It should be clear that language is a defining characteristic of humans, along with communication and development. Language is flexible; it can be shaped, it can be transformed, and it can evolve. It cannot however, be removed. Societies, civilizations, and cultures are built on communication formed by cultures of language; which allows for countless generations to learn from a rich history and understand what ideas lay beneath the ideas of a language. It is by these very same ideas that very much define the identity of a people; and in our case, the identity of the Filipino people. 

To say now that it is disappointing to hear of the recent developments regarding the Filipino language’s (along with other related Panitikan Subjects) removal in the CHED curriculum is an understatement. It is bizarre that such an idea would even be passed around, let alone be approved by the Supreme Court in such a ruling. Perhaps they have failed to see the importance of such an imperishable touchstone that is integrally part of their very culture. They still have yet to see the error of their ways, as the majority of the population has been overwhelmingly negative in the reception of the final ruling. 

Since its conception and journey throughout history, the Filipino language overall has endured the trials and tribulations of being continually harassed and abused by colonizers, foreigners and settlers; but it nonetheless has remained steadfast in keeping its core values and ideas in tact despite everything. Today, we face the very real problem of having children in their formative learning years not speaking a word of Tagalog, due to their incessant exposure to other languages like English. Another troublesome example would be of youth reaching the high-school level not knowing the proper usage of common expressions, phrases, context, and syntax in Filipino. 

These failures therefore are what might have motivated the Supreme Court to rule for the removal of the language, but the opposite should be true. It should be seen as a catalyst pushing for an even greater emphasis and usage and teaching of the medium in the current College curriculum. In the end, we are left with the question: “who is left to falter without a language of their own?” 

References:

 

                Filipino is far too long from being an intellectual language in a country that does not value and give it the significance it deserves. Most Filipinos up until now still do not know the difference of “ng” and “nang” or do not know which is actually correct between “anu-ano” or “ano-ano”. Probably, many are clueless that “kila” is not actually grammatically correct. And yet, the Philippines is trying to vomit its own national language from its system, treating it as a poison when in reality, it is the nation’s cure of its cancer. One can notice that there are no Science or Mathematics materials written in Filipino. From this situation, the sense of Filipino binding the nation as one is weak. It has always been taken for granted. It is still far from languages like English that has crossed many boundaries. It is left stagnant. Yes, it is the mother tongue or lingua franca of many households. An everyday language everyone uses whenever and wherever they go yet when a Filipino is asked to write a piece in his own nation language, he finds himself in a slump. Filipinos are masters of their language in an informal setting; however, once required to use it formally, they become foreign to it. Not requiring the Filipino and Panitikan subjects in college is a mistake one will surely regret. Filipinos can never virtuosos of anything if they do not even know their own language.

                Filipino is what connects the Philippines to its culture and heritage.  As what Vladimeir Gonzales, chair of the UP Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas said in an interview, “In our classes, we do not only teach grammar, but we [also] give students a sense of nationhood…we teach values to our students … They learn about the Filipino identity through the use of the Filipino language.” If Filipinos could not think critically using their national language, what more if the text is in English or other foreign languages? To conclude, the Filipino language downgraded into being an “optional” subject is a cultural and intellectual suicide. Aside from teachers and professors losing their jobs, there is a bigger problem that this issue implicates, the continuous identity crisis of the Philippines. Jose Rizal would be beyond disappointed by now if he were alive since Filipinos has once again proved that they are worse than a smelly fish. What is a Filipino without his language? He becomes lost without any culture and nation to embrace. 

Reference: 
Enano, J. (2018, November 13).  

 

Within the past week CHED released statements about changing the curriculum specifically changing the required subject of Filipino to another booming Asian country’s language, Korean. With the rise of Korean Pop culture in the country, CHED most probably decided and concluded that that decision was the right one. DEPeD has released statements a few days later that has bought them time, and has convinced some but not completely, stating that they meant was that Filipino will still be a core subject, and that Korean will just be added to the different language electives for public schools that are already implemented, which are Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Japanese. Going back, the decision to remove the Filipino subject the during CHED’s first announcement was already a bad decision, without context, mostly with the news of China’s and the Philippines recent developments where the country, what most people would expect or speculate is that, we’ll be transitioning slowly towards a communistic system of governance as well as the abuse of resources within the next decades after this past two days, where new agreements between the two countries have been signed. 

With this, outrage have been lit once more, opinions and statements about our government’s decision, where again, we will be bowing our heads down to our oppressors, where our people and the next generations of our Filipino heritage and history will be washed once more, by nations, who seek to abuse our country of its resources, people, and pride.

 

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/ched-verifying-impact-of-filipino-subject-removal/ar-BBPPRr2

Marquez, C. (n.d.). CHEd to study SC decision to exclude Filipino, Panitikan from college curriculum. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1053688/ched-to-study-sc-decision-to-exclude-filipino-panitikan-from-college-curriculum

Rappler.com. (n.d.). Korean won't replace Filipino subject, says DepEd. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/216989-department-education-clarifies-korean-language-elective-only#cxrecs_s

 

2013, the commission on higher education filed a memorandum order (CMO #20 series of 2013) proposing to remove Filipino and Panitikan from the course subjects of the college curriculum. In 2015, the high court of the Phillippines filed a temporary restraining order (TRO0 stopping the implementation of the said CMO, while in that same year many Filipino language advocates filed a petition to implementation of the CMO all together. But this 2018, the TRO has been lifted and now the Supreme Court is deliberating if CHED’s filed CMO will be pushed into play and to my knowledge, it has already been approved. 

 

            Personally I excel rather well in English compared to Filipino, growing up in another country and considering English as my primary medium, my English skills are more developed compared to my Filipino communicating skills. This is an even more so reason to why we need the Filipino/Panitikan subjects in our college curriculum. We learn history to appreciate our roots and to learn from our past mistakes, taking note of the progress that our country has been through, that same reason applies to Filipino/panitikan but deeper, our own language is what defines our national identity, at this rate our colonial mentality is bluntly showing. It is hard to grasp the idea of a person, living in their own country and is considering removing a subject based on the deeper understanding of their mother tongue, at the phase of our educational lives where we can analyze ideas better that before. The repletion of subjects is on reason why the CMO was made, but to the masses, that is still not a good enough reason to take out such an essential subject at the most essential time of our learning, which is college. Not only is their intellectual integrity at stake, practically speaking many teachers who have honed their skills in teaching such a specific subject are at major risk in losing their jobs in line with the CMO implementation, this type of indecisiveness reflects how counter progressive our education system has come to be.  A hero that used literature as a form of rebellion once said “ Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda.” and up until this day, I stand by this quote firmly. 

 

References: 

 

Marquez, C. (2018, November 14). CHEd to study SC decision to exclude Filipino, Panitikan from college curriculum. Retrieved from:  https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1053688/ched-to-study-sc-decision-to-exclude-filipino-panitikan-from-college-curriculum 

 

Manglinong, D. (2018, November 15). Why removal of Filipino, ‘pantikan’ from college curriculum is being criticized. Retrieved from: http://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2018/11/15/138235/why-removal-of-filipino-pantikan-from-college-curriculum-is-being-criticized/ 

 

Carag, K. (2018, November 12). Supreme Court allows removal of Filipino, Panitikan from colleges’ GE curriculum. Retrieved from: http://dzrhnews.com.ph/supreme-court-allows-removal-of-filipino-panitikan-from-colleges-ge-curriculum/ 

 

I was never really a fan of the Filipino subject growing up. I was born in an environment where in we would always speak English and watch English movies and shows more often than we watch local TV networks or shows. I would always be more drawn to watching English kiddie shows that then led me to being more capable of speaking its language. If you would ask a lot of my family members a lot of them used to tease me about not knowing basic “tagalog” terms like numbers and such that they use at home. I would always ask my mom what my older aunties and cousins would talk about when they fluently speak in Filipino especially when I grew up. I feel like my parents thought it was just a phase when I was younger but as I went into elementary school I was taught the Filipino subject and it did help a lot with me learning more terms and words that I wasn’t aware of before. I even remember failing some of my Filipino classes just cause of the basic things that was needed for that subject that I wasn’t aware of growing up. 

As much as I have disliked the subject before I now know and realize that this is one thing that the youth has passed over in a lot of instances that we’re in. The Filipino subject is already considered not a major subject in the Philippines now we’re going to remove it all together? I have also encountered a lot of Filipino citizens that are not at their best when it comes to speaking “tagalog” and I feel like instead of removing it we should improve the curriculum and have it be specialized in schools that we know who really needs it. We are diving in too deep with this topic when in the first place it shouldn’t even be a debate. I would honestly say I have not much interest when it comes to Filipino politics which is kind of indirect on the matter but I feel like a big factor on that matter is because Filipino culture doesn’t really appeal to me in that sort of way which I know is bad thing and that’s why I feel like the Filipino subject could help us produce more politically savvy leaders and future writers of our country. It’s start with this subject. It starts with this small step to further understanding and making known to other people that we value our very own. 

Therefore we should be advocates of this and that we would not allow the younger generation to be deprived of our own belief and understanding as the Filipino youth for this will be our name tag for our future endeavors. 

Three years ago, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) enforced a provision stating that Filipino and Panitikan courses should be excluded from the college curriculum as a core subject. Two years later, the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order on this memorandum, postponing the said memorandum. Twelve days ago, the TRO was lifted, making CHED successful with their plans on reducing the units of Filipino and Panitikan in college education. And three days ago, it surfaced that the study of the Philippine Constitution will be optional for the students as well. 

 It may look beneficial for some, but doing this buffoonery will make them less and less loving of their country. This should not be pushed through, as it will make Filipinos blind about their culture, their country, and their rights as well. The purpose has its pros, yes. Avoiding duplication of subjects, focusing more on specializations of college students, and the like are what is so far stated. But then, should not they first learn what this land is about? What this land has to offer to them, its inhabitants? Shouldn’t it be them, who should know and understand what this country is all about? They should not forget what Rizal said, “Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay mas masahol pa sa malansang isda”, in times especially like this, where the divergence of their countrymen is at stake. 

