Buwan ng Wika explained

Holiday Name:Buwan ng Wika
Type:cultural
Official Name:Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa
Nickname:National Language Month
Observedby:Philippine schools nationwide
Significance:Promotes importance of Filipino, the national language, and other indigenous languages of the Philippines.
Begins:August 1
Ends:August 31
Month:August
Duration:Whole month
Frequency:Annual

Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa (Tagalog for 'National Language Month'),[1] [2] simply known as Buwan ng Wika ('Language Month'), is a month-long annual observance in the Philippines held every August to promote the national language, Filipino. The Commission on the Filipino Language is the lead agency in charge of organizing events in relation to the observances.

Background

National language

Efforts to introduce a national language in the Philippines began in 1935 during the Commonwealth era led by President Manuel L. Quezon. In 1946, a language based on Tagalog was adopted as the national language, which was officially designated as Pilipino in 1959. Quezon himself was born and raised in Baler, Aurora, which is a native Tagalog-speaking area. In 1973, Pilipino was formally renamed as "Filipino". Filipino and English were named as the official languages of the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution.

Linggo ng Wika

The predecessor of the Buwan ng Wika was the Linggo ng Wika ('Language Week'), which was established by President Sergio Osmeña through Proclamation No. 35 in 1946. From 1946 to 1953, the Linggo ng Wika was celebrated annually from March 27 to April 2. The end date was selected due to being the birthday of Tagalog litterateur Francisco Balagtas.[3]

President Ramon Magsaysay modified the dates to March 29 to April 4 in 1954. For the following year, the observance's dates were changed again by Magsaysay to August 13 to 19 through Proclamation No. 186. The change was made due to the older dates falling on students' summer break which meant schools can not take part in it. The end date was selected for being the birthday of Manuel L. Quezon, who became known as the "Father of the National Language". In 1988, President Corazon Aquino affirmed the dates through Proclamation No. 19.

Buwan ng Wika

In 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos through Proclamation No. 1041 changed the observance duration of the Linggo ng Wika to cover the whole of August. The name of the observance was changed accordingly to Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.[4]

Since 2019, the promotion of the country's other indigenous languages has been part of the observances in line with the UNESCO's designation of the year as "International Year of Indigenous Languages".[5] [6] [7]

Observances and activities

The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) is the lead agency in charge of the Buwan ng Wika observance. The agency organizes events promoting the local language and Filipino nationalism.[8] Schools customarily hold "costume" events as in the culminating day for the month-long event, where students wear traditional Filipino clothing, and events include Original Pilipino Music singing and traditional Filipino dance competitions.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: De Vera . Ellalyn . Noriega . Richa . National Language Month celebration to highlight Philippines' indigenous languages . August 28, 2021 . Manila Bulletin . July 29, 2019 . en, tl.
  2. News: Medina . Marielle . Did You Know: August is National Language Month . August 28, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Inquirer Research . August 4, 2020 . en.
  3. Web site: Proclamation No. 35, s. 1946 . Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines . March 26, 1946 . August 28, 2021.
  4. Web site: Proklamasyon Blg. 1041, s. 1997 . Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines . July 15, 1997.
  5. News: Bagaoisan . Anjo . Paglaho ng mga katutubong wika sa Pilipinas, layong pigilan . Plan to avert the disappearance of native languages in the Philippines bared . August 28, 2021 . ABS-CBN News . July 30, 2019 . en.
  6. Web site: Paunan . Jerome Carlo . Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ngayong Agosto. National Language Month this August . Philippine Information Agency . August 2021 . August 28, 2021 . tl.
  7. Web site: Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa . Department of Interior and Local Government . August 28, 2021 . 2020.
  8. News: Agcolola . Garig . Malig . Kaela . Kasaysayan at diwa ng Buwan ng Wika . History and spirit of the Language Month . August 28, 2021 . Rappler . August 22, 2017 . en.
  9. News: Buwan ng Wika costume ideas . August 28, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . August 5, 2019 . en.