———————————— Ed’s Notes: The following article was first published on 29 August 2000 at emanila*pilipino, then re-published on 28 November 2004 at emanila’s My Filipiniana section. ————————————

What would you call the language that you use, Tagalog? Pilipino? Filipino? Why do foreigners and Pilipinos in other countries call the Philippines national language Tagalog? Here at home, why is the national language still gets called Tagalog after the change in name 17 25 years ago? Is Tagalog different from Pilipino? From Filipino? Let’s look at these differences based on concept and appearance.

Tagalog is the language in Bulacan, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, Mindoro, Marinduque, some parts of Nueva Ecija, Puerto Princesa and also Metro Manila. This then is a natural language, with its own native speakers. It is one particular language that is spoken by one of the ethnolinguistic groups in the country, the Tagalogs. Even on the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1565 to Manila, they noticed that many Pilipinos were speaking it (Tagalog).

Tagalog got involved in the national arena when President Manuel Quezon declared a national language based on Tagalog on 30 December 1937 (Executive Order No. 134). Starting in 1940, it (the Tagalog-based national language) was taught in all public and private schools.

Pilipino is based on Tagalog

Meantime, the language Pilipino was the Filipino National Language (in 1943) that was based on Tagalog beginning in 1959, when Department Order No. 7 was passed by then Secretary Jose Romero of the Department of Education. This same name (Pilipino) was also used for the official language, the language for teaching and subject in national language starting 1959. This stopped only when Filipino was approved as the national language. Filipino was (the name) used to call the national language in the 1987 Constitution (1973 although the official language was still Pilipino).

It was apparent that Pilipino was also Tagalog in concept and structure and there was no Pilipino language before 1959. Also, there was no Filipino language before 1973. Pilipino is different from Filipino even though both became national languages because these are different concepts — one was based on only one language and the other on many languages in the Philippines, including English and Spanish.

Because it was based on Tagalog and usage by the Tagalogs, the non-Tagalogs were not given the opportunity to become part of the enrichment and development of Pilipino. And in the schools, (the word) aklat is more correct (to use) than libro; takdang-aralin than asaynment; pamantasan than kolehiyo/unibersidad; mag-aaral than estudyante. It was quite a long period that Tagalog prevailed and “swayed”. In applying for a job, for example, teacher and translator in Pilipino, the Tagalog (native speaker) would get hired before the non-Tagalog. What only turned out to be the problem then was which (variety of) Tagalog is “more beautiful, better, appropriate” that was disputed among the Tagalogs from Bulacan, Laguna and Batangas. Occurrences such as these were labelled by Professor Leopoldo Yabes then as “Tagalog Imperialism”. People were so conditioned to Tagalog that inspite of the change on how to call the national language (Pilipino, Filipino), Tagalog was still used by Pilipinos and foreigners when referring to it.

Speaking of dignity, self-respect, the instinct of national preservation through the defense of one’s own national language and national sovereignty, we need to point out as an example the recent rejection of U.S. Statehood with all its publicized “dollar benefits” on the part of the majority of  Puerto Ricans in a recent national plebiscite they held on December 13, 1998.

Like Cuba and the Philippines, Puerto Rico was grabbed by the U.S.A. from Spain in 1898 which explains the common Hispanic language and culture shared by these three former Spanish oversea provinces.

Of these three countries, it is the Philippines that should be fervently invited by the U.S.A. to become one of its States, possibly the 51st U.S. State, because unlike Cuba and Puerto Rico it is the Philippines that has odiously and foolishly discarded the Spanish language as an official language, inspite of purportedly honoring a national hero like José Rizal who wrote his nationalistic MESSAGE in Spanish.

And, it is also a slavishly neocolonial  Philippines that is even destroying its own native languages, primarily Tagalog, by officially ramming into them the English-Taglish Alphabet.

Choosing the wrong country

But, vile humiliation of vile humiliations, it is Puerto Rico, and not the Philippines, that is being benevolently retained by the U.S.A. as “a free Associate State” with the expectation that it may freely accept U.S. Statehood as evidenced by the latest “non-binding” plebiscite it held with the result that the Puerto Ricans have unbelievably rejected U.S. Statehood.

We say “unbelievably rejected” because as one of the nearly 80 million Filipinos by birth, this writer is almost sure that if a similar plebiscite were held today in the Philippines, the possibility of accepting and voting for U.S. Statehood on the part of Filipinos can be overwhelming.

