Last month, a group of educators, scholars and other prominent individuals filed a petition in the Supreme Court questioning

the policies of the government which man-

date the use of English as medium of instruction in schools. This sparked a spirited debate in mainstream media and of course in the blogosphere as to what should be the
best language to be used in Philippine schools.

Wow Manila gives a backgrounder to the controversial memo of President Gloria Arroyo pertaining to the main language to be taught in schools:

“On May 17, 2003, the President Arroyo promulgated Executive Order No. 210 titled “Establishing the Policy to Strengthen English as a Second Language in the Educa-
tional System.” The salient points of the EO are the following:

* English should be taught as a second language at all levels of the educational system, starting with the First Grade;
* English should be used as the medium of instruction for English, Math and Science from at least the third Grade level;
* The English language shall be used as a primary medium of instruction in all public institutions of learning at the secondary level.”

Petitioner Patricia Licuanan appeals for a broader appreciation of the problems besetting Philippine education:

“It's not just English—it's the whole educational system! The deterioration of English must be understood in the context of the general decline in Philippine education.
The problem we are facing is not simply the deterioration of English. It is also the deterioration of Math and Science, and it is this general decline that undermines the
competitiveness of the Filipino and the Philippines. Indeed, undue emphasis on English may distract us from the bigger problem. Upgrading education in general should
improve the quality of English as well.”

Tugot supports the memorandum order of the President. Blackshama's blog contributes in the language debate. A nagueño in the blogosphere agrees with the arguments of
the petitioners. Filipina soul presents two views on the issue, and her post generated a lively discussion.

Philippine Schools Online reviews past proposals on the language issue and mentions the current legislative measures favoring the use of English in schools. My Philip-
pine Life looks into the language policies in the country.

A must-read: Manuel L. Quezon III uploads the pertinent documents, news articles, opinion pieces and shares his perspective on the ‘language wars’ in the Philippines.

Perhaps the most intelligible blogpost in advocating the adoption of English comes from Philippine Commentary. A sample of his views:

“The main point I think is that English is an integral and inseparable and most substantial part of the Filipino cultural heritage–ineradicably a part of our intellectual, edu-
cational, and historical patrimony. Its rejection and treatment as “foreign” is a twisted form of the self-loathing that some people wish us all to practice as “nationalism.”
What they actually are propagating is a romantic kind of aboriginalism that masks a more modern and leftist agenda…Nearly 100 percent of all major scientific papers are
published in English, even by non-native English speakers, not only in Computer Science, but in Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, and the rest of the
hard sciences. English is unavoidably the lingua Anglica of the world in this historical epoch, even if it irks the Filipino nationalists and their ideologies of resentment.”

Philippines Without Borders on why the need to master the English language?

“Because everybody else is trying to do the same. Right now, there are probably close to 400 million native English speakers, making English the third largest language
next to Mandarin Chinese and Spanish…We should not dilly-dally on embracing policies that would restore the importance of English in Philippine society.”

Seek no more links to an article written by Babe Romualdez on the mistake to reject English as the medium of instruction:

“Filipinos are clearly losing out because of that very big mistake to abolish the use of English as a medium of instruction 20 years ago. Today, a lot of employers are com -
plaining about the deteriorating quality of our graduates, and the fact that majority of them lack the required skill and facility in the English language.”

A small gleaning factory provides an excerpt of a study on the origins of Taglish: a combination of Tagalog and English. The sane unstable2: fighting temptations on
school rules in learning English and the uses of this foreign language in Philippine society. Voltaire Oyzon on why English is patronized in the provinces:

“One common misconception about the Philippines is that it speaks only one language–and that is Tagalog (honey-coated as Filipino). In fact, Tagalog/Filipino speakers
comprise only 29 percent of the total population and the rest are non-Tagalog…If English is a threat to the Tagalog/Filipino language because it is foreign, then
Tagalog/Filipino is also a threat to all the non-Tagalog languages for the same reason. The English language, from the non-Tagalog point of view, is neutral in the sense
that it is used globally.”

“Let's face it, the Philippine's biggest export is human labor, and the only thing keeping our economy afloat are those dollar remmittances. The government wants us to
learn English so that we can find jobs abroad. We're not learning English for our benefit; we're learning it to serve our masters.”

ThirtySomething v4.3 quotes various studies on the importance of emphasizing native language in the education of children:

“Beyond the preachy rhetoric’s, other studies on bilingual and multi-lingual methods of education across the world also show that students do better in school if they are
taught in their mother tongue instead of an English-only medium of instruction…Why is Malacañang then so petulant on insisting an English-homogenized medium of in-
struction in schools?”

151 Responses to
“The English language debate in the Philippines”
1. June 18th, 2007 at 4:46 am

Marcos LLanes:

I believe that spanish should be taught in the philippines because the filipinos need the language to better understand their history. Whether they like it or
not,the philippines is a hispanic country not an anglo one. Remember,it was named after king Felipe of Spain!!! I’m married to a beuatiful filipina and she
loves the spanish language because she feels that it’s more filipino than english. The thing that bothers me the most is how the americans messed up the lan-
guage/culture in just fifty years. Muchas gracias,Salamat

2. June 19th, 2007 at 1:15 am RAMSEY HONTANOSAS:

When I was in the Elementary Grades (1952 - Grade I), English was the medium of instruction. This provided me with a very great advantage in competing for
jobs here in the United States. I have seen Filipino grade school students in the cebuano-speaking regions struggle with the Tagalog-based Filipino language.
Why were they forced to learn a second language which they will not even use in their homes and their day-to-day conversation with other children? If you
really think about it, using Filipino as the medium of instruction was a great disservice to the Filipino people. It has made the level of intelligence of genera -
tions of Filipinos very low as if it was intentionally implemented to make Filipino subservient and ignorant and easily manipulated to become “unitelligent
voters”. The best example of the great disadvantage it (Filipino medium of instruction) has created is in our nurses who are now here in the United States - they
do not know how to speak English. Yes, they speak a few words of English but by rote. They cannot think in English so they have to translate it first in thought
before verbalizing the English translation of their thoughts. By that time, the person he or she was conversing with has become confused. Our nurses are unable
to converse in English as they are unable to answer correctly the State Nursing Board Exam questions because they find it difficult to understand the questions.
Although some nurses are able to adjust their thought processes in 2 years, some do not and still continue to find difficulty in speaking in English. These
Filipino nurses survive in the facilities they are working in because working with them are other Filipino nurses who converse with them in their native
tongues - Cebuano, Ilongo, Waray, Tagalog and Ilocano. The nurses are able to retain employment because there is a lack of nurses, but they are not upgraded
to the higher nurse level because of lack of capability to speak proper English. The absence of ability to think and converse in English is one handicap that a
Filipino can avoid if they are already taught to read and speak English in the conversational English language in the primary grades. They will be able to ex -
press themselves intelligently by the time they finish High School (intelligence is built up and developed by reading and taking in information from books and
other resources. Children who speak their native regional tongue, i.e. cebuano, ilongo, etc. would not be able to build up and develop an intelligence based on
the Tagalog-based Filipino language.) Since the Tagalogs are speaking more “Taglish” as ever, this just goes to show that English should be the dominant lan-
guage in our schools. We do not need to learn or further embellish our own dialect since we already know how to speak and understand them. By insisting on
the Filipino language as the educational medium of instruction, we are limiting the intellectual development of generations of Filipino children who will grow
up intellectually inferior and deficient for a fast developing global environment. Those who insists on confining the educational medium of instruction to the
Tagalog-Filipino language cannot possibly see the ill-effects the medium has on the nation unless they want the country to isolate itself from the rest of the
world. The economy of the country floats on the currency sent to the country from Filipinos overseas. The country would not have so many oversea workers if
those workers did not know how to speak English.

3. June 19th, 2007 at 14:29 pm Teresita Humilde:

The Philippine government doesn’t get it! English is to the advantage of the youngsters especially if they’re looking for work abroad. So leave it alone, teach
English as soon as the children start schooling. Do the old fashion way, speak and write English, you’ll be glad you did because I did. Our three children were
all born here in the US and I never spoke to them in the Pangasinan dialect or Tagalog because I don’t want them to get lost or confused when they start school
and yet they can all understand when my husband and I speak the dialect and the irony of it all is our oldest daughter has a master’s degree in Ethnic Studies
and she knows more about the history of the Philippines than any of us in our family and we were all born and educated in the Philippines and we learned Phil-
ippine history (part of it). So give those children a break and an advantage teach them how to speak and write English, it’s the international language of the
world even Chinese are learning it.
Teresita G Humilde
Sacramento, CA 95833
USA

4. June 21st, 2007 at 1:01 am DJB Rizalist:

There is something peculiarly bizarre about a debate over which of two languages to use, in which the most eloquent and passionate arguments of BOTH sides
are nonetheless couched in one of those two languages.

More’s the irony in the stunning fact that almost all the Petitioners who oppose the use of English as primary medium of instruction in the high schools (mean-
ing 70% of subjects will use English)–almost all the Petitioners make a living or practice a profession that involves the use of English language, as pundit, pro-
fessor, or National Artist, writing and publishing and teaching in the real world. As if they are feeling guilty about something…

The root of their confusion is a kind of aboriginal conception of what constitutes the modern Filipino’s “cultural heritage.” They adopt the “Renato-Con-
stantinoesque” view that anything that came from Spain, and especially America, is “foreign” and “colonial” and ought to be largely despised for not being
truly our own. Yes of course that is how it started. But now some of these things have become a part of us and what we inherit from the past, as much as any-
thing from some distant Malay and Hindu-Arabic past, if not indeed more, much more, as Benedict the XVI recently claimed for Christianity.

But just look at one hundred years of Constitution making and Supreme Court Decision making, to which august bodies these folks now appeal for a reversal
of time itself. There is at least a century now of English language heritage there, since every single Constitution, Law and Supreme Court Decision ever written
and rendered in the Philippine Archipelago has been written originally in English.

By the way, I am an adept and afficionado of ancient Tagalog poetry, yet I know, as a physicist, that it has neither the vocabulary nor the utility for the study of
quantum mechanics, or Nursing, or computer engineering. I treasure it even more for that singular lack of relativity and relevance.
5. July 14th, 2007 at 20:42 pm Cristobalito:

The use of English is in no way a cultural heritage of the Philippines, Spanish is more so even though Corazón Aquino’s government abolished its use. Even
Gloria Arroyo is a fluent Spanish-speaker as are the Aquino family! You should reinstate Spanish and teach both English and Spanish if anything.

6. August 12th, 2007 at 13:00 pm Chris:

I am american married to a bicolana…

I am amazed and intrigued with the history of the country.
The national pride is amazing.
I am also amazed that the current generation is so far away from their local roots that they aren’t aware of their own dialects in some cases. English is import-
ant …yes. I grew up in Chile and am a fluent Spanish speaker. So spanish helps me when it comes to Tagalog. A national language is important for unity, but a
global language is important also for national sucess. In the States the fastest growing alternate language is Spanish and a lot of americans are up in arms about
it…but ignorant to the solution being that they should learn it…the fact of the matter is the more language you know and don’t limit yourself to, the more flex -
ible and able to perform you are… Some european nationals have command of three and four languages… Do I have the answer? NO just an opinion as does
everyone else.
English seems to be the language of the world, it doesn’t mean the world is bowing to the american ideal or compromising their national pride… It just means
the world can get smaller and more people can look outside the box of isolation and share their positive cultural/ economic qualities.

