Month of August, Month of Filipino Language

Philippines is composed of 7, 107 islands and more or less five hundred tribes. Philippines is called the Pearl of the Orient Seas and because of the great number of tribes we have, there is always a difference in dialect. There’s Iloko, Cebuano, Chavacano, Batangeño and others. But however great the number of dialects in the Philippines, still, we understand each and everyone because of having a national language.

From Baler, Aurora, former President Manuel L. Quezon assigned the Filipino dialect as the national language. More than a century has passed since this act was made and was approved by our very own President Quezon. That’s why it is also of the same number of years of approving the Filipino Language month and the celebration itself which so happens during the eight month of the year, the month of August. Like the feasts, there are so many agendas to be done during the month of Philippine language. A few are games, singing and dancing contests, the only thing isn’t available at this celebration are foods. There are balagtasan, which is like a debate between to person, jingle, and paggawa at pagbigkas ng tula and sabayang pagbigkas (speech choir) and tagisan ng talino. These are only a few for us to remember and to the Filipinos the importance that our forefathers has given to our national language. Let us not only use Filipino language but also, let us love it whole – heartedly.