Mayor reaffirms Chabacano preservation

MAYOR Celso Lobregat reaffirmed his commitment to preserve, protect, conserve and propagate “Chabacano”, the Spanish derivative language that makes Zamboanga City unique and distinct not only in the country but in the entire Asia.

Lobregat made this declaration, as he spearheaded on Saturday the celebration of “Dia de Fundacion de Chabacano” that kicked off with the signing of the sisterhood agreement with the Municipal Government of San Mateo, Rizal.

Lobregat proved his commitment when he recently protested the mother tongue policy on segregation implemented in the K-12 program by the Department of Education (DepEd) here in Zamboanga City.

Lobregat deplored what he said is promoting disunity among Zamboangueños in the DepEd policy of segregating students according to the language they speak.

He brought the matter to the attention of DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, who in turn ordered the revision of the policy in view of the Mayor’s protest.

In celebration of Dia de Fundacion de Chabacano, he met with public school principals and administrators, district supervisors and Grade 1 and day care teachers to discuss about the proper implementation of the mother tongue policy and distributed copies of the City Government-initiated Primer Alfabeto Chabacano handbook and Chabacano dictionaries.

Chabacano traces its roots to the laying of the first cornerstone of the Fort Pilar on June 23, 1635.

Chabacano was born out of necessity of an admixture of tribes, races and culture and out of it evolved a distinct language that is predominantly Spanish in origin with at least 60 percent Español and 40 percent native words.

Chabacano has survived to this very day, said Lobregat.

“The Chabacano language is indeed a true reflection of our rich culture, a testimony of our heritage, and our link to the meaningful and colorful past. This is precisely what sets Zamboanguenos apart from the rest of the Filipino people, living in a paradise branded as “Asia’s Latin City,” he stressed.

He said the City Government, since the time of his late mother Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, has been steadfast in the advocacy. (Bong Garcia)