7. August 14th, 2007 at 16:25 pm Angel:

I believe those who are against English (or Spanish) education in the Philippines are misguided in their sense of nationalism. Even in countries where the
people speak amongst themselves only the native language, the ability to speak English is an asset that is required in any field, because of cross-international
business relations, and any country who wants to build it’s economy is going to have to do business with another country whether they want to or not, importa-
tion and exportation is how the world’s countries build their economies, and even if Pilipino is important, let’s be realistic, Filipino kids don’t need schooling
to have a fundamental sense of how to speak Pilipino since it’s their birth language. How else will they, especially the poor, learn English? From the television?
Of course not, most of the poor can’t afford Cable TV (where most of the English entertainment is), and most shows on Antenna are in Tagalog. From other
Filipinos? Unless you’re surrounded by Filipinos who grew up in the states all the time, chances are the best English they’ll learn from Filipino peers is Taglish
at most. IT’S THE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY WILL LEARN ENGLISH, AND THAT WILL HELP BUILD THE PHILIPPINES, overseas jobs and Filipinos
working overseas has nothing to do with the benefits that come from learning English, because where will the Philippines get the money to rebuild itself?
Money doesn’t grow on trees, we’ll have to rebuild the economy by doing some type of exportation/importation, and are you gonna communicate in Tagalog
with Europeans, Latin Americans, or Americans? Of course not, they don’t speak Tagalog, but what language will they most likely have learned? English of
course. Nationalism is good, but when it’s misplaced and is coming up with objectives that offer a glaring view into the Filipinos’ own insecurities about lan-
guage and about sosyalness of English (which it shouldn’t be in the first place), then nationalism can be detrimental to the growth of a nation in that respect.
You shouldn’t be against the teaching of English just because you think it will be unnationalistic or show that Filipinos aren’t proud to be Filipino, that’s a ri-
diculous notion, in a showing of Filipino pride, Filipinos would learn foreign languages to try to improve the economy of the Philippines through business rela-
tionships and networking.

On a sidenote, Spanish will be reinstated as an official language by January 2008 according to GMA:
La presidenta filipina pedirá ayuda a España para oficializar el español
http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/efe/20070808/ten-la-presidenta-filipina-pedira-ayuda-6cd3e4e_1.html

I’d also like to add that language is best learned as a child, once a child hits puberty, the ability to assimilate a language becomes more difficult, so if we are
going to teach the Filipinos to speak better English or Spanish or French or any language, it has to start when they’re children.

8. September 8th, 2007 at 18:55 pm francisco:

I agree, spanish should be brought back since it’s easire for the filipinos to learn. It will help the philippines economically, since spanish is one of the most
spoken languages in the world..anddd..required for many jobs. spanish in the philippines is more important than tagalog because spanish had influence on my
filipino languages/dialects..when tagalog barely had any…but since it already is the national language..it probably always will…so spanish/tagalog National
language..and english second..because that’s just as important

9. September 9th, 2007 at 11:17 am lovely:

why cant people just agree to disagree. I mean if others want to use English all day every day then go ahead, if you want to learn or use Spanish well then
knock yourselves out. Its not hard to learn Spanish and definitely not hard to learn English. Lets not make indolence an excuse. Maybe the Filipino language
was required or forced for us to learn to simply promote unity. Considering the great number of dialects we have as a “nation?”. anyhow im really new at this
conversation thing. im nor even sure if im making a point here.

October 1st, 2007 at 8:43 am RedHawk:

The argument here is not what language is better in itself but which medium will best suit training and education in light of new opportunities for the youth.

English is good in so far as mathematics and the sciences go. But it should be tempered in other subjects. Indeed, the local vernacular should be used and not
Filipino, which is essentially Tagalog.

Spanish was done away with in the same spirit as Latin was removed from the general curriculum. However, it should be offered as an elective to high school
students who want to learn more about the Philippines’ Spanish past.
 Tagalog is Tagalog, and no one can dispute its primacy among the Philippine dialects. However, the purity of Ilocano, Chavacano, Ilonggo, and other dialects
should be preserved and encouraged to flourish. Tagalog as a medium of instruction should only be used to explain and showcase Tagalog based culture.

Like it or not, the Philippines is a country blessed with a multi-lingual population. To impose a blanket language on everyone, whether English or Tagalog, is
criminal and immoral.

10. October 6th, 2007 at 1:41 am Papi:

I long for the day when a Filipino can speak to another Filipino and not embarrass or berate him. I also long for the day when everyone of my countrymen are
proud of themselves and of their country and of their heritage.

This will never happen if we speak Tagalog/Filipino. I am a Visayan and I speak Cebuano. How dare one call the Tagalog language Filipino! What a disgrace!
Am I not a Filipino? I will never desert my mother tongue.

I suggest we learn a world language because it would help us economically. One must not forget, before those treacherous Americans invaded our country,
massacred our people, and poisoned our culture, we had our own constitution written by Filipinos in Spanish! Spanish was spoken in every major city in the
Philippines and IS the mother tongue of some people already. Rizal wrote to us in Spanish, and Spanish is much easier for a Filipino to learn. We must not for-
get who and what made our country. Before the Spaniards came, we were running around in banana leaves. Every single language has been affected by it, to a
much more extent than English has. We are all able to count in Uno, Dos, Tres and we all know what Pebrero and Miyerkules are.

Now, I know that English is a very “important” language. It’s only for those want to do business or work for an American. I hope in the future, a Filipino can
have his own business. Some workers in the States don’t even speak English; they speak Spanish and get by very well. I hope that we stop sending all these
Filipinos overseas and make our own da*n money here within our borders! I’m not saying that we should quit all of the English. We have many intelligent, flu -
ent people that can serve our country also. I am saying that it should not be required and it should definitely not be our medium of instruction to our Filipino
children. If one doesn’t know, we have a lot to offer the world.

Spanish is entrenched in our culture and for one to give that up for Hollywood is a fake themselves! If your a Real Filipino, speak Spanish! We stopped being
Indios a long time ago, so stop acting like one.

One must read these powerful works by our forefathers. Mi Ultimo Adiós, by Rizal, is so beautiful, and we can’t even read the original because we need it
translated. How embarrassing!

La única cosa que yo pido es que abráis tus ojos y veáis el daño que sucedido y sigue sucediendo. También abrid los corazones y las mentes y aprended todo
que es posible. Éso es el Filipino verdad. Solamente, veo potencial en Las Filipinas. Nuestra país es en una posición única del mundo. Utilizadlo.

11. October 13th, 2007 at 8:04 am peeka:

I am quite amazed by the number of those people who want to reinstate Spanish in the curriculum. i just wish this would happen soon. *excited*

i’m not saying that Filipino/Tagalog is not essential. of course it is, and it will forever be. it’s like the air we breathe.. or like,, if someone takes it away, we’d be
like the fish craving for water. our mother tongue is like our “tsinelas/slippers” that we go home to after a long day of hard work in our shoes… enough of the
crazy similes.. hehe!

and please, don’t forget English, it’s a global language, and is considered as the language of commerce. how can one possibly transact business with other
people if he doesn’t know the language of his clients?

let’s be realistic. speak your client’s language. English, Spanish, and Chinese are the most spoken languages all over the world. And to learn just one of these
makes a person competent enough to access the world. how much more if one learns all three?!? the whole world is just a word away. and that is what i call, a
truly GLOBAL FILIPINO.

12. November 14th, 2007 at 1:20 am min:

english should be used as the medium of instruction in schools and not any language. for the sake of globalization, we have to be competitive. english is used
worldwide. even the chinese who are known to be so centered on their culture are learning it now. we filipinos are so blessed because we are natural language
learners. our tongue adapts to the english language and one should not demerit it as if it’s an attack to patriotism or disvaluing one’s heritage. Rizal once said
that “ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa mabahong isda”. but it doesn’t mean that it’s not right to learn another language. learning
another language is like expanding our horizon, our views, our knowledge… i think this is not a question of what should be the right language to be used. this
is just a matter of acceptance to what is going on around us. filipinos are bilinguals. we are gifted with tongues. its an advantage. english performs a function
only in the realms of the academe and in the business world. but outside that, we use our native language in expressing ourslves especially when it’s personal
in nature. that’s what u call as “diglossia”. a certain language is used in a specific function. so, english to classroom instruction or formal occasions, and our
dialects to other functions such as our own literature and other occasions which are informal in nature.

13. November 25th, 2007 at 7:28 am charm_DLS-STI student:

I think that we should use english as a medium of instruction in schools all we need is practice so we could improve speaking in english.But it does not mean
that we must ignore our own language.Both Filipino and English can be helpful in our daily living.We cannot easily abolished one of them.Or else it could be
worst!!!
14. December 24th, 2007 at 12:56 pm marco de madrid:

Hola, I read all the comments about reinstating the spanish language as one of the official language in the Philippines. I met the president last month, she vis -
ited us here in Madrid, Spain. Apperently Im living in Madrid at the moment. I am so happy,proud and excited I am learning spanish as part of assimilation in
their society. I would really advise Filipinos to learn the language, not because I am PRO Spanish or something, But I think Filipinos are designed for greatness
in all aspect. Filipinos have a great reputation here in Spain. Once they learned the language they adopted signaifically and effectivelly in the society. We´re the
only one who can speak English amongs the Latino also working and living here in Spain. Spain is welcoming workers from the Philippines and I guess we
should improved our spanish heritage in order for as to assimilate well in their society. Coming 2030 Spanish will be the number 1 language in the US. Amer-
icans are flooding madrid and other cities just to learn spanish.I make sure I read EL PAIS newspaper and watch the news on TVE Española everyday. I am
blessed to be here and be integrated everyday in their culture. Ojala! One day I´ll be a Spanish professor in the Philippines. Who knows?

15. December 27th, 2007 at 3:14 am some online student:

For high standards or for the student’s ability, I think there should be more foreign language education offered in the country. How about some online language
courses in college/university level in the country. Of, course, I think it’s better to have books or modules or CD’s at hand. And oh, I myself have been saving
for tutorial classes by the native speakers of languages X,Y,Z. Also, I can’t afford to go abroad to learn the languages I’m interested in.

But, then again I’m all for the Filipino language (and other dialects) as medium of instruction and communication [in schools and the country] since the Philip-
pines is the country of the Filipinos. I myself used to be burgis, berated by my classmates at school. But now I’ve changed even if only for the fact that Big
Brother might be spying on us. I now take pride in the unique linguistic diversity of the archipelago. For your info, as if you didn’t know yet, Filipino is now
available in language translation software. I thought that’s only used among us Filipinos, now it’s also used for intelligence gathering by aliens. Que Horror!

16. December 27th, 2007 at 6:16 am Eddieboy:

Filipinos should learn Spanish and English that way you are more marketable both in America and Europe. There are plenty of jobs here in US that will pay
you more if you speak both English and Spanish. Also if you already know pilipino it would be easy for you to learn Spanish. And most importantly Filipino
history are written in Spanish.

17. January 15th, 2008 at 22:55 pm filamerican:

Question;

Why was Tagalog or AKA Filipino, chosen as the lingua-franca of the archipelago?

Seems to me it only insulted those in Cebu, Mindanao and places outside Manila and gave an upper-hand in the socio-economic structure to those who live in
the Manila metropolis.

Spanish should replace Tagalog as the lingua-franca being its neutral capability albeit a colonial language and demoting Tagalog to a regional language.

While English should be mastered for the purpose of globalized economy.

Remember, English is an official language in over 50 countries and Spanish is an official language in 20. You do the math and remember, as proud I am to be
Filipino, speaking Tagalog, Ilocano, Cebuano…does NOT guarantee bread on the table for the family.

18. January 18th, 2008 at 3:28 am filamerican:

The Philippines is poised to the cultural giant of Asia.

Listen “primos”, we cannot compete with the other economic dragons -also known as- China, Japan and Korea.

What Filipinos have that they do not have is two historical legacies -Spain and the U.S.- that NATURALLY connects us culturally, linguistically and historic-
ally with both regions. The geographic location of the Philippines is in Asia.

I suggest we take all three components and develop as a cultural “liason” that would make the Philippines a different kind of “dragon”.

Arroyo-Macapagal is reinstating the language, NOT to make the Philippines solely a Spanish-speaking country. That is nonsense and ridiculous. Nor do I think
she will change the math and science books from English to Spanish.

I think she just wants the new generation to be “exposed” to the language from grade 1 through high-school for the sole reason of positioning the arhipelago to
be marketable not only to Asia and the U.S., but to Latin America which boasts 20 sovereign countries and 400 million plus (and growing rapidly) Spanish
world-wide. At the elementary school perhaps one hour a day. In middle school, one class and the same in high-school.
Exposing is far different from “replacing”. GET THAT STRAIGHT.

