MASANTOL -- In an aim to instill the use of Filipino language among the youth today, the local government of Masantol celebrated Buwan ng Wika over the weekend.
Led by Mayor Danilo Guintu, the event enjoined different school institutions in town and showcased the talents of students in singing and communication using the Filipino language.
The three-part celebration included an individual singing contest, and competitions on balagtasan (poetic debate) and sabayang pagbigkas (choral recitation) participated in by high school students.
Guintu said that the celebration of Buwan ng Wika, which is the first in the local government’s history, was held to urge Masantoleño youth to always prefer using the Filipino language instead of foreign languages.
“Ang kabataan ngayon iba na ang mga hilig. Marami ng option pero tayo naman dito sa lokal gobyerno, gusto natin isabuhay at ipagmalaki ang sariling atin kagaya ng ating sariling wika,” he said.
Municipal Tourism Officer Mercy Manansala, who spearheaded the event, said that the promotion of Filipino language is really called for during these times of social media and international TV series hype.
She stressed that while exploring other countries' cultures is not bad, Filipinos must still not take for granted or forget their own roots.
“Higit sa pagiging cool at trending, mas importante pa din ang pagiging makabayan. Ipagmalaki natin na tayo ay Filipino at lahat ng kaakibat nito,” she said.