President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged Filipinos to love the country’s national language, emphasizing its importance in cultivating the Filipino identity.
In his message for the celebration of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, Marcos said the commemoration is not just a mere reminder but an invitation to continue to love and enrich our inherited languages that define our identity as Filipinos.
“Ang okasyong ito ay nagsisilbing mahalagang paalala sa atin na mahalin ang wikang Filipino nang bukal sa ating puso at nanggagaling sa kamalayan na ang mga wikang minana ay nagtatanghal ng ating kahanga-hangang pagkakakilanlan bilang isang lipi (This occasion serves as an important reminder to us to wholeheartedly love the Filipino language and comes from the awareness that our inherited languages present our wonderful identity as a people),” Marcos said.
“Subalit ang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ay hindi lamang isang paalala; ito ay isa ring paanyaya na patuloy nating mahalin at pagyamanin ang ating mga wika (However, National Language Month is not just a reminder; it is also an invitation for us to continue to love and enrich our languages).”
The President said Filipino literature is full of works that deepen our love for the country and encourage the new generation to also enjoy their own.
He urged Filipinos to take these literary pieces to heart and mind to foster greater collaboration for a progressive, free, and unified Philippines.
The country commemorates Buwan ng Wikang Pambasa every August, under Proclamation 1041 issued by former president Fidel V. Ramos in 1997.
For this year, the month-long celebration theme is “Filipino: Wikang Mapagpalaya.”
According to Marcos, Proclamation 1041 is a cornerstone in strengthening our unity and sense of self and the reason why we celebrate these qualities.
“Ilan sa mga nabanggit ay ang pakinabang ng pagkakaroon ng wikang panlahat, ang malaking ambag nito sa pagkamit ng kasarinlan ng ating bansa, at ang kapangyarihan nito na buksan ang ating mga mata at isipan sa kahalagahan, karanasan, at kakayahan ng bawat isa (Some of the mentioned benefits of having a universal language is its great contribution to the achievement of our country’s independence, and its power to open our eyes and minds to the importance, experience, and abilities of each one) ,” he said. (PNA)