That overwhelming vote for U.S. Statehood can be clearly discerned by the daily long line of Filipinos applying to immigrate to the U.S. mainland as well as the likewise long line  (pila or fila) to go to any part of the vast U.S. territory, like Guam or the former Hawaii, (now the 50th State), and stay there even as one more TNT (Tago-ng-Tago) or overstaying alien with the hope of at last becoming a U.S. citizen even if  a fourth class one because of skin, color and face.

Then, there is the case of the Filipino veterans that fought America’s war in Asia in the 1940s. These Filipino veterans are still waiting for  a magnanimous grant of  U.S. citizenship, which they can not pass on to their descendants. They are also waiting, and literally dying, for whatever pension crumbs that have been promised them since over fifty years ago.  Many of them have really died in their old age while waiting in vain.

Editor’s Notes: The following article is written by Renato Perdon.

—————

A clear proof the cultural diversity of the Filipinos is the number of languages and dialects spoken in the Philippines, from Batanes in the North to Jolo in the South.

This language diversity is one of the reasons why it took more than three centuries, after the arrival in the Philippines of the Europeans in the 16th century, for Filipinos to become a cohesive integrated national community.

The religious missionaries took it upon themselves to learn and master the native dialects instead of teaching the natives to speak in Spanish.

In the case of the Americans, it was opposite. Believing that a single language is the key to any colonisation scheme, Filipinos were forced to learn American English.

The language problem in the Philippines was recognised only in the 1930s. It took a politician who later became the country’s president, Manuel L. Quezon, a Tagalog speaker from Baler, Tayabas, now Quezon Province, to push the idea of a single language for the Filipinos.

During the 1935 Constitutional Convention, it was Quezon who worked hard for the inclusion of a provision that would require the development of a national language for the Filipinos.

Initially, Tagalog ( note: a dialect which was the lingua franca of Manila)  was proposed as the national language but the non-Tagalog speakers, mainly from the Province of Cebu, objected and the word Tagalog was deleted and replaced by a phrase “one of the existing native languages”.

Thus, the Philippine Constitution provides “Congress shall take steps towards the development and adoption of a common national language based on one of the existing native languages.”… English and Spanish would continue as official languages of the country.  In pursuance of this mandate, the National Assembly, the lawmaking body of the Philippines at that time, created the Institute of National Language (INL) to study which among the native languages could be developed and adopted as the national language of the Philippines. The INL was composed of a chairman and members representing the major native languages of the Philippines such as Iloco, Pangasinan, Ibanag, Pampango, Tagalog, Bikol, Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), Cebuano, Samar-Leyte and Magindanaw.

Jaime C. de Veyra, scholar, historian and politician, who hailed from the Province of Leyte became the Chairman of the INL. In 1937, the Institute recommended to Congress the adoption of Tagalog as the basis of developing a national language. Subsequently, President Quezon proclaimed the national language of the Philippines based on the Tagalog dialect.

The development of the national language of the Philippines was slow. According to historian Onofre D. Corpuz, by 1960 only 44.5% of the population spoke Pilipino, the official name of the national language, although this was better than the 39.5% for English and 25% for Spanish. This slow development was due to the fact that while Pilipino was being taught in school, it was not used as a medium of instruction, compared to English which was taught as if it was a native language.

The use of Pilipino, based on Tagalog, as one of the media of instruction in all schools in the Philippines, gained momentum in the 1970s when a a bilingual policy in education was adopted by the National Board of Education…. The policy, among other things, provided for the gradual introduction on all levels, starting in 1973, of Pilipino as the medium of instruction in certain subjects like the social sciences, practical arts and physical education. However, English was retained as the medium of instruction in mathematics and the sciences.

While Pilipino was gaining a headway as a national language with many Filipinos becoming conversant in the language, arguments against it continued. During the 1971 Constitutional Convention which revised the 1935 Philippine Constitution, the language issue was one of the heated subjects that dominated the many conferences and meetings attended by the delegates.

As completed, the 1973 Constitution of the Philippines incorporated a much clearer policy on the issue. It stated that “the National Assembly shall take steps towards the development and formal adoption of a common national language to be known as Pilipino.”  Moreover, it was also mandated that the fundamental law be “officially promulgated in English and Pilipino.”

The wider use of Pilipino during the People’s Power Revolution in 1986 added credibility to the national language…. the Aquino sponsored Provisional Constitution, also known as “Freedom Constitution” …issued on 25 March 1986… was ordered published in English and Pilipino.

… In the past, the subject of a national language only worth a few lines in the fundamental law of the land. However, in the 1987 Constitution, a separate part titled “Language”, with four sections devoted solely on the subject of national language, is incorporated.