Culturally, there may be enough Spanish speakers in the P.I. soon so they can study in its purest, the true atrocities of our 350 years of Spanish historical ties
and not tinted by the American intrusion.
 What I project is, even if 5% of the population of 90 million be fluent, it would be enough to woo Latin American investors. It is equally beneficial for them
also, being there major trading partners are generally with Europe and the U.S. If anything it should be “mandatory” in Zamboanga and two or three school
districts in Cebu. Then, let the chips fall as they may.

Are we going to let the Chinese or the Japanese get ahead of us in this arena too?

WAKE-UP people. Know the facts, know the players and let her rip!

19. January 18th, 2008 at 3:40 am filamerican:

You have to remember. the Chinese and Japanese make English a mandatory requirement in their school system. At what level, I don’t know.

The difference is English and Spanish is in our history therefore in our way of being -like it or not.

For China and Japan learning the English language is to continue its dominance in the global economic realm.

Peru boasts a total of one-million people of Chinese and Japanese descent.

Brazil boasts a total of one-million people of Japanese extraction that speak Portuguese. Portuguese speakers understand 80% of Spanish being they are both
Romance languages.

GET IT? We, who have names that are Hispanic, a legacy, tradtions, customs and food cannot not even SPEAK IT?

The Chinese and Japanese are doing it AGAIN! WAKE UP!!!!

20. January 19th, 2008 at 5:07 am Aloha:

Having met many filipino-nationals it is quite embarrassing to listen to them speak. I’ll give you a perfect example of what is happening to English in the Phil-
ippines. Listen to Manny Pacquio ! !

Filipinos, what the hell happenned? I mean, Americans of all nationalities used to envy Filipinos for being able to speak English better than any other incoming
immigrant group. Then, I have relatives who visit, and their children cannot even hold a conversation in English ! ! It’s pretty pathetic.

Man, master or re-master the English language and know that nationalism is not a guarantee to put food on the table. Take out Tagalog out the schools and put
it into the homes, and leave English in the schools and NOT mix it with Tagalog.

Thank You.

21. January 19th, 2008 at 20:20 pm filamerican:

My goodness,

Look OUTSIDE the cultural Filipino “paradigm” by arguing that Spanish is only defined through a blood-line. At one time it may have. But if you look at
Spanish as a “TOOL” to advance the marketability of the Filipino youth in a GLOBAL market, I do not see the harm in that. In addition to the fact that they
have “mastered” English.

The language debate there seems to be only “cultural” and only to YOU who are “too-old” to learn. In fact, the reinstatement of Spanish is NOT designed for
YOU, but for the YOUTH. From what I understand, the Philippines can use as much assistance as possible for them to compete in a global economy. By my
children learning French in school WILL NOT make them FRENCH ! However, if they know English already, an English-French combo will allow them more
opportunties outside the Anglosphere. Is this too difficult to understand?

22. January 23rd, 2008 at 17:53 pm filamerican:

Voltaire Oyzon by far explains the language-debate of the Philippines the best.

I feel the “true” identity of the Philippines should not be defined not in one language. Linguistically, Switzerland would be a good blue-print to exemplify what
the Islands should analyze.

In the European continent, the Swiss by all means is not the political or economic giant as defined with Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy. It has four of-
ficial languages - German, French, Italian and Romanish. The Swiss took advantage of its geographic location and historical legacies -negative and positive-
with its larger neighbors thus becoming a banking mecca, tourist capital and international nuetrality to become an important component in Euruopean affairs in
general and global diplomacy in particular.
 The Philippines has similar potential. It’s three combined components -one geographic (Asian) and two historical-cultural legacies (Hispanic and American)-
has been traditionally seen as a “weakness” to formulate ONE sovereign state with ONE language.

In pre-colonial days, the archipelago were different islands and distinct cultures in their own right. It will “always” be unatural to “force” one language to
define several distinct sub-cultures.

By themselves, Tagalog, English and Spanish have failed to define what the Philippines is linguistically and culturally. TOGETHER they can.

23. January 31st, 2008 at 13:51 pm divina:

For those who can’t and didn’t understand my comment earlier….I was saying that our heritage should be placed first instead of some foreign language.

Many people are saying that it is essential for a Filipino youth to learn English. Who said so> the Americans. Why? Language can control how we think, it can
influence how we perceive things, thus, language can be power. The above comments were said out of baseless and contaminated ideas. By not using English,
it would lessen the superiority of the Americans and other English speaking countries. By this, it would lessen the discrimination suffered by the our fellow
FIlipinos, Asians, and colored people against those white people. I admit that it would be futile if ONLY the Phiippines would act against English, as futile as
the power battle of Japan against America and Europe. Globalization is not only mediated by English, remember, English is only ONE of the many languages
used in UN, by not using English, we can break free of the chain and ball that held us down for so long, preventing us to rebel against the colonizer, in territory,
culture, and language,and be their slaves. This is a call for all those people who are and were ravaged by the Americans and Europeans, by not using English,
we can eliminate their superiority, and make the world a better (no disciminations) place to live in.

24. February 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 am jaydena:

Divina, your comment is respected, agreed upon and hands-down true. The ideal situation is that the Philippines speak Tagalog/Filipino solely and, isolated
from foreign contamination, develope an economic structure that does not rely on foreign dependency. Thus, providing jobs for all its citizens and envelope a
society where one language unites the entire archipelago. This would be an “ideal” situation. However, the world and the Philippines did not evolve that way.

More importantly, you failed to remember that the Tagalog language did the same thing to the Cebuano people, the Ilocano people and other distinct cultures in
the archipelago who felt and still feels that Tagalog was imposed on thier ancient cultures that developed in its own right! The primary difference is you think
that it is not an issue when it clearly still is.

Cebuanos, are an excellent example of my point. They may speak Tagalog/Filipino, however “in” their homes where thought and creativity are defined, they
speak their own vernaculars. So why is Tagalog so different from English when at one time it was just as foreign to the people of Cebu and Mindanao?

It was the untimely intrusion of the Spanish conquistadores that “ironically” coined the term “Filipino” and the Philippines. The only unifying factor that
brought the numerous Island cultures together was to “boot-out” the Spanish. Manual Roxas did not have the peoples of the archipelago “vote-in” Tagalog as
the lingua-franca. If I’m not correct, He “declared” it. It so happens that this particular language was the language spoken in Manila. How do the people of Ma -
nila generalize people who live in the provinces where Tagalog is not their mother tongue? I can only guess they would be looked “down” upon, correct?

The best situation is what the former USSR did, and split the Philippines into smaller republics and let each “island republic” choose what language to make
official and who to have diplomatic relations with and whether or not to stay “isolated” or build its economy on foreign trade and cultural exchange. That may
be the only far-fetched idea worth thinking about. The Islands were different entities “before” the Spaniards got there. There is reason to believe that they still
are under the guise of Tagalog/Filipino being a lingua-franca.

25. February 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 am

jaydena:

To further my thoughts Divina, after reading your quote. You are absolutely correct, English is not the only language in the U.N., neither is Tagalog/Filipino
the “only” language in the Philippines.

My question is, you defintely are an opponent of the English language in the Islands. It is respected and you have solid arguments to uphold your beliefs.
However, what is the difference in what English did globally, to what the Tagalog/Filipino language did domestically? To speak English is to communicate
with the world as is to speak Tagalog/Filipino is a means to communicate with the inhabitants of the other islands. Both languages, it seems to me, were
equally intrusive. It just so happens that Manila happened to be the “de-facto” culture to the Philippines, as was the United States and Europe to the world.
Please don’t think that “all” the Islands have “embraced” the Tagalog/Filipino language that solely defines what it is to be Filipino. They do so for national
convenience. Likewise, those who promote English do so for global convenience. You feel the same way about English as many Filipinos feel about Tagalog.
Don’t be fooled.

If “foreign-contamination” is your argument, then what “foreign” virus gave the Philippines its name and unified the approximately 7000 islands despite this
particular colonizers’ negative legacy?

Tell me, when a Cebuano speaker speaks Tagalog/Filipino -albeit with an accent - how do you “honestly” view them at that moment? Then, ask yourself how
do THEY feel speaking Tagalog which is not thier first language?

26. February 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 am jaydena: Divina,

 If you have answered my last questions honestly, then continue on with your militant “brown-pride” rhetoric. Understand this, your fluency in Tagalog and
English mean absolutely nothing when you visit the United States and happen to be at a function where everyone at the function are American-born Filipinos.
We will make you feel the way the people of Manila generalize the people in the provinces, only worse! Take it for what its worth!

When one points a finger, always remember there are three pointing back!

A particular language does not guarantee food on the table, money in the bank nor untimely fatal diseases and death even with or without the negative “for-
eign” elements that have plagued “all” countries including the United States.

Blaming historical elements beyond your control are excellent truths and venues to analyze present day atrocities. In the case of the Philippines, what is your
solution? Eliminate English and the “white” man, abolish Catholicism, foreign trade and cultural exchange? Also, let the other islands eliminate
Tagalog/Filipino. Then what do you have? 7000 different islands with different languages and governments? Sounds pretty good to me, don’t you think?

27. February 2nd, 2008 at 18:47 pm zito:

I think the Philippines should only use Tagalog as the medium of instruction. Furthermore, I think all the other local dialects should be phased out and force all
the other provinces to speak Tagalog only. Then, we should eliminate all the “Spanish loan words and English idioms” within the Tagalog language, change our
last names if sounds too Spanish or American. Remove all the universities that has any English or Spanish influences and replace it with Tagalog. Change all
the documents, street signs to Tagalog only. It doesn’t matter what the people from the province think. Then, let us declare the Chinese and Muslim people as
illegal and eventually deport them. It is only then “we” Filipinos can progress! Also, if a Filipino uses “any” Spanish or English word on the street, that person
should be monetarily penalized.

Then, we stop all foreign trade and cultural exchanges. We can raise our own animals and grow our own vegetables. Tagalog teachers should make it an effort
to be educated in the Tagalog-speaking universities.

Also, we need to change the names of our money from peso to something Tagalog. Let’s not forget, lets change the way we tell time to. That’s sounds too for-
eign.

When all these things occur, we all will be proud to be Cebuano,err Ilocano, oh I mean Filipino. We don’t need multiple foreign influences and we don’t need
so many local vernaculars. It is too confusing. Above all we need to forget our existence over the last 500 years.

Of course we need to change our country’s name also. It is a term coined by the Spanish, I almost forgot. Mabuhay Filipinas.

No English or Spanish. Only Tagalog. That is the one and true language of the “Republic of the 7000 Islands on the China sea north of Indonesia” (Philippines
is an American word)…oops, sorry.

This sounds ridiculous doesn’t it. The scary part, is some people actually think this way! God help them.

28. February 2nd, 2008 at 19:34 pm erwin:

Lets eliminate any American and Spanish influences, phase-out the local vernaculars, declare anyone Chinese or Muslim to be illegal. Above all, let us only
use Tagalog and the history of the area around Manila as the sole experience of the archipelago.

Stop all foreign trade, cultural exchange, and innovative-technical progress.

We can grow our own vegetables, raise our own livestock, and use the carabou, horses and mules as our means of transportation.

We can use “home-pigeons” to communicate within the provinces. But only in the Tagalog language.

We should revert to our pagan religions or become an atheistic society. There is no hereafter anyways. It is only a crutch.

Let us woo-in all the Filipinos abroad because we no longer need thier monetary assistance to put food on the table and clothing on our children.

When we do this, then finally, we can advance our impoverished economy and take our place in world history.

It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Mabuhay Filipinas!

29. February 2nd, 2008 at 20:08 pm erwin:

Doesn’t it seem strange that Manual Roxas 1/2 Castillan, “appointed” by the American administration spoke Spanish fluently, Tagalog and English. Then “de -
clares” Tagalog, not Spanish is the lingua-franca of the Philippines played right into the pawn of the North American scheme of things?

Is it perhaps that in 1936, the Americans still had a political “hang-over” at aftermath of the Spanish-American war, and Manual Roxas happenned to be a per-
fect puppet to “extend” the U.S.’s global domination in Asia and Spanish would be a “threat, a heroic “yes-man” sort of speak?” Thus, villianizing the Spanish
language thus creating our present day linguistic quandry?
 Food for thought…

30. February 3rd, 2008 at 18:44 pm lenny:

To the Filipinos of ASIA!

