The UST College of Education’s Departamento ng Filipino engaged the Thomasian community for its Buwan ng Wika celebration through a showcase of research outputs and webinars that highlighted the importance and relevance of Filipino as our language.
Inspired by this year’s Buwan ng Wika theme, “Filipino: Wikang Mapagpalaya,” the department underscored the power of Filipino as the language of the free in its webinar “Wikaakuhan 2024: Tomasinong Pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wika” on August 22.
Assoc. Prof. Ma. Althea T. Enriquez, Ph.D., from the Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas, University of the Philippines, Diliman lectured on “Mga Kabatiran sa Kayarian ng Wika Tungo sa Pagpapahalaga sa Filipino Bilang Mapagpalayang Wika,” while Prof. David Michael M. San Juan, Ph.D., from De La Salle University, Manila, talked about “Ang Papel ng mga Unibersidad sa Pagtataguyod ng Filipino bilang Mapagpalayang Wika.”
Discussing the role of language as a vehicle of transferring culture in communities, Enriquez explained that when a part of culture is lost or forgotten, the words and linguistic patterns attached to it will vanish or take on new meanings.
Meanwhile, San Juan pointed out that the use of English is the language policy of the current administration since “foreign employers have always favored Filipino workers because of our command of the language.”
He also said that research works in Filipino should be incentivized to encourage the intellectualization of our national language.
The webinar can be viewed on the Facebook page of the UST Departamento ng Filipino.
In another event held on August 31, the department organized a research colloquium Panayam Manuel L. Quezon 2024 at the Lourdes J. Custodio ICD Room, Albertus Magnus Building as a fitting end to the month-long celebration.
In his keynote address, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chairperson Dr. Arthur Casanova explained that language has long been serving as an instrument against oppressive and abusive individuals, societies, and countries.
Filipino professors Dr. Catherine Cocabo-Yao and Dr. Angelica F. Morales shared their methods and interview data from their research “Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) Program at ang Paglinang ng mga Kultural, Panlipunan, Simbolohikal at Emosyonal na Kapital ng mga Mentee sa Lungsod ng Bulacan” and “Pamana: Kahulugan, Pagsasabuhay, at Pagsasalin ng Pagiging Makabayan sa mga Pamilya ng mga Gurong Pilipino,” respectively.
Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Myra de Leon, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. Amalia Castro, Ph.D., and Instr. Mark Anthony Etcobañez discussed the development of their research on UST-SIMBAHAYAN Community Development Office’s University Community Development Program (UCDP).
The research expo also allowed students to impart their familiarity with the country’s educational system.
Fourth year Filipino major students Paul Andrew Juanillo and Aizel Mae Caigoy’s lecture “Gaano Katatag ang MATATAG?: Preliminaryong Pagsusuri at Pagninilay sa MATATAG Curriculum Guide sa Filipino ng Baitang 4 at Baitang 7” detailed their assessment of the current basic education curriculum, as well as their direct experiences from their teaching internship.
In her closing remarks, Departamento ng Filipino chair Prof. Zendel Taruc, Ph.D. listed the department’s feats for the Thomasians and for the advancement of the Filipino language.
The University, under its Departamento ng Filipino, also features Sentro sa Salin at Araling Salin. Both work together for the promotion, preservation, and proper use of the Filipino language.