Filipinos may sometimes forget, but language is part of every country’s culture. It is the very heart that connects, intertwines, and binds a particular nation. Imagine removing that, in an age like today. Where people live in a world where they don’t know what is real or what is not anymore. Where people are so blinded by the impossible standards of the society that they forget that loving what they have is just okay. Imagine taking away a child from its mother’s arms, crying for help because the only thing that is left for her is this precious child. Imagine removing the very essence of our being as a Filipino, what would we become? 

Filipino has been taught for almost most of our school years. It is both a subject and a medium of language used in teaching. The said subject has been long included in the Philippine curriculum. But recently, a memorandum order has been released and is pending to be approved stating the removal of the Filipino subject in the tertiary level, along with Panitikan and the Constitution. The reason stated was because it is not a requirement as for those degrees which will further be having licensing requirements and should focus more on the “professional subjects” needed. 

            Filipino should not be removed from the tertiary level of study. First, it would remove the sense of identity and culture of the nation. These days, the current generation knows and uses Filipino in the “taglish” way. Many of them do not even know and understand the deep Filipino words the older generation used to say. With this being mentioned, it is very alarming that when Filipino would be removed, the future generation would lose the sense of identity as to being Filipino and not knowing how it should be used properly. Second, these days alone, many do not even know how to properly use such panlapi or affixes in Filipino. Oftentimes, you would hear people repeating the affix rather than the first syllable of the word. Taking for example, saying “kakapunta” instead of “kapupunta”, saying “kakapasok” instead of “kapapasok”. If we lose learning Filipino in the future, we wouldn’t know how to correct our own grammar and would sound wrong in the way we speak. Third, it is not a repeating subject taught and learned from elementary, but rather further expounding what we know about the subject and improving our sense of culture and identity. As we learn more of the language, we go back to the foundation of our nation and we deeply understand who we are both as a Filipino and as a nation. Lastly, if Filipino is removed, we would not have a common language to share. With this being said, this could lead to the disintegration of the country. Because we share a common language, we establish that we are one nation. It is what we use to understand our history and current events happening in our society. 

            To conclude, the removal of the Filipino language from the tertiary level can cause a Filipino student to lose his sense of identity, which can lead to generations not knowing the true essence of being a Filipino. The language binds us together as a nation. Not knowing how to properly use it in both writing and speaking plays a role in how a Filipino is shaped. If not properly educated of the language, what we know about it and how we would use it could lead to us getting puzzled. Knowing and learning the language does not only signify patriotism but rather establishing our identity as a Filipino. And if we lose this sense of identity, it could lead to our country being disintegrated as a nation.

REFERENCE:
Tomacruz, S (2018, November 16). Schools to fight SC ruling removing Filipino as required college subject.
Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/216801-schools-response-supreme-court-lift-tro-filipino-not-required-college-subject

References:
 https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/675412/removing-filipino-panitikan-as-core-college-subjects-unconstitutional-anti-youth-lagman-says/story/
http://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2018/11/15/138235/why-removal-of-filipino-pantikan-from-college-curriculum-is-being-criticized/

National language is a language officially designated for a certain country or nation used for general purposes and most certainly every country has one. An example of this national language is Filipino which is the national language of the Philippines and is used in the Philippine National Anthem. However, it used to be Pilipino instead of Filipino and was only changed during the late President Manuel L. Quezon’s reign on December 30, 1937 by the Executive Order No. 134. 

Even though there is such thing as the national language, there is also an official language used in government functions which is obviously the English language. And, with the continuous growing of globalization, English as the second language for Filipinos can lead to English as the first language which is pretty evident nowadays because not only the elites can speak the language but almost everyone can. The Filipino people became more familiar with English rather than their own Filipino language to the point that sometimes there are words that they cannot translate to Filipino but know the English counterpart or translation of it. 

In addition to that, with the help of the recent proposal of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to remove the Filipino subject in the tertiary level of education, it is every much possible that there would come a time where Filipinos would be foreign to their own national language. And, that is not something you want to happen because as an independent country, you want to have your own identity, your own culture and of course, your own language that the citizens will preserve and continue using. 

Therefore, Filipinos must oppose to the recent proposal of CHED because culture and language is what we have left. We must continuously learn it for it not to be forgotten by many because at the end of the day, the success of one country does not only depend on its economic status but also on its own identity. 

 

Reference: Tupaz, V. (2012, December 30), How Filipino became the National Language, Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/18809-how-filipino-became-the-national-language 

Tomacruz, S. (2018, November 15) CHED to hold order removing Filipino as required college subject, Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject 

Filipino is the national language of the Philippines. It is the core of communication and writing that has led to the innovation and understanding within the culture in the Philippines today. No matter how many dialects have dispersed throughout the centuries even before Filipino had been declared as the wikang pambansa of the Philippines, the most prominently used language is still Tagalog (which was then changed into Filipino). With that being said, Filipino is a compulsory portion of the lives of the people in the Philippines no matter which region they may be in. It may not be the first language amongst the natives nor the people in the provinces outside Metro Manila but it is still the common ground of the masses in order to be able to connect with one another. In relating with one another through the language, the people exercise their proficiency in the subject and their nationality for the country. Although there have been attempts to completely cancel out Filipino as a subject, the resilient language stands ever-firm as it is still a required core subject in the tertiary level. 

            Despite the fact that Filipino is a core subject withstanding its possibility of being removed from the tertiary curriculum, the students from across the nation are still asking the same question. “Bakit may Filipino pa rin?” (“Why is there still Filipino?”) It had been asked numerous times in context of Filipino as a subject. They have complained that most of the students are already “experts” in the subject matter considering that it had been their foundation from when they were born. Besides that, the Filipino language in itself is still one of the mainly used languages in the Philippines. But what is lacking in the country is not the continuous use of the language but the level of proficiency whether oral or written, dictatorial or grammatical. There are still more words to learn and alphabets to teach. There are a lot of grammar errors people still do not realize they are making whenever students are tasked to write a sanaysay (essay) or words that they could have used when they are told to make a tula (poem). Plenty of the secondary level students are still struggling with the use of Filipino in doing researches and theses. It is most especially problematic due to some jargons and words that do not have a direct translation from English to Filipino. Hence, the Filipino language is not completely exercised to its fullest extent. But in learning Filipino as a subject, there are exceptions and rules that can counter this matter. It is in this that the Philippine masses can better understand the necessity of enriching the culture of the country through its language and to fulfill the knowledge of the citizens for better use and responsibility of this awareness they have attained. 

            As what Capuras, Manegdeg and Sia (2011) have proved in their undergraduate thesis entitled “The Beliefs and Attitudes of the Selected Fourth Year High School Students of San Agustin Institute of Technology Towards Filipino Subject”, the Filipino subject is very important to the students. It has enriched their philosophies and has further enhanced their perspective in learning Filipino even more. 

“Through the meaningful differences of the students their beliefs and attitudes especially their behavior is a great influence to the performance towards the Filipino subject. Learners already know a great deal and also have the ability to extend and refashion their knowledge,” as written by Capuras, Manegdeg and Sia (2011). Thus, the people in the Philippines are more than willing to adapt to further elevating their familiarity on the subject. So to answer the question “Bakit may Filipino pa rin?”—It is because the language in itself is already an incessant learning process, all the more for the generality of the subject. There will always be more to learn about something most especially if it is in the manner of treasuring what is precious in the mind. 

 

 

SOURCES: 

http://ecapuras.blogspot.com/2011/05/beliefs-and-attitudes-of-selected.html 

https://www.national-u.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/JSTAR-4_Aranda.pdf 

http://nolisoli.ph/16196/filipino-college-ched/ 

https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/152603/Burton_umn_0130E_13632.pdf 

http://bulatlat.com/main/2014/06/27/removing-filipino-as-a-subject-in-college-a-betrayal-in-the-name-of-business/ 

First and foremost, we are born Filipinos and it is our culture, beliefs, and language that makes up our identity. We have the duty to be responsible of showing that we are true citizens of the Philippines. With that being said, we can prove that through preserving our culture, practicing our beliefs, embracing our personalities, and most importantly, learning to dig deeper to discover more about our own country and its heritage. But how can we do that if the Filipino people itself will remove the subject that will help in the future development and progression of our country? How is it possible for us to make a change if we admit in ourselves that we don’t have enough knowledge of what we have? 

As a Filipino citizen and as part of the youth, there are already a lot of existing social issues that needs more focus and analysis. Personally, I can’t find enough reason for the Philippine government to have the time to divert their attention to this implementation, knowing that our country is currently suffering and now, with this type of news, it is just getting worse. Don’t they see that it is primarily the national language that shapes and unites the people? It is through the continuous understanding of the different dialects and ethnicities that molds the Filipino people. And if educating an individual with regards of the Filipino subject wouldn’t be sustained, how can he/she further explore and love his/her mother tongue? Leading to the next question which is, how can the nation be considered as one if in terms of their language, there are already huge gaps and misunderstandings. This can be the predominant cause and foundation of the other social problems because we are obviously divided with the simplest things – values, culture, and language. 

We should start having this kind of oneness through the smallest matter and eventually, this could help us in understanding ourselves and other people even better. We should prioritize and continue, indeed, acquiring knowledge of what is truly ours and never stop on learning and using the language of our own. Rather, we should stop the mentality of preaching and believing in others’ identity if we, in ourselves, don’t have its own uniqueness. 