A) China is fervently promoting English to thier students. They have a population of 1 Billion.

B) An article in google titled: Korea Dreams to be an English Speaking nation, and is determined to do so.

C) Japan, like Korea, is now opening schools to teach English “beginning” at the elementary level

D) India, whose population is 1 billion, has 35 million English speakers but is less than 4% of its population, yet India now boasts the most computer-engineers
in the WORLD.

E) What did the Philippines do? Reverted to Tagalog as the teaching medium in schools.

Likewise, these three countries are urgently promoting thier high-school and university students to learn Spanish as the third language because of Latin Amer-
ica’s growing economy.

What does the Philippines do? No, lets not make Spanish an official language because we are not Spanish, it is our past?

I’m sorry my primos, these are two reasons why American-born Filipinos are so embarassed of you. You are not thinking outside the paradigm.

I think this is why the Philippines are called the “laggards of Asia”! What a shame, beautiful people, unlimited potential, but “nationalism” has BLINDED the
advancement of the Filipinos as a collective unit!

February 3rd, 2008 at 19:54 pm lenny:

Questions:

a) What language did Jose Rizal use to captivate the Islands in his writings and poetry?

b) What language was the medium of instruction in schools in the mid-twentieth century when the Philippines had the second strongest economy in Asia?

c) The Philippines, now, has 20 million citizens living below the poverty level, what language was used as the medium of instruction from 1987 to the present?

Thank you Manila! In your quest to “find” a Filipino identity, you have squandered it by not taking advantage of what was already there! Continue looking!

31. February 6th, 2008 at 2:33 am winback:

It seems like Tagalog has only been advantage to the people in and around Metro Manila. With English as the world language of communication, and Spanish
fastly becoming a “world” language, why is it that people there in the Philippines are so stubborn to embrace Spanish and English with Filipino as part of thier
well-being? People in Zamboanga and Cebu could be the zones where Spanish can be mastered with Tagalog, while the rest of the Philippines stick to Tagalog
and English. Heck, if a good number of Filipinos speak Spanish in addition to the vast number that CAN speak English, maybe we could give Spain and the
United States a “dose” of their own medicine. Did anyone ever think about that? Neither of our former colonists are in the Philippines anymore. We could take
the languages they left behind and become a threat to them!

32. February 6th, 2008 at 3:08 am winback:

Look Filipinos.

English cannot be denied as the “world’s medium in science and political diplmacy. Filipinos already speak the best English in Asia, especially in Manila NO
DOUBT! Re-master it. The English language has developed the Filipino community in the United States with the reputation of being professionals, a non-bur-
den minority because they assimilate immediately into the American fabric of society, and can identify in cultural and religious practices with English speaking
Hispanics, which compose of 15% of the U.S. population and are 34 million strong who see the Philipppines as their “cousins”.

Spanish is an intregal and an important component in the Philippines’ history. Hence “Las Filipinas” and our last names, religion, money, the way we tell time,
names of our towns…etc. Re-officialize the language to a “special” status and have it mandatory and mastered in Zamboanga and maybe a few districts in the
Visayas, perhaps Cebu and have it continue as an “optional” course in the rest of the Philippines. Zamboanga and Cebu can be revived as the Spanish forts,
only this time the Philippines is on the “offense”, not the “defense” as in colonial times. Develop Spanish-speaking Filipino professionals and send them out,
or establish a bastion where Latin American and Spanish investors would be comfortable in investing business in ASIA! 20 countries have Spanish as an offi-
cial language = 400 million speakers. Portuguese speakers naturally understand 80% of Spanish because both are Romance Languages and spoken in Brazil,
Portugal and Africa amounting to another 100 million second language speakers.
 Tagalog/Filipino can be the language that keep the “Filipino” in tact. It can be the language and already is the language that ties all the Islands together any-
ways and can continue to do so.

With GMA proposing a “revitalization” of Spanish in the Philippines, understand its horrid past, but embrace the future of what the Philippines can become.

Far-fetched -yes,
Impossible -no!

Again, what other nation in ALL of ASIA has the foundation WITHIN its own soil and culture that has the potential to be a nation that has a renowned world
reputation of fluency in thier own Filipino language, English and Spanish, TWO of the UN’s six major official languages.

We are already considered a “model” minority in the U.S. because of English.

We are considered by many the Hispanics of Asia to all of the Hispanic world because of our religious and cultural customs and traditions.

Most importantly, we are hands down THE BEST LOOKING PEOPLE IN ASIA, no doubt. As a nation with three official world languages, it’s time to take on
the world!
Bring it on !

Mabuhay Filipinas!
Kudos to the Philippines!
Viva Las Filipinas!

None of these praises are foreign to any Filipino, right?

Food for thought! With GMA silently provoking the return of Spanish, a window of opportunity has opened. Your choice!

33. February 6th, 2008 at 16:45 pm filamerican:

Mong Palatino, for PRESIDENT !

This is by far the best web-site, with the most intelligent and thought provoking topics regarding the “language-dilemna” in the Philippines.

Your quotations and sites from M.Roxas, Pinoy.com, Wow Manila…etc provide a balance of ideas and thoughts.

When compared to other blogs - need not mentioned names - and reading thier comments, the bloggers here on your site, offer a degree of knowledge, research
and intelligence. Some actually made me analyze a few things. Nonetheless….

Kudos to you, Mr. Palatino!

34. February 6th, 2008 at 17:56 pm filamerican:

When I meant other blogs, I specifically meant the “chat-blogs” or “gov.forums”.

There is another excellent site provided by a gentlemen named Llorito; Mastering English in the Philippines.

He is an excellent moderator.

35. February 6th, 2008 at 18:08 pm lina:

okay look…

here are some generalized terms along with generalized definitions….

White Americans…rulers, government minded, rich, world-power, racists and bigots, superior

African Am….athletes, singers, dancers, welfare, lazy, ex-slaves, loud, big jewels in lovemaking(you know what I mean?) and I hope my child never marries
one….

Hispanic……fiesta, good looking, passion, Catholic, lovers, salsa, numerous children, dumb, no education, lazy, powerful and longlasting lovemaking skils

Asian………education, university, industrious, intelligent, computer, no rythym, no social skills, money is a god, ugly women, men with very little pathetically
small jewels to attempt to satisfy the opposite gender.
 Now, Filipinos always have debated if they considered themselves Asian or Hispanic? C’mon now….which do you choose.

English, Spanish, or Tagalog does not change how people percieve your country, it is how you perceive you perceive yourself.

I think most Filipinos -in the Philippines- would consider themselves Asian if I’m not correct? Because, many believe that we are not Hispanic people? Wow,
read the stereotypical generalizations again…then really make a choice.

36. February 7th, 2008 at 0:16 am grant:

i am a filipino-brit residing in london. my grandparents came to the u.k. during the 70’s in an exchange program sponsered by the educational ministries.

i say, i have heard that your president is pondering revitalizing the spanish language in the philippines.

well, as a second generation brit, i have visited spain. and there have been filipino-spaniards -for the lack of a better term- that have visited the u.k.

we communicated beautifully in english, and i still eat adobo, pancit etc, and i still practice the catholic religion (on christmas and easter especially). however,
the common denominator to the few -flip-spaniards- i have met over the years, is that they felt more comfortable in spain.

that revelation simply baffles me because they were able to communicate fluently in english and could speak filipino to my parents and grandparents. they
learned spanish while employed as workers in spain which made it their weakest tongue yet yearned to go back to spain after a mini-holiday here in the u.k.

why may i ask? i think spanish is so deep into the culture, that filipinos, there, don’t even care to acknowledge this wonderful gift.

may i exhort you and say not look at your colinised past in which the spaniards and even the americans for that matter, conquered without honour, but to look
ahead to a globalised community? it only seems logical. give it a go!

37. February 7th, 2008 at 1:58 am

also, i had failed to mention that one lovely filipino-spaniard couple i had been honoured to have been associated with, happened to be english language teach-
ers, of all places, in madrid. they shared the fact that spaniards have a great deal of respect towards filipinos than they do most westerners. what a fascinating
and unique adventure. i say mates, we filipinos are a unique people indeed.

38. February 8th, 2008 at 9:05 am Mr.Palatino

…If you speak Tagalog and English, and you live in and were “born” in Metro-Manila, would you seriously study a “provincial” language? I’m generalizing,
but it would not seem necessary because Tagalog/Filipino is spoken through-out the Philippines, right? It is respected.

…Now, given that the Philippines has two official languages, Filipino and English, does it seem so difficult to understand why an American-born Filipino, who
speaks English and maybe their parents’ provincial language does not see it necessary to learn or speak Tagalog, for the same reason why “Manilans” don’t
care to learn a provincial language?

39. February 9th, 2008 at 21:38 pm eric:

seems to me a language is only important when being proud of your country. what good is it if it does not guarantee food on the table, jobs and shoes on the
little ones? seems to me the only hope is to learn english and try to find a job somewhere else. i mean, why not, it is already here.

what is worst, a murderer who speaks filipino, a murderer who speaks english, or a murderer who speakes filipino and english?

which is better, parents who love their children in filipino, parents who love their children in english, or parents who love their children in filipino and english.

what good speaking one language, two languages, or three languages if the individual speaking them has no ethics and values?

the identity of an individual is not defined only by the language he speaks. the identity of an individual is one who utilizes the resources he has and tries to
make good use of it for himself, his family, his neighbors and his community.

those who solely feel tagalog or english or tagalog and english explains their nationality, think again. language without exercising integrity, dignity and convic-
tion to his fellow man is only a language.

to the people of the philippines, get over it. take filipino, english or both and move on for pete’s sake!

people still live in slums as you continue to fight for an “identity”. do you think people who live in the slums care “what” language they are taught in the
schools? that is if they even go to school. take what is there, use one, use both, or use three. stop this nonsense. it is ridiculous. make a decision that is good for
the future of the youth in particular and the nation in general. stop looking at the term filipino on an “individual” perspective of a historical past and put on a
 “national” perspective of “what” a filipino by not basing it only on one language or two because of the past. those of you who are educated should know better
than this. you have an education, food, and shoes. many of our citizens don’t. and it not because of the language they speak and/or “don’t” speak.

40. February 9th, 2008 at 22:00 pm eric:

con’d,
they don’t have shoes because those who have the power to run things, made personal choices that purposely or accidentally manifested poverty and corruption
that the mass had no power to control. then, in the midst of this debacle, you have those speak loud and rise-up and fervently blame the two conquerers for the
present dismal state of life. blaming the two conquerers is a good band-aid, but only for a while. do these people blab this kind of nationalism care whether you
personaly eat or not? or provide solutions using every bit of potential opportunities that already exists but are “villainized” because they are presumed “for -
eign’? blaming the past, more so than not, creates more of a barrier than a solution towards a promising future. Ask any recovering drug-addict, alcholic or an
level headed adult who rose above a past growing up with physically abusive parents. filipinos should take the past, learn from it, use its lessons, take advant -
age of what was left behind and move on.

41. February 9th, 2008 at 22:20 pm

eric:

this language debate in the philippines over the usage of filipino, english and spanish reminds of a person who has just been diagnosed with aids or another
fatal disease. this individual has two options;

1) to wallow in his past, blame the person or situation that allowed aids or a fatal disease, for which the individual had or did not have control over, then be-
coming angry and depressed at every form of livelihood for the rest of his/her life? or

2) accepting his/her current frame of being, understand what had occurred and why it occurred in contracting the fatal disease, then having the courage and the
boldness to help, comfort and emphathize with those who have the same tragic fate?

the philippines cannot change nor continue blame its past for its present state, as correct and as true as the facts are and have been. the youth needs something
to hope for. if it is implenting three languages, so be it.

filipinos, please, i think you know the answer.

42. February 9th, 2008 at 22:34 pm eric:

on a final note, with all do respect to the example of the one who contracted a fatal disease, the individual can eliminate the person, illegally or as the disease
takes its fatal course on that individual, whom he/she contracted the disease from, but the individual must live on. Now, which of the two comments that i’d
made in my previous comment would serve the individual better?

however you answer is a strong projection of how you see the future identity of the philippines. good luck and press on.

