Marcos tells Filipinos to ‘love, enrich’ the national language

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. (Screengrab from RTVM)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged Filipinos to love and enrich the national language and local literary works to prosper unity and love further for the country.

Marcos made the pronouncement as the country honors Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month), with the theme “Filipino: Wikang Magpapalaya.”

“Ang okasyong ito ay nagsisilbing mahalagang paalala sa atin na mahalin ang wikang Filipino nang bukal sa ating puso at nanggagaling sa kamalayan na ang mga wikang minana ay nagtatanghal ng ating kahanga-hangang pagkakakilanlan bilang isang lipi,” Marcos said in his message for the celebration.

(This occasion serves as an important reminder to us to love the Filipino language purely with our hearts, and comes from the awareness that our inherited languages present our wonderful identity as a race.)

“Subalit ang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ay hindi lamang isang paalala. Ito ay isa ring paanyaya na patuloy nating mahalin at pagyamanin ang ating mga wika,” he noted.

(But Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa is not just a reminder. It also invites us to continue to love and enrich our languages.)

“Hitik ang ating panitikan ng mga obrang tiyak na magpapalalim ng ating pag-ibig sa bayan at makapanghihikayat sa bagong henerasyon na tangkilikin din ang sariling atin,” he further stated.

(Our literature is filled with works that will surely deepen our love for the country and encourage the new generation to also enjoy our own.)

Marcos then called on Filipinos to take Filipino literary pieces to heart to foster greater collaboration for a progressive, free and unified country.

READ: Only 38% of students grade 1 to 3 prefer local language as medium of instruction — Pulse Asia

Meanwhile, the chief executive recognized Presidential Proclamation No. 1041, issued by former President Fidel Ramos in 1997, as a “cornerstone” for strengthening the nation’s unity and sense of self.

“Ilan sa mga nabanggit ay ang pakinabang ng pagkakaroon ng wikang panlahat, ang malaking ambag nito sa pagkamit ng kasarinlan ng ating bansa, at ang kapangyarihan nito na buksan ang ating mga mata at isipan sa kahalagahan, karanasan at kakayahan ng bawat isa,” he said.

(Some of the aforementioned are the benefits of having a common language, its great contribution to the achievement of our country’s independence, and its power to open our eyes and minds to the importance, experience and abilities of each one.)