The local government units (LGUs) of La Union and Zamboanga known for being rich in culture in the country proudly shared their secrets in preserving their local languages in the region.
Interviewed by lakay Deo Macalma and DILG's Atty. Salvacion Z. Baccay on Wednesday's DILG sa DZRH Breaktime, La Union City Government's Provincial Information Officer Rowan Joshua Dimaculangan recognized their province's 19th Sangguniang Panlalawigan for drafting an ordinance of preserving the Ilocano (Iloko) language.
"It comes with really good intention po na kailangan talagang palinangin natin kailangan palalimin pa natin ang pagmamahal sa wika ng Iloko po dito sa probinsiya ng La Union," Dimaculangan said.
In September 2012, the province of La Union passed an ordinance recognizing Ilocano (Iloko) as an official provincial language, alongside Filipino, the national language, and English, a co-official language nationwide.
Under Ordinance No. 26-2012 also known as the Local Language Code of the Province of La Union, LGU of La Union's goal is to preserve, promote, and develop Iloko and other languages native to the province.
Dimaculangan noted that La Union is a melting pot of three provinces. Back then, La Union was divided into Ilocos, Pangasinan, and Mountain Province therefore mixture of cultures was found in the province but the main language was revealed to be Iloko.
"Napass down siya to generation to generation kaya minarapat po ang 19th Sangguniang Panlalawigan po natin na gawing official language ang Iloko sa Province of La Union," Dimaculangan said.
Meanwhile, Julius A. Manabat as a Tourism Officer in the province shared a little history of how the Iloko language became the official language of La Union
"Bago po nabuo ang aming Iloko, nagkaroon po kami ng pag-aaral tungkol sa aming lenggwahe at napag-alaman namin na ang salitang Iloko ay isa sa mga major languages. We have 171 major languages in the Philippines at isa ang Iloko sa mga official na language," Manabat shared.
However, due to the rise of modernization through technology's evolution, Manabat said a study found that the Iloko Language was observed to be degrading. This has led to pushing an ordinance in order to preserve and protect the Iloco language.
"Kaya't minarapat na ang kino-consider naming mga Iloko bilang isang Tulay upang mas mapaunalad pa ang aming probinsiya lalo na sa pagdating sa aming turismo kasi isa ito sa mga asset namin," said the officer.
"Para mapanatili ito nagyong modernong panahon ay minarapat ng aming Sanggunian noon na gumawa ng isang ordinansa na magpapalawig at magpapaunlad ng aming salitang Iloko," he added.
Asked about their province's other ways of preserving the Iloko language, Dimaculangan said they saw content creators in social media using the native language which could be a great instrument in influencing Filipinos to use Iloko as language in communication.
Dimaculangan also believes that the Iloko code will be a great instrument in passing the language to the next generations.
The LGU of La Union also promoted its very own "Ayat Festival", which reflects a series of events celebrating and nurturing local language, culture, and arts.
Last June 29, It can be recalled that the Ayat Festival joined this year's festival of all festivals, the Aliwan Fiesta held along CCP Complex, Pasay City, Manila.
Also sharing their pride in language was City Museum Chief Curator of Zamboanga City Architect Idelfonso Torres Jr. who proudly highlighted the celebration of the “Dia de Fundacion de Chabacano."
Commemorating the founding of Fort Pilar on June 23, 1635, is the designated day of the arrival of the Chabacano language in Zamboanga. Accordingly, Ordinance No. 374 of 2011 requires that June 23 be marked annually as "Dia de Fundacion de Chabacano."
According to Torres, their has been an ordinance of encouraging Zamboangeño of preserving Chavacano language since 1990 in response to the rapid change of technology.
"Sa ngayon sa modernong panahon ang ginagawa ng pamahalaang lokal, gumagawa na kami ng mga textbooks, ito 'yung Chavacano Gramatika. Ito yung binibigay sa mga elementary schools," Torres noted.
Aside from dessimination of books, Mother Tongue Base Language (mtbl) is also being applied to schools which will teach students on the proper speaking of Chavacano language.
They also conducts lectures for teachers and students, as well as the history of the language.
"Very important po yung pangalagaan natin yung ating kultura actually never kaming tumitigil sa pagpreserve, pagpromote at pagprotect ng ating local culture pati na rin ang culture ng Pilipino," said Torres.
"Ang culture, nakakabigay to ng sense of identity sa atin, alam natin kung saan tayo nanggaling, kung saang grupo tayo nabebelong. Nagbibigay rin ito ng sense of place," he added.
