Check today's topics at DILA e-Group
News / Announcements
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A testimonial to Mother Language Education
by Merlie Alunan
My work for mother language has been focused on encouraging young writers to use their respective mother languages for creative writing. I have been fairly successful in Region VIII where at least five writers have actually come up with whole collections of poetry published by NCCA no less. This is a bumper crop, considering that no one has been writing in Waray for the last fifty years at least.
These writers are young so we can expect more from them, and they will hopefully be influencing other younger writers to write in the mother language. If you teach mother language, there should be a body of works beyond the classroom to sustain the interest and to inspire its continuous usage, and scholarship to preserve and enhance what lore exists in the language.
We cannot have teachers who only know the cartilla and cannot think beyond it. The language must move from pragmatics to grace and elegance and depth. I guess that's the long view. Our public school system, unfortunately, is notorious for dealing only with the short view and are quite happy with numbers, not with quality.
This is one of my concerns, the corollary development of a reading culture in MLE. After the classroom, what? There are no reading materials in most mother languages, except possibly Tagalog, and in a very limited way, Cebuano. The Komiks and magazines we have driven out of business for one reason or another, or simply because no one can afford to buy them anymore, they serve as part of this corollary materials. After the grammar lessons, how is one to extend his/her reading to the point that a student can see the mother language used to its fullest possibilities as a medium for information and entertainment. The power of English lies on this, that if you don't like to do the grammar part, you can just read and read, and thus absorb the language as it were. Of course in the case of the mother tongue, it's all around us, so we might not feel compelled to look for reading materials in it. But if the mother tongue is to remain in this level, it will still continue to dteriorate, since it's use is limited to the uses of the market place.
The thinking at the MLE in Cagayan de Oro seems not to have included this aspect. Granting that the immediate concern was the elementary grades, still there is a need to develop professionals in all aspects of language, including the information and creative levels who would think beyond the reader level of language. This should be a concern of those in Education itself. The SIL have done a great job in MLE education and they have a ready and significant body of readings to press for post-MLE readings--this comes in the form of whatever religious agenda they are espousing. But this is our culture we are talking about. We should be pushing for more. Perhaps there is a need to include our creative people into the dialogue of MLE to discover what they do have that could contribute to the MLE initiatives that are going on now.
My work for mother language has been focused on encouraging young writers to use their respective mother languages for creative writing. I have been fairly successful in Region VIII where at least five writers have actually come up with whole collections of poetry published by NCCA no less. This is a bumper crop, considering that no one has been writing in Waray for the last fifty years at least.
These writers are young so we can expect more from them, and they will hopefully be influencing other younger writers to write in the mother language. If you teach mother language, there should be a body of works beyond the classroom to sustain the interest and to inspire its continuous usage, and scholarship to preserve and enhance what lore exists in the language.
We cannot have teachers who only know the cartilla and cannot think beyond it. The language must move from pragmatics to grace and elegance and depth. I guess that's the long view. Our public school system, unfortunately, is notorious for dealing only with the short view and are quite happy with numbers, not with quality.
This is one of my concerns, the corollary development of a reading culture in MLE. After the classroom, what? There are no reading materials in most mother languages, except possibly Tagalog, and in a very limited way, Cebuano. The Komiks and magazines we have driven out of business for one reason or another, or simply because no one can afford to buy them anymore, they serve as part of this corollary materials. After the grammar lessons, how is one to extend his/her reading to the point that a student can see the mother language used to its fullest possibilities as a medium for information and entertainment. The power of English lies on this, that if you don't like to do the grammar part, you can just read and read, and thus absorb the language as it were. Of course in the case of the mother tongue, it's all around us, so we might not feel compelled to look for reading materials in it. But if the mother tongue is to remain in this level, it will still continue to dteriorate, since it's use is limited to the uses of the market place.
