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By Prof. Fred Cabuang
IN a surprising move, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel and
other senators recently sponsored a multi-party resolution for the
federalization of the Philippines. It proposes the creation of
states that will establish 11 centers of finance and development in
the archipelago.
These states are Northern Luzon, Central Luzon,
Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Minparom (Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro
Occidental, Palawan, Romblon and Marinduque), Eastern Visayas,
Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Southern
Mindanao and BangsaMoro (Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, (Shariff
Kabunsuan) Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi).
Metro-Manila will become a federal
administrative region like Washington, D.C., comprising Manila,
Quezon, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasay, Pasig, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Las
Piñas, Parañaque, Malabon, Marikina, Taguig, Navotas, Valenzuela,
San Juan and Pateros.
A language for every state
Under a federal Philippines, each state is given
the opportunity to govern itself and to protect its ethno-linguistic
minorities. Through legislative measures, the lingua franca of the
ethno-linguistic minorities can be legislated as the “official
language” of a state.
The Summers Institute of Linguistics listed the
77 major ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines as follows:
Luzon: The major ethno-linguistic groups are
Ivatan/Itbayat; Ilocano; Tinggian; Apayao; Kalinga; Balangao;
Kankanay; Kankanaey; Bago; Bontoc; Ifugao; Ibaloi; Ikalahan/Kalanguya;
Iwak; Isinay; Pangasinan; Ga’dang; Ibanag; Itawit; Malaweg; Yogad;
Ilongot; Kapampangan; Palanan; Tagalog; Bicol; Negrito and Sambal.
Visayas: Masbateño, Abaknon, Rombloanon,
Bantoanon, Aklanon, Kiniray-a/Hamtikanon, Hiligaynon, Sulod,
Bukidnon, Boholano, Cebuano and Waray.
Mindoro: Mangyan. In Palawan, Tagbanwa;
Agutayanen; Kuyonen; Pala’wan; Molbog; Batak; and Tau’t Batu. In
Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Yakan; Sama; Sama Dilaut; Tausug and Jama Mapun.
Mindanao: Manobo, Sangil/Sangir, Maranao, Ilanun,
Magindanao, Tiruray, Tasaday, T’boli, B’laan, Subanun, Kamiguin,
Mamanwa, Butuanon, Kamayo, Bagobo, Mandaya, Kalagan and Kolibugan.
Culture and identity
These groups have their distinct language,
culture, identity and contribute to the rich and diverse Philippine
cultural heritage that are worth preserving if legislated at the
state level.
Unfortunately the 1987 Constitution (art.14,
sec. 7) provides, “For purposes of communication and instruction,
the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until
otherwise provided by law, English. The regional languages are the
auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve as
auxiliary media of instruction therein.”
This provision creates an unfair playing field
for the development and use of the regional languages in education.
Since regional languages are merely “auxiliary media of
instruction” and not even “official,” the government fails to
ameliorate funds to support the educational requirement of public
school children, particularly the availability of reference books.
Moreover, the provision contradicts
international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the
Child that contains a provision that addresses the rights of
linguistic minorities. The Philippines is one of the first
signatories of these treaties.
Article 17(d) reads: “The States shall
encourage the mass media [in education] to have particular regard to
the linguistic needs of the child who belongs to a minority group or
who is indigenous.”
And Article 30 reads: “In those States in
which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities or persons of
indigenous origin exist, a child belonging to such a minority or who
is indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other
members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to
profess and practice his or her own religion, or to use his or her
own language.”
Year of languages
The United Nations has proclaimed 2008 as The
International Year of Languages to promote unity in diversity and
global understanding. The U.N. recognizes that multilingualism is a
“means of promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of
languages.”
The current form of government has totally
disregarded the issue of ethno-linguistic minorities, including the
preservation and development of the endangered languages. Under
federalism, each state can recognize its regional language as the
official language of instruction. The citizens of the state can
promote their lingua franca, or the language spoken at home, not
only in school but also in the communities where they belong.
Prof. Fred Cabuang is the founder and
chairman emeritus of the Institute for Linguistic Minority, an NGO
engaged in saving all languages in the Philippines and the PRO-Board
Member of Defenders Of Indigenous Languages of the Archipelago (DILA).
e-mail linguisticminority @gmail.com.
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