iACADEMY

Rescuing the Filipino Language

The KWF revealed that 32 out of 135 indigenous languages in the Philippines are at risk of extinction. Commissioner Benjamin Mendillo Jr. emphasized that the loss of these languages would erase indigenous wisdom and the essential parts of the Filipino identity. He opposed Republic Act 12027, which removes the use of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3, citing a pending Supreme Court petition to reverse the law.

Mendillo stressed that the Filipino language is a blend of native languages and cannot thrive without it. He mentioned countries like Japan, Korea, and Indonesia, which these countries continue to preserve and use their national languages in media and education, and he called for a similar commitment for the Philippines. “When they witness it being used in our homes, the Filipino language will get stronger and we will be able to preserve it,” he emphasized. Programs like Bahay-Wika, where parents are trained to converse with their children in their native tongue, are essential to this mission.

iACADEMY’s Contribution to This Mission

At iACADEMY, the spirit of creativity and pride in being a Filipino is practiced through a vibrant week-long cultural celebration. From the Piging that brought the iACADEMY community together in a feast to the Natatanging Kasuotan, which features traditional and modern attire in a genderless showcase, the celebration became meaningful and provided deeper knowledge to the students.

Moreover, Larong Pinoy was also revived, where games like batuhang bola, patintero, and tumbang preso were revisited by senior high school students, teaching lessons of camaraderie and friendship. There was also a Plakard or a poster-making contest where students showcased visual storytelling that strengthens cultural pride and social awareness. Awit Pinoy was also celebrated, where they featured their original local music, and Indak, where they showed their talent in dancing traditional with a mix of modern rhythm and expression.

Together, the iACADEMY community, through these activities, was reminded once again that these celebrations of language, music, dance, and games is a living testament that they are not just traditions but a reflection of expression of who we are today as Filipinos.

iACADEMY believes that the Filipino language is what gives life to creativity, resilience, and enrichment in skills for work and creation. Its students and staff, the Game Changers, are trained to be excellent not only in their own country but also globally. Whether in tech, art, or business, it embodies the idea that when we create from the roots of Filipino culture, it will create an individual, a Beyond Better Filipino.

This August, the Buwan ng Wika 2025 with the theme, “Paglinang sa Filipino at Katutubong Wika: Makasaysayan na Pagkakaisa ng Bansa” (In English, Developing Filipino and Indigenous Languages: A Historic Unity of the Nation), the call is clear: speaking the Filipino language is not just about valuing the past, but shaping the future.

Learn more about iACADEMY: www.iacademy.edu.ph.