The thinking at the MLE in Cagayan de Oro seems not to have included this aspect. Granting that the immediate concern was the elementary grades, still there is a need to develop professionals in all aspects of language, including the information and creative levels who would think beyond the reader level of language. This should be a concern of those in Education itself. The SIL have done a great job in MLE education and they have a ready and significant body of readings to press for post-MLE readings--this comes in the form of whatever religious agenda they are espousing. But this is our culture we are talking about. We should be pushing for more. Perhaps there is a need to include our creative people into the dialogue of MLE to discover what they do have that could contribute to the MLE initiatives that are going on now.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Google, for some, is no longer in Tagalog
Six years of the abusive redirection of Philippine websurfers to the Tagalog search portal by Google has ended. But only for those whose internet services are not tied up to a local internet provider. Right after they redirected China users from google.cn to the uncensored google.com.hk, some Google searches in the Philippines no longer get automatically rerouted to the Tagalog-formatted google.ph.
Complaints had been forcefully raised in the past and if the owners of Google have only belatedly discovered this heinous transgression, they still have the obligation to punish the perpetrators in their ranks. Send them to prison in China perhaps. The rest of us continue to suffer Google in the Tagalog/Filipino national language.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Debunking a Tagalista Minion
by Harvey Fiji
APOLOGIA PRO TAGALOG NATIONAL LANGUAGE
I just condemn (fight, and bitterly, that is) the idea that English and Spanish are pressumed harmless to the Amanu, while we think Tagalog is. That is just outright unfair. We have so many Kapampangan terms that are Tagalog, and Tagalog has gazillion of terms that are Kapampangan. These languages are related. Tagalog and Kapampangan are like Portuguese and Spanish-- you don't know where they start meeting and you don't know where the end of their meeting is. But to say that people like English and Spanish more than Tagalog, that is just simply colonial shit, that just shows what the color of their crap is, that just shows from where their soul is molded. More than half of the Tagalog words that I know (and they are too literary and meaningful and considered old by current Tagalog speakers) are from Kapampangan. I hate colonial mentality. I just can't compromise. I will always fight (condemn, bitterly, that is) the groups (maybe Anasi? maybe Dila?) that promote colonial attitudes and mentality. What I mean is if they condemn Tagalog, they should also condemn English and Spanish. There is no "But". I want it straight. I hate people singling out Tagalog. In fact, take out all English and Spanish terms from Kapampangan and leave out all Tagalog terms in it, Kapampangan sounds much purer and more indigenous than the shit that we have now. I like borrowing (from whatever language-- I don't say no to one language and yes to another) where it can't be avoided and where it is very necessary. But I like invention more-- we can invent words, why not? We need neutrality, but if we need to take sides, take sides on our own kind. Don't display the beauty and wonders of "colonialism" . Don't be so stupid. Even if colonialism gives me gold and diamond, I still prefer the mud and pebbles I pan out of my small rivers. Even if colonialism gives me great things (which others think it is doing to us), I still fight it. I will fight it bitterly. And I will fight those who condone and justify colonialism, even if they are my own blood-brothers.
REBUTTAL
This is a rather peculiar message by Balajadia since he contradicts himself all over the place. Leaving aside his own use of English--and vulgar English at that--the gist of his argument is that he claims to "hate colonial mentality" and to prefer English and Spanish instead of Tagalog is colonial mentality while favoring Tagalog is not. Balajadia's piece is just irrational rambling. I'll limit myself to examining a few of the multiple errors in his piece.
I don''t know about his assertion that Kapampangan and Tagalog are like Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese belong to the same language family the Romance language family and are directly descended from a well-documented ancestor language: Latin. Kapampangan and Tagalog despite being Austronesian languages belong to different language families: Tagalog from the Central Philippine language family while Capampangan is from the NORTHERN Philippine language family. So much for being in the same language grouping let alone having a well-documented ancestor language. (And we're not even going to get into an extended discussion of the historical clashes between the Spanish and Portuguese and why no Portuguese would desire to be called Spanish despite Spain and Portugal being both Iberian, former Roman territories, Catholic, and winning sovereignty from the Moors through the reconquista).
