In commemoration of Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa this August, Senator Loren Legarda emphasized the importance of the Filipino language and other native languages as key to progress, peace, and justice.
“Ang ating malalim na pag-unawa at pagpapahalaga sa Wikang Filipino at mga katutubong wika ang siyang magpapatibay ng pundasyon ng ating bayan at ng ating adhikain bilang mamamayan,” Legarda said.
“Binubuhay ng wika ang mayamang kasaysayan at ang makulay na kultura at tradisyon ng ating lahi. Pinapag-alab nito ang ating diwang makabayan at nagbibigay buhay sa ating pagnanais sa isang mas maunlad at malayang lipunan,” she added.
The Philippines has been celebrating the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa annually since 1997 when former President Fidel V. Ramos declared the month as such through Proclamation No. 1041, s. 1997.
It is also celebrated during the birth and death month of the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, Manuel L. Quezon, who is widely regarded as the “Ama ng Wikang Pambansa.”
“Ang ating mga wika ay mahalagang bahagi ng ating pamana at pagkakakilanlan bilang isang bansa, at nararapat lamang na ipreserba natin ang mga ito bilang tanda ng ating pagbibigay galang sa ating kasaysayan at kultura,” said the four-term senator.
“Ang patuloy na pangangalaga sa ating mga wika ang pinakamahalagang regalong maibibigay natin sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga Pilipino,” she continued.
Legarda has been working with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) to erect various Bantayog-Wika in various provinces to celebrate the richness of language in the country.
The veteran legislator supported the creation of books such as the Ortograpiyang Pambansa, a guide to the current state of the Filipino language, and the Linguistic Atlas, which contains information on native languages.
In coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Legarda launched a documentary titled “Usaping Wika,” which discusses the Ilokano, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a, Waray, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Maranaw, and other major languages of the Philippines.
