Language: Unifying or dividing a nation?

August as a language month is celebrated in schools, regarded as an academic institutional activity. It provides an opportunity for our teachers to reemphasize the significance of a national language as well as reassess one's valuing of the regional languages. On a general note, language has a unifying effect, especially regional groups, with various beliefs, practices and aspirations. However there seems to have a prevailing and strong resistance for a national language and fight for the propagation of regional languages. This is true when the selection of Tagalog as the core of the national language, while sanctioned by law and gradually gaining acceptance, continues to be a sore point particularly from the perspectives of regional language advocates.

Added to the resistance from the hardcore regional language advocates, come the globalization paradigm and the opportunities which it has opened to the Filipino labor force, presumably employable due to its relative proficiency in English. The demand for an English-proficient workforce required by the call center industry has resurrected the move to go back to English as a medium of instruction even at the primary levels. Its support is anchored on the aim for an English language proficiency and eventually to increase employment opportunity. However this is contradicted by scientific studies highlighted by the Gunigundo Bill which has also captured the support of regional groups that have long challenged the use of Filipino as medium of instruction at the primary and secondary levels.  Politically, the Gunigundo Bill becomes a rallying point that gave another face to the seemingly regionalistic resistance to the propagation of Filipino as the national language. What further amplifies the political usefulness of the bill is found also in how it coincides with the agenda of those who have long advocated for the idea of regional autonomy.

Through the Department of Education, implementing the mother tongue-based education promotes local languages. Just like previous innovations, its initial years bear inconveniences and difficulties among our teachers, schoolchildren and parents. But these challenges were outweighed for it is an important step towards recognizing local languages. Specifically when textbooks on local languages are printed, when local stories and flavors are considered and appreciated, and when present generation is being reoriented with the unique practices of certain localities, thus the start of regaining one's pride of local history.

But whatever language we speak, it is justified as long as the aim of unifying the people is achieved. It would not forward one's political and personal agenda but rather serves as soul of the nation as it carries the culture and heritage of the people from generation to generation.

We exist as proud individuals, proud of our unique local language. We take the honor of speaking a national language, a conglomerate of local languages, as members of a united race that is geographically dispersed in thousands of islands. Above all, we can also be proud as citizens of the world with the language that is spoken and understood by many in an international arena.

It is important to note that local languages must be promoted to keep our unique culture but at the same respecting other languages as part of our role as national and global citizens.

Language acts as an equalizer. No matter what status you have in a community, the effective use of a certain language would provide an opportunity for an individual to convey important messages for the good of others.