Balajadia claims that he will fight colonialism but that begs the question of what he considers "colonialism". Does he consider colonialism only those perpetuated by the Spaniards and the Americans? And what exactly does he mean by colonial mentality? Is it colonial mentality to use the English and Spanish language while supporting Tagalog hegemony isn't? And what does he mean when he accuses ANASI and DILA of "promoting colonial mentality". Before a rational discussion can take place, he should first explain what does he mean by "colonial mentality" and "colonialism".
He says "but if we need to take sides, take sides on our own kind. " What does he mean "our own kind"? Who are "we"? What does he mean "kind"? Or "condone and justify colonialism"? He claims he "won't compromise" yet he contradicts himself by showing willingness to accept Tagalog hegemony. In a rhetorical flourish he declares "Don't display the beauty and wonders of "colonialism". Don't be so stupid. Even if colonialism gives me gold and diamond, I still prefer the mud and pebbles I pan out of my small rivers. Even if colonialism gives me great things (which others think it is doing to us), I still fight it." A rather peculiar argument to make considering that he is open to receiving the fool's gold and fake diamonds of Tagalism. Where's his outrage towards Tagalism? Evidently, Balajadia is content to fight "colonialism" however he defines it so long as the objects of his wrath are Spain or the U.S.. But he won't fight Imperial Manila. As to why, he won't explain. (groups.yahoo.com/group/DILA/message/22771) permaLink | 0 comments
APOLOGIA PRO TAGALOG NATIONAL LANGUAGE
I just condemn (fight, and bitterly, that is) the idea that English and Spanish are pressumed harmless to the Amanu, while we think Tagalog is. That is just outright unfair. We have so many Kapampangan terms that are Tagalog, and Tagalog has gazillion of terms that are Kapampangan. These languages are related. Tagalog and Kapampangan are like Portuguese and Spanish-- you don't know where they start meeting and you don't know where the end of their meeting is. But to say that people like English and Spanish more than Tagalog, that is just simply colonial shit, that just shows what the color of their crap is, that just shows from where their soul is molded. More than half of the Tagalog words that I know (and they are too literary and meaningful and considered old by current Tagalog speakers) are from Kapampangan. I hate colonial mentality. I just can't compromise. I will always fight (condemn, bitterly, that is) the groups (maybe Anasi? maybe Dila?) that promote colonial attitudes and mentality. What I mean is if they condemn Tagalog, they should also condemn English and Spanish. There is no "But". I want it straight. I hate people singling out Tagalog. In fact, take out all English and Spanish terms from Kapampangan and leave out all Tagalog terms in it, Kapampangan sounds much purer and more indigenous than the shit that we have now. I like borrowing (from whatever language-- I don't say no to one language and yes to another) where it can't be avoided and where it is very necessary. But I like invention more-- we can invent words, why not? We need neutrality, but if we need to take sides, take sides on our own kind. Don't display the beauty and wonders of "colonialism" . Don't be so stupid. Even if colonialism gives me gold and diamond, I still prefer the mud and pebbles I pan out of my small rivers. Even if colonialism gives me great things (which others think it is doing to us), I still fight it. I will fight it bitterly. And I will fight those who condone and justify colonialism, even if they are my own blood-brothers.
REBUTTAL
This is a rather peculiar message by Balajadia since he contradicts himself all over the place. Leaving aside his own use of English--and vulgar English at that--the gist of his argument is that he claims to "hate colonial mentality" and to prefer English and Spanish instead of Tagalog is colonial mentality while favoring Tagalog is not. Balajadia's piece is just irrational rambling. I'll limit myself to examining a few of the multiple errors in his piece.
