The website elcastellano.org/noticia informs that Spanish is to make a return to the Philippines’ school system. It says that the announcement was made by President Gloria Arroyo in a visit to Spain at the beginning of this month.
The news item gives a historical detail of the main aspects related to the Philippine’s connection with Spanish language and culture.
It says that the decision to reintroduce Spanish to the education system of the Philippines will contribute to bring back this country to the historical roots it shares with the rest of Spanish speaking countries of the world, in particular those from Latin America.
Since the time it was discovered and colonized by Spain in 1521, Spanish became for 350 years the official language of this nation. The Philippines was part of the last colonies of Spain which it lost in 1898 in the Spanish-American war. After independence in 1946, Spanish was reinstated in the school curriculum but it was withdrawn from it during the Marcos’ era and has since then lost its place in the educational system of the Philippines.
Despite the fact of being a Spanish possession for such a long time, the Castilian tongue didn’t become the main communication vehicle for the majority of the the Philippinians, who remained using their vernacular languages, which were nonetheless permeated by Spanish especially in the lexical area.
The historical details for the Spanish language not to have taken a firm hold in the Philippines are too complex to be examined in a short post like this.
It’s worthy to note that this news item also mentions that eighty percent of the Philippines’ historical documents are written in Spanish. This is a fact that I didn’t know until now.
Spanish is a language closely connected to the history and culture of the Philippines. The teaching of this language at all levels of the educational system in that country will make a great contribution for its people - among other things - to know, to study and research in their original source more than three and half centuries of its past which is written in Spanish.
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Filed under: Culture, Education, Language, Language learning, Spanish, Spanish Language Learning
I am an American of Filipino descent. I have lived in southern California since the age of three and unfortunately have never visited the Philippines.
To my counterparts on the other side of the Pacific, please embrace your administration’s decision to reinstate the language, albeit as the third official tongue of the land.
It does not mean that it would subtract what it is to be Filipino, but more likely be to “extend” an already rich cultural island nation.
It does not seem logical to me to have a “hispanic” type culture and history that connects the archipeligo to Latin America and Spain, but cannot speak the language that defines our last names!
The opponents of this decision do so on the basis of a historical past of which the islands were at the receiving end of a brutal colonization conquest under the Spanish crown. I myself do not deny this, but that was the way the world operated during that era.
The Philippines cannot change thier colonial history with Spain and the United States, nor can one choose thier parents, as noble or brutal they may have seem to have been.
I know we live in a different world today, and globalization seems to be the rhetoric that defines trade, cultural exchange and political diplomacy.
It would benefit the new generation of Filipino youth to learn Spanish, in addition to their native vernaculars and English. Most Philippine nationals who live outside Manila already are tri-lingual anyways (thier own provincial dialect, Tagalog and English). It would not kill them to pick up a language that would re-open doors to a region (Latin America) that they shares three centuries of a common history.
The English-Spanish combination here in the states is quite a premium when looking for employment. Take that for what it’s worth!
P.S.
Those of you who defy learning the Spanish language or denounce its reinstatement based on the Islands’ colonial history under the Spanish crown is justified. Again, there was much atrocities, racism and other negative ramifications that CANNOT be erased.
However, to use the past to deny a benifit for the future of the country seems illogical.
Please, look towards the generation of your children, and grandchildren to being able to dialogue their own dialect, English and Spanish. Perfection is not the issue here, embracing a language that represented approximately three and a half centuries of its history and the ability to communicate with an “additional” 400 million people IS.
Call it “marketability”, call it ” a reminder of the Spanish intrusion”, call it “illogical” or call it “reverting to the past”.
I look at it as embracing the third component that defines the Filipino mosaic;
1) Asian by geographics and the roots of our many Filipino vernaculars and physical attributes
2) the usage of English enables one to communicate with the American, and the English speakers of the world (390 milllion native speakers, and an additional 500 million more second language speakers),
3) Hispanic, as a “result” of three and half centuries under the Spanish crown which is evident in religion, traditions, customs in addition to the numerous Hispanismos/ borrowed words that have been incorporated into many of the local and national vernaculars.
