MANILA, Philippines - With the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines, the Sentro Rizal of Phnom Penh (SRPP) launched the pilot edition of the Filipino Language Class for Filipino Children on August 15.
In celebration of Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month), the launch was attended by NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marlene Ruth Sanchez; NCCA-Sentro Rizal Cultural Affairs Officer Maria Shaina Santiago; and Dr. Rosario Alonzo, Dean of the UP College of Education, who developed the module for the class.
In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Christopher B. Montero noted the importance of preserving the use of Filipino, including regional and local Philippine languages, lest they become forgotten by the young and future generations of Filipinos.
"The need to learn and speak Filipino is more felt for Filipino children abroad in order for them to better understand and appreciate their cultural heritage and identity," Montero told the 15 volunteer teachers who attended a two-day training held at the SRPP on August 13 to 14, under the tutelage of Alonzo. The trainees will compose the pool of teachers who will conduct current and future Filipino language classes at SRPP.
More than 20 Filipino children living in Cambodia, aged 5 to 14, enrolled in the Filipino language class, which is being offered free of charge, with the generous support of Liwayway Cambodia Food Manufacturing Corporation.
Dubbed “Masayang Matuto ng Wikang Filipino,” the module consists of 12 sessions and is expected to last until the end of October.
The need for such a class is made apparent by the attendance of Jeremiah Garcia, who travelled over 100 kilometers to Phnom Penh from Svay Rieng province. According to Jeremiah’s father, he does not mind driving for a total of four hours every Sunday to bring his son to SRPP. Born in Cambodia, eight year-old Jeremiah only speaks in English and can understand a little bit of Ilocano.
Inaugurated on June 19, SRPP is located at the Embassy of the Philippines in Phnom Penh. It is one of the 12 branches of Sentro Rizals that aim to promote Philippine arts, culture, and language around the world, especially in areas with a large concentration of Filipinos.