Nosebleed

Kapag ikaw ay nagsasalita ng English, ang tingin sayo ng mga tao ay matalino, may-kaya, edukada, sosyal, magaling, elitista. Pero kung Filipino, ikaw ay mahina, probinsya, salitang kalye, salitang para sa mahirap, para sa mga tindera sa palengke, para sa tagapag-hugas ng pinggan. At kung ikaw ay ganito mag-isip, isa ka sa mga Pilipinong hindi nag-iisip.

Walang wika ang mas mababa kaysa sa isa. English is not greater than the Filipino language. Our language is our pride. Our expression. It is our identity. Filipino language is the heart of our origin. It reflects the intellect, ability and creativity of our ancestors. It has its own system, own form. And in fact, there's a lot of words in Filipino language that has no direct translation into English. It is NOT the language of the uneducated.

I am not against the use of English language in our country. It is in fact, our advantage to others. But if its use would cause us to think that the Filipino language is less than the English, then we have a problem. Yes, we need this language. It has been and continues to be the medium of instruction in our country. It is the primary language used in our education system, of business, government, medicine, print journalism and even of the military and police. But then again, this does NOT mean that Filipino language is for the ignorant.

Senator Lito Lapid's request to the Upper House to make their debate on the RH Bill delivered in Filipino language has been a big issue. Why? I don't see anything wrong with that. Is it in the rule of Legislation branch? Or if maybe it's in the rule that everything should be written and delivered in English for them to be universal, but can't we give our very own national language a chance? Isn't it better to have the debate in Filipino so that everyone could understand clearly what it's about? So that everyone can relate? Remember that President Noynoy Aquino uses Filipino in his first State of the Nation. And it works. And I'm glad he did that. See? Pwede naman yon.

Maybe I can't blame those people who think this way. Maybe the idea is politically and socially dictated. And so the bigger problem I believe is the society itself. The problem is the orientation and the outlook our society instilled in us - that everything foreign is better. If we speak in English, mas sosyal. That's what is favored in schools. Some parents even talk to their children in English as they grow. And so giving their children head ache learning Filipino subject.

Both language are important. We should not deny our children learn to speak Filipino. And let us not be a victim of colonial mentality. While the Filipino language continues to evolve, so we must also continue to offer our talent and knowledge to our country with humility and competence, regardless of language we speak.