Remember the first day of 2020? Remember what it felt like embracing a new year in our lives? Most of us would have prepared our New Year's Resolution before this year began. We may have thought of doing different activities like visiting different places with our family and friends, burning those unnecessary fats, getting a new project or venture done... the list definitely goes on. Surely we once had a really positive outlook on the things that'll happen this year.
However, something happened that would drastically change our way of living.
We definitely didn't expect at first that we would encounter a pandemic in our lifetime. With the current condition of the world, the virus we now know as COVID-19 has brought a dramatic change to our way of living. Perhaps many of us have planned for things that we may have put on hold given our situation right now. What's even worse is how the pandemic has not only infected and harmed millions of people worldwide, but also how it has deprived many people their primary source of living, affecting their families in the process. None of us definitely want this pandemic to go on any longer. However, while we patiently wait for this period to end, we must continue moving forth in life.
The pandemic, however, didn't completely stop everything. Even with all of what's happening right now, in my country, the Philippines, we are all celebrating National Language Month. In honor of the frontline workers who continue to fight and resist the dangers brought by COVID-19, the Philippines is dedicating this year's celebration of National Language Month to them. This year's celebration, although different, continues to serve as a testimony to the Philippine government's aim of developing, preserving, and promoting the Filipino language.
ON APPRECIATING THE MOTHER TONGUE
In the middle of everything that's going on lately, we can still continue to show our appreciation for our mother tongue. Because this post is dedicated to celebrating the Filipino language and the many dialects of the Philippines, I'm going to share with you 4 things I am currently doing to continue enriching my use of the Filipino language.
1. Engage in different forms of Filipino literature.
If there's one thing I would love to invest my time on, it would be reading and watching about different Filipino stories. There were many times where I neglected to read Filipino books and watch Filipino shows and movies both because I am more interested in foreign shows and I am more comfortable with speaking English than speaking in Filipino.
However, I've recently started to engage in different literary materials of my own country in many different ways. Lately, I started reading Noli Me Tangere after getting interested in the life of Dr. Jose Rizal, the country's national hero. When I go out with my parents, we would either put on OPM (Original Pilipino Music) soundtracks from famous Filipino artists such as Ogie Alcasid, Michael V, Regine Velasquez, and much more; or we would listen to the Filipino radio here in Qatar, also known as Qabayan Radio 94.3 FM. There are also plays and shows I am looking forward to watch, including the play "Ang Huling El Bimbo".
2. Communicate with loved ones using modern technology.
The pandemic may be preventing many of us to spend valuable time with our loved ones. Many of us may have not been meeting them just to prevent the spread of the virus. Being unable to communicate with them every now and then can truly be saddening, for we all the more need a strong sense of motivation and support from them.
However, with the help of modern technology, we can continue communicating with them. Given the imminent rise in popularity among communication apps such as Zoom, Webex, Viber, Telegram, and much more, we can easily communicate to our loved ones anyone we want. Although it can be uncomfortable to talk to people only over a gadget, just as how I feel talking to other people on gadgets, it can still be reassuring for us to know they are all safe from the pandemic and its bad effects.
Though I may be far away from them, I continue to communicate with my grandparents, aunts, and uncles. They may currently be living in different places, but I continue to seek their support not only to give me happiness but also pass on many wonderful stories. Our relatives can often be the best support group we have.
3. Practice writing using the different native writing systems of the Philippines.
We Filipinos use the alphabet as the gold standard in written communication. For many years, I thought that writing with the alphabet would be the only way I could ever write in the Filipino language. It was until I was in grade 10 when I first learned baybayin, one of many original writing systems that existed in the way before the Spanish colonizers of our country ruled the Philippines. Over the next few years I would come to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of baybayin.
Right now, I am using baybayin for specific purposes only. I am currently writing down new words from different Filipino dialects in baybayin both to preserve the use of baybain and to help me remember these new words, i.e. hitting two birds with one stone. There are many beautiful and unique Filipino words I didn't know actually existed, including the following:
- matayúyon (from the Kinaray-a dialect): sustainable
- aghimuan: technology (I now encourage using this word over teknolohiya)
- banyúhay: metamorphosis (bago or new + buhay or life)
- panginain: browser (as in an Internet browser)
- sipnayan: mathematics
Because of the wealth of words in the many dialects of the Philippines, I would greatly recommend you to know more by doing tip #4.
4. Appreciate individuals, government agencies, groups, and institutions who promote the development and preservation of the Filipino language.
One of the best ways we can truly be proud of our language is to thank the people who continue to give life to our amazing language. We can also thank the professionals in different fields who find ways to further improve the Filipino language as a whole. There are many online materials we can go to and different groups we can support so we, too, can contribute as well in preserving the Filipino language.
Here are some organizations and government-affiliated social media pages:
- The Commission on the Filipino Language (Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino)'s official website: https://kwf.gov.ph/
- WIKAPedia, a non-profit organization promoting the Filipino Language: https://www.facebook.com/wikapediaph
- The National Government Portal of the Philippine government: https://www.facebook.com/nationalgovernmentportal
Meanwhile, here are some online resources we can go to for Filipino vocabulary:
SPECIAL BOOK REVIEWS
In honor of this year's National Language Month celebration, I have written special book reviews for 5 different book reviews. These book reviews are first and foremost dedicated to our frontline workers who tirelessly work hard, embodying the "bayanihan" culture in efforts to end COVID-19. These book reviews are also dedicated to you, fellow readers, for your warm support for my blog.
For the next 5 days, I will be uploading one book review a day on 5 different Filipino children's stories at exactly 3:30 p.m. GMT +3. All of the book reviews will be available in both English and Filipino for both Filipino and non-Filipino audiences. Here is the schedule of the books that I will be uploading:
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| Alamat ng Ampalaya by Augie D. Rivera, Jr. August 26, 2020 |
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| La-on and the 7-Headed Dragon, retold by Gabby and Marcy Dans Lee August 27, 2020 |
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| Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Lola by Rene Villanueva August 28, 2020 |
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| Xilef by Augie D. Rivera, Jr. August 29, 2020 |
FINAL WORD
This year may be a lot different for many of us. The situation we are currently in has hindered many of our day to day activities. However, in celebrating our love for our own mother tongue, whether we are or are not Filipinos, it will always be possible for us. Let us use the resources we have so that we can continue embracing the love for our mother tongue/s.
See you in my next review!
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