Approved in a nationwide plebiscite on 2 February 1987, Filipino became the new name of the national language of the Philippines and the government was enjoined “to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as a language of instruction in the educational system.”

The Constitution also mandated the creation of the Commission on Filipino Language (CFL) which will undertake, coordinate, and promote research for the development, propagation, and preservation of Filipino and other languages.

** This article is an extract from the author’s book, English Filipino Wordbook.  / webmaster rc 010899 – Emanila Team

Ang salawikain ay mga kasabihan na nagmula sa mga pahayag at payo ng mga matatanda ayon sa kanilang mga karanasan sa buhay o sa isinalin sa kanila ng kanilang mga ninuno.

Ang ibang salawikain ay napapalooban ng mga pahayag sa kagandahang asal kaya ang mga ito ay nagsisilbing parang “code of conduct.”

May mga katumbas ang ibang salawikain sa Ingles katulad halimbawa ng:

Turan mo ang iyong kaibigan, sasabihin ko kung sino ikaw. (Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll you who you are.)

Ang tunay na kaibigan, nakikilala sa kagipitan (A friend indeed is a friend in need.)

Gawin mo sa kapuwa mo. Ang nais mong gawin niya sa iyo. (Do unto others what you want others do unto you.)

Malaki ang impluwensya ng salawikain sa kultura ng mga Filipino dahil sa bisa nito sa pagpapahiwatig ng pakikipagkapwa-tao, sa ugnayan ng tao sa Diyos, sa pagbibigay galang at puri sa mga magulang at sa pamumuhay.

Nandito ang ilang salawikain na hinango namin mula sa iba’t ibang lathalain:

SALAWIKAIN

Ang paala-ala ay mabisang gamot sa taong nakakalimot.

Ang taong nagigipit, kahit sa patalim ay kumakapit.

Hangga’t makitid ang kumot, magtiis mamaluktot.

Magsisi ka man at huli wala nang mangyayari.

Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol din.

Kung hindi ukol, hindi bubukol.

Matalino man ang matsing, napaglalalangan din.

Bawa’t palayok ay may kasukat na suklob.

Batang puso madaling marahuyo.

Tikatik man kung panay ang ulan,
malalim mang ilog ay mapapaapaw.

Naghangad ng kagitna, isang salop ang nawala.

Ubus-ubos biyaya, maya-maya ay nakatunganga.

Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.

Kung binigyan ng buhay, bibigyan din ng ikabubuhay.

Ang iyong kakainin, sa iyong pawis manggagaling.

Buhay alamang, paglukso ay patay.

Buntot mo, hila mo.

Kung nasaan ang asukal, naruon ang langgam.

Walang mapait na tutong sa taong nagugutom.

Lahat ng gubat ay may ahas.

Ang anumang kasulatan dapat ay lalagdaan.

Nasa taong matapat ang huling halakhak.

Ang tunay na kaibigan karamay kailan man.

Ang tunay na kaibigan, nakikilala sa kagipitan.

Ang matapat na kaibigan, tunay na maaasahan.

Turan mo ang iyong kaibigan, sasabihin ko kung sino ikaw.

Ang tunay mong pagkatao, nakikilala sa gawa mo.

Ang tao kapag mayaman marami ang kaibigan.

Magkulang ka na sa magulang huwag lamang sa biyenan.

Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi biro, ‘di tulad ng kanin
Iluluwa kung mapaso.

Nakikita ang butas ng karayon, hindi makita ang butas ng palakol.

Kung gaano kataas ang lipad gayon din ang lagapak pag bagsak.

Hampas sa kalabaw, sa kabayo ang latay.

Kapag ang ilog ay matahimik, asahan mo at malalim.
Kapag ang ilog ay maingay, asahan mo at mababaw.

Ang lumalakad nang mabagal, kung matinik ay mababaw.
Ang lumalakad nang matulin, kung matinik ay malalim.

Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan,
hindi makakarating sa paruruonan.

Ang langaw na dumapo sa kalabaw,
mataas pa sa kalabaw ang pakiramdam.

May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita.

Kung ano ang itinanim, iyon din ang aanihin.

Ako ang nagtanim, ang nagbayo at nagsaing,
saka nang maluto’y iba ang kumain.

Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo.

Huwag magbilang ng manok hangga’t hindi napipisa ang itlog.

Kung sino ang unang pumutak, siya ang nanganak.

Magkupkop ka ng kaawa-awa, langit ang iyong gantimpala.

Ang mabuting gawa kinalulugdan ng madla.

Kapag bukas ang kaban, nagkakasala sinuman.

