04/08/2025
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐
When you travel across the Philippines, the scenery shifts dramaticallyโfrom sunlit coasts to cool highlands, from sleepy towns to buzzing cities. But beyond the landscapes, something more fascinating transforms with every province you step into: the language.
In Pampanga, a lively "Kamusta naka?" echoes amidst streets adorned with glowing parols. In Manila, a calm "Kamusta?" blends into the rush of city lights and crowded trains. These greetings may sound familiar, but they reveal something deeper: identity. They arenโt just accents or variationsโthey are dialects and native languages, each a vibrant thread in the tapestry of our nation's soul.
As we celebrate Buwan ng Wika, we are called not only to honor Filipino as our national language but also to embrace the beautiful diversity of the over 180 native languages and dialects spoken across the archipelago. These languages are treasuresโjust like pearls hidden beneath our seas or gold buried under our mountains. Each language is precious, not only for its sound but for the centuries of stories, values, and wisdom it carries.
Tagalog, the foundation of our national language, is widely spoken in Luzon. But venture further, and youโll be welcomed by the musicality of Cebuano in the Visayas and Mindanao, the warmth of Ilocano in the north, or the strength of Kapampangan in Central Luzon. Youโll hear the quick rhythm of Waray, the charm of Hiligaynon, and the soul of Maranao or Tausug in the south.
This month, however, let us go beyond the familiar and open our ears and hearts to our lesser-known native languagesโthose that are rarely heard in media or textbooks but are no less rich in meaning and beauty. Let us learn about the resilience embedded in the Ivatan language of Batanes, the storytelling cadence of Kinaray-a from Panay Island, the rhythmic tone of Ifugao in the Cordilleras, the melodic structure of T'boli in South Cotabato, the pride in Blaan, the strength in Kalinga, and the enduring spirit of our indigenous tongues.
Despite the rise of English and Filipino as common modes of communication, many Filipinos remain proudly multilingualโshifting fluently from one language to another depending on context, location, or emotion. A student may speak Ilocano at home, use Filipino in class, and write in English for schoolworkโa beautiful dance of languages that reflects our adaptability and cultural depth.
To speak a Filipino native language is to carry a legacy. This Buwan ng Wika, may we go beyond celebration and take the time to listen, to learn, and to speak the words that shaped the hearts of our ancestors. Let us celebrate not just a languageโbut a nation of languages, and in doing so, keep every word, every dialect, and every voice alive.
Written by Jasmine N. Scutt, Feature Editor Video by Annie Faith D. Abes, EIC and Reyster B. Atienza, Sports Editor
