Traffic signboards in Angeles City use Kapampangan to promote language

This photo shows samples of traffic signboards using the Kapampangan language that will be placed along two major roads in Angeles City in Pampanga province. (Contributed)

ANGELES CITY — At least 21 traffic signboards using the “highly threatened” Kapampangan language have been finalized here on Monday (July 19) for reproduction along two major roads.

Localizing the signboards was in compliance with Ordinance No. 424 “establishing Kapampangan as an official language of Angeles City and institutionalizing its use in all sectors alongside existing national and official languages,” Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said.

A first in Pampanga, the traffic signboards will be put up next to existing signages in English along the stretch of MacArthur Highway in the city and the Filipino-American Friendship Circumferential Road, Lazatin said.

“This is part of many efforts to preserve and promote our indigenous language,” Lazatin told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

Drafted by language advocate Michael Pangilinan and sponsored by Councilor Amos Rivera, the ordinance was approved by then-Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan in November 2017. Older folk call the native language Amanung Sisuan. The tourism office made the translation.

The city council has been holding its sessions in the local language at least once a month since January, according to Vice Mayor Vicenta Vega-Cabigting.

Since February, the council has drafted four resolutions in Kapampangan.

Teachers in at least 76 daycare centers have been instructed by Lazatin to use it as a medium of instruction three hours weekly once face-to-face classes resume.

The city government’s news program Serbisyong May Puso uses Kapampangan in on-cam reporting. Lazatin has requested local media entities to raise awareness on Kapampangan to “help the younger generation of Kapampangans carry the city’s culture and language.”

Department of Education Order No. 74 Series of 2009 (Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education) and section 5-F of the K-12 Law (Republic Act 10533) encouraged the use of Kapampangan in official school gatherings, meetings, programs, and celebrations. INQ