Buwan ng Wika

This August, we celebrate the Buwan ng Wika with the theme “Tatag ng Wikang Filipino, Lakas ng Pagka-Pilipino”. Education Secretary Armin Luistro are closely coordinating with the Komisyon ng Wikang  Filipino in promoting the national language. “Our national language defines us as a nation” said Luistro. He also emphasized the importance of our national language for communication, understanding, unity and progress of our country.

The celebration was in accordance with the 1987 Constitution, citing the importance of national language to the country’s development as well as with Proclamation 1041 issued by President Fidel Ramos that emphasizes the importance of recognizing the native language. The month of August was declared as Buwan ng Wika because the country’s father of national language, former president Manuel L. Quezon was born on August 19, 1878.

The Philippines’ national language is called Filipino. However, there are over a hundred languages all around the country plus a lot more in terms of dialects. These are the country’s major languages with at least one million native speakers: Filipino, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Albay-Bikol, Pangasinense, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kinaray-a and Tausug.

To demonstrate how different these languages are, below are the translations of selected English words to the respective local languages:

English	One	Two	Three	Person	Day	Dog	House
Filipino	Isa	Dalawa	Tatlo	Tao	Araw	Aso	Bahay
Cebuano	Usa	Duha	Tulo	Tawo	Adlaw	Iro	Balay
Ilokano	Maysa	Dua	Tallo	Tao	Adlaw	Aso	Balay
Hiligaynon	Isa	Duha	Tatlo	Tawo	Adlaw	Ido	Balay
Waray-Waray	Usa	Duha	Tulo	Tawo	Adlaw	Ayam	Balay
Kapampangan	Metung	Adwa	Atlu	Tau	Aldo	Asu	Bale
Bikol	Saro	Duwa	Tulo	Tawo	Aldaw	Ayam	Harong
Bikol-Albay	Usad	Darawa	Tulo	Tawo	Aldow	Ayam	Baloy
Pangasinense	Sakey	Duara	Talora	Too	Agew	Aso	Abong
Kinaray-a	Sara	Darwa	Tatlo	Taho	Adlaw	Ayam	Balay
Tausug	Hambuuk	Duwa	Tu	Tau	Adlaw	Iru	Bay