FILIPINO: A Language on Paper

LA Pinoy Magazine, the first glossy Filipino-owned magazine in the US, told me yesterday that it would include my language blog in its July issue. June issue used my blog on Skid Row as its feature article. I told the editor if she could wait in 24 hours so that I could think on how to make the article short and simple. Here now is the article that will be published in next month's LA Pinoy Magazine.

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It was in 1937 when Pres. Manuel Quezon mandated the Institute of National Language (INL) to develop the Philippine official language. The purpose was to instill nationalism, national identity, and unity. The president wanted Tagalog as that language. However, non-Tagalog speakers particularly those from the central and southern Philippines strongly opposed it. After Quezon's term, the name was renamed to Pilipino in 1959. Amendment of the constitution in 1973 and 1987 renamed the national language to Filipino.

Did it serve the purpose to unite Filipinos? No! Instead, Filipino, as a language, became an illusion. Non-Tagalog speakers still considered it unacceptable, since Pilipino or Filipino, is still Tagalog-based.

Then came the move by the language purists, who wanted to discontinue the use of foreign words. They thought of coining new Pilipino words. So, in the late 60s, they started coining words such as salungpuwit (ass-catcher), salungsusu (breast-catcher), hattinig (voice-sender), and salipapaw to denote a chair, brassiere, telephone, and airplane, respectively.

Filipinos from Batanes to Jolo were united...in consternation. Tagalog speakers were shocked how their language was debased. Others have a blast mocking the Pilipino, as a language. I was in 6th grade that time. I tell you, my Pilipino teacher blushed everytime she said "salungpuwit".

Problem is Filipino never existed as one of the 175 major and minor Philippine languages. It only is on paper. Whether we like it or not, Philippine national language is still Tagalog elevated to a higher standard known as Filipino.

And unity amongst Filipinos? We could attain it if we could look beyond our own language group. Play down regionalism; exert more effort on respect. Don't ridicule those who'd say "tindig!" instead of "tayo!". If Filipinos could do these, maybe Filipino, as a language, would evolve over time.