This year’s annual observance of Buwan ng Wika, Aug. 1-31, will be highlighted by three competitions.
Theme of this year’s Buwan ng Wika, according to the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF), is “Filipino: Wika ng Pambansang Kaunlaran.”
Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2015 is an annual search that aims to honor teachers who contribute to enriching the Filipino language in their respective regions.
The Gawad KWF sa Sanaysay 2015 is an essay-writing contest that is open to everyone except employees of the KWF and their relatives.
Gawad Dangal ng Wikang Filipino 2015 seeks an individual, organization, institution, government office or private company that has made an exemplary contribution to enriching and preserving the Filipino language.
The Ulirang Guro competition is open to all Filipino teachers, except employees of KWF and directors of the Sentro ng Wika at Kultura (SWK) and their relatives.
A nominee must be a licensed part-time or full-time teacher of Filipino or any other subject that uses Filipino as medium of instruction.
He/she must have been a teacher in any level for at least three years with a consistent performance rating not lower than Very Satisfactory.
The nominee must have a recommendation from his/her immediate superior.
A school may submit more than one nominee. An accomplished nomination form, recommendation from the immediate superior and a folio containing citations and other honors received by the nominee, published works, seminars attended, etc. should be placed in a sealed, long brown envelope.
Nominations may be submitted to the SWK regional offices not later than 5 p.m., July 3.
Each Gawad KWF entry, which should focus on the theme, must be an original piece in Filipino and should not be fewer than 15 pages but not more than 30.
A contestant must submit four hard copies of his/her essay, typewritten or computer printout, and a soft copy of the essay in a compact disc (CD).
Entries, both hard and soft copies, should be identified only by the authors’ pen names.
Entry form and contest mechanics are downloadable at www.kwf.gov.ph. The accomplished form, with two 2 x 2 pictures and a short bio data of the author, must be placed in a sealed No. 10 envelope.
The KWF will withdraw the award if the winning essay is proven to be plagiarized. The author will also be barred from joining future KWF competitions.
As for Gawad Dangal, an individual should showcase Filipino language in his/her research/studies, investigative work, programs and services or any other production.
The nominee must pass a recommendation process. An endorser must submit proof of the work by the nominee for at least the past three years.
Entries may be submitted by an organization, group, institution or individual. The entry form is downloadable from the KWF website.
Entries for both Gawad KWF and Gawad Dangal may be sent or personally submitted not later than 5 p.m. on July 3 to:
Lupon ng Gawad, Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, 2F Watson Building, 1610 JP Laurel St.,
San Miguel, Manila, 1005.
E-mailed or faxed entries will not be accepted.
For additional information and details on the contests, call Roy Rene Cagalingan at 7362524, 7362525, or 7362519; e-mail komisyonsa
wikangfilipino@gmail.com or visit www.kwf.gov.ph.
As part of the Buwan ng Wika observance, Pambansang Kongreso sa Pagpaplanong Wika, which aims to draw up a long-term program for the use of Filipino in various disciplines, will be held on Aug. 5-7 at Sison Auditorium, Capitol Compound, Lingayen, Pangasinan province.
Invited speakers include Sen. Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano and Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro.