PHL Celebrates Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa

The country celebrates August as “Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa” (National Language Month) per Proclamation No. 1041, series of 1997, as declared by Former President Fidel Ramos. This year’s theme is, “Ang Filipino ay Wikang Panlahat, Ilaw at Lakas sa Tuwid na Landas.”

The celebration is highlighted by “Linggo ng Wika” (National Language Week) in the first week of August, to focus on the significance of “Filipino” as the country’s national language.

The Constitution provides that, “the national language of the Philippines is Filipino. On November 12, 1937, the first national assembly in the Philippines approved a law creating the National Language Institute to study and survey the existing native languages, with a view to choosing one to be used as a basis for the national language.

The national language celebration started on March 26, 1946, when President Sergio S. Osmeña issued Proclamation No. 35 designating March 27 to April 2 each year as “National Language Week.” On September 23, 1955, President Ramon F. Magsaysay issued Proclamation No. 186 changing the date of the celebration to August 13-19 in honor of the Birth Anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon, considered the “Father of National Language.”

After the EDSA Revolution, President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 19 on August 12, 1988 proclaiming National Language Week on August 13-19. To strengthen previous proclamations, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Proclamation No. 1041 on January 15, 1997, declaring the whole month of August as “National Language Month.”

This year, the Department of Education and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino have lined up programs to draw participation from students, the biggest group that uses and studies the national language as part of the curriculum.

The celebration is divided into five parts: August 1-7, 2011, appreciating the significance of the national anthem; August 8-14, 2011, pledging allegiance to the Philippine flag; August 15-21, 2011, using language as instrument to achieve freedom and justice; August 22-28, 2011, composing songs and writing poetry on the theme, “Wikang Filipino: Tugon sa Malinaw na Programa sa Tuwid na Landas;” and August 29-31, celebrating Filipino as the voice of teachers and students and the language of heroism.

To see the program and download all pertinent Memoranda: http://kwf.gov.ph/?p=1487