Our mother tongue language is Filipino. It is usually our first language that we learn starting from our childhood.  My family, for example, is Filipino. Personally speaking, I was really much more interested using my native language connecting with people, especially to my relatives that are not fluent in speaking English. What some may not understand is that, understanding your native language, you can’t fully appreciate your culture. I could not fully grasp my Filipino culture if I hadn’t learned Filipino, just like I couldn’t have as fulfilled of a relationship with my relatives if I hadn’t. Language has such a profound influence on our own cultures that I think if would be a negative image for someone to lose their mother tongue. 

 

Removing  Filipino as required college subject is a shame on how we easily drop something that makes us a Filipino. The country deserves more of those teachings because Filipinos are molded by its language and dialect. This current government is making future generations more ignorant.  Filipino and literature play an important part in nationalism…. Because of this, they should never be removed as lessons for future teachers of our youth, the hope of the country. If this will push through, we are moving steps backward from progress and sustainable development.  This makes me sad to think about and disappoints at the same time that our own culture is gradually fading away because of the influence of other countries. 

 

This made me realize that your mother tongue comes to you without any effort on your part. It is a gift that comes into your possession without you noticing. It is then mediated by another language that has been added later and that comes from somewhere else. Your mother tongue feels as direct and unconditional as your own skin, and it is just as vulnerable if held in low esteem, treated with contempt, or even banned by others.   I will not be shocked that we already lost our own culture. The Filipino language and Philippine literature are part of what shapes our nation, our country and our race. If that’s removed in college, our culture will be overtaken by Western culture. If anything, they should be working on improving these subjects, making it more practical and relevant. Let’s not lose sight of who we are. 

 

 

The Supreme Court stated three points in why it should be abolished: First “under Section 13 of R.A. 7722, CHED is authorized to determine the (a) minimum unit requirements for specific academic programs”; Filipino, Panitikan and Constitution are already found in the basic education curriculum including senior high school and Lastly, “nothing in the stated laws require that Filipino and Panitikan must be included as subjects, and that the study of Filipino can easily be included as courses of study in the tertiary level, if Higher Education Institutions decide to do so.” Thus, the CMO No. 20, Series of 2013 did not violate any law and is constitutional.

Personally, this situation depends on the schools and universities, the constitution and everyone that uses the language as a lingua franca including the immigrants that chose to grasp our culture and identity. Being a Filipino is not just by using the language as a means of communication, it is also for connection and sharing what we have and showing what we truly are. As a Communication student, I disagree to the implementation of this order it will cause a significant loss of interest in the usage of Filipino as a language. Our language is worth fighting for and fighting for this will truly show how we as a nation work to preserve our identity and culture.

 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject

 

http://news.tv5.com.ph/breaking/part-of-identity-senators-oppose-sc-removal-of-filipino-panitikan-in-college-curriculum

 

https://ched.gov.ph/blog/2018/11/13/ched-on-the-supreme-court-decision-on-the-removal-of-filipino-from-the-new-general-education-curriculum/

 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/216393-supreme-court-lifts-tro-filipino-not-required-subject-college

I for one am a person who lives a life filled with principles. This is true for essentially everything I do, and is true for my everyday life. Even in the simplest forms, I always stand by the ideas and philosophies I live my life by. That being said, the concept of forgetting or disregarding one’s roots is rather disrespectful to the originators in my opinion. Although development and change is practically inevitable, there must always be little bit of the original that remains within the current iteration. People back in the day made music through solely musical instruments, but as time went on and technology became more advanced, the digitalization of the production of music was also to be expected. However, the core values that still embody music are still being used in the modern day digitalized version ofv productions.  Ultimately, I stand by the idea that we as cultural-centered people should never forget where we came from, as the current state of things are a result of years and years of development. 

Filipinos are known to take pride when it comes to culture and we even claim that we are rich in cultural aspects of the nation.  We heavily value what our “wika” and “panitikan” are and is what is taught to us the moment we step foot in a classroom for the first time. In my opinion, getting rid of the Filipino course/subject is essentially us completely disregarding our nationality and ethnicity.  I think that it is absolutely absurd that our very own government would even go as much as to consider not teaching our vernacular. Our language in my opinion is a weapon and something that we should pride ourselves in more. Instead, we are basically taking our best tools and best assets as a nation and disregarding it instead of further developing and boasting this treasure that we have.  I don’t think we are ever going to be considered a first world country given the debt and corruption in our nation but if there is even a slight possibility that this could happen for us, I feel like our culture is the only thing we could ever show for it. As we Filipinos claim, we may not be rich in terms of our national economy, at least we are culturally rich. 

                As a whole I think this entire blasphemy of a situation will eventually die down to where the government realizes how ridiculous the idea of abolishing our language really is. The English language is already taking over and cultivating the minds of the many Filipinos especially the youth.  However when it comes to our very own, the language that was developed and almost perfected by the greats of the past, we remain oblivious to the absolute beauty of the culture that we claim we are oh so rich in. If ever this law does happen to go through and the Filipino course/subject is taken out of the curriculum, I don’t think I could ever forgive the government because forgetting the vernacular is worse than murder for murder only kills a life, but killing the culture kills the lives and legacies of those already dead, those who had worked their entire lives to achieve this.


References:

https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject

1COM4 

 

The diversity of culture is very much appreciated by one country and another. Every country has its own unique language. Language is used to communicate whether it is written or spoken; it showcases the identity of a country and its people. The Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act No. 7104 which states that “the Commission on the Filipino Language. Which is now also known as Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), in 1991. Under said law, KWF is tasked to undertake, coordinate and promote researches for the development propagation and preservation of Filipino as the national language of the Philippines, and other Philippine languages.” 

 

From elementary up to tertiary level, the Filipino subjects have been taught as a general subject. In senior high school program, the core subjects in Filipino are the Komunikasyon at Pananaliksik sa Wika at Kulturang Filipino and Pagbasa at Pagsusuri ng Iba’t Ibang Teksto Tungo sa Pananaliksik. The removal of Filipino subjects in the college level affected the mind of many people. The National Artist for Literature and National Commission on Culture and the Arts chair Virgilio Almario, a poet and author known for his contributions to Filipino literature opposed the ruling. “Filipino as a national language should be used in the lowest to the highest level of education. This is the way for it to be cultivated, he said during an interview. Learning the English language will have a big effect in terms of competitiveness in the global community since English is the language that is used globally but the Filipino language is the spirit of the Philippines, it is prestigious to the fact that not everyone can easily learn the Filipino subject. The discussion of the culture, literacy, and history is deeper that the earlier curriculum, so removing of Filipino subjects in tertiary level will affect the importance of preserving the culture and could possibly remove the identity. 

We are always looking for new things to learn but we are not yet finished learning our own. Filipino language can be more competitive and successful if we all learn how to value the things that we are rich in. We always look for the things, learnings and culture that is from other country but have we forgotten that we also have our own things, learnings and culture? 

 

 

Sources: 

http://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2018/11/15/138235/why-removal-of-filipino-pantikan-from-college-curriculum-is-being-criticized/ 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/102511-filipino-k12-curriculum-virgilio-almario 

https://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/99538546!.pdf 

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/language-powerful-weapon-hands-skilled-person-can-401123 

 

In search of the nation’s true identity comes the Supreme Court ruling on 9 October 2018 lifting the temporary restraining order (TRO) for the Commission on Higher Educations’ (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, series of 2013 (Business World, 2018) that was issued on April 2015. The memorandum excluded Filipino, Panitikan, and Philippine Constitution among the core subjects in the general education curriculum in college. 

The controversial issue of eradicating the nation’s native language from the university level caught a lot of fire from netizens to senators saying that the act was as equal of blasphemy to the Filipino nation. SC’s ruling was welcomed by barrage of protests and worries by Filipino practitioners. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed his fears on the subject matter “We can see these days among the youth the lack of grasp of the Filipino language and by removing this as a core subject in college or any other school level, I fear this would deteriorate even further,” Sotto said via Philippine Star. 

Stated in the CHED memorandum, Filipino will be removed from the General Education Curriculum (GEC) and shall only be available to Filipino majors and Education in Filipino Majors Curriculum (Casiple, 2018). The order stated that the order is commenced due to the inclusion of the course in the senior high school (SHS) or Grades 11 and 12. 

The move could potentially remove 10,000 practitioners or professionals teaching the language at the collegiate level. Dr. David San Juan, spokesperson of Tanggol Wika, a Filipino language advocacy group labeled the move as “problematic” and a slap on their faces (Ong, 2018). 

“It’s like saying our discipline is not important when we had been studying and specializing on this for a long time now,” San Juan via Philippine Star. 

Adding insult to injury, the Supreme Court rendered CHED’s order as a constitutional move from the provision of Article XIV Section 6 of the language provision of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. It states “The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages.” And “For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.” Therefore the language could be moved and tweaked in order to “evolve” according to the constitution. 

“Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.” according to Dr. Rex Casiple. 

 

With 75 million Filipinos scattered across the archipelago, majority of the citizens are “multilingual” meaning could speak at least three languages (Jubilado, 2004). With this fact, the citizens of the nation are considered to be good speakers of another language foreign to them. However, the evolution of the native language throughout the years is controversial due to the lack of attention the subject matter garners. The government’s alarming move could be a blessing in disguise shedding light on the Filipino subject as it gets a lot of attention and valued more by many therefore moving forward the education on our native language.       

Why does the state think having multiple Filipino subjects in the duration of one’s education is too much? Arguably, having to study basic Filipino language for the first twelve years is already sufficient for an individual, but removing Filipino literature and Philippine Constitution in the tertiary level is a whole different thing. One could claim that these subjects are irrelevant to his degree but little do they know that learning about your motherland’s history, culture, and basic grounds of the law is part of their Filipino identity and can even benefit from it in the future. 

            In my opinion, making such subjects non-compulsory is a threat to our cultural identity. Unlike in other Asian countries, they value their background along with preserving their customs and traditions; they pass it on to the future generations because they know how to honor their ancestors. If only we could appreciate what our beloved country has to offer, then it could have save us time in establishing and honoring our Filipino identity which is due way back after we gained our independence back in 1946. 