Denying any of the three components subracts from the full scope of the Philippine culture. It has developed into a “unique” mosaic that one cannot put into a stereotypical box. I can’t think of any country in Asia that has this strength.
Think outside the paradigm and more importantly think of the “new” generation of Filipino youth who will HAVE to live and compete in a “globalized” community that will differ greatly from the present. It will be to THEIR advantage “naturally” knowing fluently TWO of the U.N.’s six major official languages.
The Philippines may never be an economic “giant”, no doubt, what’s to say that it can’t develop into a “cultural” giant? With the implementation of Spanish perhaps the archipeligo can become a “liason” between Asia, North America AND Latin America. Who knows what merits that position may bring.
That is all !
P.S.S.
Many nations were “colonized” once, the Philippines were colonized TWICE. There is much shame and animosity with these facts. No one could change that and for the most part the Philippines did not “choose” thier historical experiences.
My exhortation is to take the remnants of both legacies and use it for future advancement of the Philippines as a “whole”.
I am not “anti-Tagalog”, “anti-English” or “anti-sensitive to the Spanish regime”. To say it frankly I’m “PRO-FILIPINO”. It is the beauty of one sovereign state that has many unique complexities. This in my opinion, my “primos”, is a Filipino. Our identity is found in THREE components not ONE.
To understand this could very well be the thread that connects all Filipinos alike. To some, it may seem like a deterent, but in a shrinking and globalized world community, is it?
P.S.S.S.
FYI, I am an American of Filipino decsent, fluent in Ilocano (not understanding Tagalog) and to my knowledge do not claim to have any Spanish blood.
I have lived in California all my life, and have experienced the connection and similarities Filipino Americans have with English-speaking Hispanic-Americans in addition to the explosion of the usage of Spanish thus understanding its importance.
P.S.S.S.S.
I was born in Northern California, thus cementing a proposed contradiction.
THAT REALLY IS ALL!
“…eighty percent of the Philippines’ historical documents are written in Spanish.”
i think this needs to be qualified. what period is being referred to? if it’s between 1521 and 1898, i think 80% is low. if it’s from 1898 onward, it’s too high. also, what qualifies as “historical documents”? official ones only or do the diaries, personal papers, etc., of everyone living during the period count as such?
I’m afraid I can’t give you the exact period that the 80 % refers to or to tell you about the nature of the historical documents. You’d need to read the original news item at elcastellano.org/noticia, or enquire directly from them.
Mr. Luis,
As of today, what is the progress report of the Spanish language’s reinstatement to the Philippines’ educational system?
As you might know, I am a Filipino-American and huge proponent of the idea, given the fact that I don’t understand the Spanish language myself and can only understand Ilocano, not Filipino/Tagalog which is the national language of the Islands.
Hola,
I haven’t found or read anything else in the Spanish speaking media about this subject. If I get to know more, I’ll add the information here or as a new post.
Kind regards,
Luis
Hi im a Latino who is married to a filipina and I have always talked to her as to why Philippines is one of the only nations that doesn’t embrace its history completely. I understand some of its history is tainted with blood but even the British treated Americans bad and killed many Americans but yet we didn’t change our language because of it. I hope for our two cultures to become interdependent once more it will only bring more jobs for many Filipinos.
viva el nacion filipinas
I think many Filipinos feel that Spanish would return to the Philippines as a “medium” of instruction in schools replacing English and Filipino.
I don’t think that is GMA’s proclamation. It is to introduce a Spanish language course, at each level, studying 350 years of history, writing, reading and conversation, that is separate from all the other courses, beginning at the elementary level.
She is trying to redirect the Spanish language from its present “optional and foreign language status” to one worth studying an important part of the Filipino-mosaic and strengthening it from its “foreign status to a “cultural language” status.
To officialize it, may be the only way of illuminating the importance of the Spanish language from its tragic decline to an “optional” status at the university level of curricula.
