Kasaysayan ng Wika

Summary

This script delves into the historical journey of the Filipino language, from its recognition in the 1897 Malolos Constitution to its formal adoption as the national language. It highlights key milestones such as the American period's imposition of English, the 1935 Constitution's call for a national language based on existing Philippine languages, and the eventual selection of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino. The narrative also touches on the bilingual education policy and the evolution of the language's orthography, culminating in the declaration of August as National Language Month.

Takeaways

• 📜 The script discusses the historical journey of the Filipino language, emphasizing its evolution and official status.
• 🏛️ The Philippine Revolution's government considered Tagalog as the official language, as stated in the 1897 Biak-na-Bato constitution.
• 🌐 The Americans introduced English as the official language in the public school system, as mandated by Act 74 in 1901.
• 🔍 A 25-year study showed that teaching English to Filipinos was not successful, leading to the 1931 directive to use regional languages as the medium of instruction in elementary schools.
• 📚 The 1935 Constitution formally tasked Congress to take steps towards establishing a national language based on existing languages in the Philippines.
• 🗣️ The National Language Institute's resolution in 1937 chose Tagalog as it met the set criteria, and President Quezon's Executive Order 134 in 1937 affirmed this decision.
• 📖 The implementation of the national language was not easy due to controversies, leading to President Ramon Magsaysay's 1954 proclamation declaring a Language Week to honor the birthday of Francisco Balagtas.
• 📉 In 1955, the Language Week was moved to honor Manuel El Quezon, the 'Father of the National Language', and in 1959, the Department of Education declared that the national language would be called 'Pilipino'.
• 🏫 President Marcos issued an order in 1967 requiring all government buildings, offices, and departments to be named in Filipino, and in 1968, further emphasized the use of Filipino in government communications.
• 📘 The 1987 Constitution established Filipino as the national language and recognized English as an auxiliary language, with the aim of promoting bilingualism in education.
• 📚 CHED's Memorandum Circular 59 in 1996 mandated the inclusion of Filipino units in college and university curricula, reinforcing the importance of the national language in higher education.

Q & A

What was the official language of the revolutionary government according to the 1897 Declaration of Independence?

The official language of the revolutionary government, as stated in the 1897 Declaration of Independence, was Tagalog.

Why did the Americans introduce English as the medium of instruction in the Philippine public school system?

The Americans introduced English as the medium of instruction in the Philippine public school system to assimilate the native population into their colonial administration, as mandated by Act 74 of the Philippine Commission in 1901.

What was the outcome of the American educational policy of using English as the medium of instruction for Filipinos?

The American educational policy of using English as the medium of instruction was deemed unsuccessful after a study by the Monroe Educational Survey Commission showed that it was not effective for teaching Filipinos.

What directive was issued by the Secretary of Public Instruction in 1931 regarding the use of regional languages in education?

In 1931, the Secretary of Public Instruction ordered that regional languages should be used as the medium of instruction in elementary schools starting from 1932, as a result of the findings of the Monroe Educational Survey Commission.

When was the formal establishment of a national language based on existing Philippine languages mandated by Congress?

The formal establishment of a national language based on existing Philippine languages was mandated by Congress in Article 14 Section 3 of the 1935 Constitution.

Who were the members of the committee tasked with the selection of the national language in 1937?

The committee tasked with the selection of the national language in 1937 was composed of representatives from the eight major regions of the country, each representing a major language spoken in their respective regions.

What criteria were used by the committee to select the national language?

The criteria used by the committee to select the national language included its use in the center of commerce, having the most developed structure, being used in the highest literary form of the nation, being easy to learn, and having the widest scope of influence with other languages in the world.

When was the decision to adopt Tagalog as the basis for the national language formalized by President Quezon?

The decision to adopt Tagalog as the basis for the national language was formalized by President Quezon on December 30, 1937, through Executive Order No. 134.

What significant change was made to the national language policy during President Marcos' administration?

During President Marcos' administration, Executive Order No. 96 was issued in 1967, which mandated that all government buildings, offices, and departments use Filipino, and that the language be used in official communications.

When was Filipino declared as the national language of the Philippines by law?

Filipino was declared as the national language of the Philippines by law through Commonwealth Act No. 570 on July 4, 1946.

What is the significance of the month of August according to Presidential Decree No. 1041 issued by President Fidel V. Ramos?

Presidential Decree No. 1041 issued by President Fidel V. Ramos designated the month of August as the month of celebration for the Filipino language, including the directive for various government offices and schools to conduct appropriate activities in celebration of the language.