            It’s ironic to think that they made the Filipino subjects to be an elective, but made the Korean language an option as well. As if this is not a sign of provoking its own brainwashed citizens? 

One of the main reasons why Filipino should not be removed in the educational system of the Philippines is that Filipinos themselves does not know the basic tenets of the language. If you observe on social networking sites, majority of Filipinos themselves does not know how to use the Filipino grammatical rules or what we call the barirala. A lot of people are quick to correct those who make English grammar mistakes but not when it comes to Filipino grammatical mistakes. 

This action by CHED also goes against the purpose and intent of the Article XIV, Section 6, where it states that “The national language of the Philippines is Filipino.... The Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.” The government should be the one protecting the Filipino language but it looks like the government is the people behind why it is being removed. 

Our national language is part of our identity, and it is part of what makes Filipinos unique among others. For us, the Filipino language has been a part of our shared experience, as everyone in the Philippines, no matter how rich or poor you are, no matter what your gender is, no matter where you came from, and no matter who you are, we are familiar with the Filipino language. It is what binds us to our communities and fellow countrymen, and it is what lets other people from other nation know that we are Filipinos. 

The Filipino language is a beautiful language that is all our own. We should celebrate its heritage, its history, and its development throughout the centuries, making sure that the youth knows how to speak it and speak it well for that matter. If we only put as much focus and energy in implementing the Filipino language as we do with the English language, our country will be more united and we will have a better sense of nationalism. 

It isn’t just about preserving the jobs of our Filipino language teachers. More important than anything, preserving and promoting the language of a nation is paramount to preserving its patrimony. 

Sources: 

Batara, A. (2017, August 04). Why you should encourage your child to love the Filipino language. Retrieved from https://ph.theasianparent.com/encourage-child-love-filipino-language/

Do we need the Filipino language in college curriculum? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.megascene.net/?p=10808 

Why is it important to study Filipino even in college? (2018, May 30). Retrieved from http://nolisoli.ph/16196/filipino-college-ched/ 

With the recent issue regarding the removal of Filipino as part of the college curriculum, it has dawned on me how important our native language is, not just in literature but on our identity as Filipinos. There are actually a lot of languages within the country and Filipino is just one of them. In this case, Filipino is based on the Tagalog language. It may seem that learning Filipino in college is unnecessary however as far as the nature of language goes, we don’t have it all mapped out yet. Language is dynamic. It has its advantages and disadvantages and understanding these is the driving force of its development for the future. Teaching a language encompasses a lot of aspects, specifically culture. There is this certain connection between learning and learning with your native language. Our first learning experience begins when we learn how to properly communicate with our mother tongue. It is through this language that we gain knowledge. It is simply our introduction to the world. The more we know about our language reflects heavily on how we know ourselves. 

Filipino is a manifestation of the goal to unite the country as it is archipelagic. The removal of Filipino means tearing the foundation of our nation. 

The release of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding the removal of the Filipino subject in tertiary courses caused the clamor of students, parents, teachers, and academicians alike. In a recent statement made by CHED Chairperson Prosporo De Vera III expresses that they are still waiting for the final decision of the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the issue. While the agony of waiting for the SC’s final decision, netizens express their disbelief primarily in social media. People are in utter incredulity about how “ignorant” this move was made by CHED and the SC. It is without a doubt came as a shock to most Filipinos but in the state of our Legislative branch and the people who comprise it, a lot already expected more absurdity from this administration. 

            The potential removal of Filipino subjects in tertiary courses is explained to be for the purpose of being globally competitive with other countries. There would always be complains about how the Philippines is being left behind with regards to education, labor, economy, etc. If this removal takes place, it will violate Article 14, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution which states that “The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages.” In order for Filipino to be developed and enriched, it should be taught in schools, colleges, and universities. The Philippines is already a fusion of different cultures and influences from its past colonizers which causes the Filipino people confusion of what is the “real” culture. To add more fuel to the fire, the news about adding the Korean language and other foreign languages to the curriculum gained another wave of criticisms from the Filipino people. However, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones clarified that these foreign languages will not replace Filipino; rather it will be offered as an elective class. 

                The fight for the national language, heritage, and culture still continues. The Filipinos deserve more than being spoon fed foreign classes, culture, and being deprived of its very own heritage. Apparently, being globally competitive means setting aside one’s own culture for the sake of being able to please surrounding countries. The government just keeps on doing what it does best, and that is to make the Philippines look as if it is ready to take on the world when its government cannot even uphold and stand for its own culture. 

References: 

 

 

 

            There are pros and cons on the implementation of the removal of Filipino as a required subject in the tertiary level. First, one of the advantages is that students would take fewer units; they wouldn’t be bombarded with having the lessons being taken up again and it could save money for students because as the units are reduced the lesser the finance would the students needed to. Second is that it will save time for students thus it would help them focus on their respective majors. And lastly, the colleges would focus on being globally competitive and would keep pace on an international level focusing on other aspects such as English and Sciences. 

However, the disadvantages of this implementation have a greater cost. First, it would affect the teachers of the Filipino department, as they lose their jobs having been Filipino is the subject they are teaching. They may be transfer into different subjects or in a different field but Filipino is their passion and teaching is their source of income. Second, is that even though Filipino is rooted in our culture, still if it is not taught in the tertiary level, chances are students might forget the essence of having this subject, such as giving importance to our nationality and patriotism. In the long run, Filipino may not be are priority anymore. Third, is that this is our national language, that gives us a sense of identity, and having a number of dialects in this country, Filipino is one of the things that unites the people, sharing a common language, and breaking the barriers of miscommunication. Lastly, having Filipino as a required subject, it shapes the mind of the youth to become aware of the society they belong to, it molds their sense of nationalism and learning from this subject would make them better citizens for the good welfare of the country. 

            Therefore it is not a good idea to remove Filipino as a required subject in the tertiary level because it will affect not only those who are in the academe but it will also affect the country and its people. Filipino is rooted in our culture, and it is our identity. It would be a total waste if this would be forgotten. As opposition lawmaker Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said “Language involves muscle memory. You lose it if you don’t use it.” 

 

 

 

References: 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/675412/removing-filipino-panitikan-as-core-college-subjects-unconstitutional-anti-youth-lagman-says/story/ 

https://filipinokto12pioneers.wordpress.com/2017/09/22/filipino-subjects-should-be-excluded-in-the-college-curriculum-a-position-paper/ 

http://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/out-of-the-box-by-rita-linda-v-jimeno/155774/deleting-filipino-as-college-subject.html 

 

I think that CHED  should think about reconsidering the decision because it will be a big effect on the future of the Filipino youth. This subject should stay because we need to strengthen our Filipino identities especially in these times when we are slowly losing our country to other powerful countries. Our Filipino identity is all that we can cling on to so we should strive on keeping it and strengthening it. It is shameful to remove our own and replace it with other foreign language. Yes it is helpful and efficient to know other languages as well but we should be more aware and more knowledgeable of our own. 

 There are a lot of Filipino kids today that lives in the Philippines and doesn’t understand a single Tagalog word. I think this should be a strong on example on why we should keep the subject because most parents these days only let their kids speak English because for them it means being smarter than those who speak Tagalog. And some kids only speak English because of watching too much cartoons which is good sometimes because it is educational but you won’t be able to talk to them in English anymore. And from my own experience, my nephew who watches a lot of cartoons from YouTube and even on television, he speaks really well in English but the time came when he had a Filipino subject in school and it was really hard for him to study and he as crying because it was really hard for him to understand and he is close to failing his exams. But as time passed by he slowly learned to speak and understand the language better which just shows the importance of this subject that they want to replace with other foreign language. When in reality, people who actually speak more than one language has better thinking skills. 

In this time where a lot of Filipinos are being more appreciative of other culture, we should keep in the Filipino youth’s mind how important our language and culture is. Our language is unique and it is only us who are blessed to use it so we should cherish it and learn to love it and make a good use of it. 

 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject 

https://www.bworldonline.com/sc-upholding-ched-order-excluding-filipino-from-curriculum-slammed/ 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/17/14/why-ph-scrapping-filipino-college 

 
     The Supreme Court’s decision on the removal of the Filipino subject would have a lot of implications on behalf of the Filipino people. If the Supreme Court does not recognize the importance of the Filipino language the severe implications would reflect on the identity of a Filipino – Sense of nationalism. The sense of nationalism of very Filipino varies directly on his culture and tradition. Tagalog as the national language is the foundation of the identity of Filipino; it describes the very essence of a Filipino. 

 Filipino professors decry the value of the Filipino subject as the core and the foundation of nationalism and patriotism of every Filipino citizen; they argued that in order for every Filipinos to understand each other there must be a common language that unites, upholds, and bridges gap of illiteracy, solidarity, and camaraderie, it is the symbol of one’s identity. It is a bridge that connects people to voice out their ideologies, freedom of expression, and their opinions on their daily lives. The effects of the removal of the Filipino subject would be problematic on the economic aspect of the country, perhaps, an estimated of 10,000 teachers would be affected and it would lead to unemployment, career mismatch, as well as unhappy life. On the other hand, there would also be severe implications on the psychological aspect of these teachers with regards to their mental health such as sudden breakdown, stress, and depression. 

The bigger picture lies in the consciousness of every Filipino citizen as it slowly eradicates the solid base ground of history and literature as it diminishes the root of one’s identity. In addition, Every Filipinos must be held responsible to react and give justice to the said ruling; it is each one’s duties and responsibilities to fight for patriotism and nationalism. If the people does not know the purpose of the Filipino language. 

