‘Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, masahol pa sa hayop o malansang isda.’
(‘He who knows not to love his own language, is worse than beasts and putrid fish.’)
- Jose RIzal
These were the words uttered by our forefathers, their predecessors, and their ancestors, now echoed by Sir Joseph Laurena the organizer of our school’s Buwan ng Wika, and our Filipino Teacher, during the closing ceremony of the country’s Buwan ng Wika. The above illustrates how important it is not to lose touch with your own mother tongue, and ultimately, our Filipino identity and this program was designed to demonstrate this. Here is an overview of the event.
The ceremony was filled with activities and performances. Including Opening Remarks by the one and only Mrs. Joy Muleta, and the ‘Lakan at Lakambini’ Competition, featuring students from Senior High School, which highlighted the charisma and fluency of these candidates, a variety of performances by the Grades 1-3, Preschool, and students from the Grades 4-6, who performed the indigenous ‘Itik Itik’ folk dance, a song and dance presentation of the makabayan song ‘Ako’y Isang Pinoy’ and a solo performance, respectively. After this interval began the awarding for the Grade School students.
An unexpected but notable segment was the Teacher’s Pageant, where teachers donned FIlipiñiana attire, and appeared on stage in pairs. Could they have been secretly practicing the same routine as the students did? One may never know. This was followed by the awarding for the HIghschool students and the much-anticipated results of the “Lakan at Lakambini” Competition. The judges compiled the scores, and the hosts announced the winners amidst enthusiastic applause. Finishing up the ceremonies of the day, CL’s Buwan ng Wika Organizer and Filipino Teacher, Joseph Laurena, gives his final remarks, officially closing the program and marking the transition to the Pista sa Nayon, a traditional feast celebrating a good harvest.
But what is the significance of observing this month-long occasion?
‘Ang Buwan ng Wika Ay dapat obserbahan dahil dito nagmula ang pinakamahalagang pangyayari sa ating kasaysayan.’ Such were the first words that came to my head when thinking about it. After all, this was the era in Philippine history where there was a surge in patriotic ideals, when great minds and men like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio fought for the freedom of every Filipino.
They were simple times, the haranas, the prose, the romantic writings of Ilustrado, are what we strive to preserve.
Nowadays, people often undervalue our language. But we, the next generation, must teach ourselves the values and heritage our ancestors possessed, so as to prevent our country’s identity from fading in this shifting world. Our language has witnessed struggles for freedom and their kin’s freedom. From the Spaniards, the Americans, and the Japanese, we have seen many different races and nationalities take control. Our lands have been subjected to many trials and tragedies, Despite numerous challenges, Filipinos have continually defended our heritage and identity.
There’s just something about using your own mother tongue in writing, whether it be a poem—rhyming or not, an essay, or even in song. A sense of pride wells up inside of oneself, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. To immerse oneself in the language that once carried the voice and emotions of so many, the sorrows of those who have lost, the bliss of the lovestruck youth, and the revolutionaries answering the call to arms is an experience worth cherishing. These were likely the sentiments felt by our forefathers and learning about such things is a must, if we wish to truly understand what it means. To speak FIlipino. To be Filipino.
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