I don''t know about his assertion that Kapampangan and Tagalog are like Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese belong to the same language family the Romance language family and are directly descended from a well-documented ancestor language: Latin. Kapampangan and Tagalog despite being Austronesian languages belong to different language families: Tagalog from the Central Philippine language family while Capampangan is from the NORTHERN Philippine language family. So much for being in the same language grouping let alone having a well-documented ancestor language. (And we're not even going to get into an extended discussion of the historical clashes between the Spanish and Portuguese and why no Portuguese would desire to be called Spanish despite Spain and Portugal being both Iberian, former Roman territories, Catholic, and winning sovereignty from the Moors through the reconquista).
Balajadia claims that he will fight colonialism but that begs the question of what he considers "colonialism". Does he consider colonialism only those perpetuated by the Spaniards and the Americans? And what exactly does he mean by colonial mentality? Is it colonial mentality to use the English and Spanish language while supporting Tagalog hegemony isn't? And what does he mean when he accuses ANASI and DILA of "promoting colonial mentality". Before a rational discussion can take place, he should first explain what does he mean by "colonial mentality" and "colonialism".
He says "but if we need to take sides, take sides on our own kind. " What does he mean "our own kind"? Who are "we"? What does he mean "kind"? Or "condone and justify colonialism"? He claims he "won't compromise" yet he contradicts himself by showing willingness to accept Tagalog hegemony. In a rhetorical flourish he declares "Don't display the beauty and wonders of "colonialism". Don't be so stupid. Even if colonialism gives me gold and diamond, I still prefer the mud and pebbles I pan out of my small rivers. Even if colonialism gives me great things (which others think it is doing to us), I still fight it." A rather peculiar argument to make considering that he is open to receiving the fool's gold and fake diamonds of Tagalism. Where's his outrage towards Tagalism? Evidently, Balajadia is content to fight "colonialism" however he defines it so long as the objects of his wrath are Spain or the U.S.. But he won't fight Imperial Manila. As to why, he won't explain. (groups.yahoo.com/group/DILA/message/22771) permaLink | 0 comments
Friday, January 29, 2010
Different Spelling Standards for Different Languages
by Ernie Turla
Ot acu, e cu cacacasnucan ustung ababasa cu ing K-orthographing penimunan dareng Tagalug? E cu agaganacang ing sulat aini, nga cu ware, sistema re queng pamanyulat deng papatda queng salita tamu. Iti, aniapin libri tamu queng nung sanung sistema ing buri tang tuquian, pati na itang paclang a tutuquian ning Mayap a Balita.
Why be disgusted to see the Spanish style of writing simply because the Spanish were the ones responsible for the death of Tarik Soliman half a millennium ago? The Spaniards did more good to the archipelago than bad. The Philippine revolution was more of a war for independence than a war against government abuses. Like many, I was also brainwashed and made to believe when I was in grade school that the Spaniards were wicked and the Americans were good guys. The patriotic feeling instilled in me was all the result of hating the Spaniards and fighting against such abusive tyrants.
But let's get to the bottom of the real problem which is the use of the much-hated C-Q orthography. We should bear in mind that it was the Spaniards who introduced the Roman alphabet that we are using now. Getting rid of the C and the Q would not solve the problem of getting reminded of the abusive Spaniards. For the rest of the alphabet - all 24 of them also came to us through the same people. If you really don't want to see vestiges of Spanish influence, adopt the system of writing of the early Filipinos, the Baybaylan or whatever it is called.
And of course, you don't just stop there. The Roman alphabet introduced to us by them is just a drop in the bucket. Take into consideration our names, both first and last. You then have to do away with such names as Aida, Oscar, Roberto, Alejandro, Castro, Garcia, etc. You would also hate to hear the name "Philippines" and our own nationality, "Filipinos". Many of our barrios, towns and streets are Spanish-derived. Some good examples are Angeles, Mexico, San Fernando, Hermosa, Concepcion. All those that start with San, Sta. and Sto. such as San Simon, Sta. Ana and Sto. Tomas are Spanish. Avenida Rizal, Calle Real, Plaza Burgos are Spanish too. Now, do you get disgusted to hear the names of such places? Then of course we have so many words that are derived from Spanish and which are too numerous to even mention. In fact you have already changed some of them into our language. You now use pipagaralan, talaturu, aklat. Common terms which we ordinarily use become weird and artificial to the ear. I'm sure even my friend, Felix, would be wondering what "banuang dalan" means!