 Enano, J. O. (n.d.). Filipino professors decry SC ruling on K-12. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1053117/filipino-professors-decry-sc-ruling-on-k-12?fbclid=IwAR0YyTq1zZWiLsGbjgsLQmp5L62GRsSEP9unNcA3F9cWlgnNVmCBjk40KV4 
 
GMA News Online. (2018, November 13). Advocates to appeal return of Filipino subjects in college. Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/674611/advocates-to-appeal-return-of-filipino-subjects-in-college/story/?utm_source=GMANews&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=news&fbclid=IwAR3Pkmu7pQjhhnIhuz_VvLJYokyf63uW3086V2Nm9Xwkng4j2qv8Yppduh8 
 
Aning, J., & Torres-Tupas, T. (n.d.). SC: Filipino, 'Panitikan' no longer core college subjects. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1052447/sc-filipino-panitikan-no-longer-core-college-subjects?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3TLq4U-LU9G6so7AZIK4nnVy8XzM2jceax6b7pGafgRE_1qzWZ46A5lR4#Echobox=1541828167 

The removal of the Filipino subject in our country that was approved recently by the Supreme Court for me is a mistake in their part. In today’s generation that is filled with colonial mentality, more students know how to speak English than Filipino even in the Philippines since the people living in it does not give the importance it deserves as our nation’s language.  And with the Supreme Court’s approval, even the nation itself is killing its’ language. This just shows how our Education is colonial in nature. According to Chancellor Michael Tan: “If we want a national language, and respect for all our Philippine languages, our young must grow up hearing and using these languages as part of daily practice—not just for casual conversations but as the language of transaction” 

Studying in a Chinese school since I started school during nursery and English was usually the language used. When I transferred to University of Santo Tomas during Senior High School, I had a hard time adjusting to the environment and the language used. I was not that good in Filipino and only knew the basic words and phrases needed to communicate with other people in the Filipino language. So in my first year transferring to UST, I failed my Filipino subject with a hard time comprehending the words spoken to us by our professor.  With my first failing grade received by my mom, I was ashamed that I failed Filipino, the language spoken in the country I was living in. 

2 years later, I can say that I’m better in speaking Filipino because I’ve learned a lot in our class with our Professor. It’s now easier for me to communicate with my friends and the people around me. There are still a lot of words and the Philippine culture I need to learn and understand in the Filipino language. I had a hard time with a language that is spoken around me every day, what more for a language I do not get to hear often? 

References: 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/216801-schools-response-supreme-court-lift-tro-filipino-not-required-college-subject 

http://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2018/11/15/138235/why-removal-of-filipino-pantikan-from-college-curriculum-is-being-criticized/ 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/19/14/why-removing-filipino-college-will-lead-layoffs 

The Filipino people have always been known to be nationalistic; their love for their country and the ‘Filipino Pride’ has been well-known all throughout the world. With every achievement a person with even a hint of Filipino blood, comes a person in the comment section of that particular ‘YouTube video’ talking about how they are so proud of this person with nothing but their nationality and ethnicity to have in common. This pride has been a huge part of the country’s identity, with people like Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, Pia Wurtzbach, and even Bruno Mars; the nation has this initial response to boast about achievements that they had nothing to do with. In today’s day and age, the love for the country’s reputation has surpassed the love for the country itself. 

In a decision dated Oct. 9, the SC declared as constitutional and lifted the temporary restraining order issued on April 21, 2015 against CHEd Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, series of 2013 which excluded Filipino, Panitikan, and Philippine Constitution among the core subjects in the general education curriculum in college.(Vann Marlo M. Villegas, 2018)

This decision stunned the nation as it was something that no one saw coming. The eradication of the Filipino language affects more people in a negative way than it does positively. There are three particular sets of people that would feel the consequences of this ruling greatly: The college students, the teachers, and the Filipino people in general. 

First, the college students; they are those that lost the privilege to further cultivate the language of their land. It is not enough that the subject is taught in elementary and high school, college is where a student has a more developed mind, where they start to understand the world around them better, where they start to build character that would be who they are for as long as they live. This higher education is where children become adults and real citizens of the country; it is of great shame that just as they are finally starting to understand a deeper meaning of these subjects that they have been taking since first grade, it is taken away from them before they can even truly know the real sense of what it is. Most may say that they can take up the Filipino units as an elective or an added subject, but these students, though hungry for knowledge also have a lot on their plate when it comes to work, having demanding major subjects that need their undivided attention. And treating the Filipino language as an elective or as an optional thing is completely appalling. This is the soul of our nation, it shouldn’t be an option.

 The next would be the teachers; there is an estimated number of 10,000 professors that could potentially lose their primary way of earning a living. These university teachers went through rough times just to be able to teach at a higher level of education, most were required to have additional titles apart from their college degree, earning their masters and doctorates for years, only to have it go to waste as they are told that the subject they spent their whole life trying to study is being eradicated in the place where it matters most. Most would say that they could go on and teach at a lower level, e.g. high school and elementary students. But it would be a waste of their studies, being over qualified for the job yet earning so little.

And finally, the Filipino people; the hypocrisy of the situation is borderline unbearable. Being a country so full of pride with its achievements is taking away the very soul of itself. Eliminating the Filipino language and leaving the English language only proves the fact that the country cares more about being globally competitive than having our culture and essence as a nation preserved. There are Filipinos that would gladly leave the Philippines; that is not even a secret anymore. This is a nation that would celebrate when achievements come, but abandon everything as soon as difficulties arise. This is the land of the critics, first to hate on themselves and bring down the country that they should be lifting up. This is a nation that would leave behind the home that they should love in a snap of a finger. Taking away the one thing that is keeping this nation together would only ensue chaos and the further destruction of this identity.

 

Leaving behind the importance of the identity that comes with the language that we speak also leaves behind the spirit of what it is to be Filipino. The pride that should come with how we converse has been eradicated as well. And I repeat: the love for the country’s reputation has surpassed the love for the country itself. 

 

Language is a part of culture that grows along with the nation. Removing something as language means to kill a culture, but how can I say that we aren’t killing our language right now. As Filipino I have observe that we don’t have much culture that we could be proud of. We are a country who experience colonization from Spaniards (1565-1898), Americans (1899–1902), and Japan (1941-1945). We didn’t have much time or documents from before we are colonized. We use English as means of communication in the court, during meetings, and many more. In Philippines, English is called as the language of the learned or what James Soriano wrote in his essay in Manila Bulletin. He said that, Filipino is the “language of the streets" – “how you spoke to the tindera when you went to the tindahan, what you used to tell your katulong that you had an utos, and how you texted manong when you needed sundo na" (Soriano, 2011). Removing the Filipino Subject is either for the improvement of the country or the deterioration of the nation.  

            According to the Chairman of Commission on Higher Education, J. Prospero E. De Vera III, DPA (2018), in the tertiary level, nothing in the stated laws require that Filipino and Panitikan must be included as subjects, and that the study of Filipino can easily be included as courses of study, so no law is violated. CHED has respected this decision and will wait for the Supreme Court to decide. If it does not violet any laws then it is possible to remove the Filipino Subject in the tertiary education, but advocates of the Filipino language have debated that it could lead to the erosion of the Filipino language and identity (Tomacruz, 2018). Filipino language is part of the Filipino identity so it is only normal for people to think that way. Removing the language was said to be for the globalization process. 

            Globalization process is already underway, and one of the effects of it is multiple cultures mixed. In the University of London, there is a Philippine Studies course and students there are asked to go to learn the Filipino language in the Philippine Embassy (Sarabia, 2012). The Philippines also have universities, like University of Santo Tomas that teaches college students the Spanish language. We can’t deny that it would help people to cross borders easily and to be able to adjust easily. But the question would still remain if removing the Filipino language it would either be for the improvement of the country or the deterioration of the nation.  

            There are some countries that have no official language, United States of America as an example as they have adopted the English language. They still have they their own identity as Americans, and still have their own culture. It also does not violate any laws if they do remove the Filipino language in the education system, but I think we shouldn’t remove it. I would still like to see the Filipino language being used as a medium of communication in the future for us Filipinos. I would still like to see the small yet rich culture during the pre-colonial period where Baybayin is used. We should still instill to children to learn, appreciate, and embrace our own culture. We can change it for the better or for worse, but what is important is we learn and build our identity with this subject. We can use English as our means of communication but we should still not forget the Filipino language. There is no superior or inferior language and whether we learn it or not, I would have to live it to the decision of the Supreme Court, but Filipino language would not be remove. 

 

Sources: 

DE VERA III, J. P. (2018, November 13). CHED on the Supreme Court Decision on the removal of Filipino from the New General Education Curriculum. Retrieved from Commision on Higher Education : https://ched.gov.ph/blog/2018/11/13/ched-on-the-supreme-court-decision-on-the-removal-of-filipino-from-the-new-general-education-curriculum/

Sarabia, A. L. (2012, December 16). Filipino language is going global. Retrieved from INQUIRER.NET: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/59675/filipino-language-is-going-global

Soriano, J. (2011, September 10). Language, learning, identity, privilege. Retrieved from INQUIRER.NET: https://opinion.inquirer.net/11649/language-learning-identity-privilege

Tomacruz, S. (2018, November 16). Schools to fight SC ruling removing Filipino as required college subject. Retrieved from Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/nation/216801-schools-response-supreme-court-lift-tro-filipino-not-required-college-subject

 

I would like to quote a line from one of my favorite Filipino films which in “Heneral Luna” when Buencamino, a character in the movie said that he loves the Philippines and then Heneral Luna replied “Pero hindi sapat para ipaglaban siya o mamatay para sa kanya!”.  A lot of times we claim that we are proud to be Filipino yet we do not show it in our actions. We claim that we love that country yet we prefer visiting other countries rather than spending time visiting the places around our country. As a citizen of this country, it is our duty to patronize our own and never stop learning our country’s identity.  

