TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 27 (PNA) — The President of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) Virgilio S. Almario urged government officials to serve as a model in embracing the Filipino language.
Almario, the 2003 national artist for literature noted that most of the leaders use the English language in their speeches, hence, creating a conflict in emphasizing the essence of the national language.
“Almost all of the leaders of our country today are using the English language in their speeches. Now, I am encouraging them to resort in speaking Filipino instead,” said Almario.
Almario lauded Pres. Benigno C. Aquino III for speaking Filipino in his speeches even in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“So far, he is the only president until now who uses Filipino language during important speeches and this helps the identity of the country,” said Almario.
Almario also believes that the Filipino language could mobilize the future development of the country.
He said the significance of the Filipino language in making the nation united in every quest for success.
“Though we have different languages in the same country, we could still understand each other using the lingua franca, and that is Filipino. If we don’t have this language, how can we be united?” the KWF official asked.
When the KWF president was asked about the standing of the Filipino language today, he said that the national language is in good state and his mission is to promote it in schools and other institutions of the country.(PNA)