I don’t think learning Spanish should only be mandatory in colleges and universities, it should start from primary/elementary school. There have been studies that show that children pick up languages far better than adults.
I’m not opposed to making Spanish a third official language but I don’t think it’s going to work right now. The Spanish language is pretty much on the verge of extinction. How many government officials actually speak it? Unless, they revamp the government and get people who speak all three languages (Tagalog, English, and Spanish)…how can you claim Spanish as an official language when those who are most likely going to be exchanging information with other countries can’t speak the language?
In any case, I think it would be extremely beneficial for Filipinos to learn Spanish. So much focus has been placed on English but Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. People might also be amazed to find out how many similarities there are between Spanish and Tagalog. I think language is important in understanding one’s culture and right now, it seems like Filipinos don’t really understand their identity and their history. For instance, so many historical texts are in Spanish but few can read them in the original state. Sure, you can translate it but with translation, there’s always distortion of meaning and written from the perspective of the language its being translated to…languages don’t always translate word for word.
My family and I migrated in the states (California) almost 16 years ago and at the young age was never exposed fully to the culture or the core value of my own heritage. In the Philippines we’re taught the basic history and revolution of colonial Spain as well as our American culture. We embrace all of these without knowing and second guessing out selves that we are the product of diverse cultures molded to what is now the modern Filipinos.
It was only when I was living in the states that I truly understand that I am not just Filipino but also a child of colonial past. I carry the ultimate Spanish surname and can be quite mistake as Latin than that of Filipino. I have always thought that the Philippine government should pave the way to its past and pay homage to what is now the foundation of our culture. We speak embrace the American culture so much why not revisit our heritage as Spaniards. Filipinos will always be distinguish no matter where they are. It will truly help everyone and will benefit our international ties with Latin Americans and will only bring us forward and be respect in the Asia Pacific region. We are the the bridge of Asia to the west, why not make us the bridge to the Americas. It brings joy to say the least that I am Asian with Spanish descent that other races are curious to know, while I am proud to let them know the history and culture I am disappointed that there are still Filipinos opposed to the later issue. Bringing Spanish language into curriculum is certainly a benefit to the rest of the Filipinos who are living in the Philippines. This will only widen out communication skills while mastering the culture of others. Filipinos need not to be afraid of the changes, we’re already enjoying the syndication of Latin novelas on television why not expand our horizon and develop the understanding of it all. Tagalog will always be there and this is the language that will always be Filipino.
The “saint” americans sure brainwashed filipinos into believing Spaniards were mean.
Regards from a “mean” Spaniard
Hola Kristina,
The government of Trinidad and Tobago have already realized this trend of the importance of Spanish. They have legalized Spanish as official and have required the teaching of Spanish beginning in the 6th grade and have a goal that within 5 years time 30% of Government officials will be “conversant” if not fluent in Spanish. I guess that means Spanish language courses for these officials. The same can be done in the Philippines.
To the Ilocano speaking Filipino American, interesting since many Filipinos think that Tagalog was imposed on them; 77% of Filipinos do not have Tagalog as their native tongue and my visaya lola would rather converse in English to a non-cebuano rather than Tagalog. Interestingly in Angola, where there is a myriad of tribes and languages and so they had to pick a neutral language to not impose the culture of one over the other. They chose “Portuguese” the language of their colonial masters and the culture/language that unites all their tribes and peoples. All provinces have their regional language but in the national assembly the language is Portuguese. Portuguese is the official rather than the national language.
In Macau, China, more people will be speakign Portuguese than during the Portuguese era because Beijing is keen on promoting Portuguese in Macau: making it the language in Macau law school as well having 3 Portuguese language channels in addition to their native Chinese. They are doing this because they want Macau to be China’s gateway to the Latino world and the Portuguese speaking countries in the world; already have signed economic agreements with Argentina, Brazil etc and many Angolans, Brazilians, East Timorese are now studying law in Macau.
