Editorial: Buwan ng Wika

JUST about every school kid and high school student active in extra-curricular activities would now be rehearsing for their Buwan ng Wika programs, either for a "balagtasan" or a dance number featuring the country's native dances.

But do these children really know the significance of the Buwan ng Wika? They may be putting in additional hours in school for practice, but they may not really be aware what they are rehearsing for.

Knowing kids today, they'd either troop to the internet café after school to play their favorite online games, check out Youtube for the latest videos or tinker with their Facebook accounts and add hundreds of friends.

We admire those who want to take part in the Buwan ng Wika celebrations in their respective schools, because in a sense, they want to be part of a very important occasion. Their efforts to memorize lines for a balagtasan or learn the steps of a folk dance are signs of patriotism. And this is a promising sign in this day and age of numerous foreign influences.

Importance

The Buwan ng Wika, for those who may have forgotten, aims to highlight the importance of the National Language. It also aims to promote it as a medium of communication, using it as a language for teaching.

Further, it also aims to emphasize the role of our national language as an effective instrument for the economic stability of our nation.

Freedom

In celebrating the Buwan ng Wika, we also remember our forefathers' struggle for freedom which laid the groundwork for the development of our national language. What more, this is the time that we celebrate the other dialects that co-exist with the Filipino language, which symbolizes how rich a cultural heritage the Philippines has.

National hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal said couldn't have said it better: "Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang malansang isda."