43. February 9th, 2008 at 23:03 pm eric:

the english debate, to the opponents who do not want it taught in the schools, probably have the idea that americans and american-born filipinos deragotorily
call them fob’s. well, unfortunately, this is a term that can be disheartening for a fluent english speaker from the philippines with a distinct accent. to neutralize
this negative situation know these two generalizations that are probably not known to many filipinos;

first, in as much as american-born filipinos use that term to hurt their fellow filipinos, they are even prouder that the filipino immigrants/american born filipi-
nos collectively speak English as a first language and as a fluent second language -accent and all. Seriously, there are many other immigrant groups living in
the U.S. that does not speak english, therefore considered aliens or a cancer to american society. filipinos do not have that distinction. blame or thank the ex -
posure of english to the philippines.

second, my concern is, if a filipino feels bad because an american born filipino makes fun of his filipino accent while speaking english, what is so different
from someone living in metro-manila making fun of a fellow-filipino who, from a distant province, speaks tagalog with a “provincial” accent and is made fun
of because he is a “provinciano”?

which is worse, the term fob or provinciano? seems to me that the term fob and provinciano have the same negative appeal. both happen to be used on different
ends of the pacific ocean.

anyways, when your english is being made fun of, please remember, every filipino whether they admit or not do the same to those in the provinces when they
speak tagalog.

when you understand and accept both as demeaning slurs, than perhaps the next time your english is being made fun of, you could understand how your fellow
filipinos in the provinces feel. grow from it. racism and bigotry are wrong, but they will always exist. rise above it. you show me an individual who has not
thought of or uttered racial idignities, i’ll show you a liar.

44. February 9th, 2008 at 23:26 pm eric:

 remember, the reason why many filipinos are hurt when they are called a fob, for the very same reason that a non-manila born filipino is called a provinciano.
you know in brazil, there is no such thing as a white-brazilian, black brazillian or japanese-brazillian (one million strong), they are just “brazillian”.

However, in the united states, it is a different story. the american-born filipino whose first language is english, will forever be a considered a filipino, filipino-
american or asian-american citizen and not just plain american and thus experiences the idignity of not “fully” belonging to the majority and everything else
that goes with it. similarly, the latin-american, the african-american, the muslim-american, jewish-american and others, also have the same kind of stigma.
those who decsended from europe many generations ago, have the advantage of not experiencing an inferior slur but they do recieve negative “superiority”
slurs from us. all this said filipinos, you are not alone. just rise above it, that’s all. so, keep speaking english - accent or not.

an american of another ethnicity one time asked me, why do filipinos speak english well? My answer; because we CAN! run with that!

45. February 10th, 2008 at 0:02 am eric:

filipino-tagalog, “continue” to use it and grow as a nation and appreciate its uniqueness,

english, “re-master” it and provide a global perspective to give to the youth an opportunity they may or may not take advantage of,

spanish, revitalize it because it “was” there and will always be there under the guise of cultural and social customs and traditions.

look back and understand,

press forward, see what happens and enjoy the adventure! Nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

46. February 14th, 2008 at 23:56 pm

even though english is the primary meduim of instruction it doesnt mean you will forget your own language (filipino) it is the matter of how you use your own
language… using of our own language is in our hands… dont be so hypocrite using english for a simple conversation with your friends or relatives… use it in
a meaningful way…

47. February 17th, 2008 at 17:55 pm rob:

I’ll tell you right now, American customers have been complaining about - not out of disrespect - international credit service personell from India and China.
They’re English is not understood clearly to the bulk of first language English speakers. From personal experience, it is very frustrating.

In India’s case, fluencey isn’t the question, but their rythmic pattern is hard to follow. In China’s case,…well mama said if you can’t say anything good don’t
say it at all.

Anyways, Filipino call service personell are, or as of late have been, in demand. If you have it, flaunt it!

48. March 7th, 2008 at 5:09 am guy:

If you look at it, English and Filipino, represent the Philippines. English, often looked as a “global” language has benefited the Philippines and its people
simply because they can communicate the world’s lingua-franca period. Tagalog/Filipino is a home-grown national language that is sprinkled with 5000 to
7000 Spanish loan words. These three elements represent the tongue of Filipino people. Therefore English should be the medium of instruction in schools,
while Tagalog/Filipino should be studied as a school subject from elementary school to the university level. Spanish, should be an optional language but the
government should lobby to increase its importance nationally to the youth because it is the fastest growing world-language in the world. I read somewhere
that Japan and Korea have 10 universities where one can earn a doctorate degree, while the Philippines offers one university. One has to ask why? What a
shame, the other countries in Asia have taken steps to increase its marketability and outsmarted the Philippines again.

49. March 14th, 2008 at 21:11 pm

larry:

80

The Filipinos have their right to choose which language to use as the instruction of medium in the classrooms.

Look at the present and future scope of the scheme of things and THEN choose…but in the meantime think of the benifits and consequenses for your next gen-
eration. You’ll be old or dead, and they still have to find a way to exist in a world where inovation, technology, progress and efficiency will be the norm. Na -
tional pride is rapidly becoming a side topic when compared to statistical results. Choose correctly Philippines, your children depend on you…

50. March 24th, 2008 at 22:52 pm

DJB Rizalist:
 An interesting Letter to the Editor from a Call Center CEO in the Philippines:

THIS REFERS to Isabel Pefianco Martin’s commentary titled “Myths about languages in the Philippines.” (Inquirer, 3/1/08) It is an example of why I fear the
Philippines will never be a successful country. Her denial of the scandal and tragedy of education in the Philippines is profound and pathetic.

According to the education secretary, 80 percent of secondary school teachers in the Philippines failed an English proficiency test last year. I closed my call
center here. Filipinos have much worse English than their Indian counterparts. Not even 3 percent of the students who graduate college here are employable
in call centers. Trust me, all of us are leaving for China.

The Philippines has a terrible talent shortage, and the government and the press are in denial. Martin does not get it. English is the only thing that can save
the country, and no one here cares or even understands that the Filipinos have a crisis. For now, English is the dominant language in business, not Ilocano,
Visayan or Tagalog. The poor English, coupled with the ala mañana work ethic here, bodes poorly for any bright future for the Philippines.

When Marcos was kicked out, so was English, and you have not brought it back yet. You must, or you will never have more than 250,000 call center seats, and
you will lose all BPO and call center business and all these jobs to China within five years.

It is sad that the Philippine Daily Inquirer published such a terrible article.

I love the Philippines, but as an American and a businessman, I am one of the thousands leaving here.

Good luck to the Inquirer. It needs to reevaluate its writers, unless it supports such a misguided set of ideas.

God save the Philippines. I hate to see the country falling ever deeper into an English-deprived abyss.–RUSS SANDLIN, via e-mail

51. March 31st, 2008 at 5:06 am

larry:

DJB Rizalist,

Wow, a profound revelation. Thanks. It would seem when the benefits of “not” being able to use English hits bottom, the Philippines would find someone or
something else to blame instead of themselves. Tragic. What do you do? Contentment is a foundation for lack of accomplishments.

52. March 31st, 2008 at 5:18 am

larry:

DJB Rizalist,

For what it is worth, it sounds that the English debate in the Philippines is spearheaded a vocal minority who views the world’s lingua-franca as a intrusive can-
cer to develop a purely “Asian” society.

Here in the United States, when discussing moral, political and social issues, the left or the liberal brand of thinking has been considered a “loud” minority op -
pose to the right or the conservaties whose supporters are often coined as the “silent” majority. The media, (film, television and music industry) cater to liberal
social and political ideas.

Any similarities?

53. March 31st, 2008 at 14:36 pm

DJB Rizalist:

Hi Larry,
Yeah the Silent Majority in the Philippines was finally detected by the left-leaning media types and public opinion pollsters when a survey on attitudes towards
America and Western politics and culture among global polities was conducted. Turns out the Philippines ranks up there with Israel and Poland in its support
for George W. Bush and the war on terrorism. Indeed on general attitudes, NSA Negroponte came to Manila after that survey (coordinated by an outfit in chica-
go World Public Opinion) and said he wishes the results for the Filipino public would be emulated elsewhere in the world.

But you couldn’t tell that is situation from reading the biggest newspapers.

The public school system really needs fixing too, specifically in developing language tools for the globalized world. Right now 90% of the budget goes to the
salaries of the biggest labor union in the country to the detriment of education though it works wonders for govt employment.

54. March 31st, 2008 at 18:47 pm larry:

 P.S.

You have an excellent point DJB Rizalist. I don’t know if you there in the islands or stateside, but regardless, the liberal agenda towards the U.S. situation in
Iraq has “again” put the U.S. in a negative light in the world’s perception.

What they don’t see is the positive spectrum the U.S. troops have contributed. Soldiers, who has since completed assignments there in the Middle East, are as-
tonished how the American media one-sidely portrays U.S. troops and how they are not revealing the positive aspects of what the troops have accomplished.
Example, the hospitals built, the schools re-built, the roads repaired, children escorted to school by the troops, and the numerous soldiers who ARE WEL-
COMED by villages and small towns outside Baghdad, to name a few.

People have a right to formulate opinions, but make sure you see BOTH sides of the coin, before knowing what it is.

Thanks again DJB, my being Filipino-American, most Filipino nationals arriving have never been ones who were anti-American, nor anti-English.

This may be trivial to you, but if you Google “Filipino-Americans Wikipedia”, you’ll see a small synopsis of how the usage of English by Filipinos have con-
tributed to Americans’ positive outlook toward us as a minority.

Fight-on my friend. I suggest you wake up that sleeping giant known as the silent and manana majority. LOL. Take care.

55. April 23rd, 2008 at 19:49 pm gUaPa:

I think if English and Tagalog should be mandatory, so should Spanish be. It was once the language in the country before the arrival of English and Tagalog for
the people in the Visayas. Spanish should even be more important for us Visayans than learning tagalog because Spanish was really a part of our culture as it
was the language we once used. We dont speak Tagalog but we are orced to learn it…I think its just unfair to put Spanish aside.

56. April 23rd, 2008 at 19:50 pm

gUaPa:

I think if English and Tagalog should be mandatory, so should Spanish be. It was once the language in the country before the arrival of English and Tagalog for
the people in the Visayas. Spanish should even be more important for us Visayans than learning tagalog because Spanish was really a part of our culture as it
was the language we once used. We dont speak Tagalog but we are orced to learn it…I think its just unfair to put Spanish aside.

57. April 24th, 2008 at 5:06 am

DJB Rizalist:

gUApA,
I think lots of people who comment on “the language problem” in the Philippines do not realize that we are actually talking about the issue of “medium of in -
struction” in the public schools. I agree with you it is a shame that Spanish is no longer widely used in the Philippines. But we are a free country and no one is
prevented from studying, using and propagating the Spanish language. However, the impracticality of it as “medium of instruction” cannot be denied when one
considers that there are 22 millions in the system, all speaking many different languages and dialects. The need for textbooks and teachers competent in
whatever language is used, as well as subject matter (Math, English, Filipino, Science and Makabayan) severely limits our choices. Wishful and wistful think-
ing driven by noble sentimentality is not going to deliver quality education to the masses.

58. April 27th, 2008 at 14:58 pm divina:

Jaydena,

You’re right about the diglossic relaitonship of Tagalog and the other dialects in the Philippines, I came from those “far of” places in the Philippines, Davao
specifically.

You’re right about English as an important language, to elaborate, almost ninety percent of all the books in our library in UP Mindanao is printed in English. I
can’t be “heard”, “seen”, and “recognized” when I’m not using English, right?

