Cultivating culture

CAGAYAN DE ORO. First time on coconut shells. (Hannah Victoria Wabe)
CAGAYAN DE ORO. First time on coconut shells. (Hannah Victoria Wabe)

FOR as long as I can remember, August is Buwan ng Wika (Month of the Language). For some, this is a happy celebration that’s also the time for wearing the traditional Filipino clothes and eating local delicacies. But we have to admit that for the majority, it has become an ordinary month. For those who go to school, it is mostly observed just for compliance.

Actually, this tradition goes back to 1968, with the Presidential Proclamation 187 establishing the Linggo ng Wikang Pambansa. It is a time wherein government agencies and schools were told to use “Pilipino” in all their official communications. In 1997, President Fidel Ramos altered the timeframe and declared the whole month of August as Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa.

Thus, for this whole month, my youngest son is required to wear a Filipino costume to school every Friday. His pre-school is also holding a fiesta at the end of this month with all the parents invited. The kids perform Filipino dances to traditional music, which they painstakingly practiced. Together, we get to feast on Filipino food and play Philippine games.

From an educator’s point of view, more than the boring lectures in school, what I noticed that my students remember are things they learn when they’re actually having fun. Kids have a tendency to retain more information when they’re actually invested in the activities. Learn by doing and not just by hearing!

Coincidentally, we attended one of the best Filipino themed parties this month, too. We drove up to Malaybalay to celebrate a newphew’s “Balik to the Barrio” birthday party. Dru was visiting from New Jersey and this was a perfect party theme.

As someone who formerly called that place home (my two teens were born there), one of the values we inculcate, especially while living in a foreign environment, is love for the motherland. We ensure that our kids will always be familiar with our cultural heritage.

It was indeed a party to remember with the children playing the games of my youth. With the advent of the iPad, kids no longer enjoy playing outdoors. But in this event, even without his modern toys, my youngest still had fun with other kids while playing old-school toys like the bamboo car, coconut shells, old tire, soapy bubbles, and sticks.

Looking at my smiling kid, who went back to the basics, I am reminded by that child who was in the news—the boy suffered focal seizures because of too much screen-time on his tablet. Children need to learn the fine art of playing under the sun with friends again. They do not need fancy things to have a good time. Patintero, tumbang preso, piko, luksong tinik, agawan-base, chatong, among others are the olde games of yore that spelled a great time for free.

Indeed, everyone needs to know, appreciate, and love Filipino cultural heritage and traditions. Even if my own kids are struggling with the Filipino (Tagalog) subject in school, they have no choice but to push forth. In most private schools, teachers have a hard time teaching Filipino because a lot of families speak English at home.

It is important to have a keen understanding of one's heritage because it's easy to feel lost in melting pot cities like Cagayan de Oro where people from all over the country and the world converge.

Knowing your own language will make you understand your own culture better and this helps you to identify with others who have similar mindsets and backgrounds and give you a sense of unity. Thankfully, we have August to remind us that being traditional is more than a novelty. It is a part of who we are.

We also need to know that our country’s linguistic tapestry is made up of many languages that are beautiful, important, and co-equal (this is coming from a Tagalog who learned Bisaya). I recall one of my college professors stating that there are about 170 languages in the Philippines, with some headed towards extinction. Baybayin immediately comes to mind, which is an ancient script that majority now do not know.

The beauty of the Filipino language is incomparable. The world would be extremely boring if we all spoke in the same language and accent. We have already somewhat lost the art of wearing the traditional Filipino costume.

Everyone is keen on dressing alike and copying modern trends from the West. This month is also a good time to remember that the most beautiful aspect in the human race is our diversity. We can celebrate our differences without forgetting we all have the same heart.

Maligayang buwan ng wikang pambansa!

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