‘Buwan ng Wika not just lip service, not Manila-centered’ — KWF

The following is a press release care of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino:

Non-Manila-centered celebrations, the relaunch of Filipino as the language of government with Batangas province as pilot, a translation congress in the Visayas, and the launch and sale of eighteen new book titles under a library-of-knowledge publishing program—these distinguish the unprecedented month-long observation of the Buwan ng Wika or National Language Month this August, 2014 now being prepared by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).

“For the first time, the KWF is making sure that the Buwan ng Wika celebrations are not mere lip service to the national language, fizzling off and forgotten after August,” KWF chairman and national artist for literature Virgilio S. Almario pointed out, adding that this year’s theme is “Filipino: Wika ng Pagkakaisa,” or Filipino as the language of national unity.

Buwan ng Wika will formally start in Batangas City, Batangas on 4 August 2014, in cooperation with the Office of the Provincial Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, who has agreed with KWF to make Batangas province the pilot province for the full implementation of Executive Order No. 335.

E.O. 335 is an existing presidential directive that orders all government agencies and offices to use Filipino as the official language for correspondence and communication.  It was signed by the late President Corazon Aquino on 25 August 1988.

The National Translation Congress will be held on 7–9 August at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo City. Translators, language experts, teachers, and students will gather to discuss timely and relevant issues on translation. The Congress will also underscore the importance of translation in national development.

Also slated for the National Language Month is the launch of KWF’s eighteen (18) new titles on 15 August  under its Aklat ng Bayan library of knowledge publishing program, which showcases Filipino as a creative language and language of scholarly research. The launch will be held at the National Museum.

The new titles are Ortograpiyang Pambansa, Manwal sa Masinop na Pagsulat, Korespondensiya Opisyal, Hambingang Wika, Panitikang Popular, Kung Sino Ang Kumatha kay Balagtas, Panitikan ng Rebolusyon(g) 1896, Si Balagtas at ang Panitikan ng Kalayaan, Bisayan Grammar and Notes.

Gabay ng mga Senior Citizen, Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan, Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala, Mena Pecson Crisologo, Mga Lektura sa Panitikan, Baybayin: Ortograpiya at mga Tuntunin sa Pagsulat sa Wikang Tagalog, Kaalamang-bayan ng Cordillera, Panitikang Mëranaw, and Pandiwa Journal.

Other highlights of the Buwan ng Wika the flag-raising at Malacañang on 4 August, with Hon. Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) as guest of honor; and on 19 August, which is Quezon Day, with a wreath-laying by KWF employes  at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

On the same day, KWF will celebrate its Foundation Day and will give out its annual awards at Sulo Hotel, Q.C. To be honored are awardees of Dangal ng Wikang Filipino, Ulirang Guro sa Filipino, and Kampeon ng Wika; and and to be awarded are winners in the translation contest Sali(n) Na! 2014 and the KWF Gawad Sanaysay (essay).

Rounding off the month-long activities are the resumption on 22—23 August of KWF’s seminar-workshop on Korespondensiya Opisyal, which serves as training and guide for government offices in the writing of official correspondence in Filipino. Lastly, on 28-30 August, KWF will join the Unyong ng Manunulat sa Pilipinas (UMPIL) for its annual congress of writers.

“These are projects that the KWF have been doing all year round in tandem with its almost weekly sorties to regional and provincial elementary and high schools giving national language seminars and workshops to teachers and students,” Almario said.

“These, plus our new way of celebrating Buwan ng Wika, are meant to increasingly cement the role of Filipino as the language of education, government, and national unity,” Almario added. – Rappler.com/Press Release