe. This year’s Buwan ng Wika is anchored in strengthening the presence of the Philippine languages in the field of research. The celebration does away with the usual school activities like pageants and sabayang pagbigkas, but rather aims to heighten the country’s reception of Filipino as an intellectualized language. KWF is set to roll out activities that will hold together teachers, linguists, researchers, and various organizations from different regions to pledge their share in establishing a culture of research that is weaved by no less than our local languages. The month-long celebration will be introduced by a symbolic flag-raising ceremony at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Prior to that, KWF will hold a press conference at the same venue on July 26. Notable scholars and professionals will participate in the Lakad para sa Wika, a campaign to escalate Filipino as a language of research. KWF will also hold a three-day congress from August 2 to 4 at the University of Santo Tomas Albertus Magnus Building. It will be initiated by KWF Chairman and National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario’s Estado ng Wikang Pambansa or State of the Language Address (SOLA). In this speech, Almario will tackle the challenges faced by the national language today, especially with the looming reforms in the country’s

form of government. He will also weigh in on amalgamation and purism, which, for the longest time, have sparked debates among linguists and scholars only to leave them divided and their respective views untouched. The conference, titled Adyenda sa Pagbuo ng Gramatika ng Wikang Pambansa, will involve the revisiting of Lope K. Santos’s Balarila ng Wikang Pambansa, the old yet most recent Filipino grammar book that has long called for revisions. The agency’s plan to come up with a grammar book will also be tackled. KWF emphasizes the importance of attendees from different regions as it would be a time for them to take part in reshaping the national language into a more inclusive and intellectualized one. The celebration will also extend to universities in different regions. KWF’s Sentro ng Wika at Kultura provincial chapters will be holding various lectures on the usage of Philippine languages in academic research. The conferences will be held on different dates in the following provinces: Benguet, Abra, Ifugaw, Kalinga, Ilocos, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Batangas, Palawan, Marinduque, Bikol, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Iloilo, Aklan, Bacolod, Cebu, Leyte, Biliran, Zamboanga, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, General Santos, Marawi, and Sulu.

Intellectualizing the Filipino language Almario reiterated that a language will only be intellectualized when it is inflicted in academic research. He added that as early as grade school, Filipinos should develop curiosity and persistence by joining debates. Almario emphasized that students should learn early the value of research—not as mere academic requirement but a tool that is able to spark discussions and reforms when called for. For his part, linguist and University of the Philippines professor Galileo Zafra put the weight on teachers. He said that although speaking in Filipino is second nature to the majority, the language should still be taught in schools so as to create reasonable standards of its usage in classrooms. “Mayroon kasing popular belief na hindi kailangang ituro ang Filipino. Mali ’yung ganoong paniniwala kasi iba ’yung Filipino na ginagamit natin sa pakikipagkuwentuhan saka iba ’yung for academic purposes,” Zafra said in an interview. (There is a popular belief that teaching Filipino is unnecessary. This notion is wrong because there is a significant difference between the colloquial Filipino and the one used for academic purposes.) During the month-long celebration, teachers and linguists will be reminded of their crucial role in the intellectualization of the Filipino language—and what measures they can conduct to heighten the appreciation of the local languages in the field of research. This is part of KWF’s campaign to use Filipino as medium of instruction in classrooms. For one, UST College of Science professor emeritus Fortunato Sevilla was awarded the KWF Kampeon ng Wika (language champion) recently for teaching kimika (chemistry) using Filipino, as it is the language that most of his students are more comfortable with. To honor more individuals who have a meaningful share in promoting Filipino in their respective fields, KWF will host the annual awarding ceremony Pammadayaw on August 28 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The categories include Dangal ng Wika, a lifetime achievement for those who have notable impact in strengthening Filipino; Kampeon ng Wika for language champions; and the annual essay competition KWF Gawad Sanaysay.

Strengthening Philippine literature KWF has also been working double time to strengthen and promote Philippine literature. The agency will hold a three-day seminar titled Reoryentasyong Pampanitikan in Pangasinan. This is part of KWF’s goal to provide literature from different regions a broader audience and acknowledge writers from provinces as vital contributors to the rich local literature. Apart from that, there will also be a conference on folk-epic to be held at NCCA in Intramuros, and a lecture titled ‘Balagtisismo vs. Modernismo’ to be hosted by the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA). Other activities include KWF’s Araw ng Pagtatatag which will fall on the 14th of August, and Pasinaya ng Bantayog-Wika (launching of language monuments) in Bataan and Batangas on the latter part of the month. (KWF/WSS) Buwan ng wika and KWF

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