Ang butong tinangay na aso, walang salang nalawayan ito.

Ang utang ay utang, hindi dapat kalimutan.

Ang iyong hiniram, isauli o palitan.
Upang sa susunod, hindi ka makadalaan.

Ang bungang hinog sa sanga matamis ang lasa.
Ang bungang hinog sa pilit kung kainin ay mapait.

Walang humawak ng lutuan na hindi naulingan.

Gawin mo sa kapuwa mo. Ang nais mong gawin niya sa iyo.

Ang sakit ng kalingkingan damdamin ng buong katawan.

Ang mabigat ay gumagaan kapag pinagtulung-tulungan.

Madaling pumitas ng bunga,
kung dadaan ka sa sanga.

Ibong sa awla’y ikinulong nang mahigpit,
kapag nakawala’y hindi na babalik.

Kahoy mang babad sa tubig sa apoy huwag ilapit
‘pag ito’y nadarang sa init, sapilitang magdirikit.

Nawawala ang ari, nguni’t ang uri ay hindi.

Sa larangan ng digmaan, nakikilala ang matapang.

Kung may hirap ay may ginhawa.

Kung ano ang taas ng pagkadakila
siya ring lagapak kapag nadapa.

Ang pag-ilag sa kaaway ang tunay na katapangan.

Bago mo batiin ang dungis ng ibang tao,
ang dungis mo muna ang tingnan mo.

Walang pagod magtipon, walang hinayang magtapon.

Ano man ang tibay ng piling abaka
ay wala ring silbi kapag nag-iisa.

Ang gawa sa pagkabata, dala hanggang sa pagkamatanda.

Ang taong mainggitin, lumigaya man ay sawi rin.

Walang matiyagang lalake sa pihikang babae.

Ang bayaning nasugatan, nag-iibayo ang tapang.

Kung takot sa ahas, iwasan mo ang gubat.

Kapag may isinuksok, may madudukot.

Matutuyo na ang sapa nguni’t hindi ang balita.

Ang tunay na anyaya, may kasamang hila.

*** Posted: Pebrero 4, 2003, emanila*pilipino

What is Internet in Tagalog?

We mentioned to all emanila.com members and users that our online translation service is not in Tagalog but in Filipino (Pilipino).

It has now become obvious from Mr Renato Perdon’s “The Making of a National Language” why it is so. While Tagalog is the basis of the development of Pilipino (now Filipino) in the 70s, the fact still remains that the latter is a language on its own. The two are distinct and different from each other.

Tagalog still remains Tagalog. Filipino (Pilipino) on the other hand consists of words integrated from the various Philippine dialects as well as from foreign languages.

For example, consider the following figures:

Based on Mr Perdon’s research, the official dictionary issued in 1991 by the Commission on Filipino Language had about 55% of the words integrated into Filipino coming from the major dialects in the Philippines, namely: Bicol (301 words), Cebuano (526 words), Hiligaynon (564 words), Ilocano (122 words), Kapampangan (51 words), Pangasinan (82 words), Old Tagalog / Tagalog (8,463 words), and Samar-Leyte (459 words).

There are also 328 Tausug words, 222 words from the Maranao dialect, 99 words from Maguindanao, 23 words from Samal, 16 words from the Tingian, 12 words from Isneg and another 12 words from Tagbanua.

On the influence of foreign languages, Mr Perdon has also reported that:

Spanish words account for 5,210 words followed by English (1,907), Chinese (232), Malay (176 words), Latin (70), French (46), Sanskrit (29), Arabic (28), German (25), Mexican (20), and Japanese (13).

There are also 7 words each from the Indonesian and Italian languages, 2 words each from the Argentinian, Australian, Hawaiian, Javanese and Swish languages. One word each came from Aztec, Czechoslovakian, Finish, Greek, India, and Russian languages.

Such is the vibrancy and dynamism of Filipino as a language. We will not be surprised if these days, the number of English words have increased. For how do you translate the contemporary words, especially those related to the Internet and other areas of information technology, in Filipino?

Has anyone started looking for the exact equivalent of the following common words: Internet, modem, web site, browser, email, upload, download, hyperlink, toolbar?

We will not be surprised to know that in Tagalog there are none! But in Filipino there are. The equivalent words are the native words — except that these are spelled in a manner that is distinctly Filipino! Example? Try web sayt for web site, brawser for browser, and tulbar for toolbar.

(This article was originally posted Dec 3, 2002 at emanila*plaza, emanila*pilipino)

Romy Cayabyab is the publisher of emanila.com