 

References: 

·         Unfamiliar Filipino words. Retrieved from https://tablo.io/sepinofrancis/unfamiliar-filipino-words 

·         Emocling, O. (2017, June 21). Why is it important to study Filipino even in college? Retrieved from http://nolisoli.ph/16196/filipino-college-ched/ 

·         Silverio, I. (2014, June 27). Removing Filipino as a subject in college: A betrayal in the name of business? Retrieved from http://bulatlat.com/main/2014/06/27/removing-filipino-as-a-subject-in-college-a-betrayal-in-the-name-of-business/ 

In light of the recent order of the Commission on Higher Education on the removal of Filipino as a subject taught in the tertiary level. The KWF has released a public statement, after winning a victory over the Commission on Higher Education, whereas a Temporary Restraining Order granted among the two Commissions was repealed.

 

                Although not without outright condemnation at each other, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino seems to move towards the preservation of the Filipino Language in the tertiary years of education The Commissions hold check and balance powers to each faction. But, since the dissolution of the restraining order, as stated in accordance to the Supreme Court G.R.216930, with the power entrusted upon the KWF by the 1987 Constitution, and the formation of the Commission, they may extend influence over CHED memorandums.

 

                However, one may argue, that KWF should take a more active role in ensuring that the Filipino Language is preserved and enhanced as it is passed on to the next generations. This is reinforced by the 1935 Constitution article 13, sec 3, that was one of the precursors leading up to the establishment of the Commission. We also see this reinforced by the 1972, and the current constitution respectively. Quoting directly from the Article 14 Section 6, “The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages. Subject to provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system.” 

 

                Filipino, by law is the Language of conversation, and in addition is the pillar where Filipino Culture is anchored

 

Bibliography 

 

Kapasiyahan ng Kalupunan ng mga Komisyoner Blg. 14-26 serye ng 2014 | GOVPH. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/06/20/kapasiyahan-ng-kalupunan-ng-mga-komisyoner-blg-14-26-serye-ng-2014/ 

PAHAYAG HINGGIL SA PAGTATANGGAL NG TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (TRO) SA CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER BLG. 20 S. 2013 KAUGNAY NG DESISYON NG KORTE SUPREMA SA G.R. BLG. 216930, 217451, 217752, 218045, 218098, 218123, AT 218465. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://kwf.gov.ph/pahayag-hinggil-sa-pagtatanggal-ng-temporary-restraining-order-tro-sa-ched-memorandum-order-blg-20-s-2013-kaugnay-ng-desisyon-ng-korte-suprema-sa-g-r-blg-216930-217451-217752-218045-218098/ 

The 1935 Constitution | GOVPH. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1935-constitution/ 

The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines | GOVPH. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/ 

“In a country wherein a language can be a measure of one’s intelligence, it is easier to neglect the importance of Filipino in our vocabulary because English is always the big factor in the glaring social stratification.” 

            The curriculum that the Filipinos grew up to is always in favor of using the English language as the medium of learning. Filipino children, especially from English-based or international schools, cannot really speak nor write our national Language. It is peculiar to have English subjects as a prerequisite and Filipino subjects as an elective. With the mandate of Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO), No. 20 Series of 2013, it will remove the Filipino subjects in the tertiary level. It is not just a heavy burden to the Filipino students’ knowledge about our language, but it is also a big hurdle for the Filipino academics as it will strip away the work of Filipino teachers and it will be harder for researchers and scholars to actually fight for the importance of this subject. 

                Article 16, Section 6 of the 1987 constitution explicitly stated that Filipino is our national language. But Filipinos seem to prioritize the English language more because it is required to be able to compete or to work globally. It is true that this language easily overshadows Filipino for a very long time so it can truly widen the gap between them when Filipino is removed from tertiary level. If this continues, our national language would continue to degrade and will just stay as an elective to Filipino students rather than being a requirement.  The struggle of students who are still unsure of how to differentiate “ng” from “nang” and “din” from “rin” would still haunt us to the point that we question the importance of teaching Filipino in the tertiary level and how to further improve their knowledge and vocabulary about it. James Jimenez, Commission on Elections spokesperson, said that this country would lose its soul when Filipino subject is removed from core subjects because contrary to the memorandum’s reason as to why we should remove it, it should not always favor the economic side of the country but what the people aim to preserve is the culture and love for the Filipino Language. Even though you are considered as an intelligent one when you are speaking in English, it is still definitely better to learn the language that the people in our daily interactions use. Our national Language is one of the shapers of our identity as Filipinos. It gives the Filipinos a unique distinction from other western countries wherein there are similar languages with their neighboring states/countries. The CHED’s memorandum seems to throw away this uniqueness and identity away as they do not give enough importance to the implications of having a Filipino subject in every education level of our country. 

                The Filipino people should continue to fight for the importance of having a Filipino core subject in the tertiary level as it will increase the student’s understanding about the language and it can be a big help in shaping the identity of these individuals. It should be always the fight of the people to protect the country’s culture and uniqueness. No one should be deprived or stripped away of the chance to learn more about our national Language as it is important to learn the daily language in our interactions outside. 

Sources:
Inquirer, P. D. (n.d.). In the Know: Filipino curriculum in tertiary level. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/687228/in-the-know-filipino-curriculum-in-tertiary-level

Marquez, C. (n.d.). CHEd to study SC decision to exclude Filipino, Panitikan from college curriculum. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1053688/ched-to-study-sc-decision-to-exclude-filipino-panitikan-from-college-curriculum

“It made me realize that your mother tongue comes to you without any effort on your part. It is a dowry that comes into your possession without you noticing. It is then judged by another language that has been added later and that comes from somewhere else. Your mother tongue feels as direct and unconditional as your own skin, and it is just as vulnerable if held in low esteem, treated with contempt, or even banned by others.” - Herta Müller. Language functions as an organized structure of words that is used for writing and speaking in a certain area of a country or the whole country itself. We all nonetheless know that language reflects a country’s identity. It further also strengthens and enriches ones culture. Without the presence of it, a country may loss its identity and deteriorates its fellowmen. 

Protests and criticisms have been circulating with the issue of removal of Filipino and Filipino Literature in the core subjects of college curriculum. This issue the Philippines is facing is never new to us. CHED or Commission on Higher Education imposed CHED Memorandum Order No. 20 Series of 2013 that aims to remove Filipino subject in college by 2016 to make way for the new K+12 program saying that Filipino units are to be taken already in Senior High School. When I was in Senior High School my two favorite professors are both Filipino teachers and they both inspired me to be more patriotic about our language and particularly our country. They were the professors that didn’t only teach me lessons with the four corners of the room, but they also taught me life lessons and they made me appreciate so much more about our country – the Philippines. I also considered taking Filipino as a college course when I took the UPCAT. That is why the removal of Filipino and Filipino literature really saddens me. I remember our Filipino professor showed us an iWitness documentary by Howie Severino entitled Don’t English Me. The documentary features Lubuangan Central Elementary School in Kalinga wherein students are thoroughly taught by teachers their language, Lubuangan. There was a study that when children are taught with their mother tongue or native language first, the greater their performance will be in learning, speaking and writing other language like Filipino and English. This goes to show that language is a vital not only in preserving Philippine’s culture but also in the intellectual progression of its students. We all know the fact that language is continuously changing and with that we need still have the units for college alongside of course with its complementary language, English. These two languages should not be in competition with each other because English is also a vital language for us Filipinos. However, Filipino language should be taken more because it is what separates us apart among other countries. As a country that is made up of thousands of islands and languages, Filipino language is and will always be the bridge that will unite us both in communication and culture. 

Filipino language should never be gone, no matter what age learners will be for the reason that this is probably few of the last traces of Filipino identity we have. In order to stand out and keep up with other ASEAN countries, Filipino language should showcase the richness and identity of our country, the Philippines. 

Cruz, R. (2014, June 17). Why PH is scrapping Filipino in college. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/17/14/why-ph-scrapping-filipino-college?fbclid=IwAR2YoP9X5K2qQh7h2Yw8qLJzZEjJthR52c_5tkxYpw_KXzE-87vTngNi6M8 

Silverio, I. A., & LukeBryan. (2014, June 27). Removing Filipino as a subject in college: A betrayal in the name of business? Retrieved from http://bulatlat.com/main/2014/06/27/removing-filipino-as-a-subject-in-college-a-betrayal-in-the-name-of-business/ 

Sombilon, D. R. (2017, September 23). Don't english me. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeWDJT6npXw 

What constitutes to being a Filipino in this generation anyway? 

According to the 2000 statistics, nationwide, 85% said they could understand spoken Filipino, 85% said they could read Filipino, and 79% said they could write in Filipino. 

However, in this day and age, can you still count the number of Filipinos who ACTUALLY and FLUENTLY speak in Filipino? In the face of all nationalistic aridity, it is as perennial as the grass (statement inspired by Desiderata).

As much as I would not like to admit, I am guilty to be one of the many who HATE studying Filipino. –I  have a hard time in understanding and appreciating it, so I was quite elated to know that Filipino might be stripped of the College Curriculum. HOWEVER, such a reason only adds more grounds as to why we SHOULD study it. Filipino has always been in our curriculum, but have you ever noticed that A LOT of Filipinos are still bad at it? –That’s because children nowadays are opt to be raised in an English speaking environment, regardless of the fact that they live in  a Filipino-speaking country. 

Going over the historic side of things, our ancestors did not struggle and die for our country just so we could disregard the language they fought for. We have been deprived of our own identity through the many invaders, so why would we annihilate something we tried hard to protect? This is not only a matter of history, nor pride, nor nationalism, for this is also a matter of respect. –A respect for what is rightfully ours. Moreover, our language is “the heart of our heritage”, so removing Filipino in the College Curriculum would be like stripping a Filipino Citizen his right to his culture (his right to be a Filipino). It is also worth considering that the level of thinking of College students differ by a lot compared to those in high school or elementary. Thus, if you hate studying Filipino before, it’s bound for you to appreciate it in College. Filipino is more appreciated in College, because at this age, is the age of being more accepting and appreciating, for College kids are more aware of the importance and relevance of studying Filipino. If we keep Filipino, it will deepen our appreciation and love for not only the language, but also the country and all the other factors that entails. 