But let me tell you this, my “brown pride” was handed to me by my parents, and their parents before them, my bloodline is a fusion of different cultures, my
fahter coming from Luzon, and my mother coming from Mindanao with relations in Visayas, this “brown pride” gave me an identity inspite of all the confu-
sion on what truly is a Filipino and what is not, or Do you want to be a Filipino or not? Language, whatever it is, is an IDENTITY, if you know your language,
you know yourself. I cant eat my pride, but let me tell you this, we never got hungry living in the Philippines. You’re always saying “YOU CANT! YOU
CANT!” but we CAN. WE can CAN IT! When you’re lazy, you go hungry, dont blame English or Tagalog when it’s your fault you’re starving.

as for the “foreign” virus thingy, WE CANT REWRITE HISTORY CAN WE? The only thing we can do now is to right what was done WRONG in the past.
By letting the colonizers got away with turning English as the medium of instruction in the Philippines, they prevented us from finding ourselves. We accept
western techonology, we accept, and we only accept, when we discover something, the westerners STEAL it from us, then sell it to us again, at a higher price.
This disgusting, humuliating, and inhumane cycle has to STOP! And it can all begin in OUR classrooms. It’s time that we Filipinos maximize our potential.
WE have an innate cameleon capability of blending with other non Philippine lannguages, but can we use it in OUR own countrY?
 As for tagalog as a medium of instruction, we can do it. Tagalog is already used in TV< broadcasting, print media, radio, even in the internet, the stage has
been set, all we need to do is to step in that stage and create a masterpiece that future FIlipinos can be proud of. But of course, we can also use BISAYA, actu -
ally it is more practical, with DAvAO and Cebu people as speakers, I can say that Tagalog is over”spoken”…..

The national language and its regional dialects should never be at par with English in the hearts of the Filipinos. It should never be an ISSUE!!!!!! But because
it is, in your case, then you’ve got a serious problem. GLobalization? Prosperity? It’s not impossible, but with a little issue like this jarring your countenance,
then it would be a little harder. If only we can kick out those useless people who believe that Filipinos cant do it, then I bet we can do it! Negative thinking
people are only a burden in a developing country like the Philippines.

That’s all….. I hope you post a reply on this vey long comment Jaydena….

59. April 27th, 2008 at 15:19 pm divina:

Im studying SEcond language acquisiition with Standard English as the second language, and let me tell you this, the “fact” Filipinos at the pinnacle of English
proficiency in Asia and even in othe continents is a pure FALLACY!!!! Our literacy rate is rapidly dropping, and we’re being left behind by non-English
speaking countries like Singapore, TAiwan, and Thailand!! Sure they incorporate English lesson here and there in their curiculum but the lesson was taught
mainly in their native language. SPanish is long gone, why dwell on it??? we cant speak spanish anymore!!! Tagalog, although not a native language of many
Filipinos, is a very flexible language. HEY!! Tagalog and Bisaya basically are similar in sentence structure, and pronunciation, so tagalog s not really a foreign
language to Bisayan native language speakers. Why cant we discard the facade that we’re superior because were dogs of the superpower of the world (US)?
It’s not getting us anywhere, this doggy attitude of ours. We have to stand up on our own, and build our individual identity and then our national identity. Na -
tional identity, in the form of a natiobnal language, is a stepping stone for development. Look at India, they are not rich really, but they rub elbows with JAPan,
US and Europe just because of their “perceived” cultural superiority. Korea rose from its embers becuase of their nationalistic and patriotic principles, and take
note that they are divided into two nations, but what the hell they thought.

Look around us people, it’s not about how well Filipinos speka English but how far would they go for developmwent of their mother land, and then we will see
the answer.

60. April 27th, 2008 at 20:56 pm DJB Rizalist:

I’m cold to the ideologies of “identity” that arise from differences, like those of language and tradition.

When people speak of it, usually it means they are laboring to arise themselves from the swamp of mediocrity.

Filipinos and Fil-Ams especially, but people of all races, really, have this need and obsession with being unique.

So they thump their chest and say, see how different we are, how unique we are.

Yet what we hold in common, if you think about it, are the greatest things humanity knows of.

This is a fact so rarely appreciated. What matters most is not what divides us, but what unites us.

Wherever the heck you’re from, love and cherish where you are now and who you’re with. You were a human being long before you became Filipino.

Language is not what makes you what you are.

It’s just the medium for the message.

Now figure out what you really want to say.

Not to me but to yourself.

61. April 28th, 2008 at 3:26 am instant smith:

Comment #98 by JBRizalist…You are RIGHT ON.

Seems to me that people want to be unique and look for their “identities” through language, nationalism and skin color.

My point is, all of mankind defocate the same color waste - shades of brown. When we get cut, the color of the blood of all mankind is the same - red.

All I know is, you can kill, steal, lie and/or help others, obey the law and practice ethics and morals in Tagalog, English, Russian, Sudanese, or Martian for cry -
ing out loud.

In otherwords, you can be a murderer or a philanthropist in any language.

Identity is how ‘others’ view who YOU are at your funeral. How one view oneself is always debatable for good actions and bad deeds speak louder than words.
 Those who need to be identified with a ‘national identity or language’ to ‘know(?) and understand themseleves suffers insecurity over thier ‘individual’ journey
to respect their fellow man.

At a funeral, people are best remembered if one was kind or abusive, sincere or a chronic liar, giving or greedy. The language the person in the coffin spoke be -
comes secondary.

62. April 29th, 2008 at 9:54 am divina:

comment 98 and 99 are hilariously gneralized. If we’re so similar, why can’t we agree on the same things?

Indeed we are all human, we need air, shelter, and food to live, but it’s no only that isn’t it? Those things that vary (like language, skin color, and the lot) are
markers. YOu say we’re not different from each other but look closer. If we’re not so assertive of our own perceived “identity”, then what’s the fuss about us -
ing English as the medium of instruction in the Philippines? You say we are all equal here, but can you say that to an african american and inded mean it? You
cant, im sure, because if you say that to those people, youl’ll get a tongue lashig lecture on what th “white” race did to their ancestors. this “identity” through
language is not founded on mere speculation, it’s embedded in our history, our ancestry, and it is their to stay. So don’t take for granted the idea of “identity”
and its diglossic effect on deciding whether to have English or a local Language as a medium of instruction in the Philippines.

63. April 29th, 2008 at 15:00 pm DJB Rizalist:

divina,
I am glad you enjoy the hilarity of my generalizations. But to get down to the specific issue at hand, that of medium of instruction for the 22 million kids in
the Philippine public school system, I’m not quite sure where you stand or what you think about it, other than in some diglossicistically general way or other.

but as very specific matter of practicality may I suggest only two qualifications for such a thing as medium of instruction, namely,(1) that the medium fit the
message (so we are not forced to teach algebra or trigonometry or biology using words invented only recently at some institute in the Republic of Diliman);
and (2) that it be a written language with symbols, numbers, and vocabulary that will later on become familiar to students in homework, textbooks, tests and
job application forms, as well as research journals and trade publications.

So what do you suggest we adopt for this purpose. Which among the 162 identified languages and dialects do you think qualify and would you recommend?
(seriously or hilariously, take your pick) :)

64. May 1st, 2008 at 3:18 am DJB Rizalist:

Divina,
I hope you will take my comments (and all others) in the friendly but principled spirit in which they are offered. It is easy to latch onto certain concepts without
testing them against the realities of our public life and public education. Medium of instruction is one of those areas that also took me a long time to sort out in
my own head. I am lover of ancient Tagalog poetry and have great respect for all other tongues. But that is no reason to impose such languages on our public
school system in ways that won’t address their real problems, which is the ability to deliver quality education at the lowest possible cost.

65. May 1st, 2008 at 19:04 pm eldalina:

The majority of the pepole in the Visayas and Mindanao do not use Tagalog in their homes. They use it as a language of convenience to communicate with the
other islands of the archipelago. Now, should they “give-up” thier ancient languages to speak Tagalog so appease the likes of YOU?

You know, what would impress me more than your “Tagalog only - We are the Philippines” rhetoric is that YOU go to the provinces and learn a THIRD and
FOURTH language. The languages that were there as long as Tagalog.

You want to be a “real” Filipino? Then speak Tagalog-Ilokano-Cebuano and Bikol. AND NO English. Then take out the 5000-10,000 borrowed Spanish words
that are incorporated into all these respective dialects. Then what do you get? An angry, unattractive brown skinned woman still looking for an identity! That’s
what.

You amuse me.

66. May 1st, 2008 at 22:56 pm

DJB Rizalist:

edalina,
The Cebuano language currently has about 20 million native speakers, much more than the 15 million or so native Tagalog speakers. At the same time there are
actually 162 recognized languages or dialects in the Philippine Archipelago. However, ever since 1935, in the time of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon, there has been
an artificial language called Pilipino that was mandated to be created from an amalgam of all the major languages. Of course it has been an ill-fated and naive
attempt to create “a national language”. Ironically virtually NO ONE speaks the official language Filipino, which at one time was defined by a language insti -
tute composed of “linguistic experts.”
 At the same time, a bunch of “National Artists” — most of whom make a living writing or teaching in English have actively opposed the moves of the govt to
increase the use of English in the teaching of Math and Science. They are devoted to a more, shall we say, aboriginal concept of language deployment, to the
point where Sen. Aquilino Pimentel has propsed the use of up to ten different media of instruction in the public schools. I call that movement Babelism.

67. May 2nd, 2008 at 1:50 am rida:

Mr. Palomino, you are the most excellent moderator there is! You know which comments to post and which not to. True man of integrity.

Mr. DJB Rizalist, you are what most people world-wide feel true Filipinos are, a gentlemen and a scholar! Your words go beyond the language you speak, the
color of your skin and the country you are from. You take what you have and build on it. That is class.

Divina, honey, mama always taught me if I can’t say anything ‘good’ not to say it at all. As you know, sometimes I don’t follow what mama told me. Think
about that one! Think about it ‘really’ good!

68. May 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 am labor forced:

Divina,

The gentlemen who headed the Chinese manufacturing company which exported toys world-wide was executed for the fact that the respective toys were toxic
and several children died because of the toxic lead that were in the toys. He represented China’s rapid obsession to be a legitimate superpower, in the truest
sense of his motivation.

The Chinese, in the pride of nationalism, has less than satisfactory handled the current Tibet situation with diplomacy. The Chinese have no problem with es-
tablishing an identity. Don’t you think?

Tell me within the Chinese sphere of influence, were or are these situations handled in the English, French, Tagalog, German or Chinese language?

I guarantee you, the Chinese do not feel superior right now, as we blog!

Thank you very many!

69. May 2nd, 2008 at 2:40 am

orly:

Divina,

In light of your “national language for a national identity comment” have you done any research on Switzerland.

The Swiss, who are world renowned for being a first world nation, a neutral state which allows them to mediator in various world affairs, a banking mecca for
many nations, wealthy corporations and individuals, has three official languages; French, German and Italian.

They of all nations should have an ongoing “identity” crisis. They do not, why?

MJB Rizalist’s point of view represents the Swiss. You take the atrocities of your past and use it for the advantage of a world different from colonial era. Na -
tionalism does not or is not a guarantee for development. You take the strengths of what a nation has “here and now” and develop it that way. It will be a cold
day in hell if Filipinos decide to forsake English completely and ‘find’ their identity only to find no food on the table, more slums around Manila and people
waving the Filipino flag sighing in relief. Nosiree!

70. May 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 am

divina:

COnsider the medium of the mesage right? but why dont you consider the receiver instead of the message? no matter how coherent, and well stuctured the ma -
terial is, pag ang receiver ay hindi nakakaintidi ng English, then what good would it do to use English when it’s more practical to use tagalog or Bisaya?

Simple SMCR lang po yun, di nyo pa alam….

isang article rin po ng inquirer, ngunit di ko maalala kung sino ang nagsulat, ang nagsasabing napakamaraming written materials ang hindi mababasa nang
mabuti ng isang average Filipino (being not proficient in English) dahil ito’y gumamit ng wikang Ingles. Buti sana kung lahat ng Filipino eh marunong at na -
kakintidi ng Ingles, eh hindi. You walk in our library and see that almost 95% of all the books are printed in English. Dahil yun sa tactical ploy ng mga Amerik-
ano, na i-limit ang mga Filpino, gawing “slaves” ng wikang ingles ang mga Filipino. By not knowing how to speak and understand English, a normal Filipino
would be ignorant! And that would be advantageous for the Americans. A revolution or a reform can start in our classrooms, By turning our classrooms as a ta -
galog speaking module, then textbooks, toher academic and non-academic books would follow. It will all start from our classrooms…
 Remember that “all man (people) are political animals” and that, “language is power”, napaka rami ninyong mga sinasabi, iisa lang naman ang problema dito
eh, yung problema pag nanais ninyong maging Kano, maging “caucasian”, go! WE would not hinder you, but wag mong idamay yung mga mga taong gustong
mapabuti ang Pilipinas. Kung ganito ang reception na matatanggap ng isang Filipinong gustong ipaglaban ang kanyang sariling wika sa kapwa nya Filipino,
paano nalang kaya kung makasalubong ko ang isang hinidi Filipino? It’s time that you people evaluate your actions, sinabi nan isa na tlagang nag isip tagala
siya kung ano ba dapat at hindi dpat, pero talaga bang nag isip siya?