To get rid of Spanish, we have to burn the works of Rizal which were all in Spanish, the works of Bergano and others which are presently pulled from archives and studied and translated by scholars and other researchers.
Get rid of the Spanish-style houses which Ivan is trying to preserve. Just settle for native nipa huts, for that's a more progressive way of life.
And of course, you have to go back to being either Muslim or pagan. For that's what most Filipinos were before the coming of the Spanish. Burn the cross, the Bible, the chapels and churches, both old and new. No more fiestas, Christmases, Easters, Mass, processions, baptisms, etc. Otherwise, they would remind you of the Spanish who introduced all these to us.
In my case, I'm just proud of our good relations with the Spaniards for 327 years. Our Kapampangan ancestors were their allies. In a way, they helped the colonial government rule the archipelago. So, hating the Spaniards would be tantamount to hating our forebears and our own kind. Kapampangans were said to be the favorite of the Spaniards. In them they found the tribe they trusted most. In them they found the brave and loyal soldiers, the dugong aso who would defend the colony from all other foreign aggressors and keep the archipelago intact and united. Our being united as a people since 1571 is a legacy we should be thanking the Spaniards rather than despising them. No single person that our society honors can claim having done something that big for the Philippines.
Spanish influence is everywhere in the Philippines. Spanish culture would be with us forever and everybody should learn to live with it.. After reading all this, you would, I hope no longer be offended by my particular writing style, my using the C and the Q. permaLink | 0 comments
Ot acu, e cu cacacasnucan ustung ababasa cu ing K-orthographing penimunan dareng Tagalug? E cu agaganacang ing sulat aini, nga cu ware, sistema re queng pamanyulat deng papatda queng salita tamu. Iti, aniapin libri tamu queng nung sanung sistema ing buri tang tuquian, pati na itang paclang a tutuquian ning Mayap a Balita.
Why be disgusted to see the Spanish style of writing simply because the Spanish were the ones responsible for the death of Tarik Soliman half a millennium ago? The Spaniards did more good to the archipelago than bad. The Philippine revolution was more of a war for independence than a war against government abuses. Like many, I was also brainwashed and made to believe when I was in grade school that the Spaniards were wicked and the Americans were good guys. The patriotic feeling instilled in me was all the result of hating the Spaniards and fighting against such abusive tyrants.
But let's get to the bottom of the real problem which is the use of the much-hated C-Q orthography. We should bear in mind that it was the Spaniards who introduced the Roman alphabet that we are using now. Getting rid of the C and the Q would not solve the problem of getting reminded of the abusive Spaniards. For the rest of the alphabet - all 24 of them also came to us through the same people. If you really don't want to see vestiges of Spanish influence, adopt the system of writing of the early Filipinos, the Baybaylan or whatever it is called.
And of course, you don't just stop there. The Roman alphabet introduced to us by them is just a drop in the bucket. Take into consideration our names, both first and last. You then have to do away with such names as Aida, Oscar, Roberto, Alejandro, Castro, Garcia, etc. You would also hate to hear the name "Philippines" and our own nationality, "Filipinos". Many of our barrios, towns and streets are Spanish-derived. Some good examples are Angeles, Mexico, San Fernando, Hermosa, Concepcion. All those that start with San, Sta. and Sto. such as San Simon, Sta. Ana and Sto. Tomas are Spanish. Avenida Rizal, Calle Real, Plaza Burgos are Spanish too. Now, do you get disgusted to hear the names of such places? Then of course we have so many words that are derived from Spanish and which are too numerous to even mention. In fact you have already changed some of them into our language. You now use pipagaralan, talaturu, aklat. Common terms which we ordinarily use become weird and artificial to the ear. I'm sure even my friend, Felix, would be wondering what "banuang dalan" means!
