Buwan ng wikang pambansa

This month, we join the Nation in celebrating the “Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.” The Manila Bulletin remains committed to promoting the National Language; therefore, we are dedicating our column today to this vital topic. Amid the many issues and controversies hounding the political arena, it has been pushed into the background. We must not let the noise make us forget this one thing that defines us, our identity.

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The dedication of August to honoring the “Wikang Pambansa” started during the term of President Fidel Ramos. The celebration used to be just a week long, which is why it was called “Linggo ng Wika.” President Ramos issued a presidential proclamation extending the celebration to a full month to honor the legacy of the revered late President Manuel Luis Quezon, the man we consider the Father of the National Language. He was born on the 19th of this month some 147 years ago.

This year’s theme, as set by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) is “Paglinang sa Filipino at Katutubong Wika: Makasaysayan sa Pagkakaisa ng Bansa.”

The KWF’s chosen theme acknowledges that national unity remains an aspiration. It also affirms that we are a nation of many tongues, where hundreds of native dialects across the country continue to thrive.

We hope that this month, we will continue to witness organized events designed to reawaken our consciousness of and love for the Mother Tongue.