Time to hear our readers speak out!

As usual, I am reprinting a few of the numerous responses or comments I get on the articles I have written. I usually answer our readers directly also via e-mail, but I also often reprint those letters that truly give a good message for our readers. Since a lot of these letters have been piling up, I’m putting a few in today’s column. Here goes:

From: L. Tordillo <[email protected]>

Subject: Re your column "Changing systems will change the people"

"Bobit, This is in response to your article, which clearly illustrates the Pinoy drivers’ penchant to test the traffic system ‘baka makalusot.’ You are correct.

"When Filipinos go to the US, they drive as carefully as they could, if not even more carefully than the locals do. It is because (they realize) that traffic enforcers in America mean business. When you exceed the speed limits, you get a ticket regardless of who you are, rich or poor, government official or a military general or a plain Joe Blow. There is zero tolerance for non-conformance.

"You also pointed out the stiff economic penalties associated with these violations. These are (among) the reasons why I, as an immigrant here, have come to love (cruising) the roads anywhere we go. You know that other motorists are careful and they generally obey traffic rules. One thing that I can suggest by way of modifying our Philippine traffic situation is the pegging or limiting of the number of vehicles running in the streets of major cities. Something similar to the system done in Singapore where the number of car licenses issued per year is controlled.

"Our road system has not significantly expanded so there is a need to prevent more vehicles on the streets. Mass transit availability must be supported to complement the program. We have a lot of talent and skills available nationally that can refine this idea. I am sure Pinoys are more talented than many other so-called developed nations on a per capita basis. The problem is we lack focus and seriousness in solving our domestic problems as this one. Regards, Louie Tordillo, Oklahoma, USA"

Again, the Filipino people can benefit from a shift to a federal system of government as some states may just adopt the suggestions of Mr. Tordillo, while others would be more tolerant of erring drivers. Great response!

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Whenever we discuss language issues, it always gets positive or negative responses. What is important here is that language activists have revived this nagging issue, which is so crucial to the development of our nation… more so now that we’re on the verge of having our Constitution amended or replaced. Here’s another response to our article on the national language:

"Dear Bobit, Maayong hapon. I read your STAR column yesterday (Nov. 2) and my attention was caught by an event that happened during the recently held Language Workshop in Cebu. I wish I were there, especially when the NCCA representative (I would appreciate if the person was identified) raised the issue on the translation of the speech into Ilonggo. The presentor must understand that the Filipino language, as provided for by the Constitution, IS NOT TAGALOG, but a language that has to evolve in time. It must be emphasized that presenting the proposed Cha-cha within the Bisayan region using Tagalog ‘only’ (or most of the time) and not the local Bisayan language as a means to communicate with the participants is considered either to mislead the local citizens who do not fully understand Tagalog (like most Tagalistas do!) or to demonstrate total ignorance of proper communication skills and public relations.

"In addition, the con-com proposes in Article 3 (Declaration of State Policies) Sections 24 and 25 the ‘Recognition and Promotion’ of the rights of indigenous people, including the role of learning and communication. In place of ‘Recognition and Promotion,’ I would rather see the insertion in the Constitution of the words ‘Respect and Protection’ of ancestral rights and regional languages. These words, God allows, will then place in the hearts of all Filipinos the preservation of all Filipino languages that are on the verge of extinction"…Prof. Fred S. Cabuang (a part-time faculty member of De La Salle University, Taft Avenue, Manila and draftee of Federal and States Provisions and National Patrimony, 11th Congress Constitutional Amendments (2003). Contact [email protected])

Thanks again Prof. Cabuang for your insights and clarifications. Indeed, we as Filipinos must be united as one nation with different languages. We can no longer support the Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa popularized during the Marcos years as it discriminated against all the other spoken languages of this nation. Hence, we can only dream about Filipino unity which cannot happen until and unless all Filipinos are afforded equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the 1935, 1973 and 1987 Constitutions.

When the other languages such as Cebuano, Ilonggo, Ilocano, Bicolano, Waray and Chavacano are discriminated against by the speakers of the Tagalog language in order to promote a so-called national language, then this policy makes the other spoken languages inferior to Tagalog. Hence, we have become second-class citizens in our own regions.

Today, the stalwarts of a national language are up in arms against the Gullas bill for promoting English vis-a-vis Filipino, claiming that soon Filipinos would be second-class citizens in their own land. At last, they now know how Cebuanos, Ilonggos, Ilocanos, Warays and Kapampangans feel as second-class citizens in their own regions because they are promoting Tagalog nationalism, which is not so cleverly disguised as Filipino!

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Still on the issue of having a national language, we reprint the letter e-mailed by Josel Macaraig of San Francisco, California last Nov. 2. Apparently, he again gave another response to that article.

"Mr. Avila, did I miss your point? In any case, I should have dropped the term ‘national’ and used ‘common’ language instead. The story I shared is what I experienced before. I agree that there is a sense of discrimination against the rest of the Filipino dialects over Tagalog. Batting for English as a common language is one good way of leveling the plain. Thank you for your response… Josel M." I fully concur with this thought!

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For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit Avila’s columns can also be accessed through www.thefreeman.com. He also hosts a weekly talk show, "Straight from the Sky," shown every Monday, at 8 p.m., only in Metro Cebu on Channel 15 of SkyCable.