The Filipino is very brainwashed and provincial. We do not know how to think global and look at the big picture. Hopefully, it will change, if not sayang talaga as we could be gateway for the latino world in its interests in Asia
What’s the current state of this proposal? Hmmm?
Hola Lon,
I haven’t read or heard anything else on this issue. However there seems to be quite a lot of interest from the public on this important subject, judging by the number of responses to this post.
I don’t have a complete knowledge of the history of the Philippines, however I agree with Pepe (see above) that Spanish can be used as a lingua franca in that country. English and French are used in that role in several parts of the world. The particular African models listed by him seem to be suitable for a country with diverse native language groups such as the Philippines.
I’ll be adding anything new about this issue as soon as get to know it.
I think there’s a slight chance of possibility that Spanish will be reinstated as an official language in the Philippines. As of now, only a number of Filipinos speak it and during the colonial period, most of Mindanao and the mountainous areas of Luzon wasn’t penetrated by Spanish influence. A more possible situation that would happen is it being a required subject or offered as an elective in high school and universities. Although I think it’s doubtful, I actually support the reinstatement of Spanish as one of our official languages because it will help us understand our culture and history better. Filipinos, unaware of their Spanish heritage, are more Hispanic than they think. There are a lot of words from the Philippine languages that are borrowed from Spanish (time and money are usually spoken in Spanish). Filipinos hold fiestas, eat caldereta, and take siestas as well. They go to La Union for swimming, take a walk at the Plaza Salcedo, Plus, I think Filipinos will find it easy to pickup the language because of common words and considerably, the interest in learning it (Spanish telenovelas, Filipinos intending to work at Spanish-speaking countries). I hope they push through with this. =)
[...] Spanish in the Philippines Posted on August 23, 2008 by Luis Pinel Late last year I wrote a post here about the proposal of reintroducing the teaching of Spanish in the school system of the [...]
I am a pure blooded Filipino and I was born in the contemporary era where Spanish is no longer included in the educational system. As a Filipino, I also agree that Spanish will be reintroduced in the educational system here in the Philipinnes. It’s not to reminisce their 300 years of colonization but to open doors for future opportunities.
I am a filipino with a spanish descent and grew here in the philippines. Regarding with this issue I agree with this proposal because for me it would be embracing our whole culture as filipinos. I think we would never be known today as filipinos if the spaniards hadn’t invaded us. hey, just look in the bright side what advantages can it do to us. Let just move on from the past and think for the future.
@micko:
I totally agree. Some people have an obsession with past atrocities, that it prevents them from seeing ‘clearly’ of the future. Let’s face it, the Spanish language is part of the Filipino identity…Like it or not…
i come from a family of mixed blood. my maternal side comprise of middle eastern, spanish and japanese ancestry while on my paternal side, spanish and austronesian ancestry.spanish has been a part of our family’s medium of communication but now it has gone.i really wanted to bring back that heritage sine it is not just a part of our history. it is the spring board of our identity.remember that there is no such thing as pure filipino race. the philippines is the only country in asia which do not have its own racial identity. sorry but it is true.look at the east asians. they can be recognized with their physical features and their language.so as with the sout asians. but what about us? we cant even recognize ourselves.may let this be a way for us to bring back the old times.spanish is closer to our hearts and let us join together and explore our beginnings.
The reinstatement of Spanish as the third official language of the Philippines has it’s pros and cons. I believe that most of the Filipinos’ fluency in the English language is gradually deteriorating. It seems like English programs in schools, especially in public schools, is mediocre. If English is not being taught well enough in schools - evident by the mass’ inability to use and speak the language, what more with Spanish - a completely foreign language?
The reinstatement of Spanish as one of the official languages of the Philippines will give Filipinos more edge in the international scene.
I agree with Daniel and his wife’s observation - it seems that Philippines is one of the few nations that do not embrace its history well. I have met a lot of Filipinos born and raised here in the United States who are more passionate about the history of the country that I do.
Spanish - if officially declared as the third official language, along with English and Filipino should be taught in the same intensity as the Sciences.