We have a right to study our language, so if we remove Filipino in our Curriculum, our rights are taken away from us. Remember that our culture and identity is deteriorating, so why would we risk it? 

References: 

Funtecha, Herny F. (2008, August 22). The Filipino language as spirit of national identity. Retrieved from http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/08/22/the.filipino.language.as.spirit.of.national.identity.html 

Mangahas, Mahar (2016, September 10). Numbers on Filipino, Cebuano and English. Retrieved from https://opinion.inquirer.net/97210/numbers-on-filipino-cebuano-and-english 

n.a. (2010, January 27). Filipino language is the heart of our heritage. Retrieved from http://www.philippinegenerations.org/2010/01/filipino-language-is-the-heart-of-our-heritage.html 

n.a. (2018, November 16). Senators frown on removal of Filipino, Panitikan subjects in college.  Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/16/18/senators-frown-on-removal-of-filipino-panitikan-subjects-in-college 

Tomacruz, Sofia (2018, November 15). CHED to hold order removing Filipino as required college subject. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject

A national language gives a sense of identity and unity among the people of different ethnicities and dialects. The memorandum of the Commission on Higher Education/CHED Memorandum that aims to remove Filipino and Filipino Literature or ‘Panitikan’ as a core subjects to be taught in college has led to the numerous amount of arguments regarding this topic. Majority of the netizens are against it and defends the importance of Filipino subjects in the standard college curriculum. I personally believe in the necessity of including this subject to the preservation of our country’s integrity. Majority of the netizens disagreed with the removal of the Filipino subject for they know that removing this subject will bring no good to the Filipino students’ education. There are a lot of Filipino students that are really good in using other languages like English and Korean but failed to master our very own language. The Filipino that we know now is slowly becoming Taglish and shallow, thus removing the Filipino subject will lead them to have a lesser knowledge to the proper use of it. 

There are a lot of negative impacts of the removal of Filipino subjects in the college curriculum not only to the students but also to those who teach of these subjects. It will threaten the employment of the 10,000 Filipino instructors. I think that if we truly want our national language to be preserved and be respected, not only the youth but also each one of us must grow hearing and using these languages as part of daily practice. We must also use the Filipino language in our everyday transaction for science, business, the arts.  It must be a daily practice that becomes part of us, part of the way we think, and live. 

 

 References: 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/19/14/why-removing-filipino-college-will-lead-layoffs 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/631905/up-profs-students-dont-remove-filipino-from-college-curriculum 

http://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/out-of-the-box-by-rita-linda-v-jimeno/155774/deleting-filipino-as-college-subject.html 

https://kickerdaily.com/posts/2014/12/ched-defends-removal-of-filipino-in-college-curriculum-filipino-language-advocates-to-seek-help-from-sc/ 

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/ched-verifying-impact-of-filipino-subject-removal/ar-BBPPRr2 

http://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2018/11/15/138235/why-removal-of-filipino-pantikan-from-college-curriculum-is-being-criticized/ 

In 2013, the Supreme Court has proposed to remove the Filipino and Panitikan subject for it is no longer significant in our college curriculum since we have already taken the subject when we were still in Senior High. They don’t want us to retake general subjects in college for us to save time. Thus, if that is their reason then they should apply it to all General Subjects that we took back in SHS. 

Still, if they have any other reasons at all as to why they want to remove the subject in our curriculum, I still won’t accept it. There is and will never be a valid reason. The Filipino subject is what makes our Filipino blood actively running to our veins. It is what’s left to remind us of our own culture and traditions. It is our own art of how we communicate with each other; how we tell stories. This is the only subject that we students have the opportunity to learn and to speak our own language. It is the only subject that we can know more of our history of our heritage and language and yet our government wants to take that away. How can we call ourselves Filipinos if we don’t have a subject to study using our mother tongue? 

The Commission on Higher Education under the “General Education Curriculum Holistic Understandings, Intellectual and Civic Competencies” excluded the study of Filipino, Panitikan, and the Philippine Constitution as core subjects in the college education for the reasons of avoiding duplicating courses since these subjects are found in the earlier phases of education and to open the students to other foreign language which can mold them into holistic and globally competent individuals. Although the intentions are actually for the good of the Filipino students, educators and lawmakers seemed to overlooked the reality that the students today are not yet competent enough in their own language. Since the early stages of education, Filipino students are already taught and trained to speak the language of English to the extent of prohibiting them from speaking their own mother tongue when in schools.  Fluency on English was always a priority while the importance of learning our own was forgotten. Considering this, it only goes to show that there was never an importance in the language of Filipino in our education system. Thus, abolishing these fundamental subjects in the tertiary level can only be acceptable when these are taught well and given the right emphasis on the primary levels. 

In fact Filipino professors and linguistics say that majority of the Filipino students today do not speak and write in correct grammar which definitely shows how unready the nation is to make such changes.  Not only that, according to studies by UNESCO and World Bank, pupils learn faster, more efficient, and better when taught in their vernacular language. Take Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan for example; they teach their basic education in their own local languages making them consistently rank highest in education standings especially in the area of Mathematics and Science. So instead of removing the following courses, what the educators and lawmakers should do is to improve and enrich the quality of education in the field of the Philippine’s mother language. Since learning a language is not only learning about the technicality of grammar but it also goes hand in hand in  deeply understanding the country’s identity and culture which the youth today seemed to be unfamiliar with. After all, it is written in the law that educational institutions "shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, and appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country."

Therefore the removal of Filipino, Panitikan, and Philippine Constitution in the tertiary levels of education in the Philippines can only bring the nation backwards given that the level of competency the system provides in the said subject during the primary levels is weak and inadequate, rather the nation should focus on developing and solving the current situation it faces because in the end holisticity and competency can be achieved easily when done that first.

References

https://medium.com/@IanMLewis/learning-a-language-as-muscle-memory-16332f7c7666

 

Languages are like fruit bearing trees; if we would remain passive and refuse to give our exceeding effort to cultivate and strengthen the roots of our language then it will wither, die and no longer exist. We seek to harvest the best fruit our country has to offer and for that to happen we must first have the initiative to plant the seeds that will later give us the blessings we seek.  I strongly agree that those seeds will prosper if we will have beddings that will be willing enough to cater the needs of that seeds; a seed represents our language and the beddings represent Filipinos. I agree that learning and practicing our language at our very own home is enough for us to get by and communicate; yet also at a very young age, I believe that learning the Filipino language through a formal setting has helped me not just to widen my communication and writing skills but also revealed me lessons and information I would never know throughout my years as a student without our Filipino subject. We may accept different languages for our linguistic knowledge to widen, but we must not forget that when we decide to cut down our roots then the fruits of our knowledge will also cease to exist. 

We must louden our voices regarding our negative reaction and dislike if ever there decision would be finalize, but I also respect how they handle the situation and hold the implementation. According to rappler, “CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III on Wednesday night, November 14 said the CHED will not implement its order yet as advocates of the Filipino language said they plan to appeal the Court's decision..” .We must also take in consideration that though we are accepting foreign language in the Philippines, DepEd clearly state that it will not replace the Filipino language as it says that “Korean language is intended as an elective and will not replace the Filipino subject in the basic education curriculum.” Also DepEd said Filipino "remains to be among the core subjects in basic education while the teaching of Panitikan (Literature) in the Filipino subject serves as a springboard for discussion of grammar lessons and a way of strengthening the Filipino identity and culture." Thus shows that there is still hope for our language to continue to thrive.

References:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/216989-department-education-clarifies-korean-language-elective-only#cxrecs_s

https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject

In other nations, they treat their official language with utmost respect. A country’s language represents its culture and foundation. It is very much important for everyone especially us Filipinos to master our mother tongue in order for us to communicate well with our fellow citizens. Being able to speak in Filipino fluently shows our love not just for our country but also for the rich history, culture, and upbringing that we have. With the recent decision of the Supreme Court regarding the memorandum that CHED (Commission on Higher Education) proposed many years ago removing Filipino and Panitikan as core subjects in college, how will the youth strive to learn different languages that can be used in the future if they aren’t even proficient with their own?

This issue stirred a buzz among many people especially in Social Media where various personalities from the academe voiced out their opinions and disappointment regarding the issue.  In an article from PhilStar Global, it was stated that around 10,000 teachers or professors may lose their jobs with the removal of Filipino and Panitikan in college. Many people will be affected by this decision and the majority of the Filipino people will suffer in the long run. Most of the undergraduate students and even the ones who are already working don’t know the difference between ‘ng’ and ‘nang’ which is a basic rule in Filipino grammar. The other thing that really concerns me and should concern every Filipino is that the administration prioritizes other languages such as Korean, among others where the said language will be taught in High School as an elective rather than enriching and uplifting our own. I know that many people in the Philippines travel overseas in order to find better opportunities that we cannot have in our country and the tax from the remittances of OFWs contributes a huge amount in building a better nation for all. Native Language proficiency is really an advantage if you are working abroad. In this way you can communicate clearly with the locals and make the most out of yourself but shouldn’t we start being proficient with our own before mastering the language of other countries? How can we be proficient with other languages if we aren’t even proficient with the Filipino language?

As a Communication student and an aspiring writer of literary pieces in Filipino, I highly condemn this decision because it clearly shows no respect for our language and culture. It gives the youth an insight where Filipino isn’t important anymore and that we shouldn’t keep on learning as we progress towards the future. Filipinos should make a firm stand regarding this issue because how can we call ourselves Filipinos if we cannot even protect and defend our language from ourselves. 