71. May 2nd, 2008 at 16:31 pm

Felipe:

119

La razón por la cual los filipinos no habláis bien el inglés es porque ese idioma fue impuesto por los norteamericanos por eso nunca será la lengua nativa del
pueblo filipino. Cuando he mantenido una conversación en inglés con filipinos enseguida se nota que no piensan en el idioma y que tampoco se expresan como
lo haría un nativo de habla inglesa.
The reason for which Filipinos don’t speak English well is because that language was imposed by the U.S. that is why it will never be the native tongue of the
Filipino people. When I have had a conversation in English with Filipinos you notice immediately that they don’t think in the language and that neither do they
express themselves as would a native English-speaker.

72. May 2nd, 2008 at 16:56 pm divina:

J. San Miguel,

Right…..right…. What made you think that the answer of her “ailment” is to put English as the medium of instruction when in fact English was and still is, the
medium of instruction at her University or for any school in the Philippines for that matter?

it doesn’t add up….. What’s the connection?

73. May 2nd, 2008 at 17:12 pm

divina:

Ahem…

To Orly…

Please, didnt you notice that I limited my coments in ASIA and USA? As for India, the reason why India became “at level” with the super powers of the world
was not because of English, a great contrast to all the other countries. In fact, India did not earn a slot in the superpowers through economics, but through “cul -
tural superiority”. One of the reasons, Indians said, was that their Bollywood earns higher that Hollywood, and that’s true. So, even before the influx of call
centers, India was already a member of the superpowers.

PS abundant Natural food, and easy access to clean and fresh water here Davao maybe the “potent drug” you’ve been dying to know. I guess lifestyle here in
Davao is a galaxy away from the lifestyle you live right? Maybe, the problem is me or my principles but you and your lifestyle.

TO Rida,

There’s only one thing I can say to you,”the truth hurts”. Even if you say it or you wont say it, the truth will inevitably come and it will hurt. So, what is your
stand, really, on this discourse? Tagalog? BIsaya? English (when you’re not so good at it)? or Spanish?

74. May 2nd, 2008 at 21:59 pm

ed:

Mr. Rizalist, (Comment 109

Wow, thank you for your informative comment. Correct me if I am in error, but what is the percentage of Filipino/Pilipino is actually Tagalog?

In a linguistic quandary like the Philippines, should there have not been a neutral language to unify the people such as Cebuano. Given it’s central location and
as your factual research stated has the most speakers of all the given vernaculars that is spoken on the Islands, even Tagalog? Which is a suprising reality.

Unlike what some people think, I too am “cold” to the ideology that a national language has anything to do with the success or failure of an economy of a sov-
ereign state. The former Yugoslavia for instance had one official language “Slavic”. The ethnic rivalries and the Muslim-Christian religious differences were
constant thorns during the existence of the former Yugoslavia (Union of Slavs). They had one language and basically one ethnicity, yet their own language was
not enough to keep all the different Slavic people united.
 English to me, is the answer to spearhead the Philippines into a higher level. They did it before, by all means, they could do it again.

Was there a specific reason why Manuel Rojas, who also spoke Spanish from what I understand, chose one -Tagalog- as the lingua-franca of the archipelago
knowing there are about 4 or 5 other major vernaculars to choose from. What’s more, Spanish might have worked, given it would be neutral and everybody -at
least the provincial people and the peasants of Manila - would begin learning the language as equals.

Do you thing English should do, what Spanish ’should’ have done?

Your feedback would be highly appreciated.

75. May 2nd, 2008 at 22:01 pm

DJB Rizalist:

127

Hola Felipe,
It was the constant policy of the Spanish Taliban for 400 years in the Philippines NEVER to teach Spanish to the Filipino people, which is why virtually no one
speaks that language here anymore. Within four years of arriving in the Philippines, and under William Howard Taft, America “imposed” English on the Filipi-
nos, so much so that by 1906 we elected our first democratic assemblies and in forty years learned much of what we now know about human history, including
Spain. America awoke the sleepers of the centuries by “imposing” English upon them, so much so that every Constitution written since 1935 has been in Eng -
lish, every law and judicial decision, almost all academic, journalistic and literary work is in English, enriched by the “native” languages.

Do you now know why almost all Filipino emigrants head for America which gave them the light of education and liberty, and none willingly to Spain, which
kept them in ignorance and “imposed” a form of Christianity more akin to Talibanism than what we eventually found in the King James Bible [sic!] and the
New Testament?

It is because English was the most unselfish gift of one people to another, delivered initially by thousands of young Americans who came to teach and share it
with “savages” halfway around the world, savages that had already had the benefits of 400 years under Spain.

All human beings speak a single language with many dialects. But it is the voice of the heart that we hear, whether of love or of hate, we understand the mes-
sage. We do not think in media but in messages.

76. May 2nd, 2008 at 22:22 pm

instant smith:

After reading the comments by the one who calls herself Dinva, I must say she has a point.

Divina, would you still feel the same way you do now, if tomorrow Bikol would become the official language of the Philippines replacing Filipino - a standard
version of Tagalog -?

If your answer is yes, more power to you.

If your answer is no, than Tagalog is no better than English and Spanish. Sorry. If only the islands were geographically one land mass instead of an archipelago
with a quasi-group of different island cultures and languages, then your opinions would be the best solution.

But they didn’t, so it’s not.

77. May 3rd, 2008 at 0:13 am instant smith:

Mr Rizalist,

I always thought Jose Rizal was the ‘father’ of independence of the Islands.

According to my reading of his concerns for the Philippines, the thesis of his passion was actually to equalize the playing field correct? In otherwords, he
wanted the Philippines to considered as an equal to the -then- world-wide Spanish influence. He himself was fluent in more than four languages, if my under-
standing is correct.

So, with this foundation, language was not his primary focus in defining the Philippines - although he celebrated his thoughts in Spanish - but equality among
the Spanish provinces on the peninsusla as well as the few colonies she had left at the latter part of the 19th century. Again, correct me if I am wrong.

So with that said, and English replacing Spanish as the lingua-franca of the world, and English is the language that perhaps would equalize the playing field in
a global perspective, why then all the fuss?
 English, which the Philippines CAN master, should be the springboard of quest to develop into a stable economic state.

Your using RIZAL as part of username is very wise indeed.

78. May 3rd, 2008 at 0:30 am orly:

Felipe,

Good point, but what about the 4 million American, Canadian, and Australian born Filipinos? They think in English!

It is obvious, you are characterizing your experience to Filipinos born in the Philippines, right?

79. May 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 am divina:

To riDA,

For the first time, I will agree with you, Damn those Americans!

BUt, “if” Philippines were still a province of Spain, we would still be called, “Indios”, not “Filipinos”. “Filipinos”, my dear, was a term to denote Spaniards
born in the Philippines. And I am made and born in the Philippines.

But I dont care for Spain. A mother that treats her children with cruelty and cynicism should, and justly so, be overthrown.

Spanish was the language Rizal loved, that’s why he was a hypocrite. wasn’t he the one who said that, “whoever knows not how to love his NATIVE tongue is
worse than any beast or evil swelling fish. TO make our Language richer ought to be our wish, the same as any mother loves to feed her young.” or “Ang di
magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa ang amoy sa mabahong isda..”

Language daw, is the final judge and referee. Language is the indicator of liberty, now, where is the liberty?

It’s easy to act almighty and yonder, as if not experiencing the turmoils that rock the Philippine islands with this issue, but the remnants of this battle will affect
the future generation. You? Do you think we can do it? integrating Spanish as the medium of instruction?

Pessimism, like what RIzal had, becomes you. it shows off your TRUE colors.

80. May 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 am

Bill Chapman:

This is a fascinating discussion, but may I flag up a possible role for a language not yet mentioned - Esperanto? As you may know, Esperanto is a language de-
signed for use between speakers of different mother tongues. It is already in use to some extent, but I think that it has been overlooked - particularly in the Asi -
an context. Take a look at http://www.esperanto.net

81. May 3rd, 2008 at 18:05 pm DJB Rizalist:

instant smith,

You are more than perceptive. The term “Rizalist” is the english form of the spanish “Rizalista” and I consciously chose one over the other. Both refer to those
who study and emulate a man who bested his betters at their own games and in their own language, because he always knew that the message was more im-
portant than the medium, much as it depended on it for effective transmission.

Nowadays, Rizal would be called a medical doctor whose specialty would be opthalmology, treating and curing his mother for cataracts, thereby preventing
her physical blindness (if not her disapproval of, and looking down upon every other woman he ever loved.) More than an eye doctor however, he was a vis-
ionary, not a missionary.

Indeed, in the liberal atmosphere of 19th century Spain, which had imbibed a good deal of the Enlightenment’s better lumens, quite in contrast to the Taliban-
ism reigning in the far-off colony in the Archipelago, Jose Rizal had become both a literary and scientific Spanish celebrity in several European countries, in-
cluding Germany, France and England in each of whose tongues he could read and write rather fluently as his extensive epistolaries with scholars of various
disciplines attest. He won for Spain intellectual respect, so rare in the twilight of its once glorious Empire. On his second sojourn abroad, he travelled by train
clear across America from San Francisco to New York, on his way to London to do research in its famous Museum, there completing his annotations of Mor-
ga’s encyclopedic work on ancient Philippine history.

I daresay I agree he was no mere nationalist, for his greatest virtues were greater than nationalism. It was only later that his good name and well deserved fame
would be appropriated to the enterprise that would become the Filipino nation, which he probably had little conviction could succeed without better help than
Spain’s.
 Even in exile in Dapitan in the early 1890s, into which his own Jesuit mentors had had him cast, he conducted scientific researches, trading biological speci-
men collections for books through persons like Ferdinand Blumentritt (an Austrian), and was having business dealings with American and Japanese agricultur-
al machinery enterprises in preparation for a major cattle-raising and rice production farm on Mindanao Island. He was even in negotiations with the British,
through its consulate in Hong Kong in preparation for setting up a Filipino colony in Borneo, made up of his oppressed fellow townsfolk in Calamba, Laguna,
his birthplace, to save them from further depredations by the wealthy and landed frailocracy. That would’ve been the biggest OFW deployment of the 19th cen-
tury. Who knows what that might have done for the anthropological study of that vast island of Borneo with its hidden fastnesses and mysterious inhabitants.
I’ve seen his concept drawings for a ship that would have carried 8000 cavanes of rice or tons of processed and fresh meat to Luzon from Mindanao, had this
enterprise not been interrupted by certain tragedies, such as the miscarriage of his Irish-Chinese (?) common law wife and his own trial (as a Spanish citizen
according to transcripts!) and execution in December, 1896, for treason against the theocracy.

I am not myself a linguist, being a physicist, but I do agree that English is as good, if not the best medium to continue in the tradition that regards memes or
viral ideas as the strongest messages, whereas getting hung up and tongue tied over the medium leads directly to an unabashed mediocrity, full of politically
correct artificialities and inexpressiveness.

We can only be proud of being Filipino or Mexican or Spanish or American if we are proud human beings first and foremost, by walking tall and upright, hav-
ing spines and not tails, and fighting for things that make so much sense to others that our ideas become their ideas.

The best memes are the most viral ideas. I think Rizal believed that human beings speak but a single language, one that must be understood by both the hearts
and minds of every sensitive and intelligent human being.

I know I am at my best, when those two organs of me, my heart and my mind, find unanimous and enthusiastic agreement with each other in what comes out of
my mouth.

Shakespeare showed it best in his best characters–the art of overhearing oneself and thereby evolving and growing. Rizal is often likened to Cervantes, a simile
he would’ve approved of. They all belong to Language and Tradition in their fullest flower.

Mark them!