To get rid of Spanish, we have to burn the works of Rizal which were all in Spanish, the works of Bergano and others which are presently pulled from archives and studied and translated by scholars and other researchers.
Get rid of the Spanish-style houses which Ivan is trying to preserve. Just settle for native nipa huts, for that's a more progressive way of life.
And of course, you have to go back to being either Muslim or pagan. For that's what most Filipinos were before the coming of the Spanish. Burn the cross, the Bible, the chapels and churches, both old and new. No more fiestas, Christmases, Easters, Mass, processions, baptisms, etc. Otherwise, they would remind you of the Spanish who introduced all these to us.
In my case, I'm just proud of our good relations with the Spaniards for 327 years. Our Kapampangan ancestors were their allies. In a way, they helped the colonial government rule the archipelago. So, hating the Spaniards would be tantamount to hating our forebears and our own kind. Kapampangans were said to be the favorite of the Spaniards. In them they found the tribe they trusted most. In them they found the brave and loyal soldiers, the dugong aso who would defend the colony from all other foreign aggressors and keep the archipelago intact and united. Our being united as a people since 1571 is a legacy we should be thanking the Spaniards rather than despising them. No single person that our society honors can claim having done something that big for the Philippines.
Spanish influence is everywhere in the Philippines. Spanish culture would be with us forever and everybody should learn to live with it.. After reading all this, you would, I hope no longer be offended by my particular writing style, my using the C and the Q. permaLink | 0 comments
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Favoritism in the PEN
ES Fernandez
Whether we like it or not, regional writers cannot compete with Manila writers because of uneven cultural development in the country due to the present politico-economic structure. The reason why they can meet together, launch their books, talk about their works, as you say the privileges we "can only dream wildly about" is because of this unequal and unfair representation. But let us face it. These "tribal" attitude creates an attitude of superiority over writers from the regions. The latter gets only recognized as a kind of tokenism from the center. Since when did these literary organizations consider non-Tagalog languages equal to and deserving of state and non-state support? Until now, no vernacular writer had been conferred with the National Artist award, which tells us of the low opinion of these literary mandarins toward writers from the periphery.
We are working in a very difficult situation since our own people are educated and being educated to become good Tagalogs. Our people can sometimes be our greatest enemies. They had become illiterates in their own languages. They will favor Tagalog instead of their own language. I felt compelled to react to National Artist F. Sionil Jose when he blamed the Boholanos for not reading their own literature. I said to him and to the audience that he cannot blame them for that because their language and literature are not taught in schools. Then, Karina Bolasco arrogantly accused us that we are to blame since we cannot even make our people read our works. I said to her that it is a question of political economy. This brings me to what Ricardo de Ungria said that we, writers from the regions, should publish our own works using our own resources. What? So, Manila writers get all the funding and all the publicity but we should rely on our own. What happens to the taxes we are paying? Are they to benefit only the center? This is pure and simple thievery.
We are not even acting as "spoiled brats" because we in the first place are never spoiled. Those in the center and those who benefit from patron-clientele politics are the ones spoiled. We don't want recognition from them anyway. The literary organization that I envision is a group that will do away with the discriminatory, prejudiced and reactionary principles of these associations. We cannot wait from Manila the recognition of non-Tagalog languages. It is from the periphery, from the regions, from the marginalized, which are the majority, where we should seek recognition. If we, writers from the regions, are united together in one literary group, we will be able to promote equality among languages, support for each other in terms of publicity and publication, and awareness among our people. permaLink | 0 comments
Whether we like it or not, regional writers cannot compete with Manila writers because of uneven cultural development in the country due to the present politico-economic structure. The reason why they can meet together, launch their books, talk about their works, as you say the privileges we "can only dream wildly about" is because of this unequal and unfair representation. But let us face it. These "tribal" attitude creates an attitude of superiority over writers from the regions. The latter gets only recognized as a kind of tokenism from the center. Since when did these literary organizations consider non-Tagalog languages equal to and deserving of state and non-state support? Until now, no vernacular writer had been conferred with the National Artist award, which tells us of the low opinion of these literary mandarins toward writers from the periphery.
