Speaking foreign language not sole measure of intelligence, says Bongbong Marcos

By: Neil Arwin Mercado - 2 years ago

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his first State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 25, 2022, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. Screengrab from RTVM

FILE PHOTO President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his first State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 25, 2022, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines — Speaking a foreign language is not the sole measure of intellect, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Tuesday as the country celebrates the National Language Month or “Buwan ng Wika” this month.

“Inaasahan ang bawat isa na makilahok sa intelektuwalisasyon ng Filipino, nang sa gayon ay mabago na sa ating kamalayan na ang pagsasalita ng banyagang wika ay hindi ang natatanging pamantayan ng karunungan,” Marcos said in a statement.

(Each one is encouraged to join in intellectualizing the Filipino so that we can change our mindset and see that speaking in foreign language is not the sole measure of intelligence.)

“Tiyak na sasagana, sisigla, at liliwanag ang ating kinabukasan kung itataguyod natin nang buong dangal at pagmamahal ang ating wikang pambansa,” the President added.

(Our future will be brighter if we will push with pride our national language.)

Marcos reminded the public that the Filipino language is not limited to Tagalog, but rather a collection of different dialects in the entire country.

“Ngayon, higit kailanman, panatilihin nating matatag ang ating lingwistikong pundasyon sa Filipino, dahil ang sarili nating wika ang ating magiging batayang lakas sa paglinang sa ating kultura habang nakikiayon sa agos ng makabagong panahon,” Marcos said.

(Now more than ever, we need to keep our linguistic foundation strong because it is our own language that will be a measure of developing our culture while we go with the changing times.)

“Isaisip at isapuso natin na tayo lamang ang makapagpapatibay ng wikang taal sa ating pagkakakilanlan,” he added.

(Put in our minds and hearts that it is only us who can strengthen our language that is essential in our identity.)

The National Language Month, or “Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa” is celebrated in August pursuant to Proclamation No. 1041 signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos on July 15, 1997.

The celebration coincides with the birth month of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, known as the father of the Philippine national language, who was born on August 19, 1878.