 

REFERENCES:

https://www.rappler.com/nation/216730-ched-hold-order-remove-filipino-panitikan-required-college-subject

The attachment below is a meme that was created by social media users after being aware of the verdict of the Supreme Court that Filipino should no longer be a requirement for college, and yet Korean language or Hangul is then being considered to be included in particular curricula. 

 

Recently, the Supreme Court proclaimed CHED’s (Commission on Higher Education) Memorandum Order, in which Filipino, Panitikan, and Constitution should no longer be required as a core subject in tertiary education and may be excluded from their respective curriculums, as valid and was therefore approved after being issued years ago. It was stated under the MO that these subjects are still included in the K-12 program; particularly the Senior High School students. As the announcement was made publicized by the media, multiple backlashes were what they got straightaway. Most students, parents, and even the Alyansa ng Mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino were hostile to the decision that was made by the Supreme Court as they claim that Filipino as a core subject in every educational level is deemed to be an essential part of being a Filipino. Being a student under the Communication program, it is in our utmost belief that Filipino should, and should always be, included in our curriculum. We are all aware that language is a necessity in every country as it is our means of communication. From the word itself, communication; how can we, as Filipinos, communicate in a better manner without studying these subjects? Yes, we have studied Filipino ever since we were young. It has been a part of our daily lives to speak and converse with other individuals by using Filipino. However, we must all ponder upon the fact that there is more to it than just being a subject. Filipino is a part of us. It mirrors how we can build our nation towards the betterment of our society. As what Dr. Jose P. Rizal stated, "Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan" we must all be aware that these "subjects" are what makes us Filipino. What makes YOU Filipino.

Filipinos are forgetful. Their forgetfulness range from minute little things such as forgetting to dispose of their garbage properly to more important things such as their cultural identity and the fact that they are worth dying for.  If the subject that defines their very culture and identity are removed, Filipinos will undoubtedly be colonized once again through the influence of other countries. 

CHEd Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, series of 2013 has been drafted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) drafted in order to “offer greater flexibility than the current curriculum” by having Filipino removed as core subject in college and foreign languages taught at public schools. In relation with this, CMO No. 20 was unanimously agreed by the Supreme Court to be passed. This caused outrage within many especially from TANGGOL WIKA who strive to preserve and develop Philippine’s national language.  Their protest is justifiable as Filipino is given an image that it is not an important enough subject to include in college courses. Further, Article 14, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution that state Filipino shall be “further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other languages” is being violated by lawmakers themselves.

The subject that reminds people of what they are must not be removed from education especially from by the citizens themselves; the rich history of the Philippines that was preserved through blood, sweat and tears should be continued by its people. 

Pamela April Q. Aldana 

Is Filipino truly already known by all? When we say “Panitikan”, most teenagers in the Philippines associate this word to ‘literature’ rather than discussing what it is all about because oftentimes, when you try to communicate with a local vendor, you will be able to observe that they are more knowledgeable and fluent in speaking the Filipino language. A recent news about the controversial decision of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shocked various sectors in the country, including thousands of Filipino professors. 

There are still words and grammar mistakes that we Filipinos neglect, some of them are: Nang or ng’, ‘Kamusta or Kumusta’, ‘Din or rin’. It is alarming that the language that binds us Filipinos is trying to be removed by the educated individuals that should be the purveyors to fight in preserving our culture but instead, they decided to eliminate it. It is even more painful that Korean language is considering to be taught; it seemed as if learning other languages is prioritized. One Filipino language professor stood to elucidate that the national language is still quite young and it has yet to be completely intellectualized or used in different fields. 

To sum it up, I think Filipino subject should still be taken in college because there are still more to learn about the subject. Loving our own country also entails loving its own language. When you try to remove it from its own territory, it will die eventually and it will be no longer spoken by its own people. Love for your native language equates to honor, respect, and value you give to your identity. 

          

         
References:
http://bulatlat.com/main/2014/06/27/removing-filipino-as-a-subject-in-college-a-betrayal-in-the-name-of-business/
https://entertainment.inquirer.net/305386/vice-ganda-speaks-up-on-removal-of-filipino-panitikan-as-core-college-subjects

Globalization has been greatly influenced the Philippines economically, culturally, socially which affect the ways of living by the Filipino people in most aspects of their lives. Although, globalization has a lot of positive effects due to the interconnectedness of the Philippines to other countries as it allows the Filipinos to easily communicate and connect with them  with  their ability and willingness to adapt and learn new language, this is not enough reason to remove the subject that serves as the identity of the Filipinos. 

However, in the recent announcement of the Commission on Higher Education, the Filipino subject will be removed as part of the curriculum core subject in the tertiary level which produces a lot of negative reactions from the public due to the inconvenience it will brought not just the Filipino teachers but to the students as well. Hence, after several meeting with the groups who continuously protesting, the CHED finally arrived with the decision to retain the subject.  

Therefore, in the age of globalization, why is it important for the Filipinos to learn the Filipino subject even up until College? 

The first main reason is to improve the grammar of the Filipinos. Although many would argue that Filipinos have already learn the language for almost half of their lives, since they have been studying this subject since preschool, they couldn’t deny the fact that they still couldn’t master the language and its grammar due to the external factors such as learning and focusing on other foreign language such as English rather than improving their knowledge in Filipino subject.  Due to this matter, many Filipinos are still confused with the usage of different Filipino terms and how to use these words in a proper sentence. 

The second and most important reason is that Filipino language is already part of the daily lives of the Filipinos and this is the language that mirrors their culture, as well as the history of the Filipino heroes who fought for the freedom of this country from the colonizers. Hence, if this subject will be remove, it seems that all of their sacrifices will be invalidated. As Marvin Lai, chairman of the Department of Filipinology at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), in an interview with Bulatlat.com.also stated that“Removing the Filipino subject in the tertiary level is like removing the Filipino people’s identity as well,”  and “Naniniwala ang mga guro sa Filipino, na ang wikang Filipino ay wika ng mga intelektwal. Kapag hindi naipapahayag ng mga kolehiyo o ng propesyunal na nililikha ng unibersidad, hindi nila makikita na ang wikang Filipino ang magiging instrumento ng kanilang pagkatao.” 

Therefore, Filipinos should realize the importance of this language in their lives. Filipino is a very beautiful and rich language that can be explore and taught in different ways if the teachers and students will be just open to see that this language is what their identity comes from and t it is also unites people to revive the sense of nationalism by the Filipinos through the subject.  


References
 

            Often times, we find ourselves detached to our roots here in the Philippines. From local to media, beauty standards, fashion, and in pop culture, it’s no secret that our country is very westernized. Having been called “the battered wife of America”, the Philippines has been subject to multiple means of colonization. From the Spaniards, to the Americans, Japanese, Chinese, etc., we’ve also come to accumulate a multitude of cultures that lead us to picking up a wide range of lexicons. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court issued a bill that would eliminate the need of studying Filipino and Pananaliksik in college. We cannot deny, of course, that being an English-speaking and multilingual country can prove to be beneficial, but what are the harms of eliminating a subject concerning one’s own mother tongue in the tertiary level? I have three points in mind.

            First, exclusion of the Filipino subject would further result to lack in mastery of the language. Up until now, we have to acknowledge that some college students can’t even tell the difference between “ng” and “nang”, “kamusta” and “kumusta”, “rin” and “din” –the point is, this can prove to be harmful by professional means. Having incorrect grammar could damage one’s credibility, especially in terms of academic writing. If a person cannot even simply tell the difference between the proper use, spelling, and punctuation of these words, it would seem unreliable to delegate them with harder tasks. 

            Secondly, elimination of the Panitikan subject represents the idea that the Filipino language is inferior to dominant foreign languages. To learn that there’s a proposed removal of the subject, yet the educational system is willing to teach students on the first and secondary level of education Korean or Hangeul is insulting to the people who died and fought for the liberation of our country. The English language will always be there and has been deeply rooted within our educational system since the Americans imposed it as the official teaching tongue, but a problem arises when the Filipino language is continuously devalued and thought of as something lesser ­­–this further propagates the notion that foreign languages, or in this matter, English, is the language of the elites and educated, while Filipino, is the language of the lesser masses. 

            Lastly, this encourages Western culture, further weakening the intellectualization of our language and culture. It’s tragic to think that when a person is fluent in Filipino, he is often seen as “deep” or “smart”, when it should be the norm or standard. The fact that we even have to dedicate a month to celebrate the Filipino language is saddening. Our language is a part of our identity as a country, and to see it deteriorating is concerning.

            The fact that I even have to write this paper in English speaks volumes of what our country has become. In conclusion, our educational system has failed us in teaching us our language, in making us cling to our roots, and thus has subjected us to think that “Western” is always better.

 

REFERENCES:

            Frederick, N. ( 2015 ). The Professional Importance of Grammar and How it Should be Taught. Retrieved from http://pitjournal.unc.edu/article/professional-importance-grammar-and-how-it-should-be-taught

            Contreras, A. P. ( 2014, June 17 ). Betraying the Filipino Language. Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/opinion/content/366049/betraying-the-filipino-language/story/

 

Filipino is the national language of the Republic of the Philippines and should be preserved from generations to generations. Teaching this is a way of strengthening the Filipino identity and culture, and giving importance of history and culture of the Philippines. The Filipino people should remember that Filipino is one of the living languages that remain to exist not just to help us understand one another but also to serve as a reminder of our persistent search or comprehension of our beginning, never forgetting history, and our only prevailing identity. The teaching of Filipino and Panitikan in college deepens knowledge that shapes Filipino culture and identity and not merely as a duplication of education taught in elementary. The Filipino language and Philippine literature are part of what shapes our nation, our country and our race and if these were removed in college, there is no doubt that the Filipino culture will be replace by other culture. 

Personally, the Filipino language should not be removed in the tertiary level to help preserve the culture and identity of our own country among students. The higher department should influence and not let the culture fade and die down among their hands as well as they should lead the country to be more appreciative and involve with our own culture and identity especially in this time of great division and individualism.