We are working in a very difficult situation since our own people are educated and being educated to become good Tagalogs. Our people can sometimes be our greatest enemies. They had become illiterates in their own languages. They will favor Tagalog instead of their own language. I felt compelled to react to National Artist F. Sionil Jose when he blamed the Boholanos for not reading their own literature. I said to him and to the audience that he cannot blame them for that because their language and literature are not taught in schools. Then, Karina Bolasco arrogantly accused us that we are to blame since we cannot even make our people read our works. I said to her that it is a question of political economy. This brings me to what Ricardo de Ungria said that we, writers from the regions, should publish our own works using our own resources. What? So, Manila writers get all the funding and all the publicity but we should rely on our own. What happens to the taxes we are paying? Are they to benefit only the center? This is pure and simple thievery.
We are not even acting as "spoiled brats" because we in the first place are never spoiled. Those in the center and those who benefit from patron-clientele politics are the ones spoiled. We don't want recognition from them anyway. The literary organization that I envision is a group that will do away with the discriminatory, prejudiced and reactionary principles of these associations. We cannot wait from Manila the recognition of non-Tagalog languages. It is from the periphery, from the regions, from the marginalized, which are the majority, where we should seek recognition. If we, writers from the regions, are united together in one literary group, we will be able to promote equality among languages, support for each other in terms of publicity and publication, and awareness among our people. permaLink | 0 comments
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE)
Department of Education (DepEd)
A Strategic Planning for Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MLE)
by Josie Dizon Henson
President, DILA Phil. Found.Inc.
The first ever Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) Grand Alliance StratPlan was held last November 5 - 6, 2009 at Tagaytay International Convention Center (TICC). I was invited to represent DILA Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Defenders of the Indigenous Languages of the Archipelago) and with me was Andrea Gatchalian who represented Akademyang Kapampangan (AKKAP) and Angeles University Foundation (AUF). » Read more... permaLink | 0 comments
A Strategic Planning for Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MLE)
by Josie Dizon Henson
President, DILA Phil. Found.Inc.
The first ever Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) Grand Alliance StratPlan was held last November 5 - 6, 2009 at Tagaytay International Convention Center (TICC). I was invited to represent DILA Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Defenders of the Indigenous Languages of the Archipelago) and with me was Andrea Gatchalian who represented Akademyang Kapampangan (AKKAP) and Angeles University Foundation (AUF). » Read more... permaLink | 0 comments
Friday, November 20, 2009
Call for Papers : 1st Philippine Conference-Workshop on Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education
In the News Elsewhere
Related Readings
On Education
There are to be almost 20 million schoolchildren enrolled in 2002-2003. Under the Basic Education Curriculum of Secretary Roco, their instruction will begin to focus only on the five subjects of Filipino, English, Mathematics, Science and Makabayan.
The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted unanimously at the 31st UNESCO General Conference. It aims to have a significant impact on humanising globalization and making it more culturally sensitive.
The Subdialect Filipino
What is"Filipino?" There is much difference of opinion on this matter. According to one school of thought, Filipino is not only different from Tagalog, but that it (Filipino) still does not exist, but on the contrary, it still has to be developed.
What is"Filipino?" There is much difference of opinion on this matter. According to one school of thought, Filipino is not only different from Tagalog, but that it (Filipino) still does not exist, but on the contrary, it still has to be developed.
Ethnic Cleansing in the Philippines
The United Nations Convention on Genocide drafted in December 1948 mainly defines the physical means by which governments or rogue militia weed out ethnic or cultural communities. With bullets or bladed weapons, separation of younglings from their elders, we've heard it all before from the news and read it in the history books.
