The language of our nation

We’re midway through the National Language Month, and we could be sure the kids are holding related events in schools.

- TONYO CRUZ

Many could still remember the phrases “national understanding,” “national unity,” and “national identity” that they used before in promoting the national language in school activities.

But in real life and at the same time Jose Mari Chan and Mariah Carey reenter the zeitgeist on September 1, the attention on the national language is dropped.

The contentious debate on the impeachment regarding the English word “forthwith” would not have lasted one day — nay, one minute — had Congress and the rest of government been using the official Filipino edition of the 1987 Constitution as a primary source on the basic law.

Rendered in Filipino, the relevant provision is as clear as day: “Kung ang pinanumpaang sakdal o resolusyon sa impeachment ay iniharap ng isang-katlo man lamang ng lahat ng mga Kagawad ng Kapulungan, iyon ay dapat bumuo sa Articles of Impeachment, at dapat isunod agad ang paglilitis ng Senado.”

The Filipino word “agad” is unambiguous and leaves no space for misinterpretation and to debate.

The Constitution itself proclaims in its Language provisions: “Ang Konstitusyong ito ay dapat ipahayag sa Filipino at Ingles at dapat isalin sa mga pangunahing wikang panrehyon, Arabic, at Kastila (This Constitution shall be promulgated in Filipino and English and shall be translated into major regional languages, Arabic, and Spanish).”