82. May 3rd, 2008 at 23:12 pm

DJB Rizalist:

Ed,
You asked, “In a linguistic quandary like the Philippines, should there have not been a neutral language to unify the people such as Cebuano.”

I wish it were that simple. I know from the rest of your comment what your answer would be if I rephrased above to read whether Europe could not be united
by a “neutral” language like German.

Hehe. I was reading again the story of the Tower of Babel. The lesson there is that what unites people are common goals, hopes and aspirations, even when
they have different “native” languages.

To Divina,
You said, in regards to the over 20,000 young American school teachers, called the Thomasites (after the ship, the USS Thomas, that brought first few thousand
over):

“They let Filipinos learn their language, even forced it, to not only colonize us by territory, but by culture.”

Well they also taught public sanitation so thank God for colonialism. And how do we pay America back for such cruel imperialism. Well not with the kind of
victimology you seem to be heir to, because today the Good News in the Manila newspaper headlines is that a Filipino, Chito Atienza from my old school, De
La Salle University has won the NY Times “Teacher of the year award” for years of teaching English as a Second Language to thousands of new immigrants,
Russians and Afghans, Mexicans and Filipinos and Spaniards, Bosnians and Serbs, thereby bringing them together in their new land of hope and freedom.

Sure there were many injustices in the past by Americans against Filipinos, and even by Filipinos against Filipinos. Let us not forget what Emilio Aguinaldo, a
Caviteno, did to
Andres Bonifacio, a Tagalog. Now there’s a pair of NON-PACIFISTS for y’all, since you seem to hate Rizal the Pacifist so much. They were more like, uhmm
Shia and Sunni, in this here place, The First Iraq!

83. May 4th, 2008 at 4:50 am divina:

RIzalist,

First, I would like to commend your jargonistic and very loaded comments, I learned a lot of lexical items that’s seldom used in Humanities. Take this com -
ment as it was said, I really meant it.

Second, I had taken a second look at my classmate’s power point presentation about the “rizalistas”, weren’t they the ones who believe that Rizal is the “holy
spirit”? I understand their principles, it was quite noble, and humane, but I failed to understand why they have to include Rizal in the holy triangle, why not
simply describe Rizal as you described him—a human with unbelievable talents?
 Third, why was Atienza in the US in the first place? Well…. I, as a young Filipino who is in the Philippines, cannot give him any credit. Please, search Jhoan -
nalynn Cruz’s article about teachers, then you’ll understand why I cant. Googled her name, she is my teacher and she also came from La SAlle and now teach-
ing in UP Mindanao.

84. May 4th, 2008 at 5:03 am

divina:

Fifth, America as a land of hope and freedom? Please read Alice Walker’s Everyday Use, then let’s talk about USA being that. That short story drew learning
“academically” from the White Americans as, “painful”. Just look at American Idol, the White Americans are now instigating what people like Alice Walker
call “cultural cleansing”. Eliminating all contestants that are not White Americans and then, leave Brook White, because she’s so White!

I was in awe of your comment earlier, a sign of being a veteran as I an amateur, but there are materials that’s within our reach that very different from yours,
these materials are radical, and I guess it can support our “juvenile” beliefs as much as yours supports you.

PS. RIzal was not a licensed doctor, and a god knows what medical malpractices he committed while his classmates remained insignificant and unrecognized.
As Ocampo said, a vast number of rIzal’s works, including medical journals and medical prescriptions, is still undeciphered, and may prove that Rizal is not a
renaissance man or it may lead to more veneration. I am not for Aguinaldo, he’s a traitor. Bonifacio, the epitome of a “maralitang Filipino” would be a little off
for a national hero, but not impossible, after all, he was the one who acted what Rizal was too scared to do, to raise arms against the oppressors. And there’s a
contradiction of Rizal being a realist (because he voted for education and preparation before revolution) and an Idealist (dreamer), a contradiction indeed. Rizal
is a man of ambiguity, not a positive trait for me.

85. May 4th, 2008 at 6:12 am

divina:

to Rizalist and other people….

I have recommended a lot of readings havent I? Please read it.

My other point, aside from language as an identity and road to progress, is that Education would now really be classfied through social “classes”.

Poor students can’t brush up on their English either by practicing a home or reading or just watching TV because, first, if they dont have money to buy rice,
where would they get the money to buy books? Second, Tv shows nowadays are in Filipino, if they dont have money to buy food, how can they afford cable
connection just to watch shows using English?

At the same time, the sons and daughters of the elite and the burgis are speaking English in their homes! infant palang, “spokening dollars” na ang mga tito at
tita nila sa kanila. They dont have to worry about books, or cabled Tv , or practice because, like Rizal, everything was paved away smoothly, all they have to
do is to go to school ,and excel. remember, Rizal was an ilustrado.

As all of the filipinos know, there are many poor students in the Philippines. While simultaneously learning English, Mathematics, and science, rich students
would now have a head start, because they already have an idea on the machinations of the english language that is used in mathematics and science, while
poor studetns, still grappling over English, will disastrously solve mathematical problems, and scientific inquiries.

Dont compare the present situation of the toddler Filipinos now from our toddler pasts, TV shows aired in ABS and GMA were imported from the US then, i
remember the Million dollar movie program, and the animes and cartoons, like the X men, power rangers, captain planet, and many more, were not dubbed in
Filipino.

Now, people wonder why UP, a university coined as the school of the iskolars ng bayan, is filled with rich kids or at least a kid from a well- off family. it is be -
cause of the “English as the medium of instruction” folly. English proficiency is now the instrument of capitalism, where the rich gets richer and the poor gets
poorer.

Lucky for me I grew up in the era where reading was in fashion and dubbing was not, but unlucky for the youths of the future, wala na nga silang suporta gal -
ing gobyerno, dinidiin pa sila ng mga “elitista” at mga burgis.

If only Mathemtics and science were taught in Filipino, like what math tinik and sineskwela did, then, the poor youth would have a chance. Natural science
people said they cant, the jargons would be too diffiult to translate in Filipino from English, eh, in the first place, di naman english ang roots ng mga scientific
(both in soc. sci and natural sci.) lexicons eh, Latin yun. If the americans can translate and create word meanings as they please, why cant we? The UPians
already started it, but it gained a negative reponse, someone even said that, “Ano bayang mga taga UP? bumababa na ba talaga ang kaledad ng edukasyon nila
at nagtatagalog na lang sila ngayon? truly, it is backward thinking”.

86. May 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am ed:

Amen to that Mr. Rizalist! “What unites people are common goals!” Thank you.

Having lived here in California all my life, in a rapidly growing “salad bowl”, you indeed are 100% correct. The term “salad bowl” differentiates from the tra -
ditional “melting-pot” description of our American multi-cultured society.
 A salad bowl is one unit that celebrates all the different ingredients and vegetables that create a delicious salad. The differences of individuals create one bowl.

A melting pot blends all the ingredients into one entity thus no longer detects what went in the melting pot.

As far as the Spanish language goes, albeit in an unorthodox fashion, needless to say, I know first hand how it has exploded and has become a vital language of
importance in the U.S.A. In political, economic and social spheres, the influx of Hispanic immigrants to the United States is definitely changing the face of the
nation. Again, I see the Spanish language, not to define or “redefine” an ethnicity or a nationality, but primarily as a “tool” of great importance to communicate
to what is now 40 million Hispanic U.S. citizens. This factor in addition to the job opportunities available for those who are fluent in English and Spanish is
rapidly making Spanish a “must” in the future. Tagalog/Filipino does not have that leverage.

All that said, I really appreciated your kind comments. May I ask your opinion on another intregal thought?

In your conviction, and in staying with the topical theme “the English debate in the Philippines,” if Jose Rizal were alive today, how do you think he would
view the English debate? Again, no one would really know now, but given your wide range of knowledge, impressive may I add, your opinion would be highly
appreciated and anticapated.
,

87. May 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am ed:

Now, Mr. Rizalist, inasmuch as I agree with you, I also have to emphathize with Divina’s concerns of a language that empowers a people.

Divina, as I mentioned to Mr. Rizal, I am an American of Filipino descent, living in California. Immigrants from Mexico, Central America, South America and
the Caribbean speak a common language, Spanish. Instead of assimilating into the fabric of an “Anglophonic” society, they generally choose to preserve their
“Hispanic” ways of being. Unfortunately, because English would be their second language -if they choose to learn it all - they have been coined with abusive
and negative stereotypical generalizations. A growing number of Americans now feel threatened to “having to” learn a “foreign” language in their own land.
Having stated this, I do understand your valid and justifiable desire of having Filipino the national language of the Philippines, for having witnessed what it
can do as exemplified with the large minority of Hispanic/Latinos residing in the U.S.

In recent years, they have formulated a powerful contigency towards devoping “political” power and influence, thus making this particular group Presidential
candidates one not to deny. Likewise, thier buying power in consumer goods is also a factor to be reckoned with. Advertising agencies spend millions targeting
the Hispanic population, creating a “dual” market. Symbolically, even in the arts, the Grammy Awards, awarding excellence in music has spinned-off the Latin
Grammys. There are five major commercial T.V. networks, CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX and Univision (Spanish-speaking T.V.).

However, with all these accomplishments, they are still looked upon as second class citizens, and aren’t -for the most part - embraced as “real” Americans by
both conservatives and liberals alike.

For the Spanish-speaker, born in the U.S. or not, it is an unfortunate dynamic when attempting to incorporate one linguistic society “into” a society where a tra-
ditional and widely spoken language had already existed. English is actually the “unofficial” language of the U.S. We do not have an “official” language, Many
are surpsised at this fact, may I add.

So your point of view is well taken and totally respected. Thank you!

88. May 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am ed:

One last thought Divina. Ironically, though the Latino/Hispanic immigrants have a common language and have made strides in impacting and contributing to
build the present day United States -positively in my opinion. Though they speak a common language, they are very “nationalistic” and are very proud to be
“Mexican”, “Cuban” and “Puerto Rican” and will let you know that there is a distinct difference cultural characteristics and historical evolutions despite a
common language. They are different as the Chinese, Japanese and Korean where their physical features are similar, thier pride of being different entities just
as fierce, and thier languages and religions formulate distinct nationalities.

The problem the U.S. faces to today in our own “English debate” is to balance celebrating each ethnicity and nationality yet encouraging everyone within the
U.S. borders to speak one common language which is English.

There lies the nucleus of the plight of the English debate here. The general reasoning for the Spanish speaker to vigorously retain their Spanish is they fear
English may decrease their Hispanity and having their next generation forget what they are.

Your outlook in language can be totally emphathized with the majority of the Latino immigrants here. Different setting, but basically the same plight.

Again, thank you for your time! Continue on.

89. May 4th, 2008 at 16:53 pm Papoose LaGuardia:

Divina,

Your comment “…born and made in the Philippines?” What are you, a chair? Are your parents educated or are they provincial peasants?
 You need a love life really soon! Your outlook in life is militant and has no merit in a one world, globalized community.

English is the language of the world, get used to it. Ethnic borders are at the beginning stages of disappearing. Nationalism is as passe as colonialism. People
like you, who need a national identity for “superiority” are inferior emotionally and are probably unattractive physically also.

English is the only way a sovereign state can get by in a globalized world. Those countries who don’t speak it have a choice. The live with the consequences
thus thier complaints from the point thereafter is meaningless.

You know Divina, a day at the beauty parlor does wonders!

90. May 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm

divina:

Laguardia

I am militant. My generation is militant. if nationalism is so passe, then why do authors like Alice Walker and Lualhati Bautista win Pulitzers and Palacas?
Please, be realistic.

franklin,
“Divina” means “Divine”, and that’s what my grandmother gave me, so I intend to stick by it.

Philippine literature in English has its roots in the efforts of the United States, which had been engaged in a war with Filipino nationalist forces at the end of the 19th
century, to establish in the country a government based on the ideals of "universality, practicality, and democracy." By 1901, public education had been institutionalized in
the Philippines, with English serving as the medium of instruction. That year saw the arrival of around 600 educators in the S.S. Thomas (the " Thomasites") to replace the
soldiers who had been serving as the first teachers. Outside the acadme, the wide availability of reading materials, such as books and newspapers in English, helped
Filipinos learn the language quickly. Today, around 52% of the population can understand or speak English to some extent