List of Philippine Languages
Republic of the Philippines. 86,241,697. National or official languages: Filipino, English. Literacy rate: 88% to 89%. Also includes Basque, French (698), Hindi (2,415), Indonesian (2,580), Japanese (2,899), Korean, Sindhi (20,000), Standard German (961), Vietnamese, Arabic. Information mainly from L. A. Reid 1971; SIL 1954–2003. Blind population: 1,144,500. Deaf population: 100,000 to 4,232,519 (1998). Deaf institutions: 17. The number of languages listed for Philippines is 175. Of those, 171 are living languages and 4 are extinct.
Multi-Lingual Education Position Paper by Voltaire Oyzon
The central question of this study is whether or not Waray schoolchildren are shifting from their Waray mother language to Tagalog and English.
The central question of this study is whether or not Waray schoolchildren are shifting from their Waray mother language to Tagalog and English.
Multi-Lingual Education Position Paper by Manuel Faelnar
Language is a vessel that is both necessary and consequent to the flourishing of culture and identity, which in turn is essential to nation building.
Language is a vessel that is both necessary and consequent to the flourishing of culture and identity, which in turn is essential to nation building.
Multi-Lingual Education Position Paper by Merlie Alunan
There was no venue to publish except radio. The pressure was to write in English and Filipino, but the competition for literary space was fierce.
There was no venue to publish except radio. The pressure was to write in English and Filipino, but the competition for literary space was fierce.
To Free Us from the Clutches of the Tagalog-Filipino National Language
By a sly, clever wording in the Philippine constitution that "Filipino is the national language," the Tagalista framers avoided an unyielding opposition to Tagalog while anointing it a national sounding name, "Filipino".
By a sly, clever wording in the Philippine constitution that "Filipino is the national language," the Tagalista framers avoided an unyielding opposition to Tagalog while anointing it a national sounding name, "Filipino".
Publications
We organized DILA in 2001 to defend the language rights of all our ethno-linguistic groups. It is said that of the 7,000 languages spoken around the world today, more than half are expected to be lost in this century alone. They might disappear from causes like wars and disasters but what concerns us is when the reason is that another tongue is forcibly imposed by government. When that happens, disuse of the native tongue follows and the ultimate result is extinction. Since the introduction of a national language in our country in 1935, our 169 non-national languages have declined and deteriorated. All these and more are lucidly presented in the following posts and articles lifted from our group page on the internet (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dila). A note from our founder comes after this introduction.
DILA is committed to legal and peaceful means in achieving our aims, and welcome those who share our noble cause to protect our peoples and languages from extinction. May the Lord bless His languages. (From the FOREWORD of the book, Josefina D. Henson, DILA Phils. Foundation, Inc.
President)
Recommended
"The best writing on the Philippines I've read in a very long time."—Dr. Michael Ashkenazi, Regents College, London
"Meticulously researched, coherently crafted, passsionately argued."—Carmen Miraflor, Stanford University, California
"Immensely stimulating."—Bro. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC, former Sec. of Education, RP
"Like Alexandr Solshenitsyn, David C. Martinez, writing with the grace of a poet, the acumen of a scholar, and the heart of a patriot, offers the reader two rewards—the unembroidered truth and the priceless gift of hope."—Joseph E. Fallon, author, "Deconstructing America"
"Certain to change crippling misconceptions of 'nation' and 'identity.' Destined to radically, justly, and permanently alter the political landscape of the Philippines."—Nilo Sarmiento, formerly of the Society of Jesus
"Courageously irreverent, scrupulously annotated, and richly rewarding. A must-read for all who wish to comprehend the 'Philippine phenomenon'."—Tim Harvey, Co-Founder, DILA [Defenders of the Indigenous Languages of the Archipelago]
The booklet Filipino Is NOT Our Language can be purchased at Filipinas Heritage Library and Ayala Museum at the commercial district in Makati City, Philippines for P100.00.
